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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Paycheck Fairness Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Women have entered the workforce in record numbers.
(2) Even in the 1990's, women earn significantly lower pay
than men for work on jobs that require equal skill, effort, and
responsibility and that are performed under similar working
conditions. These pay disparities exist in both the private and
governmental sectors. In many instances, the pay disparities
can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the
lingering effects of past discrimination.
(3) The existence of such pay disparities--
(A) depresses the wages of working families who
rely on the wages of all members of the family to make
ends meet;
(B) prevents the optimum utilization of available
labor resources;
(C) has been spread and perpetuated, through
commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of
commerce, among the workers of the several States;
(D) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in
commerce;
(E) constitutes an unfair method of competition in
commerce;
(F) leads to labor disputes burdening and
obstructing commerce and the free flow of goods in
commerce;
(G) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing
of goods in commerce; and
(H) in many instances, may deprive workers of equal
protection on the basis of sex in violation of the 5th
and 14th amendments.
(4)(A) Artificial barriers to the elimination of
discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex
continue to exist more than 3 decades after the enactment of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.)
and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.).
(B) Elimination of such barriers would have positive
effects, including--
(i) providing a solution to problems in the economy
created by unfair pay disparities;
(ii) substantially reducing the number of working
women earning unfairly low wages, thereby reducing the
dependence on public assistance; and
(iii) promoting stable families by enabling all
family members to earn a fair rate of pay;
(iv) remedying the effects of past discrimination
on the basis of sex and ensuring that in the future
workers are afforded equal protection on the basis of
sex; and
(v) ensuring equal protection pursuant to Congress'
power to enforce the 5th and 14th amendments.
(5) With increased information about the provisions added
by the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and wage data, along with more
effective remedies, women will be better able to recognize and
enforce their rights to equal pay for work on jobs that require
equal skill, effort, and responsibility and that are performed
under similar working conditions.
(6) Certain employers have already made great strides in
eradicating unfair pay disparities in the workplace and their
achievements should be recognized.

SEC. 3. ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT OF EQUAL PAY REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Required Demonstration for Affirmative Defense.--Section
6(d)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(1))
is amended by striking ''(iv) a differential'' and all that follows
through the period and inserting the following: ''(iv) a differential
based on a bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training
or experience, except that this clause shall apply only if--
''(I) the employer demonstrates that--
''(aa) such factor--
''(AA) is job-related with
respect to the position in
question; or
''(BB) furthers a
legitimate business purpose,
except that this item shall not
apply where the employee
demonstrates that an
alternative employment practice
exists that would serve the
same business purpose without
producing such differential and
that the employer has refused
to adopt such alternative
practice; and
''(bb) such factor was actually
applied and used reasonably in light of
the asserted justification; and
''(II) upon the employer succeeding under
subclause I, the employee fails to demonstrate
that the differential produced by the reliance
of the employer on such factor is itself the
result of discrimination on the basis of sex by
the employer.
''An employer that is not otherwise in compliance with this
paragraph may not reduce the wages of any employee in order to
achieve such compliance.''.
(b) Application of Provisions.--Section 6(d)(1) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ''The provisions of this subsection shall apply to
applicants for employment if such applicants, upon employment by the
employer, would be subject to any provisions of this section.''.
(c) Elimination of Establishment Requirement.--Section 6(d) of the
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking '', within any establishment in which such
employees are employed,''; and
(2) by striking ''in such establishment'' each place it
appears.
(d) Nonretaliation Provision.--Section 15(a)(3) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking ''or has'' each place it appears and
inserting ''has''; and
(2) by inserting before the semicolon the following: '', or
has inquired about, discussed, or otherwise disclosed the wages
of the employee or another employee, or because the employee
(or applicant) has made a charge, testified, assisted, or
participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding,
hearing, or action under section 6(d)''.
(e) Enhanced Penalties.--Section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(b)) is amended--
(1) by inserting after the first sentence the following:
''Any employer who violates section 6(d) shall additionally be
liable for such compensatory or punitive damages as may be
appropriate, except that the United States shall not be liable
for punitive damages.'';
(2) in the sentence beginning ''An action to'', by striking
''either of the preceding sentences'' and inserting ''any of
the preceding sentences of this subsection'';
(3) in the sentence beginning ''No employees shall'', by
striking ''No employees'' and inserting ''Except with respect
to class actions brought to enforce section 6(d), no
employee'';
(4) by inserting after the sentence referred to in
paragraph (3), the following: ''Notwithstanding any other
provision of Federal law, any action brought to enforce section
6(d) may be maintained as a class action as provided by the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.''; and
(5) in the sentence beginning ''The court in''--
(A) by striking ''in such action'' and inserting
''in any action brought to recover the liability
prescribed in any of the preceding sentences of this
subsection''; and
(B) by inserting before the period the following:
'', including expert fees''.
(f) Action by Secretary.--Section 16(c) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(c)) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence--
(A) by inserting ''or, in the case of a violation
of section 6(d), additional compensatory or punitive
damages,'' before ''and the agreement''; and
(B) by inserting before the period the following:
'', or such compensatory or punitive damages, as
appropriate'';
(2) in the second sentence, by inserting before the period
the following: ''and, in the case of a violation of section
6(d), additional compensatory or punitive damages'';
(3) in the third sentence, by striking ''the first
sentence'' and inserting ''the first or second sentence''; and
(4) in the last sentence--
(A) by striking ''commenced in the case'' and
inserting ''commenced--
''(1) in the case'';
(B) by striking the period and inserting
''; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
''(2) in the case of a class action brought to enforce
section 6(d), on the date on which the individual becomes a
party plaintiff to the class action''.

SEC. 4. TRAINING.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of
Federal Contract Compliance Programs, subject to the availability of
funds appropriated under section 9(b), shall provide training to
Commission employees and affected individuals and entities on matters
involving discrimination in the payment of wages.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH.

The Secretary of Labor shall conduct studies and provide
information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public
concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men
and women, including--
(1) conducting and promoting research to develop the means
to correct expeditiously the conditions leading to the pay
disparities;
(2) publishing and otherwise making available to employers,
labor organizations, professional associations, educational
institutions, the media, and the general public the findings
resulting from studies and other materials, relating to eliminating the
pay disparities;
(3) sponsoring and assisting State and community
informational and educational programs;
(4) providing information to employers, labor
organizations, professional associations, and other interested
persons on the means of eliminating the pay disparities;
(5) recognizing and promoting the achievements of
employers, labor organizations, and professional associations
that have worked to eliminate the pay disparities; and
(6) convening a national summit to discuss, and consider
approaches for rectifying, the pay disparities.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EMPLOYER RECOGNITION PROGRAM.

(a) Guidelines.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall develop
guidelines to enable employers to evaluate job categories based
on objective criteria such as educational requirements, skill
requirements, independence, working conditions, and responsibility,
including decisionmaking responsibility and de facto supervisory
responsibility.
(2) Use.--The guidelines developed under paragraph (1)
shall be designed to enable employers voluntarily to compare
wages paid for different jobs to determine if the pay scales
involved adequately and fairly reflect the educational
requirements, skill requirements, independence, working
conditions, and responsibility for each such job with the goal
of eliminating unfair pay disparities between occupations
traditionally dominated by men or women.
(3) Publication.--The guidelines shall be developed under
paragraph (1) and published in the Federal Register not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Employer Recognition.--
(1) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subsection to
emphasize the importance of, encourage the improvement of, and
recognize the excellence of employer efforts to pay wages to
women that reflect the real value of the contributions of such
women to the workplace.
(2) In general.--To carry out the purpose of this
subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall establish a program
under which the Secretary shall provide for the recognition of
employers who, pursuant to a voluntary job evaluation conducted
by the employer, adjust their wage scales (such adjustments
shall not include the lowering of wages paid to men) using the
guidelines developed under subsection (a) to ensure that women
are paid fairly in comparison to men.
(3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary of Labor may
provide technical assistance to assist an employer in carrying
out an evaluation under paragraph (2).
(c) Regulations.--The Secretary of Labor shall promulgate such
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR PAY EQUITY IN THE
WORKPLACE.

(a) In General.--There is established the Robert Reich National
Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be evidenced by a
medal bearing the inscription ''Robert Reich National Award for Pay
Equity in the Workplace''. The medal shall be of such design and
materials, and bear such additional inscriptions, as the Secretary of
Labor may prescribe.
(b) Criteria for Qualification.--To qualify to receive an award
under this section a business shall--
(1) submit a written application to the Secretary of Labor,
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require, including at a minimum
information that demonstrates that the business has made
substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and
women, and deserves special recognition as a consequence; and
(2) meet such additional requirements and specifications as
the Secretary of Labor determines to be appropriate.
(c) Making and Presentation of Award.--
(1) Award.--After receiving recommendations from the
Secretary of Labor, the President or the designated
representative of the President shall annually present the
award described in subsection (a) to businesses that meet the
qualifications described in subsection (b).
(2) Presentation.--The President or the designated
representative of the President shall present the award under
this section with such ceremonies as the President or the
designated representative of the President may determine to be
appropriate.
(d) Business.--In this section, the term ''business'' includes--
(1)(A) a corporation, including a nonprofit corporation;
(B) a partnership;
(C) a professional association;
(D) a labor organization; and
(E) a business entity similar to an entity described in any
of subparagraphs (A) through (D);
(2) an entity carrying out an education referral program, a
training program, such as an apprenticeship or management
training program, or a similar program; and
(3) an entity carrying out a joint program, formed by a
combination of any entities described in paragraph (1) or (2).

SEC. 8. COLLECTION OF PAY INFORMATION BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.

Section 709 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-8) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
''(f)(1) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this subsection, the Commission shall--
''(A) complete a survey of the data that is currently
available to the Federal Government relating to employee pay
information for use in the enforcement of Federal laws
prohibiting pay discrimination and, in consultation with other
relevant Federal agencies, identify additional data collections
that will enhance the enforcement of such laws; and
''(B) based on the results of the survey and consultations
under subparagraph (A), issue regulations to provide for the
collection of pay information data from employers as described
by the sex, race, and national origin of employees.
''(2) In implementing paragraph (1), the Commission shall have as
its primary consideration the most effective and efficient means for
enhancing the enforcement of Federal laws prohibiting pay
discrimination. For this purpose, the Commission shall consider factors
including the imposition of burdens on employers, the frequency of
required reports (including which employers should be required to
prepare reports), appropriate protections for maintaining data
confidentiality, and the most effective format for the data collection
reports.''.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.

A: Paycheck Fairness Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to revise remedies for and enforcement of prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages (such FLSA prohibitions are also known as the Equal Pay Act).
(Sec. 3) Amends FLSA to provide for enhanced enforcement of equal pay requirements, adding a nonretaliation requirement. Increases penalties for such violations. Provides for the Secretary of Labor to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in such cases.
(Sec. 4) Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to train EEOC employees and affected individuals and entities on matters involving wage discrimination.
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, including convening a national summit and carrying out other specified activities.
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for employer evaluations of job categories based on objective criteria, to be used voluntarily by employers to compare wages for different jobs to determine if pay scales adequately and fairly reflect each job's educational and skill requirements, independence, working conditions, and responsibility, in order to eliminate unfair pay disparities between occupations traditionally dominated by men or women; and (2) establish a program to recognize employers who use such guidelines to ensure that women are paid fairly in comparison to men without lowering men's wages. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance for employers to carry out such evaluations.
(Sec. 7) Establishes the Robert Reich National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be evidenced by a medal. Sets forth criteria for specified types of entities to receive such an award.
(Sec. 8) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) take appropriate steps to increase the amount of information available with respect to wage disparities; and (2) consider ways to collect such information that maximize its utility, protect individual privacy, and minimize reporting burdens.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''China Fair Trade Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. RECIPROCAL COMPETITIVE TRADE PRACTICES.

(a) In General.--Section 302(a)(2) of the Trade Agreements Act of
1979 (19 U.S.C. 2512(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
''(2) Exceptions.--
''(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply in
the case of procurements for which--
''(i) there are no offers of products or
services of the United States or of eligible
products; or
''(ii) the offers of products or services
of the United States or of eligible products
are insufficient to fulfill the requirements of
the United States Government.
''(B) Special rule with respect to the people's
republic of china.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in
the case of procurements of products or services of the
People's Republic of China.''.
(b) Waiver.--Section 302(b) of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19
U.S.C. 2512(b)) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting '', except in the case of the People's Republic of China,''
before ''may''.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS TO BUY CERTAIN ITEMS FROM AMERICAN SOURCES.

(a) Buy American Act.--
(1) American materials required for public use.--Section
2(a) of the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a(a)) is amended by
inserting after the second sentence the following: ''The
exceptions in the previous two sentences shall not apply with
respect to articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or
manufactured, as the case may be, in the People's Republic of
China until such time as China becomes a party to the Agreement
on Government Procurement (described in section 101(d)(17) of
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(17)).''.
(2) Contract specifications.--Section 3(a) of the Buy
American Act (41 U.S.C. 10b(a)) is amended by striking
''exception.'' and inserting ''exception: Provided further,
That such an exception may not permit the use of articles,
materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured, as the
case may be, in the People's Republic of China until such time
as China becomes a party to the Agreement on Government
Procurement (described in section 101(d)(17) of the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(17)).''.
(3) Reports.--Section 2(b)(2)(A) of the Buy American Act
(41 U.S.C. 10a(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting before the
semicolon the following: ''and the country in which such
articles, materials, or supplies were manufactured''.
(b) Defense Contracts for Certain Articles.--Section 2533a of title
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
''(l) Inapplicability of Exceptions to Articles From the People's
Republic of China.--The exceptions to the requirement in subsection (a)
provided under subsections (c) through (h) shall not apply with respect
to items grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the People's
Republic of China until such time as China becomes a party to the
Agreement on Government Procurement (described in section 101(d)(17) of
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(17)).''.
(c) Requirements To Use American Iron, Steel, and Manufactured
Goods Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.--
Section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Public Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 303) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
''(e) The exceptions in subsection (b) shall not apply with respect
to iron, steel, and manufactured goods from the People's Republic of
China until such time as China becomes a party to the Agreement on
Government Procurement (described in section 101(d)(17) of the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(17)).''.

SEC. 4. REPORT ON PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days, the Secretary of Commerce
shall submit to Congress a report on the productive capacity of the
major industrial sectors in the People's Republic of China.
(b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
an assessment of any steps taken by the Government of the People's
Republic of China to develop, expand, retract, or otherwise alter the
productive capacity of the sectors identified in the report.

SEC. 5. REPORT ON SUBSIDIES PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY.

(a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with
other appropriate agencies, shall report to Congress regarding the
policies of the Government of the People's Republic of China with
respect to, and the subsidies provided by the People's Republic of
China for, the development and exportation of renewable energy products
and technologies. The report shall include an analysis of the impact of
the policies and subsidies on United States manufacturers of renewable
energy products and technologies.
(b) Definitions.--
(1) Renewable energy.--The term ''renewable energy'' means
energy generated by a renewable energy resource.
(2) Renewable energy product or technology.--The term
''renewable energy product or technology'' means any product,
technology, or component of a product used in the development
or production of renewable energy.
(3) Renewable energy resource.--The term ''renewable energy
resource'' means--
(A) solar, wind, ocean, tidal, hydrokinetic, or
geothermal energy;
(B) biofuel, biomass, or hydropower; or
(C) any other renewable energy resource, as
determined by the Secretary of Energy.

A: China Fair Trade Act of 2010 - Amends the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 to provide that certain exceptions and waivers to the prohibition on the procurement of the products of a country that is not a party to the Agreement on Government Procurement shall not apply with respect to the procurements of products or services of the People's Republic of China.

Amends the Buy American Act to declare that certain exceptions to the Act requiring only U.S. materials be used for public use shall not apply to the procurement of Chinese made products until China becomes a party to the Agreement.

Declares that certain exceptions to Buy American requirements shall not apply to the procurement of Chinese products by the Department of Defense (DOD) until China becomes a party to such Agreement.

Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to declare that certain exceptions to Buy American requirements under such Act shall not apply to the procurement of Chinese steel and products until China becomes a party to the Agreement.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress on the productive capacity of the major industrial sectors in China.

Directs the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress on: (1) Chinese policies and the subsidies China provides in the development and exportation of renewable energy products and technologies; and (2) the impact such policies and subsidies have on U.S. manufacturers of such products and technologies.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Presidential Debate Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE COMMISSION.

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

''presidential debate commission

''Sec. 323. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months before the
date of each general election for the offices of President and Vice
President of the United States (beginning with the general election
held in 2000), the President shall appoint a Presidential Debate
Commission (hereafter in this section referred to as the 'Commission')
in accordance with this section with respect to such election.
''(b) Membership.--
''(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 3
members appointed by the President as follows:
''(A) 1 member shall be from among a list of
nominees submitted by the chair of the Republican
National Committee.
''(B) 1 member shall be from among a list of
nominees submitted by the chair of the Democratic
National Committee.
''(C) 1 member (who shall not be a member of the
Republican or Democratic Parties) shall be from among a
list of nominees submitted jointly by the chairs of the
Republican National Committee and the Democratic
National Committee.
''(2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission may be
from the public or private sector, and may include Federal,
State, or local officers or employees, members of academia,
nonprofit organizations, or other interested individuals.
''(3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment not later than 10 days after
the vacancy occurs.
''(4) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall
receive no compensation for service on the Commission, but
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business
in the performance of service for the Commission.
''(c) Powers; Meetings.--Except as provided in subsection (d),
decisions made by the Commission shall be made by unanimous consent of
the commissioners. The Commission shall meet at a time and a site
agreed upon by each of the members.
''(d) Staff.--
''(1) Executive director.--With the approval of the
majority of the Commission's members and without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service, the Commission shall
appoint an executive director, who shall be paid at a rate not
to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code.
''(2) Other personnel.--With the approval of the majority
of the Commission's members, the Commission may appoint a
secretarial assistant and such other staff as the Commission
considers appropriate, 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 of chapter 53 of that title
relating to classifications and General Schedule pay rates,
except that the rate of pay for any such personnel may not
exceed 75 percent of the rate of pay for the Executive
Director.
''(3) Temporary and intermittent services.--The Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services to the same
extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code.
''(e) Duties.--It shall be the duty of the Commission to establish
a schedule of debates in accordance with subsection (f) as follows:
''(1) One preliminary debate.
''(2) Not more than 2 Vice Presidential debates.
''(3) Not less than 2 or more than 4 Presidential debates.
''(f) Debates Described.--
''(1) Preliminary debates.--A preliminary debate shall take
place no sooner than 90 days and no later than 60 days before a
Presidential election. The time and place of the preliminary
debate shall be announced by the Commission no later than 14
days before the scheduled preliminary debate. A preliminary
debate shall involve any person who has declared himself a
candidate for the position of President of the United States
who is either on the ballot in all 50 States or is the choice
of 5 percent of likely voters to be President of the United
States, as determined by the Commission. Factors to be taken
into account include nationally recognized polling data. The
format shall be decided by the Commission. The attendance by
any candidate at the preliminary debate is optional.
''(2) Vice presidential debates.--Vice Presidential debates
shall take place at least 7 days following the preliminary
debate. The time and date of all Vice Presidential debates
shall be announced no later than 14 days prior to the first
Vice Presidential debate. All Vice Presidential debates shall
involve persons who are the Vice Presidential candidates to
qualified Presidential candidates described in paragraph (4).
The format of debates shall be decided by the Commission.
''(3) Presidential debates.--Presidential debates shall
take place no sooner than 7 days following the preliminary
debate. The time and date of all qualified debates shall be
announced no later than 21 days prior to the first scheduled
qualified debate. The format of debates shall be decided by the
Commission, with at least 1 being of the single moderator
format. Presidential debates shall involve persons who are
qualified Presidential candidates described in paragraph (4).
''(4) Qualified presidential candidate defined.--In this
subsection, a 'qualified Presidential candidate' is a candidate
for President of the United States who is the choice of not
less than 5 percent of likely voters, to be determined by the
Commission taking into account only the polling data collected
no sooner than 1 day after the conclusion of the preliminary
debate.
''(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to each Commission appointed under this section such sums
as may be necessary to carry out its activities with respect to the
election involved.
''(h) Termination.--Each Commission appointed under this section
shall terminate on the date following the day of the election for which
the Commission was appointed.''.

SEC. 3. REDUCTION IN AMOUNT OF FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR PARTY CONVENTIONS
OF PARTIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN COMMISSION DEBATES.

Section 9008 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
''(i) Reduction in Payments for Parties Not Participating in
Debates Certified by Presidential Debate Commission.--
''(1) In general.--If the nominee for President of the
United States or Vice President of the United States of a party
receiving payments under this section does not certify to the
Commission that the nominee will participate in all applicable
debates scheduled by the Presidential Debate Commission
pursuant to section 323 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 with respect to a general election (other than a
preliminary debate described in section 323(f)(1) of such Act),
the amount of the payment to which the party is otherwise
entitled under this section for the nominating convention for
the following general election shall be reduced by the
percentage described in paragraph (2).
''(2) Reduction percentage described.--The percentage
described in this paragraph with respect to a party is the
amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to--
''(A) the number of Presidential and Vice
Presidential debates scheduled by the Presidential
Debate Commission with respect to an election that the
party's nominee did not attend; divided by
''(B) the total number of such debates scheduled by
the Commission with respect to the election.''.

A:
Presidential Debate Reform Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to direct the President to establish a Presidential Debate Commission (Commission) six months before each general election for the offices of President and Vice President beginning with the general election in 2000. Directs the Commission to establish: (1) one preliminary debate; (2) not more than two vice presidential debates; and (3) not fewer than two nor more than four presidential debates.
Authorizes appropriations.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the amount of Federal payments for a party's nominating convention for the following general election if the party's nominee for President or Vice President does not certify to the Commission that the nominee will participate in all applicable Commission debates (other than a preliminary debate).
****