In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Federal Student Loan Refinancing
Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION.

Section 459B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087i-
2) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ''section'' and
inserting ''subsection'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ''this section'' and
inserting ''subsection (a)'' each place the term appears; and
(3) by inserting at the end the following:
''(c) Temporary Loan Consolidation Authority for Certain Loans Made
After July 1, 2006.--
''(1) Loan consolidation authority.--
''(A) In general.--A borrower who has 1 or more
loans in a category described in subparagraph (B) may
consolidate all of the loans of the borrower that are
described in subparagraph (B) into a Federal Direct
Consolidation Loan during the period described in
subparagraph (C).
''(B) Categories of loans that may be
consolidated.--The categories of loans that may be
consolidated under subparagraph (A) are loans made on
or after July 1, 2006, that are--
''(i) loans made under this part;
''(ii) loans purchased by the Secretary
pursuant to section 459A; and
''(iii) loans made under part B that are
held by an eligible lender, as such term is
defined in section 435(d).
''(C) Time period in which loans may be
consolidated.--
''(i) Federal direct loans.--In the case of
a borrower who has 1 or more loans described
under subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary
shall--
''(I) consolidate the loans
described under subparagraph (B)(i) not
later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the Federal Student Loan
Refinancing Act; and
''(II) notify the borrower, in
writing, prior to such consolidation
that--
''(aa) the borrower's loans
under this part have been
consolidated at a lower
interest rate; and
''(bb) the borrower's
repayment plan and the other
terms and conditions of the
borrower's loan remain
unchanged.
''(ii) Other loans.--In the case of a
borrower who has 1 or more loans described
under clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (B),
the Secretary shall--
''(I) initiate the loan
consolidation process for the loans
described under clause (ii) or (iii) of
subparagraph (B), not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of the
Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act,
by sending a completed loan
consolidation application to the
borrower;
''(II) notify the borrower, as part
of such application, that a fee will be
assessed and that the interest rate of
the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan
will be set in accordance with
paragraph (2); and
''(III) notify the borrower, as
part of such application, that if the
borrower wishes to consolidate in
accordance with the completed
application, the borrower must endorse
the application and submit the
application to the Secretary not more
than 6 months after receipt of the
application.
''(2) Terms of loans.--The following terms and conditions
shall apply to a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan made under
this subsection:
''(A) The applicable rate of interest on a Federal
Direct Consolidation Loan made under this subsection
shall be--
''(i) 4 percent; or
''(ii) in a case in which the weighted
average of the interest rates on the
outstanding loans of a borrower that will be
consolidated is less than 4 percent, the lesser
of--
''(I) the weighted average of the
interest rates on the outstanding loans
of a borrower that will be
consolidated; or
''(II) a rate of interest equal
to--
''(aa) 4 percent; minus
''(bb) 0.4 percent of the
principal balance of the
consolidation loan, at the time
of consolidation.
''(B) In the case of a loan consolidated under
paragraph (1)(C)(ii), an origination fee equal to 0.4
percent of the principal balance of the consolidation
loan, at the time of consolidation, will be added to
the principal balance of the loan, and the Secretary
shall use the fee to cover the cost of making and
servicing the loan.
''(C) If 1 or more of the loans being consolidated
is a loan described under paragraph (1)(B)(iii), the
interest rate on the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan
under this subsection shall be reduced by 0.25 percent.
''(D) Any benefit a borrower is receiving or
earning at the time a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan
is issued under this subsection shall not be affected
by consolidation under this section, including benefits
such as a deferment or forbearance, accumulation of
monthly payments as part of the public service loan
forgiveness program under section 455(m), accumulation
of monthly payments toward a loan discharge under the
income-based repayment plan under section 493C,
participation in a particular repayment plan, and other
benefits to the borrower.''.

SEC. 3. EXEMPTIONS FROM OTHER LAWS.

(a) Exemption From the Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of
title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to this Act.
(b) Inapplicability of Rulemaking Requirements.--Sections 482(c)
and 492 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1089(c), 1098a)
and section 553 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the
amendments made by this Act, or to any regulations promulgated under
such amendments.

Output: Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers that received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (DL) or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program on or after July 1, 2006, to consolidate those loans as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans. It directs the Department of Education (ED) to consolidate DLs, and send a completed loan consolidation application to FFEL borrowers, within 90 days of this bill's enactment. It gives FFEL borrowers six months after their receipt of such application to endorse it and submit it to ED if they wish to consolidate their loans. The bill sets the interest rate on Federal Direct Consolidation Loans at 4% or, if the weighted average of the interest rates of the loans being consolidated is less than 4%, the lesser of: (1) that weighted average, or (2) an interest rate equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation. It adds an origination fee equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation if an FFEL is being consolidated. It reduces the interest rate on a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan by 0.25% if one or more of the loans being consolidated is an FFEL held by an eligible lender. The bill prohibits any benefit a borrower is receiving or earning when issued a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan from being affected by the consolidation.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Energy and Water Research
Integration Act''.

SEC. 2. ENERGY AND WATER RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall assess each of the
energy research, development, and demonstration programs and projects
of the Department of Energy and identify those programs and projects
into which it is appropriate to integrate water considerations. In
carrying out this section the Secretary shall, as appropriate--
(1) seek to advance energy and energy efficiency
technologies and practices that would--
(A) minimize freshwater withdrawal and consumption;
(B) increase water use efficiency; and
(C) utilize nontraditional water sources with
efforts to improve the quality of that water;
(2) consider the effects climate variability and change may
have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and
fuel production; and
(3) improve understanding of the energy required to provide
water supplies and the water required to provide reliable
energy supplies throughout the United States.
(b) Strategic Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall develop a
Strategic Plan (in this section referred to as the ''Strategic
Plan'') outlining the research, development, and demonstration
needs for the programs and projects identified under subsection
(a), in accordance with subsections (a) through (c) of this
section, as appropriate.
(2) Milestones and specific considerations.--In carrying
out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan in
accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall evaluate
and, as appropriate, establish technical milestones for--
(A) new advanced cooling technologies for energy
generation and fuel production technologies;
(B) performance improvement of existing cooling
technologies and cost reductions associated with using
those technologies;
(C) innovative water reuse, recovery, and treatment
in energy generation and fuel production;
(D) technology development for carbon capture and
storage systems that utilize efficient water use design
strategies;
(E) technologies that are life-cycle cost
effective;
(F) systems analysis and modeling of issues
relating to the energy required to provide water
supplies and the water required to provide reliable
energy supplies throughout the United States;
(G) technologies to treat and utilize produced
waters discharged from oil, natural gas, coalbed
methane, and mining activities;
(H) advanced materials for the use of
nontraditional water sources for energy generation and
fuel production;
(I) biomass production and utilization and the
impact on hydrologic systems;
(J) technologies that reduce impacts on water from
energy resource development;
(K) increases in energy efficiency of water
distribution and collection systems;
(L) technologies for energy generation from water
distribution and collection systems; and
(M) any other area of the energy-water nexus that
the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3) Interagency collaboration and nonduplication.--In
carrying out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan
in accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall, where
appropriate, work collaboratively with other Federal agencies
operating related programs and avoid duplication.
(4) Intra-agency coordination and nonduplication.--In
carrying out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan
in accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall
coordinate and avoid duplication of activities across programs
and projects of the Department of Energy, including with those
of the National laboratories.
(5) Relevant information and recommendations.--In carrying
out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan in
accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall consider
and incorporate, as appropriate, relevant information and
recommendations, including those of the National Water
Availability and Use Assessment Program under section 9508(d)
of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C.
10368(d)).
(6) Nongovernmental participation.--In carrying out the
development and updating of the Strategic Plan in accordance
with this subsection, the Secretary shall consult and
coordinate with a diverse group of representatives from
research and academic institutions and industry who have
expertise in technologies and practices relating to the energy
required to provide water supplies and the water required to
provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States.
(7) Submission to congress.--Not later than 9 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress the Strategic Plan.
(8) Updating the strategic plan.--Not later than 3 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
utilize relevant information produced by Federal Government
agencies, academia, and industry to update the Strategic Plan,
and submit a report to Congress describing the changes from the
initial Strategic Plan.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall implement
the Strategic Plan, as appropriate, in carrying out energy
research, development, and demonstration programs of the
Department of Energy.
(2) Application to projects.--Not later than 3 months after
the submission of the report to Congress in subsection (b)(7)),
the Secretary shall as appropriate apply the Strategic Plan to
projects--
(A) identified as the most energy and water
intensive; and
(B) with the most potential to achieve the purposes
of this section.
(3) Delay or disruption.--In carrying out this subsection,
the Secretary shall ensure that no program or project of the
Department is unnecessarily delayed or disrupted.
(d) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, and at least once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary
shall transmit to Congress a report on its findings and activities
under this section.
(e) Additional Activities.--The Secretary may provide for such
additional research, development, and demonstration activities as may
be appropriate to integrate water considerations into the research,
development, and demonstration activities of the Department as
described in subsection (a).
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for carrying out this section
$60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

SEC. 3. ENERGY-WATER ARCHITECTURE COUNCIL.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with
other relevant Federal agencies, shall establish an Energy-Water
Architecture Council to promote and enable improved energy and water
resource data collection, reporting, and technological innovation. The
Council shall consist of--
(1) representation from each Federal agency that conducts
research related to energy and water resource data; and
(2) non-Federal members, including representatives of
research and academic institutions and industry, who have
expertise in technologies and practices relating to the energy
required to provide water supplies and the water required to
provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States.
(b) Functions.--The Council shall--
(1) make recommendations on the development of data
collection and data communication standards and protocols to
agencies and entities currently engaged in collecting the data
for the energy required to provide water supplies and the water
required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the
United States;
(2) recommend ways to make improvements to Federal water
use data to increase understanding of trends in energy
generation and fuel production;
(3) recommend best practices for utilizing information from
existing monitoring networks to provide nationally uniform
water and energy use and infrastructure data; and
(4) conduct annual technical workshops, including at least
one regional workshop annually, to facilitate information
exchange among Federal, State, and private sector experts on
technologies that encourage the conservation and efficient use
of water and energy.
(c) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and at least once every 2 years thereafter, the Council,
through the Secretary of Energy, shall transmit to the Congress a
report on its findings and activities under this section.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for carrying out this section
$5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to allow the establishment
of regulations by the Federal Government that would infringe or impair
the use of water by State, tribal, or local governments.

SEC. 5. MANDATES.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require State, tribal, or
local governments to take any action that may result in an increased
financial burden to such governments by restricting the use of water by
such governments.

SEC. 6. COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary of Energy shall
coordinate activities under this Act with other programs of the
Department of Energy and other Federal research programs.

Passed the House of Representatives December 1, 2009.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk.

Output: Energy and Water Research Integration Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Energy to identify each of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) energy research, development, and demonstration programs and projects into which it is appropriate to integrate water considerations. Requires the Secretary to: (1) seek to advance energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices that would minimize freshwater withdrawal and consumption, increase water use efficiency, and utilize nontraditional water sources with efforts to improve water quality; and (2) consider the effects climate variability and change may have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and fuel production; and (3) improve understanding of the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States.

Requires the Secretary to develop, submit to Congress within nine months, and update every three years a Strategic Plan outlining the research, development, and demonstration needs of such programs and projects. Requires the Secretary to evaluate and establish technical milestones for: (1) new advanced cooling technologies for energy generation and fuel production technologies; (2) performance improvement and cost reductions of cooling technologies; (3) innovative water reuse, recovery, and treatment in energy generation and fuel production; (4) technology development for carbon capture and storage systems that utilize efficient water use design strategies; (5) technologies that are life-cycle cost effective; (6) systems analysis and modeling of issues relating to the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies; (7) technologies to treat and utilize produced waters discharged from oil, natural gas, coal-bed methane, and mining activities; (8) advanced materials for the use of nontraditional water sources for energy generation and fuel production; (9) biomass production and utilization and the impact on hydrologic systems; (10) technologies that reduce impacts on water from energy resource development; (11) increases in energy efficiency of water distribution and collection systems; and (12) technologies for energy generation from such systems.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) implement the Strategic Plan in carrying out DOE energy research, development, and demonstration programs; and (2) report to Congress every two years on findings and activities under this Act. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to establish an Energy-Water Architecture Council to promote and enable improved energy and water resource data collection, reporting, and technological innovation. Requires the Council to: (1) make recommendations on the development of data collection and communication standards and protocols to entities engaged in collecting data for the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States; (2) recommend ways to make improvements to federal water use data to increase understanding of trends in energy generation and fuel production; (3) recommend best practices for utilizing information from monitoring networks to provide nationally uniform water and energy use and infrastructure data; and (4) conduct annual technical workshops to facilitate information exchange among federal, state, and private sector experts on technologies that encourage the conservation and efficient use of water and energy.

(Sec. 4) Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) allow the establishment of regulations by the federal government that would infringe or impair the use of water by state, tribal, or local governments; and (2) require state, tribal, or local governments to take any action that may result in an increased financial burden by restricting their water use.

(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to coordinate activities under this Act with other DOE programs and other federal research programs.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Mental Health Parity Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. PLAN PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

(a) Permissible Coverage Limits Under a Group Health Plan.--
(1) Aggregate lifetime limits.--
(A) In general.--With respect to a group health
plan offered by a health insurance issuer, that applies
an aggregate lifetime limit to plan payments for
medical or surgical services covered under the plan, if
such plan also provides a mental health benefit such
plan shall--
(i) include plan payments made for mental
health services under the plan in such
aggregate lifetime limit; or
(ii) establish a separate aggregate
lifetime limit applicable to plan payments for
mental health services under which the dollar
amount of such limit (with respect to mental
health services) is equal to or greater than
the dollar amount of the aggregate lifetime
limit on plan payments for medical or surgical
services.
(B) No lifetime limit.--With respect to a group
health plan offered by a health insurance issuer, that
does not apply an aggregate lifetime limit to plan
payments for medical or surgical services covered under
the plan, such plan may not apply an aggregate lifetime
limit to plan payments for mental health services
covered under the plan.
(2) Annual limits.--
(A) In general.--With respect to a group health
plan offered by a health insurance issuer, that applies
an annual limit to plan payments for medical or
surgical services covered under the plan, if such plan
also provides a mental health benefit such plan shall--
(i) include plan payments made for mental
health services under the plan in such annual
limit; or
(ii) establish a separate annual limit
applicable to plan payments for mental health
services under which the dollar amount of such
limit (with respect to mental health services)
is equal to or greater than the dollar amount
of the annual limit on plan payments for
medical or surgical services.
(B) No annual limit.--With respect to a group
health plan offered by a health insurance issuer, that
does not apply an annual limit to plan payments for
medical or surgical services covered under the plan,
such plan may not apply an annual limit to plan
payments for mental health services covered under the
plan.
(b) Rule of Construction.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
as prohibiting a group health plan offered by a health
insurance issuer, from--
(A) utilizing other forms of cost containment not
prohibited under subsection (a); or
(B) applying requirements that make distinctions
between acute care and chronic care.
(2) Nonapplicability.--This section shall not apply to--
(A) substance abuse or chemical dependency
benefits; or
(B) health benefits or health plans paid for under
title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act.
(3) State law.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
to preempt any State law that provides for greater parity with
respect to mental health benefits than that required under this
section.
(c) Small Employer Exemption.--
(1) In general.--This section shall not apply to plans
maintained by employers that employ less than 26 employees.
(2) Application of certain rules in determination of
employer size.--For purposes of this subsection--
(A) Application of aggregation rule for
employers.--All persons treated as a single employer
under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of section 414
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated
as 1 employer.
(B) Employers not in existence in preceding year.--
In the case of an employer which was not in existence
throughout the preceding calendar year, the
determination of whether such employer is a small
employer shall be based on the average number of
employees that it is reasonably expected such employer
will employ on business days in the current calendar
year.
(C) Predecessors.--Any reference in this subsection
to an employer shall include a reference to any
predecessor of such employer.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:
(1) Group health plan.--
(A) In general.--The term ''group health plan''
means an employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in
section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974) to the extent that the plan provides
medical care (as defined in paragraph (2)) and
including items and services paid for as medical care)
to employees or their dependents (as defined under the
terms of the plan) directly or through insurance,
reimbursement, or otherwise.
(B) Medical care.--The term ''medical care'' means
amounts paid for--
(i) the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,
treatment, or prevention of disease, or amounts
paid for the purpose of affecting any structure
or function of the body,
(ii) amounts paid for transportation
primarily for and essential to medical care
referred to in clause (i), and
(iii) amounts paid for insurance covering
medical care referred to in clauses (i) and
(ii).
(2) Health insurance coverage.--The term ''health insurance
coverage'' means benefits consisting of medical care (provided
directly, through insurance or reimbursement, or otherwise and
including items and services paid for as medical care) under
any hospital or medical service policy or certificate, hospital
or medical service plan contract, or health maintenance
organization contract offered by a health insurance issuer.
(3) Health insurance issuer.--The term ''health insurance
issuer'' means an insurance company, insurance service, or
insurance organization (including a health maintenance
organization, as defined in paragraph (4)) which is licensed to
engage in the business of insurance in a State and which is
subject to State law which regulates insurance (within the
meaning of section 514(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974), and includes a plan sponsor described in
section 3(16)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 in the case of a group health plan which is an employee
welfare benefit plan (as defined in section 3(1) of such Act).
Such term does not include a group health plan.
(4) Health maintenance organization.--The term ''health
maintenance organization'' means--
(A) a federally qualified health maintenance
organization (as defined in section 1301(a) of the
Public Health Service Act),
(B) an organization recognized under State law as a
health maintenance organization, or
(C) a similar organization regulated under State
law for solvency in the same manner and to the same
extent as such a health maintenance organization.
(5) State.--The term ''State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana
Islands.

SEC. 4. SUNSET.

Section 2 shall cease to be effective on September 30, 2001.

SEC. 5. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM.

For the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, sections 2 and 3
will take effect on October 1, 1997.

SEC. 6. EXEMPTION.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, if the provisions of
this Act result in a 1 percent or greater increase in the cost of a
group health plan's premiums, the purchaser is exempt from the
provisions of this Act.
Output: Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 - Requires a group health plan that applies an aggregate lifetime (or annual) limit for medical or surgical services, if the plan also provides a mental health benefit, to include mental health payments in that limit or establish a separate aggregate lifetime (or annual) limit for mental health services, with the mental health limit not less than the medical or surgical limit. Prohibits a group health plan that does not apply a medical or surgical limit from applying a mental health limit. Exempts employers with fewer than 26 employees. Makes this Act ineffective after September 30, 2001. Exempts a purchaser from this Act if the Act's provisions result in a one percent or greater increase in the cost of a group health plan's premiums.