116 HR 1092 IH: Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-02-07
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.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1092IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 7, 2019Ms. Pingree (for herself, Ms. Brownley of California, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Ms. Moore, Mr. Rush, Ms. Norton, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. Sablan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 concernedA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of
			 Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2019. 2.Technological abuse definedSection 101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

 (37)The term technological abuse means behavior intended to harm, threaten, intimidate, control, stalk, harass, impersonate, or monitor another person, except as otherwise permitted by law, that occurs via the Internet, social networking sites, computers, mobile devices, cellular telephones, apps, location tracking devices, instant messages, text messages, or other forms of technology. Technological abuse may include—
 (A)unwanted, repeated telephone calls, text messages, instant messages, or social media posts; (B)non-consensual access of e-mail accounts, texts or instant messaging accounts, social networking accounts, or cellular telephone logs;
 (C)attempting to control or restrict a person’s ability to access technology with the intent to isolate them from support and social connection;
 (D)using tracking devices or location tracking software for the purpose of monitoring or stalking another person’s location;
 (E)impersonation of a person with the intent to deceive or cause harm through the use of spoofing technology or the creation of fake email or social media accounts; or
 (F)pressuring for or sharing of another person’s private information, photographs, or videos without their consent..
		3.Expansion of coverage by the Department of Veterans Affairs of counseling and treatment for sexual
 trauma to include technological abuse of a sexual natureSection 1720D(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting technological abuse of a sexual nature, after battery of a sexual nature,. 4.Standard of proof for service-connection of mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma (a)Standard of proofSection 1154 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

					(c)
 (1)In the case of any veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma during active military, naval, or air service, the Secretary shall accept as sufficient proof of service-connection a diagnosis of such mental health condition by a mental health professional together with satisfactory lay or other evidence of such trauma and an opinion by the mental health professional that such covered mental health condition is related to such military sexual trauma, if consistent with the facts of such service, notwithstanding the fact that there is no official record of such incurrence or aggravation in such service, and, to that end, shall resolve every reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran. Service-connection of such covered mental health condition may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. The reasons for granting or denying service-connection in each case shall be recorded in full.
 (2)In this subsection: (A)The term covered mental health condition means post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or other mental health diagnosis described in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association that the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.
 (B)The term military sexual trauma means, with respect to a veteran, a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, technological abuse of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment in line of duty..
			(b)Use of evidence in evaluating disability claims involving military sexual trauma
 (1)In generalSubchapter VI of chapter 11 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

						1164.Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma
							(a)Nonmilitary sources of evidence
 (1)In carrying out section 1154(c) of this title, the Secretary shall ensure that if a claim for compensation under this chapter is received by the Secretary for a covered mental health condition (as defined in such section) based on military sexual trauma experienced by a veteran during active military, naval, or air service, evidence from sources other than official records of the Department of Defense regarding the veteran's service may corroborate the veteran’s account of the assault, battery, or harassment.
 (2)Examples of evidence described in paragraph (1) include the following: (A)Records from law enforcement authorities, rape crisis centers, mental health counseling centers, hospitals, and physicians.
 (B)Pregnancy tests and tests for sexually transmitted diseases. (C)Statements from family members, roommates, other members of the Armed Forces or veterans, and clergy.
									(b)Behavior changes corroborating evidence
 (1)In carrying out section 1154(c) of this title, the Secretary shall ensure that evidence of a behavior change following military sexual trauma is one type of relevant evidence that may be found in sources described in such subsection.
 (2)Examples of behavior changes that may be relevant evidence of military sexual trauma include the following:
 (A)A request for a transfer to another military duty assignment. (B)Deterioration in work performance.
 (C)Substance abuse. (D)Episodes of depression, panic attacks, or anxiety without an identifiable cause.
 (E)Unexplained economic or social behavior changes. (c)Notice and opportunity To supply evidenceThe Secretary may not deny a claim of a veteran for compensation under this chapter for a covered mental health condition that is based on military sexual trauma without first—
 (1)advising the veteran that evidence described in subsections (a) and (b) may constitute credible corroborating evidence of the military sexual trauma; and
 (2)allowing the veteran an opportunity to furnish such corroborating evidence or advise the Secretary of potential sources of such evidence.
 (d)Review of evidenceIn reviewing a claim for compensation described in subsection (a)(1), for any evidence received with such claim that is described in subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary may submit such evidence to such medical or mental health professional as the Secretary considers appropriate, including clinical and counseling experts employed by the Department, to obtain a credible opinion as to whether the evidence indicates that military sexual trauma occurred.
 (e)Point of contactThe Secretary shall ensure that each document provided to a veteran relating to a claim for compensation described in subsection (a)(1) includes contact information for an appropriate point of contact with the Department.
							(f)Specialized teams
 (1)The Secretary shall establish specialized teams to process claims for compensation described in subsection (a)(1).
 (2)The Secretary shall ensure that members of teams established under paragraph (1) are trained to identify markers indicating military sexual trauma.
 (3)In any case in which the Secretary obtains conflicting evidence relating to the substantiation of a claim for compensation described in subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall give more credence to the evidence that is more beneficial to the claimant.
 (g)DefinitionsIn this section, the terms covered mental health condition and military sexual trauma has the meanings given such terms in section 1154(c) of this title.. (2)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

							1164. Evaluation of claims involving military sexual trauma..
				(c)Annual reports
 (1)In generalSubchapter VI of chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

						1165.Reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma
 (a)ReportsNot later than March 1, 2020, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter through 2027, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on covered claims submitted during the previous fiscal year to identify and track the consistency of decisions across regional offices.
 (b)ElementsEach report under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)The number of covered claims submitted to or considered by the Secretary during the fiscal year covered by the report.
 (2)Of the covered claims listed under paragraph (1), the number and percentage of such claims— (A)submitted by each sex;
 (B)that were approved, including the number and percentage of such approved claims submitted by each sex; and
 (C)that were denied, including the number and percentage of such denied claims submitted by each sex. (3)Of the covered claims listed under paragraph (1) that were approved, the number and percentage, disaggregated by sex, of claims assigned to each rating percentage.
 (4)Of the covered claims listed under paragraph (1) that were denied— (A)the three most common reasons given by the Secretary under section 5104(b)(1) of this title for such denials; and
 (B)the number of denials that were based on the failure of a veteran to report for a medical examination.
 (5)The number of covered claims that, as of the end of the fiscal year covered by the report, are pending and, separately, the number of such claims on appeal.
 (6)For the fiscal year covered by the report, the average number of days that covered claims take to complete, beginning on the date on which the claim is submitted.
 (7)A description of the training that the Secretary provides to employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration, or such contractors or other individuals as the Secretary considers appropriate, specifically with respect to covered claims, including the frequency, length, and content of such training.
 (c)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)The term covered claims means claims for disability compensation submitted to the Secretary based on a covered mental health condition alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma.
 (2)The terms covered mental health condition and military sexual trauma have the meanings given such terms in section 1154(c) of this title.. (2)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following new item:

							1165. Annual reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma..
 (d)Effective dateSubsection (c) of section 1154 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to any claim for disability compensation under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for which no final decision has been made before the date of the enactment of this Act.
			5.Information for members of the Armed Forces regarding availability of services at the Department of
			 Veterans Affairs
 (a)In generalThe Secretary of Defense shall inform members of the Armed Forces, using mechanisms available to the Secretary, of the eligibility of such members for services at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 (b)Information from Sexual Assault Response CoordinatorsThe Secretary shall ensure that Sexual Assault Response Coordinators of the Department of Defense advise members of the Armed Forces who report instances of military sexual trauma regarding the eligibility of such members for services at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 (c)Military sexual trauma definedIn this section, the term military sexual trauma means psychological trauma described in section 1720D(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code. 6.Sense of Congress on access to Department of Veterans Affairs facilities by reservists for counseling and treatment relating to military sexual trauma (a)In generalIt is the sense of Congress that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard, should be able to access all health care facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive counseling and treatment relating to military sexual trauma and not just at Vet Centers.
 (b)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Military sexual traumaThe term military sexual trauma means psychological trauma described in section 1720D(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code.
 (2)Vet CenterThe term Vet Center has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of such title.


115 HR 5696 IH: Combating Lead Poisoning Through Nutrition Education Act of 2018
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-05-07
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. 5696IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 7, 2018Ms. Moore introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AgricultureA BILLTo require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a nutrition education program to inform the
			 public of the sources of exposure to lead in the environment and of
			 dietary nutrients that may reduce the harmful effects lead exposure has on
			 health.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Combating Lead Poisoning Through Nutrition Education Act of 2018. 2.Nutrition outreach program to respond to exposure to lead (a)Implementation of nutrition education programThe Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out a nutrition education program to be called Well Fed Means Less Lead (in this section referred to as WFMLL) to support communitywide messaging and outreach on both the harmful impacts of lead exposure and the important role nutrition plays in a diet protective against lead exposure, especially for children.
 (b)GrantsThe Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities that submit applications containing such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, to carry out WFMLL campaigns.
 (c)PriorityFor the purpose of making grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—
 (1)are located in geographical areas in which there is a large number of children with elevated blood lead levels; and
 (2)agree to provide WFMLL— (A)using culturally competent approaches, including print materials, to conduct outreach to targeted populations;
 (B)using campaigns that are developed based on, and responsive to, community needs; and (C)that reaches a breadth of supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-eligible households and low-income individuals (including pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and parents of school-age children at highest risk of elevated blood lead levels) through multiple channels.
 (d)LimitationIn any fiscal year, no eligible entity may receive more than 15 percent of the amount appropriated to carry out this section in such fiscal year.
 (e)Allowable uses of fundsGrants made under subsection (b) shall be used— (1)to carry out communitywide education campaigns using evidence-based materials that inform supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-eligible households and the greater community about lead exposure, and may include multilingual print materials, street-level billboards, and advertising on radio or social media;
 (2)to support outreach and education activities to inform individuals of foods that can mitigate the impact of elevated blood lead levels in children;
 (3)to target WFMLL outreach through coordination with community organizations and Department of Agriculture nutrition programs serving pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and school-age children;
 (4)to implement strategies that are focused on increasing consumption of certain foods and nutrients and that include creating culturally competent materials, training community organizations working with youth, offering community training, and conducting door-to-door efforts during daylight hours;
 (5)to promote and encourage participation in Federal nutrition programs (including the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the child and adult care food program, the summer food service program, the national school lunch program, and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children) as a means to improve nutrition and to minimize lead absorption by using culturally relevant, family-friendly, evidence-based educational materials reflective of existing materials;
 (6)to engage with local businesses, governmental entities, civic organizations, community groups, and residents to mobilize community partnerships around healthy eating and lead poisoning prevention; and
 (7)to develop systems that refer and link low-income individuals and supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-eligible households to foods that provide nutrients essential to creating a diet protective against lead.
 (f)DefinitionsFor purposes of this section: (1)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means an agency of a unit of general purpose local government, a nonprofit entity serving children at highest risk of lead poisoning, an emergency feeding organization, a food bank or food pantry (as defined in section 201A of Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501)), a federally recognized Tribe or Tribal organization, an urban Indian organization, a local education agency, or a federally qualified health center.
 (2)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. 3.Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.


115 HRES 852 IH: Expressing support for the designation of May 3, 2018, as a “National Day of Reason” and recognizing the importance of reason in the betterment of humanity.
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-04-26
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.

IV115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. RES. 852IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 26, 2018Mr. Huffman (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Pocan, and Ms. Lofgren) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government ReformRESOLUTIONExpressing support for the designation of May 3, 2018, as a National Day of Reason and recognizing the importance of reason in the betterment of humanity.

 Whereas the application of reason has proven to offer hope for human survival upon Earth, improving conditions within the universe, and cultivating intelligent, moral, and ethical interactions among people and their environments;
 Whereas those who wrote the Constitution, the basic document for governing the affairs of humankind within the United States, based it upon principles delineated within the philosophies distinguishing the historical Age of Reason;
 Whereas most citizens of the United States purport to value reason and its application; Whereas it is the duty and responsibility of every citizen to promote the development and application of reason; and
 Whereas May 3, 2018, would be an appropriate date to designate as a National Day of Reason: Now, therefore, be it  That the House of Representatives—
 (1)supports the designation of a National Day of Reason; and (2)encourages all citizens, residents, and visitors to join in observing this day and focusing upon the employment of reason, critical thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry to the resolution of human problems and for the welfare of humankind.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 899
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 4, 2009
			Mr. Schock (for
			 himself, Mr. Shimkus, and
			 Mr. Petri) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on House Administration

		A BILL
		To require States to hold special elections in the event
		  of a vacancy in the office of a Senator representing the State, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short TitleThis Act may be cited as the Ethical
			 and Legal Elections for Congressional Transitions Act.
		2.Requiring Special
			 Election in Case of Vacancy in Office of a Senator
			(a)Special
			 Election
				(1)In
			 generalExcept as provided in subsection (b), if the President of
			 the Senate issues a certification that a vacancy exists in the office of a
			 Senator, the chief executive of the State represented by the Senator shall
			 issue a writ of election to fill the vacancy by special election.
				(2)Timing of
			 electionA special election under this subsection shall be held
			 not later than 90 days after the President of the Senate issues the
			 certification described in paragraph (1).
				(3)Application of
			 State lawsA special election under this subsection shall be held
			 in accordance with applicable State law governing special elections in the
			 State.
				(b)Exception for
			 Vacancies Occurring Near Date of Regularly Scheduled ElectionSubsection (a) shall not apply in the case
			 of a vacancy in the office of a Senator if the President of the Senate issues
			 the certification described in such subsection—
				(1)during the 90-day
			 period which ends on the date a regularly scheduled general election for the
			 office is to be held; or
				(2)during the period
			 which begins on the date of a regularly scheduled general election for the
			 office and ends on the first day of the first session of the next Congress
			 which begins after the date of such election.
				(c)Rule of
			 ConstructionNothing in this section shall be construed to affect
			 the authority of a State under the Constitution of the United States to
			 authorize the chief executive of the State to make a temporary appointment to
			 fill a vacancy in the office of Senator until a special election is held for
			 the office, or to affect the authority of an individual who is appointed to
			 fill such a vacancy until an individual is elected to the office in the special
			 election.
			3.Reimbursement of
			 Portion of Costs Incurred by State in Holding Special Election
			(a)Payments To
			 Reimburse States for Portion of Special Election CostsSubtitle D of title II of the Help America
			 Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following new part:

					7Payments to
				Reimburse Portion of Costs Incurred in Holding Special Elections to Fill Senate
				Vacancies
						297.Payments to
				States to Reimburse Portion of Costs Incurred in Holding Special Elections to
				Fill Senate Vacancies
							(a)Payments
				AuthorizedIn accordance with
				the procedures and requirements of this section, the Commission shall make a
				payment to each eligible State to cover a portion of the costs incurred by the
				State in holding a special election required under the Ethical and Legal
				Elections for Congressional Transitions Act to fill a vacancy in the office of
				a Senator representing the State.
							(b)EligibilityA
				State is eligible to receive a payment under this part if it submits to the
				Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, a
				statement containing—
								(1)a notice of the
				reasonable costs incurred or the reasonable costs anticipated to be incurred by
				the State in holding the special election described in subsection (a),
				including the costs of any primary election held for purposes of determining
				the candidates in the special election; and
								(2)such other
				information and assurances as the Commission may require.
								(c)Amount of
				PaymentThe amount of a
				payment made to a State under this section shall be equal to 50 percent of the
				reasonable costs incurred or the reasonable costs anticipated to be incurred by
				the State in holding the special election described in subsection (a), as set
				forth in the statement submitted under subsection (b).
							(d)Timing of
				PaymentsThe Commission shall make the payment required under
				this section to a State not later than 30 days after receiving the statement
				submitted by the State under subsection (b).
							(e)Recoupment of
				OverpaymentsNo payment may be made to a State under this section
				unless the State agrees to repay to the Commission the excess (if any)
				of—
								(1)the amount of the
				payment received by the State under this section with respect to the election
				involved; over
								(2)the actual costs
				incurred by the State in holding the election involved.
								297A.Authorization
				of AppropriationsThere are
				authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary
				for fiscal year 2009 and each succeeding fiscal year for payments under this
				part.
						.
			(b)Clerical
			 AmendmentThe table of contents of the Help America Vote Act of
			 2002 is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D of
			 title II the following:

						Part 7—Payments To Reimburse Portion of Costs
				Incurred in Holding Special Elections To Fill Senate Vacancies
						Sec. 297. Payments to States to reimburse
				portion of costs incurred in holding special elections to fill Senate
				vacancies.
						Sec. 297A. Authorization of
				appropriations.

					.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1352
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			June 25, 2009
			Mr. Dodd (for himself,
			 Ms. Collins, Mr. Reed, Mr.
			 Lieberman, Mr. Cardin, and
			 Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
			 and Pensions

		A BILL
		To provide for the expansion of Federal
		  efforts concerning the prevention, education, treatment, and research
		  activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including the
		  establishment of a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease
			 Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2009.
		2.FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)Lyme disease is a common but frequently
			 misunderstood illness that, if not caught early and treated properly, can cause
			 serious health problems.
			(2)Lyme disease is
			 caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which belongs to the class of
			 spirochetes, and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected black-legged
			 ticks. Early signs of infection may include a rash and flu-like symptoms such
			 as fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue.
			(3)Although Lyme disease can be treated with
			 antibiotics if caught early, the disease often goes undetected because it
			 mimics other illnesses or may be misdiagnosed. Untreated, Lyme disease can lead
			 to severe heart, neurological, eye, and joint problems because the bacteria can
			 affect many different organs and organ systems.
			(4)If an individual with Lyme disease does not
			 receive treatment, such individual can develop severe heart, neurological, eye,
			 and joint problems.
			(5)Although Lyme
			 disease accounts for 90 percent of all vector-borne infections in the United
			 States, the ticks that spread Lyme disease also spread other diseases, such as
			 anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and tularemia, and carry Bartonella and other strains
			 of Borrelia. Other tick species, such as the aggressive lone star, spread
			 ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and southern tick-associated rash
			 illness (STARI). Multiple diseases in 1 patient make diagnosis and treatment
			 more difficult.
			(6)The Centers for
			 Disease Control and Prevention reported 27,444 new cases of Lyme disease in
			 2007, a 38 percent increase nationally from 2006. Studies indicate that the
			 actual number of tick-borne disease cases is approximately 10 times the amount
			 reported.
			(7)According to the
			 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1992 to 2006, the incidence of
			 Lyme disease was highest among children aged 5 to 14 years of age.
			(8)Persistence of symptomatology in many
			 patients without reliable testing makes treatment of patients more
			 difficult.
			3.Establishment of a
			 tick-borne diseases advisory committee
			(a)EstablishmentNot later than 180 days after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred
			 to in this Act as the Secretary) shall establish within the
			 Office of the Secretary an advisory committee to be known as the Tick-Borne
			 Diseases Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the
			 Committee).
			(b)DutiesThe Committee shall advise the Secretary
			 and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding the manner in which such
			 officials can—
				(1)ensure interagency coordination and
			 communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne
			 diseases;
				(2)identify opportunities to coordinate
			 efforts with other Federal agencies and private organizations addressing such
			 diseases;
				(3)ensure interagency coordination and
			 communication with constituency groups;
				(4)ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific
			 viewpoints are represented in public health policy decisions and that
			 information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced; and
				(5)advise relevant Federal agencies on
			 priorities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
				(c)Membership
				(1)Appointed
			 members
					(A)In
			 generalFrom among
			 individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government, the
			 Secretary shall appoint to the Committee, as voting members, the
			 following:
						(i)Not
			 less than 4 members from the scientific community representing the broad
			 spectrum of viewpoints held within the scientific community related to Lyme and
			 other tick-borne diseases.
						(ii)Not less than 2
			 representatives of tick-borne disease voluntary organizations.
						(iii)Not less than 2
			 health care providers, including not less than 1 full-time practicing
			 physician, with relevant experience providing care for individuals with a broad
			 range of acute and chronic tick-borne diseases.
						(iv)Not less than 2
			 patient representatives who are individuals who have been diagnosed with a
			 tick-borne disease or who have had an immediate family member diagnosed with
			 such a disease.
						(v)At
			 least 2 representatives of State and local health departments and national
			 organizations that represent State and local health professionals.
						(B)DiversityIn appointing members under this paragraph,
			 the Secretary shall ensure that such members, as a group, represent a diversity
			 of scientific perspectives relevant to the duties of the Committee.
					(2)Ex officio
			 membersThe Secretary shall
			 designate, as nonvoting, ex officio members of the Committee, representatives
			 overseeing tick-borne disease activities from each of the following Federal
			 agencies:
					(A)The Centers for Disease Control and
			 Prevention.
					(B)The National Institutes of Health.
					(C)The Agency for Healthcare Research and
			 Quality.
					(D)The Food and Drug Administration.
					(E)The Office of the Assistant Secretary for
			 Health.
					(F)Such additional Federal agencies as the
			 Secretary determines to be appropriate.
					(3)Co-chairpersonsThe Secretary shall designate the Assistant
			 Secretary of Health as the co-chairperson of the Committee. The appointed
			 members of the Committee shall also elect a public co-chairperson. The public
			 co-chairperson shall serve a 2-year term.
				(4)Term of
			 appointmentThe term of
			 service for each member of the Committee appointed under paragraph (1) shall be
			 4 years.
				(5)VacancyA vacancy in the membership of the
			 Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any
			 member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for
			 the remainder of that term. Members may serve after the expiration of their
			 terms until their successors have taken office.
				(d)MeetingsThe Committee shall hold public meetings,
			 except as otherwise determined by the Secretary, after providing notice to the
			 public of such meetings, and shall meet at least twice a year with additional
			 meetings subject to the call of the co-chairpersons. Agenda items with respect
			 to such meetings may be added at the request of the members of the Committee,
			 including the co-chairpersons. Meetings shall be conducted, and records of the
			 proceedings shall be maintained, as required by applicable law and by
			 regulations of the Secretary.
			(e)ReportNot
			 later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually
			 thereafter, the Committee, acting through the members representing the Centers
			 for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, shall
			 submit a report to the Secretary. Each such report shall contain, at a
			 minimum—
				(1)a description of
			 the Committee's functions;
				(2)a list of the
			 Committee's members and their affiliations; and
				(3)a summary of the
			 Committee's activities and recommendations during the previous year, including
			 any significant issues regarding the functioning of the Committee.
				(f)Authorization
			 of appropriationsFor the
			 purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated
			 $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Amounts appropriated
			 under the preceding sentence shall be used for the expenses and per diem costs
			 incurred by the Committee under this section in accordance with the Federal
			 Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), except that no voting member of the
			 Committee shall be a permanent salaried employee.
			4.Federal activities
			 related to the diagnosis, surveillance, prevention, and research of lyme and
			 other tick-borne diseases
			(a)In
			 generalThe Secretary, acting
			 as appropriate through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
			 Prevention, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Commissioner
			 of Food and Drugs, and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and
			 Quality, as well as additional Federal agencies as the Secretary determines to
			 be appropriate, and in consultation with the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory
			 Committee, shall provide for—
				(1)the conduct or
			 support of the activities described in subsection (b); and
				(2)the coordination
			 of all Federal programs and activities related to Lyme disease and other
			 tick-borne diseases.
				(b)ActivitiesThe activities described in this subsection
			 are the following:
				(1)Development of
			 diagnostic testsSuch
			 activities include—
					(A)the development of sensitive and more
			 accurate diagnostic tools and tests, including a direct detection test for Lyme
			 disease capable of distinguishing active infection from past infection;
					(B)improving the efficient utilization of
			 diagnostic testing currently available to account for the multiple clinical
			 manifestations of both acute and chronic Lyme disease; and
					(C)providing for the timely evaluation of
			 promising emerging diagnostic methods.
					(2)Surveillance
			 and reportingSuch activities
			 include surveillance and reporting of Lyme and other tick-borne
			 diseases—
					(A)to accurately determine the prevalence of
			 Lyme and other tick-borne diseases;
					(B)to evaluate the feasibility of developing a
			 reporting system for the collection of data on physician-diagnosed cases of
			 Lyme disease that do not meet the surveillance criteria of the Centers for
			 Disease Control and Prevention in order to more accurately gauge disease
			 incidence; and
					(C)to evaluate the feasibility of creating a
			 national uniform reporting system including required reporting by laboratories
			 in each State.
					(3)PreventionSuch activities include—
					(A)the provision and promotion of access to a
			 comprehensive, up-to-date clearinghouse of peer-reviewed information on Lyme
			 and other tick-borne diseases;
					(B)increased public education related to Lyme
			 and other tick-borne diseases through the expansion of the Community Based
			 Education Programs of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include
			 expansion of information access points to the public;
					(C)the creation of a physician education
			 program that includes the full spectrum of scientific research related to Lyme
			 and other tick-borne diseases; and
					(D)the sponsoring of scientific conferences on
			 Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including reporting and consideration of
			 the full spectrum of clinically based knowledge, with the first of such
			 conferences to be held not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of
			 this Act.
					(4)Clinical
			 outcomes researchSuch
			 activities include—
					(A)the establishment of epidemiological
			 research objectives to determine the long term course of illness for Lyme
			 disease; and
					(B)determination of the effectiveness of
			 different treatment modalities by establishing treatment outcome
			 objectives.
					(c)Authorization
			 of appropriations
				(1)In
			 generalFor the purposes of
			 carrying out this section, and for the purposes of providing for additional
			 research, prevention, and educational activities for Lyme and other tick-borne
			 diseases, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the
			 fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
				(2)CDC
			 activitiesOf the amounts
			 authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1)—
					(A)for fiscal year
			 2010, not less than $7,500,000 shall be for activities of the Centers for
			 Disease Control and Prevention that support the purposes described in such
			 paragraph; and
					(B)for each of
			 fiscal years 2011 through 2014, not less than $5,000,000 shall be for such
			 activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
					(3)Additional
			 amountsThe authorization of appropriations under this subsection
			 is in addition to any other authorization of appropriations available for the
			 purposes described in paragraph (1).
				5.Reports on lyme and
			 other tick-borne diseases
			(a)In
			 generalNot later than 18
			 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
			 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the activities carried out under
			 this Act.
			(b)ContentReports under subsection (a) shall
			 contain—
				(1)significant activities or developments
			 related to the surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, education, or prevention of
			 Lyme or other tick-borne diseases, including suggestions for further research
			 and education;
				(2)a scientifically qualified assessment of
			 Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including both acute and chronic instances,
			 related to the broad spectrum of empirical evidence of treating physicians, as
			 well as published peer reviewed data, that shall include recommendations for
			 addressing research gaps in diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other
			 tick-borne diseases and an evaluation of treatment guidelines and their
			 utilization;
				(3)progress in the development of accurate
			 diagnostic tools that are more useful in the clinical setting for both acute
			 and chronic disease;
				(4)the promotion of public awareness and
			 physician education initiatives to improve the knowledge of health care
			 providers and the public regarding clinical and surveillance practices for Lyme
			 disease and other tick-borne diseases; and
				(5)a copy of the
			 most recent annual report issued by the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee
			 established under section 3 and an assessment of progress in achieving the
			 recommendations included in the Committee's report.


115 HCON 34 IH: Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the charitable contribution deduction.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-03-17
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
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 34
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2017
Mr. Lewis of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Tiberi) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the charitable contribution deduction.

Whereas the deduction for charitable contributions is one of the oldest preferences in tax law;  Whereas the evolution of a tax exemption related to charity and philanthropy began at the end of the 19th century during consideration of the Tariff Act of 1894;
Whereas the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1913 and allowed for Congress to tax income;  Whereas following the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment, Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1913 which established the income tax system and included an exemption for certain organizations;
Whereas, on October 3, 1917, in response to United States entrance into and the need to finance World War I, the Congress passed the War Revenue Act of 1917;  Whereas the War Revenue Act of 1917 included the first individual income tax deduction in order to ensure that philanthropic efforts continued;
Whereas the charitable deduction empowers individuals to give of their personal income for the benefit of the public;  Whereas individual contributions benefit the arts, humanities, religious institutions, education, human services, the environment, health programs, and many other sectors;
Whereas philanthropy serves as a dynamic force to direct private resources toward addressing the difficult issues and evolving needs of society over a period of time, beyond a single act of good will;  Whereas throughout the 20th century, Democratic and Republican administrations worked to establish what became the Combined Federal Campaign, which seeks to create and support Federal employees’ efforts to promote and support philanthropy;
Whereas, in 2015, the largest source of charitable giving was from individual contributions;  Whereas charitable endowments provide foundations and other philanthropic institutions with the flexibility to operate strategically and with a longer term focus for identifying innovative approaches for solving issues at the local, State, national, and international level; and
Whereas philanthropy uniquely contributes to a thriving civil society as an essential partner to Government with deep roots and expansive networks in communities across the country and around the world: Now, therefore, be it  That the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring)—
(1)reaffirms the importance of encouraging rather than diminishing philanthropic services which respond to the needs of communities; and  (2)recognizes the 100th anniversary of the charitable contribution deduction.


 HCON 76 ENR: Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and its past contributions to space research, and looking forward to future accomplishments.
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-06-20
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
One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of America
At the First SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven
H. CON. RES. 76

June 20, 2007
Agreed to

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and its past contributions to space research, and looking forward to future accomplishments.

Whereas the year 2007–2008 is the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957–1958;  Whereas the IGY initiated the Space Age with the successful launch of the first artificial satellites, Sputnik by the former Soviet Union, and Explorer I by the United States;
Whereas the interdisciplinary approach of IGY and the use of new space-based platforms enabled fundamental changes in the conduct of research concerning the Earth and its surrounding space environment;  Whereas the interdisciplinary approach of IGY enabled coordinated, synchronous, global observations and measurements of the Earth, oceans, atmosphere, ice, and near-Earth space environment;
Whereas the IGY increased our understanding of the causes of magnetic storms, ionospheric disturbances, and the origins of cosmic rays;  Whereas the use of new space-based platforms enabled the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts, which are trapped, charged particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, showed that those particles form belts of energy around the Earth, and contributed to the understanding of the Northern Lights;
Whereas the IGY, involved thousands of scientists from 67 nations;  Whereas the IGY, which occurred during the height of Cold War tensions, facilitated international cooperation in science and helped lead to the Antarctic Treaty, which established the use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes and promoted continued, cooperative scientific investigations on the continent;
Whereas the IGY led to the creation of institutional structures that continue to promote and enable the international exchange of scientific research related to the Earth and space, including the International Council on Science’s Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR); and  Whereas this 50th anniversary celebration offers as an opportunity to inspire our public and youth to build on the legacy of success of the IGY, recognizing that a coordinated, international approach to interdisciplinary scientific challenges such as climate change, high energy physics, and space exploration contributes to the advancement of knowledge and sustains the cooperative spirit and goodwill among nations set forth in the IGY: Now, therefore, be it

That the Congress— (1)honors the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and its contributions to the scientific investigations of the Earth and outer space; and
(2)encourages the public, and especially American youth, to attend IGY celebrations and seminars, such as those being planned at locations around the United States by the National Academy of Sciences and other organizations, and participate in discussions about the future of space science and Earth science.   Clerk of the House of Representatives.Secretary of the Senate.


114 S1733 IS: Forest Incentives Program Act of 2015
U.S. Senate
2015-07-09
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.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1733IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 9, 2015Mrs. Shaheen introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryA BILLTo require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a forest incentives program to keep
			 forests intact and sequester carbon on private forest land of the United
			 States, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Forest Incentives Program Act of 2015. 2.FindingsCongress finds that—
 (1)public and private forest land in the United States plays a crucial role in sequestering carbon and otherwise contributes to mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions;
 (2)the Environmental Protection Agency has reported in the annual greenhouse gas inventory that United States forests and forest products sequester as much as 12 to 14 percent of annual United States carbon emissions, which makes forests one of the largest carbon sinks in the United States;
 (3)according to the Environmental Protection Agency, carbon sequestration from forests and other land uses has grown by approximately 14 percent since 1990, largely as a result of afforestation and improved forest management;
 (4)the use of forests products, such as wood products, in buildings and biobased products can also reduce carbon emissions when used in place of other, more carbon-intensive products;
 (5)(A)in addition to the significant carbon mitigation benefits of using forests and forest products for carbon sequestration, the economic and societal cobenefits of forest carbon solutions are extraordinarily valuable; and
 (B)incentivizing forest carbon activities, including through working forests, has the potential to provide timber and other forest commodities, improve air quality, enhance watershed function and water supply, create and sustain fish and wildlife habitat, contribute to scenic and aesthetic qualities, support historical and cultural resources, provide hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities, and increase forest resiliency, while also supporting rural jobs and local economies;
 (6)despite positive recent trends in forest carbon, as documented by the annual greenhouse gas inventory of the Environmental Protection Agency, projections of the Forest Service indicate those forest carbon and other benefits are at risk in future decades due to development pressures and other factors;
 (7)while the majority of the productive forest land of the United States is under private ownership, private landowners are facing increased pressure to convert their forest land to other uses;
 (8)while some landowners are able to participate in various carbon markets, the transaction costs and restrictions of those programs are often prohibitive for private landowners, particularly smallholders; and
 (9)creating incentives for private forest landowners to adopt best practices to maintain and increase carbon benefits from forest land through a streamlined program that avoids excessive transaction costs will help keep forests as forests and enhance forest carbon benefits by providing incentive payments for a suite of eligible practices throughout the lifecycle of forest management, including forest products that provide long-term carbon storage benefits.
			3.Forest incentives program
 (a)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Carbon incentives contract; contractThe term carbon incentives contract or contract means a 15- to 30-year contract that specifies—
 (A)the eligible practices that will be undertaken;
 (B)the acreage of eligible land on which the practices will be undertaken;
 (C)the agreed rate of compensation per acre; (D)a schedule to verify that the terms of the contract have been fulfilled; and
 (E)such other terms as are determined necessary by the Secretary. (2)Conservation easement agreement; agreementThe term conservation easement agreement or agreement means a permanent conservation easement that—
 (A)covers eligible land that will not be converted for development; (B)is enrolled under a carbon incentives contract; and
 (C)is consistent with the guidelines for—
 (i)the Forest Legacy Program established under section 7 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c), subject to the condition that an eligible practice shall be considered to be a conservation value for purposes of such consistency; or
 (ii)any other program approved by the Secretary for use under this section to provide consistency with Federal legal requirements for permanent conservation easements.
 (3)Eligible landThe term eligible land means forest land in the United States that is privately owned at the time of initiation of a carbon incentives contract or conservation easement agreement.
				(4)Eligible practice
 (A)In generalThe term eligible practice means a forestry practice, including improved forest management that produces marketable forest products, that is determined by the Secretary to provide measurable increases in carbon sequestration and storage beyond customary practices on comparable land.
 (B)InclusionsThe term eligible practice includes— (i)afforestation on nonforested land, such as marginal crop or pasture land, windbreaks, shelterbelts, stream buffers, including working land and urban forests and parks, or other areas identified by the Secretary;
 (ii)reforestation on forest land impacted by wildfire, pests, wind, or other stresses, including working land and urban forests and parks;
 (iii)improved forest management through practices such as improving regeneration after harvest, planting in understocked forests, reducing competition from slow-growing species, thinning to encourage growth, changing rotations to increase carbon storage, improving harvest efficiency or wood use; and
 (iv)such other practices as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (5)Forest incentives program; programThe term forest incentives program or program means the forest incentives program established under subsection (b)(1).
 (6)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
				(b)Supplemental greenhouse gas emission reductions in United States
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall establish a forest incentives program to achieve supplemental greenhouse gas emission reductions and carbon sequestration on private forest land of the United States through—
 (A)carbon incentives contracts; and (B)conservation easement agreements.
 (2)PriorityIn selecting projects under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide a priority for contracts and agreements—
 (A)that sequester the most carbon on a per acre basis; and
 (B)that create forestry jobs or protect habitats and achieve significant other environmental, economic, and social benefits.
					(3)Eligibility
 (A)In generalTo participate in the program, an owner of eligible land shall— (i)enter into a carbon incentives contract; and
 (ii)fulfill such other requirements as the Secretary determines to be necessary. (B)Continued eligible practicesAn owner of eligible land who has been carrying out eligible practices on the eligible land shall not be barred from entering into a carbon incentives contract under this subsection to continue carrying out the eligible practices on the eligible land.
 (C)Duration of contractA contract shall be for a term of not less than 15 nor more than 30 years, as determined by the owner of eligible land.
 (D)Compensation under contractThe Secretary shall determine the rate of compensation per acre under the contract so that the longer the term of the contract, the higher rate of compensation.
 (E)Relationship to other programsAn owner or operator shall not be prohibited from participating in the program due to participation of the owner or operator in other Federal or State conservation assistance programs.
 (4)ComplianceIn developing regulations for carbon incentives contracts under this subsection, the Secretary shall specify requirements to address whether the owner of eligible land has completed contract and agreement requirements.
				(c)Incentive payments
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall provide to owners of eligible land financial incentive payments for—
 (A)eligible practices that measurably increase carbon sequestration and storage over a designated period on eligible land, as specified through a carbon incentives contract; and
 (B)subject to paragraph (2), conservation easements on eligible land covered under a conservation easement agreement.
 (2)CompensationThe Secretary shall determine the amount of compensation to be provided under a contract under this subsection based on the emissions reductions obtained or avoided and the duration of the reductions, with due consideration to prevailing carbon pricing as determined by any relevant or State compliance offset programs.
 (3)No conservation easement agreement requiredEligibility for financial incentive payments under a carbon incentives contract described in paragraph (1)(A) shall not require a conservation easement agreement.
 (d)RegulationsNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations that specify eligible practices and related compensation rates, standards, and guidelines as the basis for entering into the program with owners of eligible land.
			(e)Set-Aside of funds for certain
			 purposes
 (1)In generalAt the discretion of the Secretary, a portion of program funds made available under this program for a fiscal year may be used—
 (A)to develop forest carbon modeling and methodologies that will improve the projection of carbon gains for any forest practices made eligible under the program;
 (B)to provide additional incentive payments for specified management activities that increase the adaptive capacity of land under a carbon incentives contract; and
 (C)for the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program of the Forest Service to develop improved measurement and monitoring of forest carbon stocks.
 (2)Program componentsIn establishing the program, the Secretary shall provide that funds provided under this section shall not be substituted for, or otherwise used as a basis for reducing, funding authorized or appropriated under other programs to compensate owners of eligible land for activities that are not covered under the program.
				(f)Program measurement, monitoring,
			 verification, and reporting
				(1)Measurement, monitoring, and
 verificationThe Secretary shall establish and implement protocols that provide monitoring and verification of compliance with the terms of contracts and agreements.
 (2)Reporting requirementAt least annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains—
 (A)an estimate of annual and cumulative reductions achieved as a result of the program, determined using standardized measures, including measures of economic efficiency;
 (B)a summary of any changes to the program that will be made as a result of program measurement, monitoring, and verification;
 (C)the total number of acres enrolled in the program by method; and (D)a State-by-State summary of the data.
 (3)Availability of reportEach report required by this subsection shall be available to the public through the website of the Department of Agriculture.
 (4)Program adjustmentsAt least once every 2 years the Secretary shall adjust eligible practices and compensation rates for future carbon incentives contracts based on the results of monitoring under paragraph (1) and reporting under paragraph (2), if determined necessary by the Secretary.
 (5)Estimating carbon benefitsAny modeling, methodology, or protocol resource developed under this section— (A)shall be suitable for estimating carbon benefits associated with eligible practices for the purpose of incentives under this section; and
 (B)may be used for netting by States or emission sources under Federal programs relating to carbon emissions.
					(g)Authorization of
 appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary.
			4.Material choices in buildings for supplemental greenhouse gas emission reductions in United States
 (a)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Eligible buildingThe term eligible building means a nonresidential building used for commercial or State or local government purposes.
 (2)Eligible productThe term eligible product means a commercial or industrial product, such as an intermediate, feedstock, or end product (other than food or feed), that is composed in whole or in part of biological products, including renewable agricultural and forestry materials used as structural building material.
 (3)ProgramThe term program means the greenhouse gas incentives program established under this section. (4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
				(b)Supplemental greenhouse gas emission reductions in buildings
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall establish a greenhouse gas incentives program to achieve supplemental greenhouse gas emission reductions from material choices in buildings, based on the lifecycle assessment of the building materials.
 (2)Financial incentive paymentsThe Secretary shall provide to owners of eligible buildings incentive payments for the use of eligible products in buildings for sequestering carbon based on a lifecycle assessment of the structural assemblies, as compared to a model building as a result of using eligible products in substitution for more energy-intensive materials in—
 (A)new construction; or (B)building renovation.
					(c)Program requirements
 (1)ApplicationsTo be eligible to participate in the program, the owner of an eligible building shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
 (2)ComponentsIn establishing the program, the Secretary shall require that payments for activities under the program shall be—
 (A)established at a rate not to exceed the net estimated benefit an owner of an eligible building would receive for similar practices under any federally established carbon offset program, taking into consideration the costs associated with the issuance of credits and compliance with reversal provisions;
 (B)provided to owners of eligible buildings demonstrating at least a 20-percent reduction in carbon emissions potential, based on a lifecycle assessment of the structural assemblies, as compared to the structural assemblies of a model building, subject to the requirements that—
 (i)the Secretary shall identify a model baseline nonresidential building— (I)of common size and function; and
 (II)having a service life of not less than 60 years; and (ii)applicants shall evaluate the carbon emissions potential of the baseline building and the proposed building using the same lifecycle assessment software tool and data sets, which shall be compliant with the document numbered ISO 14044; and
 (C)provided on certification by the owner of an eligible building and verification by the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Energy, that—
 (i)the eligible building meets the requirements of the applicable State commercial building energy efficiency code (as in effect on the date of the applicable permit of the eligible building); and
 (ii)the State has made the certification required pursuant to section 304 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6833).
 (3)Incentive paymentsA participant in the program shall receive payment under the program on completion of construction or renovation of the applicable eligible building.
 (d)ReportsNot less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains—
 (1)an estimate of annual and cumulative reductions achieved as a result of the program— (A)determined by using lifecycle assessment software that is compliant with the document numbered ISO 14044; and
 (B)expressed in terms of the total number of cars removed from the road; (2)a summary of any changes to the program that will be made as a result of past implementation of the program; and
 (3)the total number of buildings under carbon incentives contracts as of the date of the report. (e)Analytical requirementsFor purposes of this section—
 (1)any carbon emissions potential calculation shall— (A)be performed in accordance with standard lifecycle assessment practice; and
 (B)include removal and sequestration of carbon dioxide from the use of biobased products, as well as recycled content materials;
 (2)a full lifecycle assessment shall be conducted taking into consideration all lifecycle stages, including—
 (A)resource extraction and processing; (B)product manufacturing;
 (C)onsite construction of assemblies; (D)transportation;
 (E)maintenance and replacement cycles over an assumed eligible building service life of 60 years; and (F)demolition;
 (3)structural assemblies shall be considered to include columns, beams, girders, purlins, floor deck, roof, and structural envelope elements;
 (4)primary materials shall be considered to include common products used as the structural system, such as wood, steel, concrete, or masonry; and
 (5)the effects of recycling, reuse, or energy recovery beyond the boundaries of an applicable study system shall not be taken in account.
 (f)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.


I
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4235
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2004
Mr. Frost (for himself, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Schakowsky, and Mr. Lantos) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

A BILL
To allow the export or other provision of oil to Israel.

1.Energy security of Israel
(a)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may export oil to, or secure oil for, any country pursuant to a bilateral international oil supply agreement entered into by the United States with such country before June 25, 1979, or to any country pursuant to the International Emergency Oil Sharing Plan of the International Energy Agency.
(b)Memorandum of agreementThe following agreements shall be deemed to have entered into force by operation of law and shall be deemed to have no termination date:
(1)The agreement entitled Agreement amending and extending the memorandum of agreement of June 22, 1979, entered into force November 13, 1994 (TIAS 12580).
(2)The agreement entitled Agreement amending the contingency implementing arrangements of October 17, 1980, entered into force June 27, 1995 (TIAS 12670).


117 HR 1726 IH: America Needs Worthwhile Resources Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-09
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. 1726IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 9, 2021Mr. Young (for himself, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Gosar, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Rosendale, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Stauber, and Mrs. Boebert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo provide that an order or action by the President or the Secretary of the Interior imposing a moratorium on oil and gas leasing shall not take effect without the express approval of Congress.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the America Needs Worthwhile Resources Act or the ANWR Act.2.Congressional approval of ordersAny order or action by the President or the Secretary of the Interior that has the effect of placing a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge shall have no force or effect unless—(1)the order or action is submitted to Congress; and(2)a joint resolution that approves the order or action is enacted by Congress.


109 HR 710 IH: Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2005
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-02-09
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
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 710
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 9, 2005
Ms. Kaptur (for herself, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Case, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Grijalva, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Marshall, Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Scott of Georgia, Mr. Serrano, and Ms. Slaughter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance for the construction, improvement, and rehabilitation of farmers markets.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2005.
2.Infrastructure funding for farmers markets
(a)In generalIn addition to exercising authority to make loans and loan guarantees under other law, the Secretary shall make loans, loan guarantees, and grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the construction of new farmers markets, or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing farmers markets.
(b)EligibilityTo be eligible to receive a loan, loan guarantee, or grant under subsection (a) with respect to a farmers market the public agency or nonprofit organization involved shall—
(1)demonstrate financial need as determined by the Secretary; and
(2)commit to reserving at least 50 percent of the floor area of the farmers market for the sale of products that are produced locally, as determined by the Secretary, by farmers, ranchers, or aquaculture, mariculture, or fisheries operators, or by associations of farmers, ranchers, or such operators, .
(c)Cost sharing
(1)GrantsThe amount of a grant shall not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the activity funded under subsection (a).
(2)Maximum amount of combined grant and loanThe combined amount of a grant and loan made or guaranteed shall not exceed 80 percent of the cost of the activity funded under subsection (a).
(d)Interest rate
(1)In generalA loan made by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall bear interest at the rate equivalent to the rate of interest charged on Treasury securities of comparable maturity on the date the loan is approved.
(2)DurationThe interest rate for each loan will remain in effect for the term of the loan.
(e)FundingOf the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007.
(f)Effective dateThis Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 593
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			March 16, 2011
			Mr. Schumer (for
			 himself, Mr. Burr,
			 Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Isakson, Mr.
			 Levin, Mr. Chambliss,
			 Mr. Begich, Ms.
			 Murkowski, Mrs. Gillibrand,
			 Mr. Inouye, Mrs. Hagan, and Ms.
			 Snowe) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
			 referred to the Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the
		  tax rate for excise tax on investment income of private
		  foundations.

		1.Modification of the tax rate
			 for the excise tax on investment income of private foundations
			(a)In
			 generalSubsection (a) of section 4940 of the Internal Revenue
			 Code of 1986 is amended by striking 2 percent and inserting
			 1.39 percent.
			(b)Elimination of
			 reduced tax where foundation meets certain distribution
			 requirementsSection 4940 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
			 amended by striking subsection (e).
			(c)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable
			 years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.


117 S1033 IS: Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams
U.S. Senate
2021-03-25
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.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1033IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 25, 2021Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Grassley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title IV of the Social Security Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and juvenile justice systems. 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams or the CONNECT Act.2.Authority to award competitive grants to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and
 juvenile justice systems(a)In generalSubpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:429A.Grants to States to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and
			 juvenile justice
 systems(a)PurposeThe purpose of this section is to authorize the Secretary, in collaboration with the Attorney General and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice, to make grants to State child welfare and juvenile justice agencies to collaborate in the collection of data relating to dual status youth and to develop practices, policies, and protocols to confront the challenges presented and experienced by dual status youth.(b)Authority To award grants(1)In generalSubject to the availability of appropriations, from amounts reserved under section 423(a)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award competitive grants jointly to a State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency to facilitate or enhance collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of the State in order to carry out programs to address the needs of dual status youth and their families.(2)Length of grants(A)In generalA grant shall be awarded under this section for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years, subject to subparagraph (B).(B)Extension of grantOn application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend for not more than 2 fiscal years the period for which a grant is awarded under this section.(c)Additional requirements(1)ApplicationIn order for a State to be eligible for a grant under this section, it shall submit an application, to be approved by the Secretary, that includes—(A)a description of the proposed leadership collaboration group (including the membership of such group), and how such group will manage and oversee a review and analysis of current practices while working to jointly address enhanced practices to improve outcomes for dual status youth;(B)a description of how the State proposes to—(i)identify dual status youths;(ii)identify individuals who are at risk of becoming dual status youths;(iii)identify common characteristics shared by dual status youths in the State; and(iv)determine the prevalence of dual status youths in the State;(C)a description of current and proposed practices and procedures that the State intends to use to—(i)screen and assess dual status youths for risks and treatment needs;(ii)provide targeted and evidence-based services, including educational, behavioral health, and pro-social treatment interventions for dual status youths and their families; and(iii)provide for a lawful process to enhance or ensure the abilities of the State and any relevant agencies to share information and data about dual status youths while maintaining confidentiality and privacy protections under State and Federal law; and(D)a certification that the State has involved local governments, as appropriate, in the development, expansion, modification, operation, or improvement of proposed policy and practice reforms to address the needs of dual status youths.(2)No supplantation of other fundsAny amounts paid to a State under a grant under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other State expenditures on dual status youths or children involved with either the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.(3)EvaluationUp to 10 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be made available to the Secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects funded under this section, using a methodology that—(A)includes random assignment whenever feasible, or other research methods that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible; and(B)generates evidence on the impact of specific projects, or groups of projects with identical (or similar) practices and procedures.(4)ReportA State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency receiving a grant under this section shall jointly submit to the Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice, a report on the evaluation of the activities carried out under the grant at the end of each fiscal year during the period of the grant. Such report shall include—(A)a description of the scope and nature of the dual status youth population in the State, including the number of dual status youth;(B)a description of the evidence-based practices and procedures used by the agencies to carry out the activities described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(C); and(C)an analysis of the effects of such practices and procedures, including information regarding—(i)the collection of data related to individual dual status youths;(ii)aggregate data related to the dual status youth population, including—(I)characteristics of dual status youths in the State;(II)case processing timelines; and(III)information related to case management, the provision of targeted services, and placements within the foster care or juvenile justice system; and(iii)the extent to which such practices and procedures have contributed to—(I)improved educational outcomes for dual status youths;(II)fewer delinquency referrals for dual status youths;(III)shorter stays in intensive restrictive placements for dual status youths; or(IV)such other outcomes for dual status youths as the State child welfare agency and State juvenile justice agency may identify.(d)Training and technical assistanceThe Secretary may support State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies by offering a program, developed in consultation with organizations and agencies with subject matter expertise, of training and technical assistance to assist such agencies in developing programs and protocols that draw on best practices for serving dual status youth in order to facilitate or enhance—(1)collaboration between State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies; and(2)the effectiveness of such agencies with respect to working with Federal agencies and child welfare and juvenile justice agencies from other States.(e)ReportNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice shall jointly submit to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, a report on the grants provided under this section.(f)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Dual status youthThe term dual status youth means a child who has come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and occupies various statuses in terms of the individual's relationship to such systems.(2)Leadership collaboration groupThe term leadership collaboration group means a group composed of senior officials from the State child welfare agency, the State juvenile justice agency, and other relevant youth and family-serving public agencies and private organizations, including, to the extent practicable, representatives from the State judiciary branch.(3)State juvenile justice agencyThe term State juvenile justice agency means the agency of the State or Indian tribe responsible for administering grant funds awarded under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.).(4)State child welfare agencyThe term State child welfare agency means the State agency responsible for administering the program under this subpart, or, in the case of a tribal organization that is receiving payments under section 428, the tribal agency responsible for administering such program..(b)Conforming amendmentsSection 423(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 623(a)) is amended—(1)by striking The sum appropriated and inserting the following:(1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), the sum appropriated; and(2)by adding at the end the following:(2)Grants to States to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and juvenile justice systemsFor each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022 for which the amount appropriated under section 425 for the fiscal year exceeds $270,000,000—(A)the Secretary shall reserve from such excess amount such sums as are necessary for making grants under section 429A for such fiscal year; and(B)the remainder to be applied under paragraph (1) for purposes of making allotments to States for such fiscal year shall be determined after the Secretary first allots $70,000 to each State under such paragraph and reserves such sums under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph..


110 HR 5071 IH: To extend the suspension of duty on Poly(toluene

U.S. House of Representatives
2008-01-18
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
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5071
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 18, 2008
			Mr. Tim Murphy of
			 Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To extend the suspension of duty on Poly(toluene
		  diisocyanate).

		1.Poly(toluene
			 diisocyanate)
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.12.04 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
			 the United States (relating to Poly(toluene diisocyanate)) is amended by
			 striking 12/31/2009 and inserting
			 12/31/2011.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies to goods
			 entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day
			 after the date of the enactment of this Act.


110 HR 4141 IH: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the

U.S. House of Representatives
2007-11-09
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
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 4141
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 9, 2007
			Mr. Garrett of New
			 Jersey (for himself, Mr.
			 Doolittle, Mr. Gingrey,
			 and Ms. Bordallo) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
		  Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and
		  children of certain veterans who are buried in State
		  cemeteries.

		1.Payment by Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs of plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans
			 who are buried in State cemeteries
			(a)Plot
			 allowanceSection 2303 of title 38, United States Code, is
			 amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

					(c)(1)In the case of an
				individual described in paragraph (2) who is buried in a cemetery that is owned
				by a State or by an agency or political subdivision of a State, the Secretary
				shall pay to such State, agency, or political subdivision the sum of $300 as a
				plot or interment allowance for such individual.
						(2)An individual described in this paragraph
				is a spouse, surviving spouse (which for purposes of this chapter includes a
				surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage), minor child (which for
				purposes of this chapter includes a child under 21 years of age, or under 23
				years of age if pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational
				institution), or, in the discretion of the Secretary, unmarried adult child of
				any of person described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (7) of section 2402
				of this
				title.
						.
			(b)Effective
			 dateSubsection (c) of section 2303 of title 38, United States
			 Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an individual who
			 dies on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.


116 HR 2936 IH: Small Business Disaster Relief Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-05-22
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.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2936IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 22, 2019Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Mr. King of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 concernedA BILLTo provide disaster relief to small businesses, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Small Business Disaster Relief Act of 2019. 2.Sense of Congress regarding disaster loan processingIt is the sense of Congress that the Administrator of the Small Business Administration should use district offices of the Administration whenever possible to expedite the processing of disaster loans under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)).
 3.Small business development center portability grantsSection 21(a)(4)(C)(viii) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(viii)) is amended— (1)in the first sentence, by striking as a result of a business or government facility down sizing or closing, which has resulted in the loss of jobs or small business instability and inserting due to events that have resulted or will result in a business or government facility downsizing or closing; and
 (2)by adding at the end the following: At the discretion of the Administrator, the Administrator may make an award greater than $100,000 to a recipient to accommodate extraordinary occurrences having a catastrophic impact on the small business concerns in a community..
 4.Disaster assistance to critical enterprisesSection 237 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 (15 U.S.C. 636d) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
 (2)in subsection (a)— (A)by striking Farmers Home Administration and inserting Farm Service Agency;
 (B)by striking major disaster and inserting major disaster or is vital to recovery efforts in the disaster area (including providing debris removal services, manufactured housing, gasoline, telecommunications, or building materials),; and
 (C)by striking Loans authorized and all that follows through pursuant thereto. and inserting the following:  (b)Terms and conditionsNotwithstanding any other provision of law, loans authorized by this section—
 (1)shall be made without regard to limitations on the size of loans which may otherwise be imposed by any other provision of law or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto; and
 (2)may waive any required evaluation of creditworthiness in exchange for a fee, as set by the Small Business Administration or the Farm Service Agency, as applicable..


115 HR 3255 IH: Supporting Working Moms Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-07-14
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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3255IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 14, 2017Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York (for herself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Mr. Lowenthal, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Levin, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. Connolly) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the WorkforceA BILLTo amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 regarding reasonable break time for nursing mothers.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Supporting Working Moms Act of 2017. 2.Reasonable break time for nursing mothersSection 13(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 213(a)) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking sections 6 (except section 6(d) in the case of paragraph (1) of this subsection) and 7 and inserting sections 6 and 7 (except sections 6(d) and 7(r) in the case of paragraph (1) of this subsection).


113 S361 IS: Prompt Notification of Short Sales Act
U.S. Senate
2013-02-14
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.

		II
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 361
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			February 14, 2013
			Ms. Murkowski (for
			 herself, Mr. Brown,
			 Mr. Enzi, Mr.
			 Menendez, Mr. Reed, and
			 Mr. Merkley) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To require the lender or servicer of a home mortgage,
		  upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a prompt decision
		  whether to allow the sale.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Prompt Notification of Short Sales
			 Act.
		2.DefinitionsFor purposes of this Act, the following
			 definitions shall apply:
			(a)Residential
			 mortgage loanThe term
			 residential mortgage loan means any consumer credit transaction
			 that is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other equivalent consensual
			 security interest on a dwelling or on residential real property that includes a
			 dwelling, other than a consumer credit transaction under an open end credit
			 plan or an extension of credit relating to a plan described in section 101(53D)
			 of title 11, United States Code.
			(b)Securitization
			 vehicleThe term securitization vehicle means a
			 trust, special purpose entity, or other legal structure that is used to
			 facilitate the issuing of securities, participation certificates, or similar
			 instruments backed by or referring to a pool of assets that includes
			 residential mortgage loans (or instruments that are related to residential
			 mortgage loans, such as credit-linked notes).
			(c)ServicerThe
			 term servicer has the same meaning as in section 129A of the Truth
			 in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1639a), as so designated by section 1402(a)(1) of
			 Public Law 111–203, except that such term includes a person who makes or holds
			 a residential mortgage loan (including a pool of residential mortgage loans),
			 if such person also services the loan.
			(d)Short
			 saleThe term short
			 sale means the sale of the dwelling or residential real property that is
			 subject to the mortgage, deed or trust, or other security interest that secures
			 a residential mortgage loan that—
				(1)will result in
			 proceeds in an amount that is less than the remaining amount due under the
			 mortgage loan; and
				(2)requires
			 authorization by the securitization vehicle or other investment vehicle or
			 holder of the mortgage loan, or the servicer acting on behalf of such a vehicle
			 or holder.
				3.Prompt
			 notifications and decision regarding short sale
			(a)Requirement for
			 prompt notifications, decisions
				(1)Notifications
					(A)In
			 generalEach servicer shall provide in writing to a mortgagor of
			 a residential mortgage loan—
						(i)an
			 acknowledgment of receipt of a written request of the mortgagor, not later than
			 3 days after the date of such receipt;
						(ii)a
			 notice of any missing or incomplete information required with respect to such
			 request, not later than 5 days after the date of such receipt; and
						(iii)a
			 definitive response to such request approving or denying such request, not
			 later than 30 days after the date of such receipt.
						(B)Exceptional
			 circumstancesIn any case in which a servicer is unable to
			 provide a decision with respect to a written request of a mortgagor of a
			 residential mortgage loan during the 30-day period required by subparagraph
			 (A), such period may be extended to not later than 60 days after the date of
			 receipt of a completed application, except that the servicer shall, verbally or
			 in writing—
						(i)notify the
			 mortgagor during the initial 30-day period that the application is still under
			 review; and
						(ii)each week
			 thereafter provide to the mortgagor a status update indicating the reasons why
			 a decision is pending beyond the required 30-day period.
						(C)ApplicabilitySubparagraph
			 (A) shall apply, except as provided in subsection (b), and notwithstanding any
			 other provision of law or of any contract, including a contract between a
			 servicer of a residential mortgage loan and a securitization vehicle or other
			 investment vehicle.
					(D)ContentA written response by a servicer under
			 subparagraph (A) shall specify a decision on whether such request has been
			 denied, approved, or that such request has been approved subject to specified
			 changes.
					(2)Mortgagor
			 submissionParagraph (1)
			 shall apply in any case in which the mortgagor under a residential mortgage
			 loan submits to the servicer thereof—
					(A)a written offer for a short sale of the
			 dwelling or residential real property that is subject to the mortgage, deed of
			 trust, or other security interest that secures the mortgage loan; and
					(B)all information required by the servicer in
			 connection with such a request (including a copy of an executed contract
			 between the owner of the dwelling or property and the prospective buyer that is
			 subject to approval by the servicer).
					(3)Civil actions
			 authorizedAn aggrieved
			 individual may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction, asserting
			 a violation of this Act. Aggrieved individuals may be awarded all appropriate
			 relief, including equitable relief, and a monetary award of $1,000 per
			 violation, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees, or such higher amount as may be
			 appropriate in the case of an established pattern or practice of such
			 failures.
				(b)Inapplicability
			 to certain existing mortgagesSubsection (a) shall not apply with
			 respect to any residential mortgage with respect to which the mortgagor and the
			 mortgagee or servicer have entered into a written agreement before the date of
			 enactment of this Act explicitly providing a procedure or terms for approval of
			 a short sale.
			(c)Treatment of
			 other time limitsThis
			 section may not be construed to preempt, annul, or otherwise affect any other
			 provision of law or of any contract or program that provides a shorter period
			 than is provided under subsection (a) for a decision by the servicer of a
			 residential mortgage loan regarding a short sale of the dwelling or residential
			 real property that is subject to the mortgage, deed or trust, or other security
			 interest that secures the mortgage loan.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5759
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 15, 2012
			Mr. Scott of South
			 Carolina introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To suspend temporarily the duty on
		  Allantoin.

		1.Allantoin
			(a)In
			 generalSubchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff
			 Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the
			 following new heading:

								9902.01.00(2,5-Dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl) urea (Allantoin) (CAS No. 97–59–6)
						(provided for in subheading 2933.21.00)FreeNo
						changeNo changeOn or before 12/31/2015

					.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies to articles
			 entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day
			 after the date of the enactment of this Act.


114 S3342 IS: National Veterans Memorial and Museum Act
U.S. Senate
2016-09-15
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.

II114th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3342IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 15, 2016Mr. Portman (for himself and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo designate the Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, as the National Veterans Memorial
			 and Museum, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum Act. 2.Findings; Sense of Congress (a)FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)The Veterans Memorial and Museum is a civic landmark and cultural institution being built in Columbus, Ohio, to honor, connect, inspire, and educate all people of the United States about the service and sacrifice of more than 40,000,000 veterans, over half of whom are living today, and 1,100,000 fallen who have bravely defended the freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of the United States of America.
 (2)The Veterans Memorial and Museum is the only public museum of its kind that exists for the exclusive purpose of interpreting the collective experiences of veterans of the United States of America across all eras, conflicts, and branches of the military.
 (3)The Veterans Memorial and Museum would attract and educate a diverse group of audiences from across the country through its visitor-centered, interactive, and participatory exhibits.
 (4)The Veterans Memorial and Museum would work to help bridge the military-civilian gap that has increasingly isolated veterans and their families and often made the journey from civilian to soldier back to civilian more difficult to navigate.
 (b)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that— (1)the Veterans Memorial and Museum will preserve the stories and legacy of service so that visitors can conduct a critical evaluation of the history and evolution of our country as seen through the lens of the military experience;
 (2)the Veterans Memorial and Museum will inspire civilians to serve their communities and country as active and engaged citizens;
 (3)the Veterans Memorial and Museum will be a beacon for all veterans, veteran families, and civilians of this country to ensure that the sacrifices of America’s service men and women are a guarantee to posterity;
 (4)the State of Ohio, Franklin County, and many more private individuals, foundations, and corporations have contributed millions of dollars to design and construct this national destination, which broke ground in December 2015; and
 (5)it is fitting and proper to refer to the Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. 3.Designation of National Veterans Memorial and Museum (a)DesignationThe Veterans Memorial and Museum is hereby designated as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
 (b)Veterans Memorial and Museum definedIn this section, the term Veterans Memorial and Museum means the memorial and museum that is, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, being constructed on an approximately 7-acre area on West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, bounded by the Scioto River and the Scioto Greenway.