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. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS OR AT-RISK INDIAN VETERANS.

Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(D) Indian veterans housing rental assistance
program.--
''(i) Definitions.--In this subparagraph:
''(I) Eligible indian veteran.--The
term 'eligible Indian veteran' means an
Indian veteran who is--
''(aa) homeless or at risk
of homelessness; and
''(bb) living--

''(AA) on or near a
reservation; or

''(BB) in or near
any other Indian area.

''(II) Eligible recipient.--The
term 'eligible recipient' means a
recipient eligible to receive a grant
under section 101 of the Native
American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C.
4111).
''(III) Indian; indian area.--The
terms 'Indian' and 'Indian area' have
the meanings given those terms in
section 4 of the Native American
Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C.
4103).
''(IV) Indian veteran.--The term
'Indian veteran' means an Indian who is
a veteran.
''(V) Program.--The term 'Program'
means the Tribal HUD-VASH program
carried out under clause (ii).
''(VI) Tribal organization.--The
term 'tribal organization' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
''(ii) Program specifications.--The
Secretary shall use not less than 5 percent of
the amounts made available for rental
assistance under this paragraph to carry out a
rental assistance and supported housing
program, to be known as the 'Tribal HUD-VASH
program', in conjunction with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, by awarding grants for the
benefit of eligible Indian veterans.
''(iii) Model.--
''(I) In general.--Except as
provided in subclause (II), the
Secretary shall model the Program on
the rental assistance and supported
housing program authorized under
subparagraph (A) and applicable
appropriations Acts, including
administration in conjunction with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
''(II) Exceptions.--
''(aa) Secretary of housing
and urban development.--After
consultation with Indian
tribes, eligible recipients,
and any other appropriate
tribal organizations, the
Secretary may make necessary
and appropriate modifications
to facilitate the use of the
Program by eligible recipients
to serve eligible Indian
veterans.
''(bb) Secretary of
veterans affairs.--After
consultation with Indian
tribes, eligible recipients,
and any other appropriate
tribal organizations, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
may make necessary and
appropriate modifications to
facilitate the use of the
Program by eligible recipients
to serve eligible Indian
veterans.
''(iv) Eligible recipients.--The Secretary
shall make amounts for rental assistance and
associated administrative costs under the
Program available in the form of grants to
eligible recipients.
''(v) Funding criteria.--The Secretary
shall award grants under the Program based on--
''(I) need;
''(II) administrative capacity; and
''(III) any other funding criteria
established by the Secretary in a
notice published in the Federal
Register after consulting with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
''(vi) Administration.--Grants awarded
under the Program shall be administered in
accordance with the Native American Housing
Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996
(25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), except that
recipients shall--
''(I) submit to the Secretary, in a
manner prescribed by the Secretary,
reports on the utilization of rental
assistance provided under the Program;
and
''(II) provide to the Secretary
information specified by the Secretary
to assess the effectiveness of the
Program in serving eligible Indian
veterans.
''(vii) Consultation.--
''(I) Grant recipients; tribal
organizations.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, shall consult with
eligible recipients and any other
appropriate tribal organization on the
design of the Program to ensure the
effective delivery of rental assistance
and supportive services to eligible
Indian veterans under the Program.
''(II) Indian health service.--The
Director of the Indian Health Service
shall provide any assistance requested
by the Secretary or the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs in carrying out the
Program.
''(viii) Waiver.--
''(I) In general.--Except as
provided in subclause (II), the
Secretary may waive or specify
alternative requirements for any
provision of law (including
regulations) that the Secretary
administers in connection with the use
of rental assistance made available
under the Program if the Secretary
finds that the waiver or alternative
requirement is necessary for the
effective delivery and administration
of rental assistance under the Program
to eligible Indian veterans.
''(II) Exception.--The Secretary
may not waive or specify alternative
requirements under subclause (I) for
any provision of law (including
regulations) relating to labor
standards or the environment.
''(ix) Renewal grants.--The Secretary may--
''(I) set aside, from amounts made
available for tenant-based rental
assistance under this subsection and
without regard to the amounts used for
new grants under clause (ii), such
amounts as may be necessary to award
renewal grants to eligible recipients
that received a grant under the Program
in a previous year; and
''(II) specify criteria that an
eligible recipient must satisfy to
receive a renewal grant under subclause
(I), including providing data on how
the eligible recipient used the amounts
of any grant previously received under
the Program.
''(x) Reporting.--
''(I) In general.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the
Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2017, and every
5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and the Director of
the Indian Health Service, shall--
''(aa) conduct a review of
the implementation of the
Program, including any factors
that may have limited its
success; and
''(bb) submit a report
describing the results of the
review under item (aa) to--

''(AA) the
Committee on Indian
Affairs, the Committee
on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs, the
Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, and the
Committee on
Appropriations of the
Senate; and

''(BB) the
Subcommittee on Indian,
Insular and Alaska
Native Affairs of the
Committee on Natural
Resources, the
Committee on Financial
Services, the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs,
and the Committee on
Appropriations of the
House of
Representatives.

''(II) Analysis of housing stock
limitation.--The Secretary shall
include in the initial report submitted
under subclause (I) a description of--
''(aa) any regulations
governing the use of formula
current assisted stock (as
defined in section 1000.314 of
title 24, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor
regulation)) within the
Program;
''(bb) the number of
recipients of grants under the
Program that have reported the
regulations described in item
(aa) as a barrier to
implementation of the Program;
and
''(cc) proposed alternative
legislation or regulations
developed by the Secretary in
consultation with recipients of
grants under the Program to
allow the use of formula
current assisted stock within
the Program.''.

Passed the Senate May 23, 2018.

Attest:

JULIE E. ADAMS,

Secretary.

SOLUTION: Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill provides statutory authority for the Tribal HUD-VASH program, which provides rental assistance and supportive services to Indian veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and living in or near an Indian area. The United States Housing Act of 1937 is amended to direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use at least 5% of rental assistance amounts under the HUD-VASH program, which provides housing assistance to homeless veterans, for the Tribal HUD-VASH program. The Tribal HUD-VASH program shall be carried out in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). HUD and the VA: (1) shall consult with tribal organizations regarding the program's design, and (2) may make program modifications after consulting with tribal organizations. Program grants shall be made to entities eligible for Native American housing assistance block grants. HUD may make renewal grants to entities that have received prior program grants.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Citizen Petition Fairness and
Accuracy Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. CITIZEN PETITIONS AND PETITIONS FOR STAY OF AGENCY ACTION.

Section 505(j)(5) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 355(j)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(G)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any petition
submitted under section 10.30 or section 10.35 of title 21, Code of
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), shall include a
statement that to the petitioner's best knowledge and belief, the
petition--
''(I) includes all information and views on which the
petitioner relies, including all representative data and
information known to the petitioner that is favorable or
unfavorable to the petition;
''(II) is well grounded in fact and is warranted by law;
''(III) is not submitted for an improper purpose, such as
to harass or cause unnecessary delay (including unnecessary
delay of competition or agency action); and
''(IV) does not contain a materially false, misleading, or
fraudulent statement.
''(ii) The Secretary shall investigate, on receipt of a complaint,
a request under clause (vi), or on its own initiative, any petition
submitted under such section 10.30 or section 10.35 (or any successor
regulation), that--
''(I) does not comply with the requirements of clause (i);
''(II) may have been submitted for an improper purpose as
described in clause (i)(III); or
''(III) may contain a materially false, misleading, or
fraudulent statement as described in clause (i)(IV).
''(iii) If the Secretary finds that the petitioner has knowingly
and willingly submitted the petition for an improper purpose as
described in clause (i)(III), or which contains a materially false,
misleading, or fraudulent statement as described in clause (i)(IV), the
Secretary may--
''(I) impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000,000,
plus attorneys fees and costs of reviewing the petition and any
related proceedings;
''(II) suspend the authority of the petitioner to submit a
petition under such section 10.30 or section 10.35 (or any
successor regulation), for a period of not more than 10 years;
''(III) revoke permanently the authority of the petitioner
to submit a petition under such section 10.30 or section 10.35
(or any successor regulation); or
''(IV) dismiss the petition at issue in its entirety.
''(iv) If the Secretary takes an enforcement action described in
subclause (I), (II), (III), or (IV) of clause (iii) with respect to a
petition, the Secretary shall refer that petition to the Federal Trade
Commission for further action as the Federal Trade Commission finds
appropriate.
''(v) In determining whether to take an enforcement action
described in subclause (I), (II), (III), or (IV) of clause (iii) with
respect to a petition, and in determining the amount of any civil
penalty or the length of any suspension imposed under that clause, the
Secretary shall consider the specific circumstances of the situation,
such as the gravity and seriousness of the violation involved, the
amount of resources expended in reviewing the petition at issue, the
effect on marketing of competing drugs of the pendency of the
improperly submitted petition, including whether the timing of the
submission of the petition appears to have been calculated to cause
delay in the marketing of any drug awaiting approval, and whether the
petitioner has a history of submitting petitions in violation of this
subparagraph.
''(vi)(I) Any person aggrieved by a petition filed under such
section 10.30 or section 10.35 (or any successor regulation), including
a person filing an application under subsection (b)(2) or (j) of this
section to which such petition relates, may request that the Secretary
initiate an investigation described under clause (ii) for an
enforcement action described under clause (iii).
''(II) The aggrieved person shall specify the basis for its belief
that the petition at issue is false, misleading, fraudulent, or
submitted for an improper purpose. The aggrieved person shall certify
that the request is submitted in good faith, is well grounded in fact,
and not submitted for any improper purpose. Any aggrieved person who
knowingly and intentionally violates the preceding sentence shall be
subject to the civil penalty described under clause (iii)(I).
''(vii) The Secretary shall take final agency action with respect
to a petition filed under such section 10.30 or section 10.35 (or any
successor regulation) within 6 months of receipt of such petition. The
Secretary shall not extend such 6-month review period, even with
consent of the petitioner, for any reason, including based upon the
submission of comments relating to a petition or supplemental
information supplied by the petitioner. If the Secretary has not taken
final agency action on a petition by the date that is 6 months after
the date of receipt of the petition, such petition shall be deemed to
have been denied on such date.
''(viii) The Secretary may promulgate regulations to carry out this
subparagraph, including to determine whether petitions filed under such
section 10.30 or section 10.35 (or any successor regulation) merit
enforcement action by the Secretary under this subparagraph.''.

SOLUTION: Citizen Petition Fairness and Accuracy Act of 2006 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that any citizen petition or request for stay of action related to an abbreviated new drug application include a statement that the petition: (1) includes all information and views on which the petitioner relies; (2) is well grounded in fact and warranted by law; (3) is not submitted for an improper purpose; and (4) does not contain a materially false, misleading, or fraudulent statement. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate any petition that does not comply.

Allows the Secretary to impose penalties for knowingly and willfully submitting a petition for an improper purpose or that contains a materially false, misleading, or fraudulent statement. Provides that such penalties may include: (1) civil penalty; (2) suspension or revocation of the authority to submit a petition; and (3) dismissal of the petition. Requires the Secretary to refer such a violative petition to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for further action. Sets forth the factors that the Secretary shall consider in taking an enforcement action or determining the penalty.

Permits any person aggrieved by a petition that may contain violations to request the Secretary to investigate. Subjects knowing and intentional violative requests to civil penalties.

Requires the Secretary to take final agency action on such a petition within six months.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Date Certain Tax Code Replacement
Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to set a date certain for replacing the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with a simple and fair alternative.

SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986.

(a) In General.--No tax shall be imposed by the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986--
(1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2008;
and
(2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a
taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after
December 31, 2008.
(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to taxes imposed
by--
(1) chapter 2 of such Code (relating to tax on self-
employment income);
(2) chapter 21 of such Code (relating to Federal Insurance
Contributions Act); and
(3) chapter 22 of such Code (relating to Railroad
Retirement Tax Act).

SEC. 4. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TAX REFORM AND SIMPLIFICATION.

(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is overly complex,
imposes significant burdens on individuals and businesses and
the economy, is extremely difficult for the Internal Revenue
Service to administer, and is in need of fundamental reform and
simplification.
(2) Many of the problems encountered by taxpayers in
dealing with the Internal Revenue Service could be eliminated
or alleviated by fundamental reform and simplification.
(3) Recent efforts to simplify or reform the tax laws have
not been successful due in part to the difficulty of developing
broad-based, nonpartisan support for proposals to make such
changes.
(4) Many of the problems with the Internal Revenue Service
stem from the overly complex tax code the agency is asked to
administer.
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--To carry out the purposes of this section,
there is established within the legislative branch a National
Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification (in this section
referred to as the ''Commission'').
(2) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 15
members (of which not less than 2 members are from small
businesses with less than 50 employees), as follows:
(A) Three members appointed by the President, two
from the executive branch of the Government and one
from the private sector.
(B) Four members appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate, one from Members of the Senate and three
from the private sector.
(C) Two members appointed by the minority leader of
the Senate, one from Members of the Senate and one from
the private sector.
(D) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, one from Members of the House
and three from the private sector.
(E) Two members appointed by the minority leader of
the House of Representatives, one from Members of the
House and one from the private sector.
(3) Chair.--The Commission shall elect a Chair (or two Co-
Chairs) from among its members.
(4) Meetings, quorums, vacancies.--After its initial
meeting, the Commission shall meet upon the call of the Chair
(Co-Chairs, if elected) or a majority of its members. Nine
members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment was made. Any meeting of the Commission or any
subcommittee thereof may be held in executive session to the
extent that the Chair (Co-Chairs, if elected) or a majority of
the members of the Commission or subcommittee determine
appropriate.
(5) Continuation of membership.--If--
(A) any individual who appointed a member to the
Commission by virtue of holding a position described in
paragraph (2) ceases to hold such position before the
report of the Commission is submitted under subsection
(g); or
(B) a member was appointed to the Commission as a
Member of Congress and the member ceases to be a Member
of Congress, or was appointed to the Commission because
the member was not an officer or employee of any
government and later becomes an officer or employee of
a government,
that member may continue as a member for not longer than the
30-day period beginning on the date that such individual ceases
to hold such position or such member ceases to be a Member of
Congress or becomes such an officer or employee, as the case
may be.
(6) Appointment; initial meeting.--
(A) Appointment.--It is the sense of the Congress
that members of the Commission should be appointed not
more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(B) Initial meeting.--If, after 60 days from the
date of the enactment of this Act, eight or more
members of the Commission have been appointed, members
who have been appointed may meet and select the Chair
(or Co-Chairs) who thereafter shall have the authority
to begin the operations of the Commission, including
the hiring of staff.
(c) Functions of the Commission.--
(1) In general.--The functions of the Commission shall be--
(A) to conduct, for a period not to exceed 18
months from the date of its first meeting, the review
described in paragraph (2); and
(B) to submit to the Congress a report of the
results of such review, including recommendations for
fundamental reform and simplification of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as described in subsection (g).
(2) Review.--The Commission shall review--
(A) the present structure and provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, especially with respect
to--
(i) its impact on the economy (including
the impact on savings, capital formation and
capital investment);
(ii) its impact on families and the
workforce (including issues relating to
distribution of tax burden);
(iii) the compliance cost to taxpayers,
including small businesses and corporations;
and
(iv) the ability of the Internal Revenue
Service to administer such provisions;
(B) whether tax systems imposed under the laws of
other countries could provide more efficient and fair
methods of funding the revenue requirements of the
government;
(C) whether the present income tax system should be
replaced with a flat tax, a national sales tax, or any
other specified tax system;
(D) whether the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 can
be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or
replacement thereof; and
(E) the transition costs (including the length of
time recommended for a smooth transition) associated
with any changes to the present Federal tax system
(both real and implied) which would be imposed on
citizens, businesses, and the Government.
(d) Powers of the Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Commission or, on the authorization of
the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section,
hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places,
take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such
oaths, as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or
designated member may deem advisable.
(2) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in
such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into
contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties
under this section.
(3) Assistance from federal agencies and offices.--
(A) Information.--The Commission is authorized to
secure directly from any executive department, bureau,
agency, board, commission, office, independent
establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, as
well as from any committee or other office of the
legislative branch, such information, suggestions,
estimates, and statistics as it requires for the
purposes of its review and report. Each such
department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office,
establishment, instrumentality, or committee shall, to
the extent not prohibited by law, furnish such
information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics
directly to the Commission, upon request made by the
Chair (Co-Chairs, if elected).
(B) Treasury department.--The Secretary of the
Treasury is authorized on a nonreimbursable basis to
provide the Commission with administrative services,
funds, facilities, staff, and other support services
for the performance of the Commission's functions.
(C) General services administration.--The
Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission on a nonreimbursable basis such
administrative support services as the Commission may
request.
(D) Joint committee on taxation.--The staff of the
Joint Committee on Taxation is authorized on a
nonreimbursable basis to provide the Commission with
such legal, economic, or policy analysis, including
revenue estimates, as the Commission may request.
(E) Other assistance.--In addition to the
assistance set forth in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C),
and (D), departments and agencies of the United States
are authorized to provide to the Commission such
services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support
services as they may deem advisable and as may be
authorized by law.
(4) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions
as departments and agencies of the United States.
(5) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of
gifts or donations of services or property in carrying out its
duties under this section.
(e) Staff of the Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Chair (Co-Chairs, if elected), in
accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, may
appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such
other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to
carry out its functions without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the
competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of
chapter 51 and subchapter III or chapter 53 of such title
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates,
except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may
exceed the equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a
position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of title 5, United States Code. Any Federal Government
employee may be detailed to the Commission without
reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall
retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular
employment without interruption.
(2) Consultant services.--The Commission is authorized to
procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance
with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates
not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position
at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of
title 5, United States Code.
(f) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--
(1) Compensation.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), each member of the Commission may be compensated
at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code, for each day during which that
member is engaged in the actual performance of the
duties of the Commission.
(B) Exception.--Members of the Commission who are
officers or employees of the United States or Members
of Congress shall receive no additional pay on account
of their service on the Commission.
(2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b)
of title 5, United States Code.
(g) Report of the Commission; Termination.--
(1) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit a
report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate. The
report of the Commission shall describe the results of its
review (as described in subsection (c)(2)), shall make such
recommendations for fundamental reform and simplification of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Commission considers
appropriate, and shall describe the expected impact of such
recommendations on the economy. The measurement of such impact
shall be made using both static and dynamic scoring models.
(2) Termination.--
(A) In general.--The Commission, and all the
authorities of this section, shall terminate on the
date which is 90 days after the date on which the
report is required to be submitted under paragraph (1).
(B) Concluding activities.--The Commission may use
the 90-day period referred to in subparagraph (A) for
the purposes of concluding its activities, including
providing testimony to committees of Congress
concerning its report and disseminating that report.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the activities of the
Commission. Until such time as funds are specifically appropriated for
such activities, $2,000,000 shall be available from fiscal year 2006
funds appropriated to the Treasury Department, ''Departmental Offices''
account, for the activities of the Commission, to remain available
until expended.

SEC. 5. TIMING OF IMPLEMENTATION.

In order to ensure an easy transition and effective implementation,
the Congress hereby declares that any new Federal tax system shall be
approved by Congress in its final form no later than July 4, 2008. If a
new Federal tax system is not so approved by July 4, 2008, then
Congress shall be required to vote to reauthorize the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.

SOLUTION:
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Terminates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for taxable years beginning after 2008, except provisions of such Code relating to social security taxation (i.e., taxes on wage, self-employment, and railroad retirement income).

Establishes within the legislative branch a National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification. Directs the Commission to: (1) review the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on the economy, families, and the workforce: (2) determine whether the current income tax system can be replaced by more a more efficient and fair system of taxation; and (3) submit a report to Congress on the results of its review with recommendations for fundamental reform and simplification of the Code.

Requires congressional approval of a new federal tax system no later than July 4, 2008, or a vote of Congress to reauthorize the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.