In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
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Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Budget Surplus Dividend Act of
1997''.

SEC. 2. 50 PERCENT OF FEDERAL BUDGET SURPLUS TO REIMBURSE EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES FOR A PORTION OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

(a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits)
is amended by redesignating section 35 as section 36 and by inserting
after section 34 the following new section:

''SEC. 35. CREDIT FOR PORTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

''(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of a taxable year to which
this section applies, there shall be allowed as a credit against the
tax imposed by this subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to
the applicable percentage of the taxpayer's social security taxes for
the taxable year.
''(b) Taxable Years to Which Section Applies.--This section shall
apply to any taxable year beginning in the first calendar year
beginning after a fiscal year if there is a Federal budget surplus for
such fiscal year of more than $1,000,000,000.
''(c) Applicable Percentage.--For purposes of this section--
''(1) In general.--The term 'applicable percentage' means--
''(A) the base percentage with respect to so much
of the taxpayer's social security taxes as does not
exceed $3,000, and
''(B) the phasedown percentage with respect to so
much of the taxpayer's social security taxes as exceeds
$3,000.
''(2) Base percentage.--The term 'base percentage' means,
for taxable years beginning in a calendar year, the percentage
which the Secretary estimates will result in a reduction of
revenues to the Treasury by reason of this section for such
taxable year equal to 50 percent of the Federal budget surplus
for the most recent fiscal year ending before such calendar
year. Proper adjustments shall be made in the percentage
determined under the preceding sentence with respect to any
subsequent fiscal year to the extent that prior estimates were
in excess of or less than the proper percentage.
''(3) Phasedown percentage.--The term 'phasedown
percentage' means the base percentage reduced (but not below
zero) by the number of percentage points which bears the same
ratio to the base percentage as--
''(A) the excess of the taxpayer's social security
taxes over $3,000 bears to
''(B) the excess of the maximum social security
taxes over $3,000.
''(4) Maximum social security taxes.--The term 'maximum
social security taxes' means the amount which would be the
social security taxes of the taxpayer if the amount on which
such taxes are determined were equal to the maximum amount of
remuneration which may be taken into account under section
3101(a).
''(5) Special rules.--
''(A) Dollar limitations on per employee basis.--
The dollar limitations in paragraphs (1) and (3) shall
be applied on a per employee basis.
''(B) Self-employed individuals.--Paragraphs (1)
and (3) shall be applied by substituting '$6,000' for
'$3,000' each place it appears in the case of the taxes
referred to in subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection
(d)(1).
''(d) Social Security Taxes.--For purposes of this section--
''(1) In general.--The term 'social security taxes' means,
with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year--
''(A) the taxes imposed by sections 3101 and
3201(a) (relating to taxes on employees) on amounts
received by the taxpayer during the calendar year in
which the taxable year begins,
''(B) the taxes imposed by sections 3111 and
3221(a) (relating to taxes on employers) on amounts
paid by the taxpayer during the calendar year in which
the taxable year begins,
''(C) the taxes imposed by section 1401 on the
self-employment income of the taxpayer for the taxable
year, and
''(D) the taxes imposed by section 3211(a)(1) on
amounts received by the taxpayer during the calendar
year in which the taxable year begins.
''(2) Coordination with special refund of social security
taxes.--The term 'social security taxes' shall not include any
taxes to the extent the taxpayer is entitled to a special
refund of such taxes under section 6413(c).
''(3) Special rule.--Any amounts paid pursuant to an
agreement under section 3121(l) (relating to agreements entered
into by American employers with respect to foreign affiliates)
which are equivalent to the taxes referred to in paragraph
(1)(A) shall be treated as taxes referred to in such
paragraph.''
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart C of
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by
striking the item relating to section 35 and inserting the following:

''Sec. 35. Credit for portion of social
security taxes.
''Sec. 36. Overpayments of tax.''
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997.

SEC. 3. APPROPRIATION TO USE 25 PERCENT OF FEDERAL BUDGET SURPLUS TO
REDUCE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC DEBT.

There is hereby appropriated for the first fiscal year following
each fiscal year for which there is a Federal budget surplus an amount
equal to 25 percent of such surplus for purpose of paying at maturity,
or to redeem or buy before maturity, obligations of the Government
included in the public debt. An obligation of the Government that is
paid, redeemed, or bought with funds appropriated by the preceding
sentence shall be canceled and retired and may not be reissued.

SEC. 4. USE 25 PERCENT OF FEDERAL BUDGET SURPLUS TO INCREASE NONDEFENSE
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMITS.

For the first fiscal year following each fiscal year for which
there is a Federal budget surplus, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget shall increase (on a pro rata basis between the
applicable nondefense categories for that fiscal year) the
discretionary spending limit for new budget authority under section
251(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985
by an amount equal to 25 percent of such surplus and shall adjust the
outlays flowing from that budget authority accordingly.

Answer: Budget Surplus Dividend Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allocate credits to taxpayers for social security taxes, during any year in which there is a Federal budget surplus of more than $1 billion, so as to utilize 50 percent of such surplus. Requires that, during any such year, the remainder of such surplus shall be split and used to: (1) reduce the outstanding public debt; and (2) increase nondefense discretionary spending limits.

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

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Keeping Families
Together Act of 2001''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Restoration of definition of aggravated felony (repeal of
section 321 of IIRIRA).
Sec. 3. Restoration of detention policy.
Sec. 4. Repeal of time stop provisions.
Sec. 5. Repeal of section 101(a)(48).
Sec. 6. Restoration of section 212(c).
Sec. 7. Restoration of judicial review provisions.
Sec. 8. Post-proceeding relief for affected aliens.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF DEFINITION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY (REPEAL OF
SECTION 321 OF IIRIRA).

(a) In General.--Effective as if included in the enactment of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(division C of Public Law 104-208), section 321 of such Act is repealed
and the provisions of law amended by such section are restored as if
such section had not been enacted.
(b) Restoration of Rights.--Any alien whose legal permanent
resident status, application for permanent residence, or application
for cancellation of removal, was affected by the changes in the
definition of ''aggravated felony'' made by such section 321 may apply
to the Attorney General to be considered for adjustment of status or
cancellation of removal in conformance with the provisions of section
101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as restored by
subsection (a).

SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF DETENTION POLICY.

(a) In General.--Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) is amended to read as follows:
''(c) Detention of Criminal Aliens.--
''(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall take into
custody any alien convicted of an aggravated felony upon
release of the alien (regardless of whether or not such release
is on parole, supervised release, or probation, and regardless
of the possibility of rearrest or further confinement in
respect of the same offense). Notwithstanding subsection (a) or
section 241(a) but subject to paragraph (2), the Attorney
General shall not release such felon from custody.
''(2) Non-release.--The Attorney General may not release
from custody any who has been convicted of an aggravated
felony, either before or after a determination of removability,
unless--
''(A)(i) the alien was lawfully admitted, or
''(ii) the alien was not lawfully admitted but the
alien cannot be removed because the designated country
of removal will not accept the alien; and
''(B) the alien satisfies the Attorney General that
the alien will not pose a danger to the safety of other
persons or of property and is likely to appear for any
scheduled proceeding.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be
effective as if included in the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF TIME STOP PROVISIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 240A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)) is repealed.
(b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall be
effective as if included in the enactment of subtitle A of title III of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996.

SEC. 5. REPEAL OF SECTION 101(A)(48).

(a) In General.--Paragraph (48) of section 101(a)(48) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is repealed.
(b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall take
effect as if included in the enactment of section 322(a) of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

SEC. 6. RESTORATION OF SECTION 212(C).

(a) In General.--Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the
following new subsection:
''(c) Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who
temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of
deportation or removal, and who are returning to a lawful
unrelinquished domicile of seven consecutive years, may be admitted in
the discretion of the Attorney General without regard to the provisions
of subsection (a) (other than paragraphs (3) and (10)(C)). Nothing
contained in this subsection shall limit the authority of the Attorney
General to exercise the discretion vested in him under section 211(b).
The first sentence of this subsection shall not apply to an alien who
has been convicted of one or more aggravated felonies and has served
for such felony or felonies a term of imprisonment of at least 5
years.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies
as of April 24, 1996, as if section 440(d) of the Antiterrorism and
Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-132) and section
304(b) of Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104-208) had not been enacted.

SEC. 7. RESTORATION OF JUDICIAL REVIEW PROVISIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 242 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1252) is amended to read as follows:

''judicial review of orders of removal

''Sec. 242. (a) The procedure prescribed by, and all the provisions
of chapter 158 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to, and
shall be the sole and exclusive procedure for, the judicial review of
all final orders of removal heretofore or hereafter made against aliens
within the United States pursuant to administrative proceedings under
section 240 of this Act or comparable provisions of any prior Act,
except that--
''(1) a petition for review may be filed not later than 90
days after the date of the issuance of the final removal order,
or, in the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony
not later than 30 days after the issuance of such order;
''(2) the venue of any petition for review under this
section shall be in the judicial circuit in which the
administrative proceedings before an immigration judge were
conducted in whole or in part, or in the judicial circuit
wherein is the residence, as defined in this Act, of the
petitioner, but not in more than one circuit;
''(3) the action shall be brought against the Immigration
and Naturalization Service, as respondent. Service of the
petition to review shall be made upon the Attorney General of
the United States and upon the official of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service in charge of the Service district in
which the office of the clerk of the court is located. The
service of the petition for review upon such official of the
Service shall stay the removal of the alien pending
determination of the petition by the court, unless the court
otherwise directs or unless the alien is convicted of an
aggravated felony, in which case the Service shall not stay the
removal of the alien pending determination of the petition of
the court unless the court otherwise directs;
''(4) except as provided in clause (B) of paragraph (5) of
this subsection, the petition shall be determined solely upon
the administrative record upon which the removal order is based
and the Attorney General's findings of fact, if supported by
reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record
considered as a whole, shall be conclusive;
''(5) whenever any petitioner, who seeks review of an order
under this section, claims to be a national of the United
States and makes a showing that his claim is not frivolous, the
court shall (A) pass upon the issues presented when it appears
from the pleadings and affidavits filed by the parties that no
genuine issue of material fact is presented; or (B) where a
genuine issue of material fact as to the petitioner's
nationality is presented, transfer the proceedings to a United
States district court for the district where the petitioner has
his residence for hearing de novo of the nationality claim and
determination as if such proceedings were originally initiated
in the district court under the provisions of section 2201 of
title 28, United States Code. Any such petitioner shall not be
entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a) of
this Act or otherwise;
''(6) whenever a petitioner seeks review of an order under
this section, any review sought with respect to a motion to
reopen or reconsider such an order shall be consolidated with
the review of the order;
''(7) if the validity of a removal order has not been
judicially determined, its validity may be challenged in a
criminal proceeding against the alien for violation of
subsection (a) or (b) of section 243 of this Act only by
separate motion for judicial review before trial. Such motion
shall be determined by the court without a jury and before the
trial of the general issue. Whenever a claim to United States
nationality is made in such motion, and in the opinion of the
court, a genuine issue of material fact as to the alien's
nationality is presented, the court shall accord him a hearing
de novo on the nationality claim and determine that issue as if
proceedings had been initiated under the provisions of section
2201 of title 28, United States Code. Any such alien shall not
be entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a)
of this Act or otherwise. If no such hearing de novo as to
nationality is conducted, the determination shall be made
solely upon the administrative record upon which the removal
order is based and the Attorney General's findings of fact, if
supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on
the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive. If the
removal order is held invalid, the court shall dismiss the
indictment and the United States shall have the right to appeal
to the court of appeals within 30 days. The procedure on such
appeals shall be as provided in the Federal rules of criminal
procedure. No petition for review under this section may be
filed by any alien during the pendency of a criminal proceeding
against such alien for violation of subsection (a) or (b) of
section 243 of this Act;
''(8) nothing in this section shall be construed to require
the Attorney General to defer removal of an alien after the
issuance of a removal order because of the right of judicial
review of the order granted by this section, or to relieve any
alien from compliance with subsections (a) and (b) of section
243 of this Act. Nothing contained in this section shall be
construed to preclude the Attorney General from detaining or
continuing to detain an alien or from taking the alien into
custody pursuant to section 241 of this Act at any time after
the issuance of a removal order;
''(9) it shall not be necessary to print the record or any
part thereof, or the briefs, and the court shall review the
proceedings on a typewritten record and on typewritten briefs;
and
''(10) any alien held in custody pursuant to an order of
removal may obtain judicial review thereof by habeas corpus
proceedings.
''(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any alien
against whom a final order of removal has been made heretofore or
hereafter under the provisions of section 235 of this Act or comparable
provisions of any prior Act may obtain judicial review of such order by
habeas corpus proceedings and not otherwise.
''(c) An order of removal shall not be reviewed by any court if the
alien has not exhausted the administrative remedies available to the
alien as of right under the immigration laws and regulations or if the
alien has departed from the United States after the issuance of the
order. Every petition for review or for habeas corpus shall state
whether the validity of the order has been upheld in any prior judicial
proceeding, and, if so, the nature and date thereof, and the court in
which such proceeding took place. No petition for review or for habeas
corpus shall be entertained if the validity of the order has been
previously determined in any civil or criminal proceeding, unless the
petition presents grounds which the court finds could not have been
presented in such prior proceeding, or the court finds that the remedy
provided by such prior proceeding was inadequate or ineffective to test
the validity of the order.
''(d)(1) A petition for review or for habeas corpus on behalf of an
alien against whom a final order of removal has been issued pursuant to
section 238(b) may challenge only--
''(A) whether the alien is in fact the alien described in
the order;
''(B) whether the alien is in fact an alien described in
section 238(b)(2);
''(C) whether the alien has been convicted of an aggravated
felony and such conviction has become final; and
''(D) whether the alien was afforded the procedures
required by section 238(b)(4).
''(2) No court shall have jurisdiction to review any issue other
than an issue described in paragraph (1).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to
determinations pending on or after such date with respect to which--
(1) a final administrative decision has been not been
rendered as of such date; or
(2) such a decision has been rendered but the period for
seeking judicial review of the decision has not expired.

SEC. 8. POST-PROCEEDING RELIEF FOR AFFECTED ALIENS.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 240(c)(6) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(6)) or any other
limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen removal proceedings, the
Attorney General shall establish a process (whether through permitting
the reopening of a removal proceeding or otherwise) under which an
alien--
(1) who is (or was) in removal proceedings before the date
of the enactment of this Act (whether or not the alien has been
removed as of such date); and
(2) whose eligibility for cancellation of removal has been
established by this Act;
may apply (or reapply) for cancellation of removal under section
240A(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(a)) as a
beneficiary of the relief provided under this Act.
(b) Parole.--The Attorney General should exercise the parole
authority under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)(A)) for the purpose of permitting aliens
removed from the United States to participate in the process
established under subsection (a).

Answer: Keeping Families Together Act of 2001 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Act) to repeal the provision amending the definition of "aggravated felony," and restore provisions of law amended by such provision as if it had not been enacted, including residency-or status-related rights of an affected legal alien. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise detention of criminal alien provisions, effective as if included in the Act. Repeals, as if included in the Act: (1) certain provisions respecting termination of continuous presence or physical presence in the United States; and (2) the definition of "conviction."Authorizes the Attorney General to admit certain lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens returning to the United States who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation or removal, effective as of a specified date, as if certain sections of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 had not been enacted. Revises provisions respecting judicial review of removal orders.Requires the Attorney General to establish a post-proceeding removal relief process for affected aliens.

Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''NATO-Western Balkans Support Act of
2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) to mutual defense and the territorial
integrity of its members has advanced the democratic
transformation of Central and Eastern Europe and significantly
enhanced the security of Europe. Nowhere in Europe has the
search for sustainable peace been more challenging than in the
Western Balkans. NATO has the ability to encourage the
countries of the Western Balkans to embrace collective
security, consolidate their democratic gains, and extend their
commitment to integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.
(2) NATO membership offers the ultimate protection against
perceived external threats and has demonstrated its role in
lowering regional tensions. Croatia's successful accession to
NATO has encouraged other states of the Western Balkans to
consider the possibility of their own membership more
seriously. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are already
seriously engaged in the process of meeting NATO membership
criteria as active members of the Partnership for Peace and
Intensified Dialogue with NATO.
(3) In Western Balkan states like Bosnia and Herzegovina
and Montenegro, the process of NATO accession can provide focus
for ongoing efforts to improve the functionality and efficiency
of the armed forces and the state more broadly. In Bosnia and
Herzegovina, many reforms necessary to improve the
functionality of the state, such as resolution of the defense-
related property issue, are also necessary for NATO membership.
(4) The success of Serbia is central to the success of the
Western Balkans. The United States Government welcomes the
decision of the democratically elected Government of Serbia to
join the Partnership for Peace Program in 2006 and encourages
as strong a relationship as is possible between NATO and the
Government and people of Serbia. As Vice President Joseph Biden
said in Belgrade on May 20, 2009, ''The United States strongly
supports Serbian membership in the European Union and expanding
security cooperation between Serbia, the United States, and our
allies. We will use our influence, our energy, and our
resources to promote Serbia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.''.
(5) In the NATO Participation Act of 1994 (title II of
Public Law 103-447; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress declared
that ''full and active participants in the Partnership for
Peace in a position to further the principles of the North
Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North
Atlantic area should be invited to become full NATO members in
accordance with Article 10 of such Treaty at an early date''.
(6) Under the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (as
enacted into law by section 101(c) of title I of division A of
Public Law 104-208; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress called for
the prompt admission of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic,
and Slovenia to NATO, and declared that ''in order to promote
economic stability and security in Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine . .
. the process of enlarging NATO to include emerging democracies
in Central and Eastern Europe should not be limited to
consideration of admitting Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic,
and Slovenia as full members of the NATO Alliance''.
(7) In the European Security Act of 1998 (title XXVII of
division G of Public Law 105-277; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note),
Congress declared that ''Poland, Hungary, and the Czech
Republic should not be the last emerging democracies in Central
and Eastern Europe invited to join NATO''.
(8) In the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act
of 2002 (Public Law 107-187; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), Congress
endorsed ''. . . the vision of further enlargement of the NATO
Alliance articulated by President George W. Bush on June 15,
2001, and by former President William J. Clinton on October 22,
1996.''.
(9) At the Madrid Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization in July 1997, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech
Republic were invited to join NATO, and the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization heads of state and government issued a
declaration stating, ''The alliance expects to extend further
invitations in coming years to nations willing and able to
assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership . . .
No European democratic country whose admission would fulfill
the objectives of the [North Atlantic] Treaty will be excluded
from consideration''.
(10) At the Washington, DC, Summit of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization in April 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization heads of state and government issued a communique
declaring, ''We pledge that NATO will continue to welcome new
members in a position to further the principles of the [North
Atlantic] Treaty and contribute to peace and security in the
Euro-Atlantic area . . . The three new members will not be the
last . . . No European democratic country whose admission would
fulfill the objectives of the Treaty will be excluded from
consideration, regardless of its geographic location''.
(11) On June 15, 2001, in a speech in Warsaw, Poland,
President George W. Bush stated, ''All of Europe's new
democracies, from the Baltic to the Black Sea and all that lie
between, should have the same chance for security and freedom--
and the same chance to join the institutions of Europe--as
Europe's old democracies have . . . I believe in NATO
membership for all of Europe's democracies that seek it and are
ready to share the responsibilities that NATO brings . . .''.
(12) On October 22, 1996, in a speech in Detroit, Michigan,
former President William J. Clinton stated, ''NATO's doors will
not close behind its first new members . . . NATO should remain
open to all of Europe's emerging democracies who are ready to
shoulder the responsibilities of membership . . . No nation
will be automatically excluded . . . No country outside NATO
will have a veto . . . A gray zone of insecurity must not
reemerge in Europe.''.
(13) At the Prague Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization in November 2002, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia were invited to join
NATO in the second round of enlargement of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization since the end of the Cold War, and the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state and
government issued a declaration stating, ''NATO's door will
remain open to European democracies willing and able to assume
the responsibilities and obligations of membership, in
accordance with Article 10 of the Washington Treaty.''.
(14) At the Istanbul Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization in June 2004, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization heads of state and government issued a communique
reaffirming that NATO's door remains open to new members,
declaring, ''We celebrate the success of NATO's Open Door
Policy, and reaffirm today that our seven new members will not
be the last. The door to membership remains open.''.
(15) At the Riga Summit of the NATO Alliance November 2006,
NATO heads of state and government affirmed in their
declaration that ''Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and
Serbia can offer valuable contributions to regional stability
and security'' and that NATO should ''encourage further
positive developments in the region on its path towards Euro-
Atlantic integration''. It was at Riga that Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia were offered membership in
the Partnership for Peace and Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council.
(16) At the Bucharest Summit of the NATO Alliance in April
2008, the NATO heads of state and government issued a
declaration stating that in the Balkans, ''Euro-Atlantic
integration, based on democratic values and regional
cooperation, remains necessary for lasting peace and
stability.'' The Declaration also noted that ''we have decided
to invite Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to begin an
Intensified Dialogue on the full range of political, military,
financial, and security issues relating to their aspirations to
membership''.
(17) At the Strasbourg/Kehl NATO Summit, the heads of state
and government participating in the meeting of the North
Atlantic Council on April 4, 2009, reiterated that ''[i]n
accordance with Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, NATO's
door will remain open to all European democracies which share
the values of our Alliance, which are willing and able to
assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, and
whose inclusion can contribute to common security and
stability''.
(18) The Summit Declaration also acknowledged the progress
of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina on ''cooperation
with NATO, including through implementation of its current
IPAP, and the country's expressed intention to apply for MAP at
an appropriate time.'' The declaration also urged ''Bosnia and
Herzegovina's political leaders to take further genuine steps
to strengthen state-level institutions and reinvigorate the
reform process to advance the country's Euro-Atlantic
aspirations.''.
(19) With respect to Montenegro, the NATO heads of state
and government declared at the 2009 Strasbourg/Kehl NATO
Summit, ''We welcome Montenegro's successful and active
implementation of its current Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP) with NATO. We are encouraged by the reforms it has
made in a number of areas that are essential to its Euro-
Atlantic integration and also by its contributions to
cooperation and security in the region. We are looking forward
to Montenegro's further determined efforts in this regard. The
Council in permanent session is keeping Montenegro's progress
under active review and will respond early to its request to
participate in the Membership Action Plan (MAP), on its own
merits.''.
(20) Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro deserve
recognition for their cooperation with the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Although
Serbia has not yet completely fulfilled its ICTY obligations,
the continued support of the Government of Serbia for the
process until its conclusion is the best way to ensure the
peace and to prepare the way to full participation of Serbia in
European institutions.

SEC. 3. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

Congress--
(1) supports the commitment to further enlargement of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization to include Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Montenegro, as European democracies, that are
able and willing to meet the responsibilities of membership, as
expressed by NATO in its Madrid Summit Declaration of 1997, its
Washington, DC, Summit Communique of 1999, its Prague Summit
Declaration of 2002, its Istanbul Summit Communique of 2004,
its Riga Summit Declaration of 2006, its Bucharest Summit
Declaration of 2008, and its Strasbourg/Kehl Declaration of
2009;
(2) encourages United States allies in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization to utilize the opportunity of the ongoing
Strategic Concept review to reinvigorate and transform NATO's
approach to its commitment to the peace, stability, and
democratic success of the Western Balkans;
(3) endorses cooperation with representatives of the
Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to determine a realistic
timetable and plan, constructed in conjunction with other NATO
allies, for Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the criteria for
NATO membership, with the goal of improving the functionality
of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the
achievement of the commonly accepted political, military,
economic, and social standards;
(4) declares that United States support for Bosnia and
Herzegovina's membership should be contingent upon thorough
achievement of these exacting requirements, and that NATO
membership criteria must not be compromised;
(5) calls for the timely admission of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Montenegro contingent upon their continued
implementation of democratic, defense, and economic reform, and
their willingness and ability to meet the responsibilities of
membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a
clear expression of national intent to do so; and
(6) reaffirms the need for engagement with the
democratically elected government of Serbia and amelioration of
past bilateral tensions with greater interaction between the
people of the United States and Serbia, including support by
the United States Government for the process of including
Serbia in trans-Atlantic institutions as the Government of
Serbia fulfills the necessary criteria.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the existing position of political advisor within the
NATO Mission in Sarajevo should be filled by an ambassadorial-
level United States diplomat as ''senior civilian
representative'' to the NATO Mission in Sarajevo;
(2) this senior civilian representative should have primary
responsibility for defense and security sector reform and NATO/
Partnership for Peace integration;
(3) the position requires coordination with international
organizations and national authorities in Bosnia and
Herzegovina;
(4) it is important that this effort have civilian
leadership and the senior civilian representative should work
in conjunction with the senior military representative and lead
the political-military staff;
(5) the substantial credibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina
enjoyed by the United States should be harnessed to facilitate
the fulfillment by the Government of Bosnia and Herzogovina of
NATO membership criteria; and
(6) the Secretary of State should provide a regular
briefing, not less than annually, to the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate on the progress of the efforts required
under this Act.

SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND MONTENEGRO AS
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE NATO
PARTICIPATION ACT OF 1994.

(a) Designation.--
(1) Bosnia and herzegovina.--Bosnia and Herzegovina is
designated as eligible to receive assistance under the program
established under section 203(a) of the NATO Participation Act
of 1994 (title II of Public Law 103-447; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note),
and shall be deemed to have been so designated pursuant to
section 203(d)(1) of such Act.
(2) Montenegro.--Montenegro is designated as eligible to
receive assistance under the program established under section
203(a) of the NATO Participation Act of 1994, and shall be
deemed to have been so designated pursuant to section 203(d)(1)
of such Act.
(b) Rule of Construction.--The designation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Montenegro pursuant to subsection (a) as eligible to
receive assistance under the program established under section 203(a)
of the NATO Participation Act of 1994--
(1) is in addition to the designation of Poland, Hungary,
the Czech Republic, and Slovenia pursuant to section 606 of the
NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (as enacted into law
by section 101(c) of title I of division A of Public Law 104-
208; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), the designation of Romania, Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria pursuant to section 2703(b) of
the European Security Act of 1998 (title XXVII of division G of
Public Law 105-277; 22 U.S.C. 1928 note), the designation of
Slovakia pursuant to section 4(a) of the Gerald B. H. Solomon
Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-187; 22
U.S.C. 1928 note), and the designation of the Republic of
Albania, the Republic of Croatia, Georgia, the Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM), and Ukraine pursuant to section 4(a) of the
NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-17; 22
U.S.C. 1928 note) as eligible to receive assistance under the
program established under section 203(a) of the NATO
Participation Act of 1994; and
(2) shall not preclude the designation by the president of
other countries pursuant to section 203(d)(2) of the NATO
Participation Act of 1994 as eligible to receive assistance
under the program established under section 203(a) of such Act.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTRIES DESIGNATED
UNDER THE NATO PARTICIPATION ACT OF 1994.

Of the amounts made available for fiscal year 2010 under section 23
of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763), such sums as may be
necessary are authorized to be appropriated for assistance to Bosnia
and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Answer:
NATO-Western Balkans Support Act of 2009 - States that Congress supports the commitment to further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to include Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the existing position of political advisor within the NATO Mission in Sarajevo should be filled by an ambassadorial-level U.S. diplomat as senior civilian representative to the NATO Mission in Sarajevo.

Deems Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994.

States that such designation: (1) is in addition to the designation of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia pursuant to the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996, the designation of Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria pursuant to the European Security Act of 1998, and the designation of Slovakia pursuant to the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002, and the designation of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia, Georgia, the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and Ukraine pursuant to the NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2007 as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994; and (2) shall not preclude the designation by the President of other countries as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994.

Authorizes FY2010 appropriations under the Arms Export Control Act for assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.