TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. REDUCTION IN LIMITATION AMOUNT APPLICABLE TO CONTRIBUTIONS
BY A MULTICANDIDATE POLITICAL COMMITTEE TO A HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATE.

Section 315(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
(2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after ''$5,000'' the
following: '', except that in the case of an election for the office of
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the
Congress, the limitation shall be $1,000.''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GENERAL ELECTION
CONTRIBUTIONS IN NONELECTION YEARS.

Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441a) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
''(i) A candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate
or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress may not solicit or accept any
contribution in an odd-numbered year with respect to a general election
for such office or any primary election relating to the general
election.''.

SEC. 3. BAN ON SOFT MONEY.

(a) In General.--Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:

''limitations and reporting requirements for amounts paid for mixed
political activities

''Sec. 323. (a) Any payment by the national committee of a
political party or a State committee of a political party for a mixed
political activity--
''(1) shall be subject to limitation and reporting under
this Act as if such payment were an expenditure; and
''(2) may be paid only from an account that is subject to
the requirements of this Act.
''(b) As used in this section, the term 'mixed political activity'
means, with respect to a payment by the national committee of a
political party or a State committee of a political party, an activity,
such as a voter registration program, a get-out-the-vote drive, or
general political advertising, that is both (1) for the purpose of
influencing an election for Federal office, and (2) for any purpose
unrelated to influencing an election for Federal office.''.
(b) Repeal of Building Fund Exception to the Definition of the Term
''Contribution''.--Section 301(8)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking out clause (viii); and
(2) by redesignating clauses (ix) through (xiv) as clauses
(viii) through (xiii), respectively.

SEC. 4. VOLUNTARY EXPENDITURE LIMITATION FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ELECTIONS.

Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441a), as amended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
''(j) In such form and manner as the Commission may prescribe, each
candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress in a general election or a primary
election for such office shall be given the opportunity to comply with
a voluntary expenditure limitation of $500,000 with respect to the
general election and any primary election relating to the general
election. In the case of a candidate who declines to comply with the
voluntary limitation, the limitation under subsection (a)(1)(A) shall
be $250.''.

SEC. 5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION LIMITATION ON CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM PERSONS OTHER THAN IN-STATE RESIDENTS.

Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441a), as amended by sections 2 and 4, is further amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
''(k)(1) A candidate for the office of Representative in, or
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress may not, with
respect to a reporting period for an election, accept contributions
from persons other than in-State residents totaling in excess of one-
half of the total of contributions accepted with respect to the
reporting period.
''(2) As used in this subsection, the term 'in-State resident'
means an individual who resides in the State in which the congressional
district involved is located.''.

SEC. 6. PROHIBITION OF FRANKED MASS MAILINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IN ELECTION YEARS.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or any rule or other
authority, a Member of the House of Representatives may not make any
franked mass mailing in an even-numbered year. As used in this
section--
(1) the term ''mass mailing'' has the meaning given that
term in section 3210 of title 39, United States Code; and
(2) the term ''Member of the House of Representatives''
means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress.

SEC. 7. ELIMINATION OF CARRY-OVER OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS BETWEEN HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS.

Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441a), as amended by sections 2, 4, and 5, is further amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
''(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if after
satisfying all financial obligations with respect to a general election
and any primary election relating to the general election, a candidate
for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to, the Congress has a campaign account balance, the
candidate shall return the excess funds to contributors or, at the
option of the candidate, donate the excess funds to charity. No excess
funds may be carried forward or used for any other purpose.''.

SOLUTION: Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reduce the amount of contributions that a multicandidate political committee (PAC) may make to a House of Representatives candidate.
Prohibits House general election contributions in nonelection years.
Sets forth: (1) limitations and reporting requirements for amounts paid for mixed political activities ("soft money"); (2) voluntary expenditure limitations for House elections; and (3) House contribution limitations from persons other than in-State residents.
Prohibits election-year franked mass mailings by House members.
Requires House members to return or give to charity unused campaign funds.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of
2006''.

SEC. 2. BORDER PATROL AGENT ENHANCEMENT.

(a) Plan.--In order to address the recruitment and retention
challenges faced by the United States Border Patrol, the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall, not later than six months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Homeland Security
and the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
Senate a plan to determine how the Border Patrol can better recruit and
retain Border Patrol agents with the appropriate skills and training to
effectively carry out its mission and responsibilities.
(b) Contents.--The plan shall include, at a minimum, the following
components:
(1) A strategy for the utilization of the recruitment
authority provided in subsection (a) of section 9702 of title
5, United States Code (as added by section 3), as well as any
other strategies the Secretary determines to be important in
recruiting well-qualified Border Patrol agents.
(2) A strategy for the utilization of the retention
authority provided in subsection (b) of section 9702 of title
5, United States Code (as added by section 3), as well as any
other strategies the Secretary determines to be important in
retaining well-qualified Border Patrol agents.
(3) An assessment of the impact that current pay levels for
Border Patrol agents has on the Department's ability to recruit
and retain Border Patrol agents, especially in high cost-of-
living areas.
(4) An assessment of whether increased opportunities for
Border Patrol agents to transfer between duty stations would
improve employee morale and enhance the Department's ability to
recruit and retain well-qualified Border Patrol agents.

SEC. 3. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BONUSES FOR BORDER PATROL AGENT
ENHANCEMENT.

(a) In General.--Chapter 97 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
''Sec. 9702. Border Patrol agent enhancement
''(a) Recruitment Bonuses for Border Patrol Agents.--
''(1) In general.--In order to carry out the plan described
in section 2(a) of the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of
2006, the Secretary of Homeland Security may pay a bonus to an
individual to recruit a sufficient number of Border Patrol
agents.
''(2) Bonus amount.--
''(A) In general.--The amount of a bonus under this
subsection shall be determined by the Secretary, but
may not exceed 25 percent of the annual rate of basic
pay of the position involved as of the beginning of the
period of service referred to in paragraph (3)(A).
''(B) Lump-sum.--A bonus under this subsection
shall be paid in the form of a lump-sum payment and
shall not be considered to be part of basic pay.
''(3) Service agreements.--Payment of a bonus under this
section shall be contingent upon the individual entering into a
written service agreement with the United States Border Patrol.
The agreement shall include--
''(A) the period of service the individual shall be
required to complete in return for the bonus; and
''(B) the conditions under which the agreement may
be terminated before the agreed-upon service period has
been completed, and the effect of such termination.
''(4) Limitation on eligibility.--A bonus under this
section may not be paid to recruit an individual for--
''(A) a position to which an individual is
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate;
''(B) a position in the Senior Executive Service as
a noncareer appointee (as defined in section 3132(a));
or
''(C) a position which has been excepted from the
competitive service by reason of its confidential,
policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating
character.
''(5) Termination.--The authority to pay bonuses under this
subsection shall terminate five years after the date of the
enactment of this section.
''(b) Retention Bonuses for Border Patrol Agents.--
''(1) In general.--In order to carry out the plan described
in section 2(a) of the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of
2006, the Secretary of Homeland Security may pay a retention
bonus to a Border Patrol agent.
''(2) Service agreement.--Payment of a bonus under this
subsection is contingent upon the employee entering into a
written service agreement with the United States Border Patrol
to complete a period of service with the Border Patrol. Such
agreement shall include--
''(A) the period of service the employee shall be
required to complete in return for the bonus; and
''(B) the conditions under which the agreement may
be terminated before the agreed-upon service period has
been completed, and the effect of such termination.
''(3) Bonus amount.--
''(A) In general.--The amount of a bonus under this
subsection shall be determined by the Secretary, but
may not exceed 25 percent of the annual rate of basic
pay of the position involved as of the beginning of the
period of service referred to in paragraph (2)(A).
''(B) Lump-sum.--A bonus under this subsection
shall be paid in the form of a lump-sum payment and
shall not be considered to be part of basic pay.
''(4) Limitation.--A bonus under this subsection may not be
based on any period of service which is the basis for a
recruitment bonus under subsection (a).
''(5) Termination of authority.--The authority to grant
bonuses under this subsection shall expire five years after the
date of the enactment of this section.
''(c) Waiver Authority Relating to Reemployed Annuitants.--
''(1) In general.--In order to help address the challenges
faced by the United States Border Patrol, the Secretary of
Homeland Security may appoint annuitants to positions within
the United States Border Patrol in accordance with succeeding
provisions of this subsection.
''(2) Exclusion from offset.--An annuitant serving in a
position within the United States Border Patrol pursuant to an
appointment made under paragraph (1)--
''(A) shall not be subject to the provisions of
section 8344 or 8468, as the case may be; and
''(B) shall not, for purposes of subchapter III of
chapter 83 or chapter 84, be considered an employee.
''(3) Limitations.--
''(A) Appointments.--The authority to make any
appointments under paragraph (1) shall terminate five
years after the date of the enactment of this
subsection.
''(B) Exclusion.--The provisions of paragraph (2)
shall not, in the case of any annuitant appointed under
paragraph (1), remain in effect--
''(i) with respect to more than five years
of service (in the aggregate); nor
''(ii) with respect to any service
performed after the end of the ten-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this
subsection.
''(4) No displacement.--No appointment under this
subsection may be made if such appointment would result in the
displacement of any Border Patrol employee.
''(5) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the
term 'annuitant' has the meaning given such term by section
8331 or 8401, as the case may be.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 97 of
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:

''9702. Border Patrol agent enhancement.''.

Passed the House of Representatives September 26, 2006.

Attest:

KAREN L. HAAS,

Clerk.

SOLUTION: More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit to the House Committees on Homeland Security and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs a plan to determine how the Border Patrol can better recruit and retain agents with the appropriate skills and training.

Requires such plan to include: (1) recruitment and retention strategies; and (2) assessments of the impact of pay levels and duty station transfer opportunities upon recruitment and retention.

Amends federal law to authorize the Secretary (for five years) to pay a: (1) bonus to an individual to recruit Border Patrol agents; and (2) retention bonus to Border Patrol agents.

States that such bonuses shall: (1) not exceed 25% of the annual rate of basic pay of the position involved; (2) be paid in a lump-sum and not be considered part of basic pay; and (3) be contingent upon the individual entering into a written service agreement with the Border Patrol.

Authorizes the Secretary (for five years) to appoint annuitants to Border Patrol positions. Excludes such positions from specified offsets. Prohibits appointments that would displace any Border Patrol employee.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Preserving
Medicare for All Act of 2004''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Authority to negotiate prices.
Sec. 3. Guaranteed prescription drug benefits.
Sec. 4. Full reimbursement for qualified retiree prescription drug
plans.
Sec. 5. Repeal of Comparative Cost Adjustment (CCA) program.
Sec. 6. Repeal of MA Regional Plan Stabilization Fund.
Sec. 7. Repeal of cost containment provisions.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE PRICES.

Subsection (i) of section 1860D-11, as added by section 101 of the
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
(Public Law 108-173), is repealed.

SEC. 3. GUARANTEED PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS.

(a) In General.--Section 1860D-3 of the Social Security Act, as
added by section 101 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement,
and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), is amended to read
as follows:

''access to a choice of qualified prescription drug coverage

''Sec. 1860D-3. (a) Assuring Access to a Choice of Coverage.--
''(1) Choice of at least three plans in each area.--The
Secretary shall ensure that each part D eligible individual has
available, consistent with paragraph (2), a choice of
enrollment in--
''(A) a nationwide prescription drug plan offered
by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (b); and
''(B) at least 2 qualifying plans (as defined in
paragraph (3)) in the area in which the individual
resides, at least one of which is a prescription drug
plan.
''(2) Requirement for different plan sponsors.--The
requirement in paragraph (1)(B) is not satisfied with respect
to an area if only one entity offers all the qualifying plans
in the area.
''(3) Qualifying plan defined.--For purposes of this
section, the term 'qualifying plan' means--
''(A) a prescription drug plan;
''(B) an MA-PD plan described in section
1851(a)(2)(A)(i) that provides--
''(i) basic prescription drug coverage; or
''(ii) qualified prescription drug coverage
that provides supplemental prescription drug
coverage so long as there is no MA monthly
supplemental beneficiary premium applied under
the plan, due to the application of a credit
against such premium of a rebate under section
1854(b)(1)(C); or
''(C) a nationwide prescription drug plan offered
by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (b).
''(b) HHS as PDP Sponsor for a Nationwide Prescription Drug Plan.--
''(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the Administrator
of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall take
such steps as may be necessary to qualify and serve as a PDP
sponsor and to offer a prescription drug plan that offers basic
prescription drug coverage throughout the United States. Such a
plan shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, other
prescription drug plans offered under this part.
''(2) Premium; solvency; authorities.--In carrying out
paragraph (1), the Secretary--
''(A) shall establish a premium in the amount of
$35 for months in 2006 and, for months in subsequent
years, in the amount specified in this paragraph for
months in the previous year increased by the annual
percentage increase described in section 1860D-2(b)(6)
(relating to growth in medicare prescription drug costs
per beneficiary) for the year involved;
''(B) is deemed to have met any applicable solvency
and capital adequacy standards; and
''(C) shall exercise such authorities (including
the use of regional or other pharmaceutical benefit
managers) as the Secretary determines necessary to
offer the prescription drug plan in the same or a
comparable manner as is the case for prescription drug
plans offered by private PDP sponsors.
''(c) Flexibility in Risk Assumed.--In order to ensure access
pursuant to subsection (a) in an area the Secretary may approve limited
risk plans under section 1860D-11(f) for the area.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1860D-11 of the Social Security
Act, as added by section 101 of the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), is
amended by striking subsection (g).

SEC. 4. FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR QUALIFIED RETIREE PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PLANS.

(a) Elimination of True Out-Of-Pocket Limitation.--Section 1860D-
2(b)(4)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 101(a)
of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), is amended--
(1) by inserting ''under a qualified retiree prescription
drug plan (as defined in section 1860D-22(a)(2)),'' after
''under section 1860D-14,''; and
(2) by inserting '', under such a qualified retiree
prescription drug plan,'' after ''(other than under such
section'' .
(b) Equalization of Subsidies.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for
such increase in the special subsidy payment amounts under section
1860D-22(a)(3) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 101(a)
of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), as may be appropriate to provide for
payments in the aggregate equivalent to the payments that would have
been made under section 1860D-15 of such Act if the individuals were
not enrolled in a qualified retiree prescription drug plan. In making
such computation, the Secretary shall not take into account the
application of the amendments made by section 1202 of the Medicare
Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.

SEC. 5. REPEAL OF COMPARATIVE COST ADJUSTMENT (CCA) PROGRAM.

Subtitle E of title II of the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), and
the amendments made by such subtitle, are repealed.

SEC. 6. REPEAL OF MA REGIONAL PLAN STABILIZATION FUND.

(a) In General.--Section 1858 of the Social Security Act, as added
by section 221(c) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (e);
(2) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as
subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively; and
(3) in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by striking
''subject to subsection (e),''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1851(i)(2) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(i)(2)), as amended by section
221(d)(5) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), is amended by striking
''1858(h)'' and inserting ''1858(g)''.

SEC. 7. REPEAL OF COST CONTAINMENT PROVISIONS.

Subtitle A of title VIII of the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173) is
repealed and any provisions of law amended by such subtitle are
restored as if such subtitle had not been enacted.

SOLUTION:
Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to repeal provisions prohibiting the Secretary of Health and Human Services from interfering with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors and from requiring a particular formulary to institute a price structure for the reimbursement of covered Medicare part D drugs.

Includes for the Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) eligible individual as a choice of coverage, in addition to the current choice of coverage in at least two qualifying plans in the area in which the individual resides, a choice of enrollment in a nationwide prescription drug plan offered by the Secretary (to replace enrollment in a fallback prescription drug plan in any case in which such plans are not available).

Directs the Secretary, through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to take such steps as may be necessary to qualify and serve as a prescription drug plan sponsor and to offer a prescription drug plan that offers basic prescription drug coverage throughout the United States and has a premium of $35 for 2006.

Requires such a plan to be in addition to, and not in lieu of, other prescription drug plans offered.

Provides for full reimbursement for employers for the cost of qualified retiree drug coverage and permits their costs to count towards senior's catastrophic limits.

Abolishes the comparative cost adjustment program.

Eliminates the MA Regional Plan Stabilization Fund.

Repeals cost containment provisions.