115 S999 IS: Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act
U.S. Senate
2017-05-01
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 999IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 1, 2017Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Booker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Hassan, and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore
			 drilling on the outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic, South
			 Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act or the COAST Anti-Drilling Act.
		2.Prohibition of
			 oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the outer Continental
 ShelfSection 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(q)Prohibition of
				oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the outer Continental
 ShelfNotwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, the Secretary of the Interior shall not issue a lease or any other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in—
 (1)the Mid-Atlantic planning area;
 (2)the South Atlantic planning area; (3)the North Atlantic planning area; or
 (4)the Straits of Florida planning area..


 HR 430 ENR: TANF Extension Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives

text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of AmericaAt the First SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen
H. R. 430

AN ACT
To extend the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families and related programs through June 30, 2019.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the TANF Extension Act of 2019.  2.Extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and related programs through June 30, 2019 Activities authorized by part A of title IV and section 1108(b) of the Social Security Act shall continue through June 30, 2019, in the manner authorized for fiscal year 2018, and out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are hereby appropriated such sums as may be necessary for such purpose.
 Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.


113 HRES 485 IH: Expressing support for “National One Love Day”.
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-02-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		IV
		113th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. RES. 485
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 14, 2014
			Mr. Ruppersberger (for himself and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

		RESOLUTION
		Expressing support for National One Love Day.

		Whereas the One Love Foundation was established to honor the memory of Yeardley Reynolds Love;
		Whereas the mission of the One Love Foundation is to end relationship violence through education
			 and technology;
		Whereas Yeardley Love of Baltimore, Maryland, was an exceptional person and lacrosse player, who
			 wore the number one, and was the tragic victim of relationship violence
			 while in college at the University of Virginia;
		Whereas the vision of the One Love Foundation is to keep Yeardley’s spirit alive by promoting
			 strength of character as the premise of all of the foundation’s numerous
			 programs;
		Whereas millions of children, women, and men are abused physically by family members and others
			 with whom they are intimate;
		Whereas nearly 30 percent of all female homicide victims were killed by their husbands, former
			 husbands, or boyfriends;
		Whereas May 3, National One Love Day, will be celebrated through awareness campaigns, social media
			 postings, representative clothing, hats, ribbons, buttons, and bracelets
			 to show support for the thousands of organizations, hundreds of thousands
			 of workers and millions of victims across the United States; and
		Whereas the day will be marked as: One Day. One Mission. One Love: Now, therefore, be it

		That the House of Representatives—
			(1)supports National One Love Day;
			(2)focuses on heightening awareness and making new commitments to stop relationship violence in our
			 immediate circle of family, friends, neighbors, schools, and
			 organizations;
			(3)commends and supports the efforts of thousands of organizations and victims across the United
			 States to increase relationship violence awareness; and
			(4)seeks that every person speak to just one individual about what a healthy relationship is and help
			 that individual feel empowered.


		III
		Calendar No. 458
		109th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 312
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 15, 2005
			Mr. Lugar (for himself
			 and Mr. Biden) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Foreign
			 Relations

			May 25, 2006
			Reported by Mr. Lugar,
			 without amendment and an amendment to the preamble
			Insert the part printed in
			 italic

		RESOLUTION
		Expressing the sense of the Senate
		  regarding the need for the United States to address global climate change
		  through the negotiation of fair and effective international
		  commitments.

		Whereas there is a scientific consensus, as established by
			 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and confirmed by the National
			 Academy of Sciences, that the continued buildup of anthropogenic greenhouse
			 gases in the atmosphere threatens the stability of the global climate;
		Whereas there are significant long-term risks to the
			 economy and the environment of the United States from the temperature increases
			 and climatic disruptions that are projected to result from increased greenhouse
			 gas concentrations;
		Whereas the potential impacts of global climate change,
			 including long-term drought, famine, mass migration, and abrupt climatic
			 shifts, may lead to international tensions and instability in regions affected
			 and thereby have implications for the national security interests of the United
			 States;
		Whereas the United States, as the largest economy in the
			 world, is also the largest greenhouse gas emitter;
		Whereas the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States
			 are currently projected to continue to rise;
		Whereas the greenhouse gas emissions of developing
			 countries are rising more rapidly than the emissions of the United States and
			 will soon surpass the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States and other
			 developed countries;
		Whereas reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the levels
			 necessary to avoid serious climatic disruption requires the introduction of new
			 energy technologies and other climate friendly technologies, the use of which
			 results in low or no emissions of greenhouse gases or in the capture and
			 storage of greenhouse gases;
		Whereas the development and sale of climate-friendly
			 technologies in the United States and internationally presents economic
			 opportunities for workers and businesses in the United States;
		Whereas climate-friendly technologies can improve air
			 quality by reducing harmful pollutants from stationary and mobile sources, and
			 can enhance energy security by reducing reliance on imported oil, diversifying
			 energy sources, and reducing the vulnerability of energy delivery
			 infrastructure;
		Whereas other industrialized countries are undertaking
			 measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which provides the industries in
			 those countries with a competitive advantage in the growing global market for
			 climate-friendly technologies;
		Whereas efforts to limit emissions growth in developing
			 countries in a manner that is consistent with the development needs of those
			 countries could establish significant markets for climate-friendly technologies
			 and contribute to international efforts to address climate change;
		Whereas the U.S. Climate Change Science
			 Program launched by President George W. Bush concluded in April 2006 that there
			 is no longer a discrepancy between the rates of global average temperature
			 increase observed at the Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere, thereby
			 strengthening the scientific evidence that human activity contributes
			 significantly to global temperature increases;
		Whereas President Bush, in his State of
			 the Union Address in January 2006, called on the United States to reduce its
			 addiction to oil and focus its attention on developing cleaner,
			 renewable, and sustainable energy sources;
		Whereas President Bush has launched the
			 Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate to cooperatively
			 develop new and cleaner energy technologies and promote their use in fast
			 developing nations like India and China;
		Whereas the national security of the
			 United States will increasingly depend on the deployment of diplomatic,
			 military, scientific, and economic resources toward solving the problem of the
			 over-reliance of the United States and the world on high-carbon energy;
		Whereas, at the December 2005 United
			 Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal, parties to the United Nations
			 Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the concurrence of the United
			 States, initiated a new dialogue on long-term cooperative action to address
			 climate change;
		Whereas the United States is a party to the United Nations
			 Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New York May 9, 1992, and
			 entered into force in 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the
			 Convention);
		Whereas the Convention sets a long-term objective of
			 stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
			 would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate
			 system;
		Whereas the Convention establishes that parties bear
			 common but differentiated responsibilities for efforts to achieve the objective
			 of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations;
		Whereas an effective global effort to address climate
			 change must provide for commitments and action by all countries that are major
			 emitters of greenhouse gases, developed and developing alike, and the widely
			 varying circumstances among the developed and developing countries may require
			 that such commitments and action vary; and
		Whereas the United States has the capability to lead the
			 effort against global climate change: Now, therefore, be it

		That it is the sense of the Senate
			 that the United States should act to reduce the health, environmental,
			 economic, and national security risks posed by global climate change and foster
			 sustained economic growth through a new generation of technologies, by—
			(1)participating in
			 negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
			 done at New York May 9, 1992, and entered into force in 1994, and leading
			 efforts in other international fora, with the objective of securing United
			 States participation in agreements that—
				(A)advance and
			 protect the economic and national security interests of the United
			 States;
				(B)establish
			 mitigation commitments by all countries that are major emitters of greenhouse
			 gases, consistent with the principle of common but differentiated
			 responsibilities;
				(C)establish
			 flexible international mechanisms to minimize the cost of efforts by
			 participating countries; and
				(D)achieve a
			 significant long-term reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions; and
				(2)establishing a
			 bipartisan Senate observer group, the members of which shall be designated by
			 the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
			 Senate, to—
				(A)monitor any
			 international negotiations on climate change; and
				(B)ensure that the
			 advice and consent function of the Senate is exercised in a manner to
			 facilitate timely consideration of any applicable treaty submitted to the
			 Senate.

		May 25, 2006
		Reported without amendment and an amendment to the
		  preamble


115 HR 7008 IH: Stop Gendercide Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-09-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7008IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 28, 2018Mrs. Wagner (for herself and Ms. Bass) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsA BILLTo amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to modify the Trafficking in Persons report
			 to include research on the relationship between human trafficking and
			 skewed sex ratios in national or subnational populations in which there is
			 evidence of sex-selective practices, including, but not limited to,
			 infanticide, gender-biased neglect, or other forms of gender-based
			 violence or discrimination.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Stop Gendercide Act. 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings:
 (1)Women and girls possess the same fundamental human rights and civil rights as men and are essential to the formation of stable, peaceful societies. Violence against women and girls, reinforced by and rooted in the social and cultural devaluation of women and girls, has skewed sex ratios in many parts of the world.
 (2)Approximately 126,000,000 women and girls are missing from the world population due to systematic gender-based violence, according to the United Nations Population Fund, which constitutes an egregious example of gendercide.
 (3)Since gendercide is a relatively recent phenomenon, the implications of the crisis have yet to fully reverberate through affected countries. But it is already clear that increased instances of human trafficking, sexual violence, and child marriage are linked to gendercide.
 (4)Statistics published biennially in the United Nations Population Division’s World Population Prospects indicate that skewed sex ratios at birth will persist for decades, even after they reach an apex in certain countries. This may be driving significant changes in human trafficking patterns in affected regions. Because the dynamics of gendercide and its relationship to human trafficking are poorly understood, governments, international institutions, and civil society organizations are not prepared to adequately prevent and respond to human trafficking crimes.
 3.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that— (1)the lack of research on the relationship between gendercide and human trafficking undermines national and international response mechanisms critical to preventing exploitation of women and girls; and
 (2)efforts to end human trafficking, including by addressing root causes such as gender-based discrimination against women and girls, should be prioritized.
 4.Statement of policyIt is the policy of the United States to— (1)work to end gendercide and prevent human trafficking, child marriage, and sexual violence;
 (2)partner with and encourage other countries to implement policies, or revise existing policies, to mitigate root causes of gendercide; and
 (3)incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of United States anti-trafficking policies and programs measures to respond to global gendercide.
 5.Modification of Trafficking in Persons reportSection 110(b)(1)(F) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(1)(F)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: , including the relationship between human trafficking and skewed sex ratios in national or subnational populations in which there is evidence of sex-selective practices, including, but not limited to, infanticide, gender-biased neglect, or other forms of gender-based violence or discrimination, using sources that include statistics from the United States Census Bureau’s International Data Base and the United Nations Population Division’s World Population Prospects.


117 HR 2572 IH: Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-04-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2572IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 15, 2021Mr. Cleaver introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to restrict the debt collection practices of certain debt collectors.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021.2.DefinitionsSection 803 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692a) is amended—(1)in paragraph (4), by striking facilitating collection of such debt for another and inserting collection of such debt;(2)by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:(5)The term debt means—(A)any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance, or services which are the subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, whether or not such obligation has been reduced to judgment; or(B)any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer—(i)to pay a loan, an overpayment, a fine, a penalty, a fee, or other money currently or originally owed to a Federal agency; and(ii)that is not less than 180 days past due.; and(3)in paragraph (6)—(A)by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: The term debt collector means any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts; who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, by the person’s own means or by hiring another debt collector, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another or that have been obtained by assignment or transfer from another; or who regularly collects debts currently or originally owed or allegedly owed to a Federal agency.; and(B)in subparagraph (F), by inserting or that has been obtained by assignment or transfer from another after owed or due another.3.Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by government agencies(a)In generalThe Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 812 (15 U.S.C. 1692j) the following:812A.Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal agencies(a)Limitation on time To turn debt over to debt collectorA Federal agency that is a creditor may sell or transfer a debt described in section 803(5)(B) to a debt collector not earlier than 90 days after the date on which the obligation or alleged obligation becomes delinquent or defaults.(b)Required notice(1)In generalBefore transferring or selling a debt described in section 803(5)(B) to a debt collector or contracting with a debt collector to collect such a debt, a Federal agency shall notify the consumer not fewer than 3 times that the Federal agency will take such action.(2)Frequency of notificationsThe second and third notifications described in paragraph (1) shall be made not less than 30 days after the date on which the previous notification is made..(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of contents for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 812 the following:812A. Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal agencies..4.Unfair practicesSection 808 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692f) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:(1)The collection of any amount (including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless—(A)such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law; and(B)in the case of any amount charged by a debt collector collecting a debt described in section 803(5)(B), such amount is—(i)reasonable in relation to the actual costs of the collection;(ii)authorized by a contract between the debt collector and the Federal agency; and(iii)not greater than 10 percent of the amount collected by the debt collector..5.GAO study and report(a)StudyThe Comptroller General of the United States shall commence a study on the use of debt collectors by State and local government agencies, including—(1)the powers given to the debt collectors by Federal, State, and local government agencies;(2)the contracting process that allows a Federal, State, or local government agency to award debt collection to a certain company, including the selection process;(3)any fees charged to debtors in addition to principal and interest on the outstanding debt;(4)how the fees described in paragraph (3) vary from State to State;(5)consumer protection at the State level that offer recourse to those whom debts have been wrongfully attributed;(6)the revenues received by debt collectors from Federal, State, and local government agencies;(7)the amount of any revenue sharing agreements between debt collectors and Federal, State, and local government agencies;(8)the difference in debt collection procedures across geographic regions, including the extent to which debt collectors pursue court judgments to collect debts; and(9)any legal immunity or other protections given to the debt collectors hired by State and local government agencies, including whether the debt collectors are subject to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.).(b)ReportNot later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the completed study required under subsection (a).


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 562
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			February 13, 2007
			Ms. Collins (for herself
			 and Ms. Snowe) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
			 and Pensions

		A BILL
		To provide for flexibility and improvements
		  in elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 No Child Left Behind Flexibility and
			 Improvements Act.
		2.Discretion to modify adequate yearly
			 progress timelineSection
			 1111(b)(2)(F) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
			 6311(b)(2)(F)) is amended—
			(1)by striking (F)
			 Timeline.—Each State and inserting the
			 following:

					(F)Timeline
						(i)In generalEach
				State
						;
				and
			(2)by adding at the end the following:

					(ii)Discretion of secretary to modify the
				timelineEvery 3 years, the
				Secretary—
						(I)shall review the requirements of the
				timeline established in clause (i); and
						(II)may issue guidance or regulations modifying
				such requirements if the Secretary determines, at the Secretary's discretion
				and after a review of the progress of the States towards making adequate yearly
				progress for the 2013–2014 school year, that modifications to the timeline are
				in the interests of improving student achievement and are in keeping with the
				purposes of this
				title.
						.
			3.Alternative accountability
			 systemsSection 1111(b)(2) of
			 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) is
			 further amended—
			(1)by striking subparagraph (I) and inserting
			 the following:

					(I)Annual improvement for schools
						(i)In generalEach year for a school to make adequate
				yearly progress under this paragraph—
							(I)each group of students described in
				subparagraph (C)(v) must meet or exceed the objectives set by the State under
				subparagraph (G), except that if any group described in subparagraph (C)(v)
				does not meet those objectives in any particular year, the school shall be
				considered to have made adequate yearly progress if—
								(aa)the percentage of students in that group
				who did not meet or exceed the proficient level of academic achievement on the
				State assessment under paragraph (3) decreased by 5 percent over the past year,
				or an aggregate of 10 percent over 2 years, and that group has made progress on
				1 or more of the academic indicators described in subparagraph (C)(vi) or
				(vii); or
								(bb)the students in that group demonstrate that
				they are making progress towards proficiency through an additional model or
				system for measuring student progress described in subparagraph (J) and that
				group has made progress on one or more of the academic indicators described in
				subparagraph (C)(vi) or (vii); and
								(II)not less than 95 percent of each group of
				students described in subparagraph (C)(v) who are enrolled in the school are
				required to take the assessments, consistent with paragraph (3)(C)(xi) and with
				accommodations, guidelines, and alternative assessment provided in the same
				manner as those provided under section 612(a)(17)(A) of the Individuals with
				Disabilities Education Act and paragraph (3), on which adequate yearly progress
				is based (except that the 95 percent requirement described in this clause shall
				not apply in a case in which the number of students in a category is
				insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would
				reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student).
							(ii)Children with disabilitiesIn the case of a child with a disability
				(as defined in section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
				Act), a State may deem the child to have met the State's proficient level of
				academic achievement on the State assessments for purposes of calculating
				adequate yearly progress under this section if—
							(I)the student's individualized education
				program plan team (as defined in section 614(d)(1)(B) of such Act) designates
				an alternate assessment based on alternate or modified student academic
				achievement standards as a more appropriate measure of the student's academic
				progress and achievement for purposes of the assessment requirements under this
				part; and
							(II)the student achieves a proficient score on
				such alternate assessment.
							(iii)Report from SEAFor any year that a State educational
				agency makes use of the flexibility provided by this section to allow alternate
				assessments for more than 3 percent of the total student population Statewide,
				the State educational agency shall make available to the public a report that
				includes the percentage of all special education students in the State who were
				assessed according to clause
				(ii).
						.
			(2)by redesignating subparagraphs (J) and (K)
			 as subparagraphs (L) and (M), respectively; and
			(3)by inserting after subparagraph (I) (as
			 amended by paragraph (1)) the following:

					(J)Additional models and systems for measuring
				student progressIn
				developing a single, statewide State accountability system pursuant to
				subparagraph (A), a State may establish models and systems for measuring
				student progress for purposes of determining whether an agency or school has
				made adequate yearly progress that are in addition to the models and systems
				otherwise described in this paragraph if the models and systems are in keeping
				with the purposes of this title. Additional models and systems that measure
				student progress under this paragraph may include—
						(i)cohort growth models that—
							(I)demonstrate progress based on longitudinal
				student assessment results indicating improvement in the academic performance
				of the same cohort of students over time; and
							(II)may in some instances specify different
				starting points, different intermediate goals, and different annual measurable
				objectives for different cohorts;
							(ii)indexing systems that demonstrate progress
				based on improvement in assessment scores for students below the proficient
				level, such as improvements from the below basic to basic level, or from basic
				to another intermediate level below the proficient level, if the system does
				not include improvement in students scores for students who scored at the
				proficient level and higher; or
						(iii)a system that demonstrates progress based
				on improvements in closing the achievement gap or making progress towards
				another State-established high-achievement target, such as a system that
				demonstrates progress towards having all subgroups meet or exceed the current
				percentage of proficient students at the State's top-performing schools (such
				as the top 20 percent of schools), if the system requires continued improvement
				towards subsequently higher targets until all students have reached the
				proficient level.
						(K)Requirement for guidance from the secretary
				on additional models and systems for measuring student progressNot later than 120 days after the date of
				enactment of the No Child Left Behind Flexibility and Improvements Act, the
				Secretary shall establish specific models of additional models and systems for
				measuring student progress that meet the requirements of subparagraph (J),
				including models of cohort-growth systems, indexing systems, or
				high-achievement target systems described in subparagraph (J). To the extent
				possible, the models shall demonstrate the maximum amount of flexibility
				available under this part in the design of additional models and systems for
				measuring student progress. In addition, the Secretary shall create a task
				force to provide guidance and other technical assistance to those States
				interested in incorporating additional models and systems for measuring student
				progress into their State accountability
				plan.
					.
			4.State option regarding students with
			 limited English proficiencySection 1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and
			 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) (as amended by section
			 3) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

				(N)State option regarding students with
				limited English proficiency
					(i)In generalIn determining whether a school, local
				educational agency, or State has made adequate yearly progress under this
				subsection, a State shall have the option to include in the students with
				limited English proficiency subgroup a student who was formerly included in the
				subgroup and subsequently acquired proficiency in English.
					(ii)Duration of inclusion in the
				subgroupA State may include
				a student described in clause (i) in the students with limited English
				proficiency subgroup until the student completes secondary school.
					(iii)Rules of constructionNothing in this subparagraph shall be
				construed—
						(I)to count a student described in clause (i)
				as a student with limited English proficiency for purposes of—
							(aa)determining a State-defined minimum
				subgroup size; and
							(bb)allocating funds under title III;
							(II)to require a student described in clause
				(i)—
							(aa)to continue to take a limited English
				proficiency assessment under paragraph (7); and
							(bb)to receive language services provided to
				students with limited English
				proficiency.
							.
		5. Local academic assessmentsSection 1111(b)(3)(A) of the Elementary and
			 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)(A)) is amended—
			(1)by striking (A)
			 In
			 general.—Each State plan and inserting the
			 following:

					(A)Implementation of assessments
						(i)In generalEach State
				plan
						;
				and
			(2)by adding at the end the following:

					(ii)Rule of construction regarding use of local
				assessmentsNothing in this
				Act shall be construed to prohibit a State from using a local assessment system
				or a mixed system of State and local assessments in carrying out clause (i), if
				the assessment system—
						(I)is aligned with the State's content and
				achievement standards and provides coherent information about student
				attainment of those standards;
						(II)is valid and reliable, and consistent with
				relevant professional and technical standards;
						(III)provides individual student reports and
				itemized score analysis; and
						(IV)allows the State to aggregate, with
				confidence, data from disparate local assessments.
						(iii)Required technical assistanceNot later than 120 days after the date of
				enactment of the No Child Left Behind Flexibility and Improvements Act, the
				Secretary shall provide models of local assessment systems or mixed system of
				State and local assessments meeting the requirements described in clause (ii),
				and shall provide guidance and technical assistance to States on ways that
				these systems may be used to satisfy the assessment requirements of this
				part.
					.
			6.Deferral of Academic
			 AssessmentsSection
			 1111(b)(3)(D) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
			 6311(b)(3)(D)) is amended by striking clauses (i) through (iv) and inserting
			 the following:

				(i)$640,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
				and
				(ii)$670,000,000 for fiscal year
				2009.
				.
		7.Adequate yearly progress by group and
			 subjectSection 1116(b) of the
			 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
			 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316(b)) is amended—
			(1)in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), by
			 inserting with respect to the performance of a particular group of
			 students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) in the same academic
			 subject, after that fails, for 2 consecutive
			 years,;
			(2)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of
			 paragraph (5), by inserting with respect to the performance of a
			 particular group of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) in the same
			 academic subject, after that fails to make adequate yearly
			 progress,;
			(3)in the matter preceding clause (i) of
			 paragraph (7)(C), by inserting with respect to the performance of a
			 particular group of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) in the same
			 academic subject, after that fails to make adequate yearly
			 progress,; and
			(4)in the matter preceding clause (i) of
			 paragraph (8)(A), by inserting with respect to the performance of a
			 particular group of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) in the same
			 academic subject, after continues to fail to make adequate
			 yearly progress,.
			8.Modification of the definition of highly
			 qualified teacherSubpart 1 of
			 part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
			 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				1120C.Modification of the definition of highly
				qualified teacher
					(a)Highly qualified teachers of multiple
				academic subjectsNotwithstanding section 9101(23) or any
				other provision of law, a middle or secondary school teacher employed to teach
				multiple academic subjects shall be deemed to be highly qualified for purposes
				of this part, if—
						(1)the teacher meets the requirements of
				section 9101(23)(A);
						(2)the teacher has a bachelor's degree;
						(3)the teacher has demonstrated a high level
				of competency in at least one subject taught by the teacher by passing a test
				described in subclause (I), or a successful completion described in subclause
				(II), of section 9101(23)(B)(ii), applicable to such subject;
						(4)(A)the State educational agency makes a
				determination, for a period of not more than 3 years at a time, that—
								(i)the teacher should be considered highly
				qualified for purposes of this part based on a showing that the teacher is
				making progress toward becoming highly qualified as defined in section
				9101(23); and
								(ii)at the time the State educational agency
				makes such determination, the teacher teaches in a local educational agency of
				the State that has provided the State educational agency with evidence (that
				may include the fact that the local educational agency serves a small and rural
				school facing unique staffing or hiring challenges that require teachers to
				teach multiple academic subjects) that the local educational agency has made a
				reasonable effort to provide teachers who are highly qualified under section
				9101(23) to every student served by the local educational agency; or
								(B)the teacher has an academic minor
				consisting of not less than 15 credit hours, or the equivalent of an academic
				minor as defined by the State educational agency in its State plan pursuant to
				section 1119(a)(2), in each academic subject that is taught by the teacher
				(other than a subject for which the teacher has demonstrated a high level of
				competency under paragraph (3)), and each such subject is related to a subject
				for which the teacher has demonstrated a high level of competency under
				paragraph (3).
							(b)ReportFor each year that a teacher in a State is
				deemed to be highly qualified under subsection (a), the State educational
				agency in the State shall make available to the public a report that
				includes—
						(1)the number of teachers in the State that
				are deemed highly qualified under subsection (a); and
						(2)the total amount of subgrant funds made
				available under subpart 2 of part A of title II that the State awards to local
				educational agencies under such subpart that are available to assist the
				teachers described in paragraph (1) with the process of becoming highly
				qualified as defined in section
				9101(23).
						.
		9.Reading activities for individual
			 students
			(a)FindingCongress
			 finds that, based on the Office of Inspector General of the Department of
			 Education's September 2006 report entitled The Reading First Program's
			 Grant Application Process, it is crucial to achieving the goals of the
			 Reading First program under subpart 1 of part B of title I of the Elementary
			 and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6361 et seq.) that greater
			 flexibility is afforded to program participants, including allowing
			 participants to choose from a variety of scientifically-based reading
			 programs.
			(b)Use of funds
			 for reading activitiesSection 1202(c)(7) of the Elementary and
			 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6362(c)(7)) is amended by adding at
			 the end the following:

					(C)Reading activities for individual
				studentsNotwithstanding any
				other provision of this subpart, an eligible local educational agency may use
				the funds provided under the subgrant for any activity described in
				subparagraph (A) that is provided to a student in a manner other than on a
				classwide instruction basis, including small group instruction and one-to-one
				instruction.
					.
			10.Definition of highly
			 qualifiedSection
			 9101(23)(B)(ii)(II) (20 U.S.C. 7801(23)(B)(ii)(II)) is amended by striking
			 credentialing; and and
			 inserting

				credentialing,except that the Secretary shall
				promulgate regulations permitting a teacher to demonstrate subject area
				competence in history, geography, economics, government, civics, or related
				subjects at middle or secondary schools in the State through a State social
				studies certificate that qualifies the teacher to teach such subjects;
				and.


114 HR 2057 IH: Computer Science in STEM Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-04-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2057
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			April 28, 2015
			Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Rangel, and Mr. Polis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

		A BILL
		To direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to State educational agencies to develop
			 comprehensive plans to strengthen elementary and secondary computer
			 science education, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Computer Science in STEM Act of 2015. 2.FindingsThe Congress finds the following:
 (1)Computer science is transforming industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors.
 (2)Computer science underpins the information technology sector of the United States economy, which is a significant contributor to the economic output of the United States.
 (3)The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that from 2008 through 2018 more than 1,500,000 high-wage computing jobs will be created in the United States economy, making high-wage computing one of the fastest growing occupational fields.
 (4)The breadth of industries requiring computing professionals is diverse, two-thirds of computing jobs are in sectors other than information technology, including manufacturing, defense, health care, finance, and government.
 (5)Providing students with computer science education in elementary and secondary school is critical for student success in the 21st century and for strengthening the workforce.
 (6)Elementary and secondary computer science education gives students a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals of computing, yielding critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives in numerous fields.
 (7)Computer science courses in elementary and secondary schools are fading from the national landscape at a time when they are most needed. The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) has found that introductory secondary school computer science courses have decreased in number by 17 percent since 2005 and the number of Advanced Placement (AP) computer science courses has decreased by 33 percent.
 (8)Significant disparities in access to computer science education exist for minorities. Research in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest and one of the most diverse school districts in the United States, found college-preparatory computer science courses were commonly missing in schools with high numbers of Latino and African-American students.
 (9)Only 14 States allow computer science courses to count toward a student’s secondary school graduation requirements, chilling student interest in computer science courses.
 (10)The CSTA has found that many States do not have a certification or licensure process for computer science teachers, and where certification processes do exist, such processes often have no connection to computer science content.
 (11)Computer science education has been encumbered by confusion regarding the related but distinct concepts of computer science education, technology education, and the use of technology in education.
 (12)Computer science education courses have often been placed within the vocational education pathways in schools, creating a focus on applied information technology skills rather than a focus on developing core computer science knowledge.
 (13)With the growing importance of computing in society, the need for students to understand the fundamentals of computing, and the significant challenges computer science education faces in elementary and secondary education, broad support for computer science education is needed to catalyze reform.
 3.Amendment to the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010Section 2(2) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note) is amended by inserting , and computer science after and mathematics.
		4.State comprehensive planning grants
 (a)Program authorizedThe Secretary of Education shall award grants to State educational agencies to develop comprehensive plans to strengthen elementary and secondary computer science education in accordance with this section.
 (b)ObjectivesA comprehensive plan developed under this section shall outline strategies for achieving the following objectives:
 (1)Provide an engaging and rigorous computer science education intended to ensure students are prepared for the 21st century.
 (2)Assess the State’s needs for computer science education, particularly for underrepresented populations.
 (3)Ensure access to computer science courses, particularly at low-performing schools and for low-income students and students underrepresented in computing.
 (4)Ensure that students are exposed to grade-appropriate computer science concepts in kindergarten through grade 12 and that computer science courses at the secondary level are viewed as part of the core curriculum students need to be ready for postsecondary education and careers.
 (5)Ensure that teachers have the appropriate background, skills, and access to resources to teach computer science.
 (c)Contents of comprehensive plansA State educational agency that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall develop a comprehensive plan that meets the objectives described in subsection (b) and includes the following:
 (1)An assessment of elementary and secondary computer science education in such State. (2)Proposals to improve elementary and secondary computer science education in such State through the development and implementation of—
 (A)challenging and grade-appropriate academic content standards for computer science at elementary and secondary education levels;
 (B)grade-appropriate assessments of computer science learning; (C)programs to increase access to computer science courses for students at low-performing schools and students underrepresented in computing;
 (D)improved computer science teacher certification or licensure requirements and processes; (E)professional development programs for computer science teachers; and
 (F)programs for ensuring that computer science courses at the secondary level are considered an integral part of the curriculum students need to be well prepared for higher education and employment.
 (d)ConsultationIn developing a comprehensive plan under this section, a State educational agency shall collaborate with representatives of institutions of higher education, with other interested parties, and, where they exist in such State, with State P–16 or P–20 councils.
 (e)Duration of grantsThe Secretary shall award each grant under subsection (a) for a period of 2 years. (f)Funding structure (1)In generalThe Secretary shall award grants under subsection (a) proportionally among the State educational agencies that apply for grant funding under this section based on the number of low-income children served by the State educational agency compared to the total number of low-income children served by all of the State educational agencies that apply for grant funding under this section.
				(2)Counting low-income children
 (A)Categories of childrenThe number of low-income children to be counted for purposes of this section is the aggregate of— (i)the number of children aged 5 to 17, inclusive, in the State from families below the poverty level, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data;
 (ii)the number of children (determined for either the preceding year or for the second preceding year, as the Secretary finds appropriate) aged 5 to 17, inclusive, in the State in institutions for neglected and delinquent children (other than such institutions operated by the United States); and
 (iii)the number of children aged 5 to 17, inclusive, in the State from families above the poverty level as determined under paragraph (4)(A) of section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)(4)).
 (B)MethodologyIn making computations under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use the methodology described in paragraphs (3) through (5) of section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)).
 (3)Minimum grantNotwithstanding paragraph (1), each State educational agency approved by the Secretary to receive a grant under this section shall receive a minimum grant of $250,000.
 (g)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary, subject to the availability of appropriations, to carry out this section.
			5.Implementation grants
 (a)Program authorizedThe Secretary shall award grants to State educational agencies in accordance with this section to implement computer science education improvements proposed in comprehensive plans that meet the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of section 4.
 (b)BenchmarksEach State educational agency applying for a grant under this section shall— (1)develop quantifiable benchmarks for the activities supported under such grant, which may include benchmarks for increasing—
 (A)student knowledge and competency of grade-appropriate computer science concepts; (B)the number of students that take computer science courses;
 (C)the diversity of students who take computer science courses; (D)the number of students who plan to pursue postsecondary computer science degrees;
 (E)the diversity of students who plan to pursue postsecondary computer science degrees; and (F)the number of teachers who are certified to teach computer science; and
 (2)submit such quantifiable benchmarks to the Secretary for approval. (c)ActivitiesGrant funds received under this section shall be used by each State educational agency for the development and implementation of—
 (1)challenging and grade-appropriate academic content standards for computer science; (2)grade-appropriate assessments of computer science learning;
 (3)programs to increase access to computer science courses for students at low-performing schools and students underrepresented in computing;
 (4)improved computer science teacher certification requirements and processes; (5)professional development programs for computer science teachers;
 (6)programs for ensuring that computer science courses at the secondary level are considered an integral part of the curriculum students need to be well prepared for higher education and employment;
 (7)effective computer science curricula; (8)computer science distance learning programs; and
 (9)such other activities that strengthen computer science education and that such State educational agency considers appropriate.
 (d)Administrative expensesA State educational agency may use not more than five percent of a grant received under this section for administrative expenses.
 (e)PartnershipsIn performing the activities required under subsection (c), each State educational agency shall partner with institutions of higher education and local educational agencies, and may partner with nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other State educational agencies.
			(f)Non-Federal share
 (1)In generalEach State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall provide a non-Federal share, in cash or in-kind, of the funding for the activities described in subsection (c) of not less than 20 percent of the total cost of such activities in any fiscal year.
 (2)Financial hardship waiverThe Secretary may reduce or waive the requirement to provide a non-Federal share under paragraph (1) for a State educational agency if such State educational agency demonstrates a need for such waiver or reduction due to extreme financial hardship.
 (g)Duration of grantsThe Secretary shall award each grant under subsection (a) for a period of five years. (h)Subsequent grantsAt the end of the 5-year period for a grant, the grant recipient may apply for an additional grant under this section by submitting an updated comprehensive plan that meets the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of section 4. In considering an application for a subsequent grant under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the reports filed under subsection (l).
 (i)Competitive basis; priorityThe Secretary shall— (1)award grants for a fiscal year on a competitive basis among State educational agencies that meet the requirements for funding under this section; and
 (2)give priority to State educational agency proposals that include an emphasis on serving low-performing schools and on increasing participation in computer science by students underrepresented in computing.
 (j)Funding PriorityIn allocating grant funds received under this section, a State educational agency shall give priority to proposals that include an emphasis on serving low-performing schools and on increasing participation in computer science by students underrepresented in computing.
 (k)Supplement, not supplantFunds made available to carry out this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and State funds available to carry out the activities described in this section.
 (l)ReportsEach State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall— (1)measure the progress of such State educational agency in achieving the benchmarks developed under subsection (b)(1);
 (2)collect data relating to student-related benchmarks developed under subsection (b)(1) in a form that is disaggregated by student race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency status, and low-income status, except that such disaggregation shall not be required when the number of students in a category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable results or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student;
 (3)collect such other performance information as the Secretary may reasonably require for the national evaluation conducted under section 6;
 (4)submit a report to the Secretary addressing each item in paragraphs (1) through (3) not later than four years after the date on which the State educational agency receives an initial grant under this section; and
 (5)not later than two years after the date of the submission of the report required under paragraph (4), and biennially thereafter until the State educational agency no longer receives grant funding under this section, submit to the Secretary an update of such report.
 (m)GuidanceThe Secretary shall provide guidance to State educational agencies regarding acceptable data sources and methodologies for—
 (1)establishing performance benchmarks; and (2)measuring progress by State educational agencies receiving grants under this section.
				6.National evaluation
 (a)In generalNot earlier than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall contract with an independent organization for a comprehensive, scientifically valid, and quantitative evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the activities funded by grants received under this Act in improving the availability and quality of computer science education, the overall participation rate of students in computer science courses, and the participation rate of students underrepresented in computing in computer science courses.
			(b)Reporting requirements
 (1)Initial reportNot later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the evaluation described in subsection (a).
 (2)Report updatesNot later than 2 years after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under paragraph (1), and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an update of such report.
				7.Expanding teacher preparation programs for computer science teachers
 (a)Computer science model teacher preparation programPart B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					2204.Computer science model teacher preparation program
 (a)EstablishmentThe Secretary is authorized to award grants to institutions of higher education to improve training for elementary school and secondary school computer science teachers.
 (b)EligibilityThe Secretary shall award a grant under this section to an institution of higher education that— (1)has, at minimum—
 (A)a program in teacher education; and (B)a program in computer science or informatics; and
 (2)submits an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
 (c)Use of fundsAn institution of higher education that receives a grant under the section shall use the grant funds to carry out not less than one of the following activities:
 (1)Develop courses for undergraduate students that— (A)prepare such students to teach computer science in elementary schools and secondary schools;
 (B)address content and pedagogy in informatics or computer science education; and (C)engage the teacher education department and other relevant departments at the institution of higher education.
 (2)Develop and fund teacher mentoring programs to support elementary school and secondary school computer science teachers who are new to the profession.
 (d)Duration of grantsEach grant awarded by the Secretary under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (e)ReportNot later than 180 days after the conclusion of the grant period described under subsection (d), an institution of higher education that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary and Congress a report that—
 (1)identifies the number of teachers served under the grant; (2)identifies the number of teachers described in paragraph (1) who obtain a teaching position in a computer science classroom; and
 (3)evaluates the activities carried out under this section.. (b)Technical amendmentThe table of contents for such Act is amended by inserting before the item relating to part C of title II the following:

						Sec. 2204. Computer science model teacher preparation program..
 8.Computer science in the Robert Noyce teacher scholarship programSection 10 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1) is amended—
 (1)by striking and mathematics and inserting mathematics, informatics, and computer science in each place it appears; (2)in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking or mathematics and inserting mathematics, informatics, and computer science;
 (3)in subsections (b)(1)(D)(i), (c)(1)(A), (d)(1), and (i)(7) by striking or mathematics in each place it appears and inserting mathematics, informatics, or computer science; and (4)in subsection (i)(5), by striking or mathematics and inserting mathematics, or computer science.
 9.DefinitionsIn this Act: (1)Computer scienceThe term computer science means the study of computers and algorithmic processes and includes the study of computing principles, computer hardware and software design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on society.
 (2)Computer science educationThe term computer science education includes computing education in any of the following: (A)Software design.
 (B)Hardware design. (C)Creation of digital artifacts.
 (D)Abstraction. (E)Logic.
 (F)Algorithm development and implementation. (G)Programming paradigms and languages.
 (H)Theoretical foundations. (I)Networks.
 (J)Graphics. (K)Databases and information retrieval.
 (L)Information security and privacy. (M)Artificial intelligence.
 (N)The relationship between computing and mathematics. (O)The limits of computation.
 (P)Applications in information technology and information systems. (Q)The social impacts of computing.
 (3)Institution of higher educationThe term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
 (4)Local educational agencyThe term local educational agency— (A)subject to subparagraph (B), has the meaning given that term in section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(26)); and
 (B)includes any charter school (as defined in section 5210(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221i(1))) that constitutes a local educational agency under State law.
 (5)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Education. (6)State educational agencyThe term State educational agency has the meaning given that term in section 9101(41) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(41)).
 (7)Students underrepresented in computingThe term students underrepresented in computing— (A)means populations historically underrepresented in computer science disciplines; and
 (B)includes females, racial minorities, and low-income students.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1123
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			March 16, 2011
			Ms. Richardson
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Transportation and
			 Infrastructure

		A BILL
		To amend title 23, United States Code, to revise certain
		  infrastructure finance provisions.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 TIFIA Expansion Act of
			 2011.
		2.TIFIA funding of
			 qualified transit capital projects
			(a)Definition of
			 master credit agreementSection 601(a) of title 23, United States
			 Code, is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (8)—
					(A)by striking and at the end
			 of subparagraph (C);
					(B)by striking the period at the end of
			 subparagraph (D) and inserting and;; and
					(C)by adding at the end the following:

							(E)a project or program of related projects
				that—
								(i)is
				for the design, acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of one or more
				transportation projects that reduces emissions of greenhouse gases or has a
				positive impact on congestion; and
								(ii)receives not more
				than 30 percent of its funding for capital costs from Federal grant funds made
				available under this title or chapter 53 of title 49, United States
				Code.
								;
				and
					(2)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(15)Master credit
				agreementThe term
				master credit agreement means an agreement entered into by and
				between the Secretary and an obligor for a project defined in paragraph (9)(E)
				that—
							(A)makes contingent commitments of one or more
				secured loans or other Federal credit instruments at future dates;
							(B)establishes the
				amounts and general terms and conditions of such secured loans or other Federal
				credit instruments;
							(C)identifies the
				dedicated revenue sources that will secure the repayment of such secured loans
				or other Federal credit instruments; and
							(D)provides for the
				obligation of funds for such secured loans or other Federal credit instruments
				after all requirements under section 602(c) have been met for the project,
				including compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
				Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 432i et
				seq.).
							.
				(b)Eligibility and
			 eligible projected costsSection 602(a) of title 23, United States
			 Code, is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (1)
			 by adding before the period at the end the following:

						(1), including, in the case of a master credit
				agreement, at such time as the disbursement of loan proceeds or the provision
				of other credit assistance pursuant to the master credit
				agreement
						;
				and
				(2)in paragraph
			 3—
					(A)by striking subparagraph (B)
			 in subparagraph (A) and inserting subparagraphs (B) and (C);
			 and
					(B)by adding at the
			 end the following:

							(C)Mega Transportation
				ProjectsIn the case of a
				project defined in section 601(a)(8)(E), eligible project costs shall be
				reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed
				$1,000,000,000.
							.
					(c)Secured
			 loansSection 603(b)—
				(1)in paragraph (2)
			 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking 33
			 percent and inserting 49 percent;
				(2)in paragraph
			 (4)—
					(A)by striking
			 The interest rate and inserting the following:

							(A)In
				generalThe interest
				rate
							;
				and
					(B)by adding at the
			 end the following new subparagraph:

							(B)Reduction in
				interest rate
								(i)In
				generalIf the Secretary determines that the interest rate
				described under subparagraph (A) has increased by more than 1 percent between
				the time the Secretary signs the master credit agreement and the time at which
				the secured loan is made with respect to a project that is the subject of such
				master credit agreement, the Secretary may allow the interest rate on the
				secured loan to be up to—
									(I)1 percent lower
				than subparagraph (A) allows; or
									(II)for a secured loan being made with respect
				to a project that is certified by the Secretary, in consultation with the
				Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as only using clean
				construction equipment, 1.5 percent lower than subparagraph (A) allows.
									(ii)Clean
				construction equipment definedFor purposes of this subparagraph, the term
				clean construction equipment means nonroad construction vehicles
				or equipment powered by diesel engines that—
									(I)are certified to
				meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 nonroad engine fine
				particulate emission standards, published in the Federal Register on June 29,
				2004 (69 Fed. Reg. 38958); or
									(II)achieve through
				other means a particulate matter emission reduction of 85 percent or more from
				uncontrolled engine emission levels.
									;
				and
					(3)in paragraph (6)
			 by inserting before the period the following: , except that when making
			 a secured loan, the Secretary may waive the application of this paragraph with
			 respect to the loan if the amount of the loan does not exceed 33 percent of the
			 reasonably anticipated eligible project costs and the loan is secured by tax
			 revenue.
				(d)Lines of
			 creditSection 604(b)(2) of
			 title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking 33 percent
			 and inserting 49 percent.
			(e)FundingSection 608(a) of title 23, United States
			 Code, is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (1)
			 by striking $122,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through
			 2009 and inserting $375,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011
			 through 2015; and
				(2)in paragraph (3) by striking
			 $2,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009 and
			 inserting $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through
			 2015.
				(f)Certain
			 unobligated balancesWith
			 respect to a secured loan made pursuant to chapter 6 of title 23, United States
			 Code, only unobligated balances provided to carry out such chapter that were
			 appropriated for a fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which such secured
			 loan is made, and which remain available, may be used to carry out the
			 authority granted to the Secretary of Transportation by the amendment made by
			 subsection (c)(2)(B).
			(g)Conforming
			 amendmentSection 603(a)(1)
			 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after into
			 agreements the following: , including master credit
			 agreements,.


115 HR 788 RH: Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-05-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		IB
		 Union Calendar No. 546
		115th CONGRESS2d Session
		H. R. 788
		[Report No. 115–707, Part I]
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 1, 2017
			Mr. Hunter (for himself, Ms. Cheney, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Walz, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Comer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Latta, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Mast, Mr. Gosar, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Welch, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Pearce, and Mr. Polis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

			May 29, 2018
			Additional sponsors: Mr. Bacon, Mr. Emmer, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Brooks of Alabama, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Harris, Mr. Jody B. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Kind, Mr. Collins of New York, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Marino, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Biggs, Mrs. Black, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Amodei, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Rokita, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Mooney of West Virginia, Mr. Ross, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Paulsen, Mr. Williams, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Budd, Mr. Tipton, Mrs. Love, Mr. Mullin, and Mr. Stivers

			May 29, 2018
			Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources

		May 29, 2018The Committee on the Judiciary discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
			 be printedA BILL
		To amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of
			 additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. 2.Findings; purpose (a)FindingsCongress finds that—
 (1)the use of firearms and archery equipment for target practice and marksmanship training activities on Federal land is allowed, except to the extent specific portions of that land have been closed to those activities;
 (2)in recent years preceding the date of enactment of this Act, portions of Federal land have been closed to target practice and marksmanship training for many reasons;
 (3)the availability of public target ranges on non-Federal land has been declining for a variety of reasons, including continued population growth and development near former ranges;
 (4)providing opportunities for target practice and marksmanship training at public target ranges on Federal and non-Federal land can help—
 (A)to promote enjoyment of shooting, recreational, and hunting activities; and (B)to ensure safe and convenient locations for those activities;
 (5)Federal law in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, including the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.), provides Federal support for construction and expansion of public target ranges by making available to States amounts that may be used for construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges; and
 (6)it is in the public interest to provide increased Federal support to facilitate the construction or expansion of public target ranges.
 (b)PurposeThe purpose of this Act is to facilitate the construction and expansion of public target ranges, including ranges on Federal land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
 3.Definition of public target rangeIn this Act, the term public target range means a specific location that— (1)is identified by a governmental agency for recreational shooting;
 (2)is open to the public; (3)may be supervised; and
 (4)may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun shooting. 4.Amendments to Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (a)DefinitionsSection 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amended—
 (1)by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and (2)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

 (2)the term public target range means a specific location that— (A)is identified by a governmental agency for recreational shooting;
 (B)is open to the public; (C)may be supervised; and
 (D)may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun shooting;. (b)Expenditures for management of wildlife areas and resourcesSection 8(b) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669g(b)) is amended—
 (1)by striking (b) Each State and inserting the following:  (b)Expenditures for management of wildlife areas and resources (1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), each State;
 (2)in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking construction, operation, and inserting operation; (3)in the second sentence, by striking The non-Federal share and inserting the following:

 (3)Non-Federal shareThe non-Federal share; (4)in the third sentence, by striking The Secretary and inserting the following:

 (4)RegulationsThe Secretary; and (5)by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) the following:

 (2)ExceptionNotwithstanding the limitation described in paragraph (1), a State may pay up to 90 percent of the cost of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range..
 (c)Firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grantsSection 10 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h–1) is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:

 (3)Allocation of additional amountsOf the amount apportioned to a State for any fiscal year under section 4(b), the State may elect to allocate not more than 10 percent, to be combined with the amount apportioned to the State under paragraph (1) for that fiscal year, for acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range.;
 (2)by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:  (b)Cost sharing (1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a grant under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the activity.
 (2)Public target range construction or expansionThe Federal share of the cost of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range in a State on Federal or non-Federal land pursuant to this section or section 8(b) shall not exceed 90 percent of the cost of the activity.; and
 (3)in subsection (c)(1)— (A)by striking Amounts made and inserting the following:

 (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), amounts made; and (B)by adding at the end the following:

 (B)ExceptionAmounts provided for acquiring land for, constructing, or expanding a public target range shall remain available for expenditure and obligation during the 5-fiscal-year period beginning on October 1 of the first fiscal year for which the amounts are made available..
					5.Limits on liability
 (a)Discretionary functionFor purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Tort Claims Act), any action by an agent or employee of the United States to manage or allow the use of Federal land for purposes of target practice or marksmanship training by a member of the public shall be considered to be the exercise or performance of a discretionary function.
 (b)Civil action or claimsExcept to the extent provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, the United States shall not be subject to any civil action or claim for money damages for any injury to or loss of property, personal injury, or death caused by an activity occurring at a public target range that is—
 (1)funded in whole or in part by the Federal Government pursuant to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.); or
 (2)located on Federal land. 6.Sense of Congress regarding cooperationIt is the sense of Congress that, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management should cooperate with State and local authorities and other entities to carry out waste removal and other activities on any Federal land used as a public target range to encourage continued use of that land for target practice or marksmanship training.

	May 29, 2018
		Reported from the Committee on Natural ResourcesMay 29, 2018
		The Committee on the Judiciary discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
			 be printed


115 HR 1821 IH: Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-03-30
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1821IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 30, 2017Mr. Barton (for himself and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the standard charitable mileage rate for
			 delivery of meals to elderly, disabled, frail, and at-risk individuals.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements Act of 2017 or the DELIVER Act of 2017. 2.Increase in standard mileage rate for delivery of meals to elderly, disabled, frail, and at-risk individuals (a)In generalSubsection (i) of section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: In the case of use of such an automobile for the delivery of meals to homebound individuals who are elderly, disabled, frail, or at risk, the mileage rate used shall be the standard business mileage rate specified by the Internal Revenue Service for the taxable year in which such miles are driven..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to miles driven on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.


115 HRES 260 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) nuclear security role.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-04-06
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 260IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 6, 2017Mr. Foster (for himself, Mr. Visclosky, and Mr. Fortenberry) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsRESOLUTIONExpressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the International Atomic Energy
			 Agency’s (IAEA) nuclear security role.

 Whereas the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), created in 1957 for the purpose of assisting states in the development and use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, plays a critical role in the global nuclear security regime;
 Whereas the agency’s activities in nuclear security date back to the 1970s when the agency began providing ad hoc training courses in physical protection;
 Whereas these responsibilities expanded following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, reports of nuclear smuggling in the late 1990s, and again after the devastating terror attacks on September 11, 2001;
 Whereas the agency established the Nuclear Security Fund to assist countries in protecting their nuclear and radiological materials and facilities;
 Whereas the agency’s nuclear security efforts are sustained by its technical expertise, experience, transparency, and confidentiality;
 Whereas rogue regimes and clandestine organizations continue to exhibit the ambition to acquire nuclear materials that can be used to build crude radiological and nuclear weapons;
 Whereas the IAEA Office of Nuclear Security relies almost exclusively on voluntary funding, which is inherently unpredictable and inconsistent; and
 Whereas the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, issued an Action Plan on April 1, 2016, citing the agency’s need for reliable and sufficient resources: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)maintains that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays an indispensable role in strengthening nuclear security and safety around the globe;
 (2)reaffirms that the United States has a vital interest in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials; and
 (3)encourages the United States and other member states of the IAEA to take steps to ensure that the IAEA has the resources needed to successfully carry out its duties, including—
 (A)supporting the IAEA to continue convening ministerial meetings on nuclear security to promote political commitment;
 (B)contributing to the implementation of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Plan through reliable and sufficient resources;
 (C)providing appropriate political, technical, and financial support to the Nuclear Security Fund; and (D)developing a comprehensive strategy to encourage non-state, private sector contributions to the Nuclear Security Fund.


117 HR 1807 IH: Businesses Preparing for a Better Tomorrow Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-11
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1807IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 11, 2021Mr. Cawthorn introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo provide a payroll tax credit for best practices training expenses associated with protecting employees from COVID–19.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Businesses Preparing for a Better Tomorrow Act. 2.Workplace training tax credit(a)In generalIn the case of an employer, there shall be allowed as a credit against applicable employment taxes for each calendar quarter an amount equal to 50 percent of the sum of the qualified workplace training expenses paid or incurred by the employer during such calendar quarter.(b)Limitations and refundability(1)Limitation(A)In generalThe amount of the credit allowed under subsection (a) with respect to any employer for any calendar quarter shall not exceed the excess (if any) of—(i)the applicable dollar limit with respect to such employer for such calendar quarter; over(ii)the aggregate credits allowed under subsection (a) with respect to such employer for all preceding calendar quarters.(B)Applicable dollar limitThe term applicable dollar limit means, with respect to any employer for any calendar quarter, the sum of—(i)$1,000, multiplied so much of the average number of employees employed by such employer during such calendar quarter as does not exceed 500; plus(ii)$750, multiplied by so much of such average number of employees as exceeds 500 but does not exceed 1,000; plus(iii)$500, multiplied by so much of such average number of employees as exceeds 1,000.(2)Credit limited to employment taxesThe credit allowed by subsection (a) with respect to any calendar quarter shall not exceed the applicable employment taxes (reduced by any credits allowed under subsections (e) and (f) of section 3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, sections 7001 and 7003 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and section 2301 of the CARES Act) on the wages paid with respect to the employment of all the employees of the eligible employer for such calendar quarter.(3)Refundability of excess credit(A)In generalIf the amount of the credit under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation of paragraph (2) for any calendar quarter, such excess shall be treated as an overpayment that shall be refunded under sections 6402(a) and 6413(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.(B)Treatment of paymentsFor purposes of section 1324 of title 31, United States Code, any amounts due to the employer under this paragraph shall be treated in the same manner as a refund due from a credit provision referred to in subsection (b)(2) of such section.(c)Qualified workplace training expensesFor purposes of this section, the term qualified workplace training expenses means amounts paid or incurred by the employer for education and training with respect to industry best practices that ensure—(1)the health and safety of employees in the workplace with respect to COVID–19; and (2)the prevention of the spread of COVID–19 in the workplace.(d)DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—(1)Applicable employment taxesThe term applicable employment taxes means the following:(A)The taxes imposed under section 3111(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.(B)So much of the taxes imposed under section 3221(a) of such Code as are attributable to the rate in effect under section 3111(a) of such Code.(2)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate.(e)Special rules(1)Aggregation ruleAll persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or subsection (m) or (o) of section 414 of such Code, shall be treated as one employer for purposes of this section.(2)Denial of double benefit(A)In generalRules similar to the rules of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 280C(b) shall apply for purposes of this section.(B)Expenses not taken into account more than onceAny qualified workplace reconfiguration expense or qualified workplace technology expense shall not be treated as a qualified employee protection expense and any qualified workplace technology expense shall not be treated as a qualified workplace reconfiguration expense.(3)Third-party payorsAny credit allowed under this section shall be treated as a credit described in section 3511(d)(2) of such Code.(4)Election not to have section applyThis section shall not apply with respect to any eligible employer for any calendar quarter if such employer elects (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe) not to have this section apply.(f)Transfers to certain trust fundsThere are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) and the Social Security Equivalent Benefit Account established under section 15A(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231n–1(a)) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of this section (without regard to this subsection). Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund or Account had this section not been enacted.(g)Treatment of depositsThe Secretary shall waive any penalty under section 6656 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any failure to make a deposit of any applicable employment taxes if the Secretary determines that such failure was due to the reasonable anticipation of the credit allowed under this section. (h)ApplicationThis section shall only apply to amounts paid or incurred after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2022.