Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cyber Security Information Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1)(A) Many information technology computer systems,
        software programs, and similar facilities are essential to the
        functioning of markets, commerce, consumer products, utilities,
        government, and safety and defense systems, in the United
        States and throughout the world.
            (B) Protecting systems and products against domestic and
        international attacks or misuse through the Internet, public,
        or private telecommunications systems, or similar means is a
        matter of national and global interest.
            (C) Such protection is best accomplished through private
        sector solutions that are market driven and industry led
        because the private sector owns, operates, and has developed
        many of the networks, products, and services that constitute
        the information infrastructure.
            (D) Government should work cooperatively with industry on a
        voluntary basis to achieve such protection and should not
        mandate the private sector use particular technologies, dictate
        standards, or impose undue costs.
            (2) The prompt, voluntary, candid, and thorough, but secure
        and protected, disclosure and exchange of information related
        to the cyber security of entities, systems, and
        infrastructure--
                    (A) would greatly enhance the ability of private
                and public entities to improve their cyber security;
                    (B) would measurably contribute to avoidance of
                financial risk and loss resulting from disruption or
                harm to critical institutional elements of the United
                States economy, including but not limited to securities
                exchanges, banking and other financial services
                institutions, communications networks, transportation
                systems, manufacturing, information technology, health
                care, government services, and electric utilities and
                energy providers, or from serious damage to public
                confidence in such critical institutional elements; and
                    (C) is therefore a vital factor in minimizing any
                potential cyber security-related disruption to the
                Nation's critical infrastructure and the consequences
                for its economic well-being and national security.
            (3) Concern about the potential for legal liability
        associated with the disclosure and exchange of cyber security
        information has impeded and continues to impede the secure
        disclosure and protected exchange of such information.
            (4) The capability to securely disclose and engage in the
        protected exchange of information relating to cyber security,
        solutions, test practices, test results, and risk assessments
        and audits, without undue concern about inappropriate
        disclosure of that information, is critical to the ability of
        private and public entities to address cyber security needs in
        a timely manner.
            (5) The national interest will be served by uniform legal
        standards in connection with the secure disclosure and
        protected exchange of cyber security information that will
        promote appropriate disclosures and exchanges of such
        information in a timely fashion.
            (6) The ``National Plan for Information Systems Protection,
        Version 1.0, An Invitation to a Dialogue'', released by the
        President on January 7, 2000, calls for the Government to
        assist in seeking changes to applicable laws on ``Freedom of
        Information, liability, and antitrust where appropriate'' in
        order to foster industry-wide centers for information sharing
        and analysis.
    (b) Purposes.--Based upon the powers contained in article 1,
section 8, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States, the
purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to promote the secure disclosure and protected exchange
        of cyber security information;
            (2) to assist private industry and government in responding
        effectively and rapidly to cyber security problems;
            (3) to lessen burdens on interstate commerce by
        establishing certain legal principles in connection with the
        secure disclosure and protected exchange of cyber security
        information; and
            (4) to protect the legitimate users of cyber networks and
        systems, and to protect the privacy and confidentiality of
        shared information.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Antitrust laws.--The term ``antitrust laws''--
                    (A) has the meaning given to it in subsection (a)
                of the first section of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C.
                12(a)), except that such term includes section 5 of the
                Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) to the
                extent such section 5 applies to unfair methods of
                competition; and
                    (B) includes any State law with the same intent and
                effect as the laws referred to in subparagraph (A).
            (2) Critical infrastructure.--The term ``critical
        infrastructure'' means facilities or services so vital to the
        nation or its economy that their disruption, incapacity, or
        destruction would have a debilitating impact on the defense,
        security, long-term economic prosperity, or public health or
        safety of the United States.
            (3) Cyber security information.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``cyber security
                information'' means information related to--
                            (i) the ability of any protected system, or
                        critical infrastructure to resist intentional
                        interference, compromise, or incapacitation
                        through the misuse of or unauthorized access to
                        or use of the Internet, public or private
                        telecommunications systems, or other similar
                        conduct that violates Federal, State, or
                        international law, that harms interstate
                        commerce of the United States, or that
                        threatens public health or safety;
                            (ii) any planned or past assessment,
                        projection or estimate concerning a cyber
                        security vulnerability of a protected system,
                        or critical infrastructure;
                            (iii) any planned or past cyber security
                        testing, risk assessment, or audit;
                            (iv) any planned or past operational
                        problems or solutions related to the cyber
                        security of any protected system, or critical
                        infrastructure; or
                            (v) any immediate threats to the cyber
                        security of any protected system, or critical
                        infrastructure.
                    (B) Exclusion.--For the purposes of any action
                brought under the securities laws, as that term is
                defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange
                Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(47)), the term ``cyber
                security information'' does not include information or
                statements contained in any documents or materials
                filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
                with Federal banking regulators, pursuant to section
                12(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
                781(i)), or disclosures or writing that when made
                accompanied the solicitation of an offer or sale of
                securities.
            (4) Protected system.--The term ``protected system''
        includes but is not limited to any system or process deployed
        in or remotely affecting a critical infrastructure facility
        consisting of one or more of the following: computer, computer
        system, network, or any component hardware or element of the
        foregoing, software program, processing instruction or data in
        storage, irrespective of the storage medium.
            (5) Information sharing organization; iso.--The terms
        ``Information Sharing Organization'' and ``ISO'' mean an
        Information Sharing and Analysis Center (``ISAC'') or any other
        entity created by private sector organizations for the purpose
        of sharing cyber security information among such organizations,
        with or among their individual affiliated members, and with and
        from State, local, and Federal Government agencies.

SEC. 4. PROTECTION FOR CYBER SECURITY INFORMATION SHARED WITH THE
              GOVERNMENT.

    (a) In General.--Cyber security information that is voluntarily
provided to any Federal entity, agency, or  authority shall not be
disclosed and must be protected against disclosure.
    (b) Specifics.--This section shall apply to cyber security
information voluntarily provided--
            (1) directly to the government about its own cyber
        security;
            (2) directly to the government about a third party's cyber
        security; or
            (3) to an ISO, which is subsequently provided to the
        government in identifiable form.
    (c) Protections.--Except with the express consent or permission of
the provider of cyber security information, any cyber security
information provided pursuant to subsection (b)--
            (1) shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552(a) of
        title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of
        Information Act''), by any Federal entity, agency, and
        authority;
            (2) shall not be disclosed to any third party except
        pursuant to subsection (e)(3); and
            (3) shall not be used by any Federal or State entity,
        agency, or authority or by any third party, directly or
        indirectly, in any civil action arising under any Federal or
        State law.
    (d) Exemptions.--Any disclosure of cyber security information by
any private entity, or by any Information Sharing Organization as
defined in section 3(5) of this Act, to any official of an agency of
the United States in accordance with subsection (b) of this section
shall not be subject to--
            (1) the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
        (5 U.S.C. App.) with regard to notice of meetings and
        publication of the record of such disclosure; and
            (2) any agency rules regarding ex parte communications with
        decision making officials.
    (e) Exceptions.--
            (1) Information obtained elsewhere.--Nothing in this
        section shall preclude a Federal or State entity, agency, or
        authority, or any third party, from separately obtaining cyber
        security information through the use of independent legal
        authorities, and using such separately obtained information in
        any action.
            (2) Public disclosure.--A restriction on use or disclosure
        of information under this section shall not apply to any
        information disclosed generally or broadly to the public.
            (3) Third party information.--A Federal entity, agency, or
        authority receiving cyber security information from one private
        entity about another private entity's cyber security shall
        notify and convey that information to the latter upon its
        initial receipt, except that such entity, agency, or authority
        shall not notify the third party if the Government has probable
        cause to believe that such party has conducted, or may be
        conducting economic espionage against United States entities
        within the meaning of the Economic Espionage Act (18 U.S.C.
        1831 et seq.) or if such entity derives support from any nation
        currently under a trade embargo.

SEC. 5. ANTITRUST EXEMPTION.

    (a) Exemption.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the antitrust
laws shall not apply to conduct engaged in, including making and
implementing an agreement, solely for the purpose of and limited to--
            (1) facilitating the correction or avoidance of a cyber
        security-related problem; or
            (2) communication of or disclosing information to help
        correct or avoid the effects of a cyber security-related
        program.
    (b) Exception to Exemption.--Subsection (a) shall not apply with
respect to conduct that involves or results in an agreement to boycott
any person, to allocate a market, or to fix prices or output.

SEC. 6. CYBER SECURITY WORKING GROUPS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Working groups.--The President may establish and
        terminate working groups composed of Federal employees who will
        engage outside organizations in discussions to address cyber
        security, to share information related to cyber security, and
        otherwise to serve the purposes of this Act.
            (2) List of groups.--The President shall maintain and make
        available to the public a printed and electronic list of such
        working groups and a point of contact for each, together with
        an address, telephone number, and electronic mail address for
        such point of contact.
            (3) Balance.--The President shall seek to achieve a balance
        of participation and representation among the working groups.
            (4) Meetings.--Each meeting of a working group created
        under this section shall be announced in advance in accordance
        with procedures established by the President.
    (b) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the working groups established
under this section.
    (c) Private Right of Action.--This section creates no private right
of action to sue for enforcement of any provision of this section.

Output: Cyber Security Information Act - Prohibits the disclosure of "cyber security information" (defined to include information related to the ability of any protected system, or critical infrastructure, to resist intentional interference or incapacitation through the misuse of or unauthorized access to or use of the Internet, telecommunications systems, or similar conduct that violates Federal, State, or international law, harms U.S. interstate commerce, or threatens public health or safety) that is voluntarily provided to a Federal entity.Provides that (with exceptions) any such information voluntarily provided directly to the Government about its own cyber security, a third party's cyber security, or to an Information Sharing Organization which is subsequently provided to the Government in identifiable form shall: (1) be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; (2) not be disclosed to any third party; and (3) not be used by any Federal or State entity or by any third party in any civil action.Makes the antitrust laws inapplicable (with an exception) to conduct engaged in solely for the purpose of and limited to: (1) facilitating the correction or avoidance of a cyber security-related problem; or (2) communication of or disclosing information to help correct or avoid the effects of a cyber security-related program.Authorizes the President to establish and terminate working groups composed of Federal employees who will engage outside organizations in discussions to address or share information related to cyber security, and otherwise to serve the purposes of this Act.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Preserving Patient Access to
Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. EFFECT ON ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 412.23(b)(2) of title 42,
Code of Federal Regulations, during the period beginning on July 1,
2005, and ending on the date that is 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall not--
            (1) require a compliance rate, pursuant to the criterion
        (commonly known as the ``75 percent rule'') that is used to
        determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an
        inpatient rehabilitation facility (as defined in the rule
        published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2004, entitled
        ``Medicare Program; Final Rule; Changes to the Criteria for
        Being Classified as an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility'' (69
        Fed. Reg. 25752)), that is greater than the 50 percent
        compliance threshold that became effective on July 1, 2004;
            (2) change the designation of an inpatient rehabilitation
        facility that is in compliance with the 50 percent threshhold;
        or
            (3) conduct medical necessity review of inpatient
        rehabilitation facilities using any guidelines, such as fiscal
        intermediary Local Coverage Determinations, other than the
        national criteria established in chapter 1, section 110 of the
        Medicare Benefits Policy Manual.
    (b) Retroactive Status as an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility;
Payments; Expedited Review.--The Secretary shall establish procedures
for--
            (1) making any necessary retroactive adjustment to restore
        the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation
        facility as a result of subsection (a);
            (2) making any necessary payments to inpatient
        rehabilitation facilities based on such adjustment for
        discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005 and before the
        date of enactment of this Act; and
            (3) developing and implementing an appeals process that
        provides for expedited review of any adjustment to the status
        of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility made
        during the period beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on the
        date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON MEDICAL REHABILITATION.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means
        the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation
        established under subsection (b).
            (2) Appropriate federal agencies.--The term ``appropriate
        Federal agencies'' means--
                    (A) the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;
                    (B) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
                    (C) the National Institute on Disability and
                Rehabilitation Research; and
                    (D) the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation
                Research.
    (b) Establishment.--Pursuant to section 222 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), the Secretary shall establish an advisory
panel to be known as the ``National Advisory Council on Medical
Rehabilitation''.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Advisory Council shall be composed of
        17 members, of whom--
                    (A) 9 members shall be appointed by the Secretary,
                in consultation with the medical rehabilitation
                community, from a diversity of backgrounds, including--
                            (i) physicians;
                            (ii) medicare beneficiaries;
                            (iii) representatives of inpatient
                        rehabilitation facilities; and
                            (iv) other practitioners experienced in
                        rehabilitative care; and
                    (B) 8 members, not more than 4 of whom are members
                of the same political party, shall be appointed jointly
                by--
                            (i) the Majority Leader of the Senate;
                            (ii) the Minority Leader of the Senate;
                            (iii) the Speaker of the House of
                        Representatives;
                            (iv) the Minority Leader of the House of
                        Representatives;
                            (v) the Chairman and the Ranking Member of
                        the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
                            (vi) the Chairman and the Ranking Member of
                        the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
                        Representatives.
            (2) Date.--Members of the Advisory Council shall be
        appointed not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
        this Act.
            (3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--Members shall be
        appointed for the life of the Council. A vacancy on the
        Advisory Council shall be filled not later than 30 days after
        the date on which the Advisory Council is given notice of the
        vacancy, in the same manner as the original appointment.
            (4) Meetings.--
                    (A) Initial meeting.--The Advisory Council shall
                conduct an initial meeting not later than 120 days
                after the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall conduct
                such meetings as the Council determines to be necessary
                to carry out its duties but shall meet not less
                frequently than 2 times during each calendar year.
    (d) Duties.--The duties of the Advisory Council shall include
providing advice and recommendations to--
            (1) Congress and the Secretary concerning the coverage of
        rehabilitation services under the medicare program, including--
                    (A) policy issues related to rehabilitative
                treatment and reimbursement for rehabilitative care,
                such as issues relating to any rulemaking relating to,
                or impacting, rehabilitation hospitals and units;
                    (B) the appropriate criteria for--
                            (i) determining clinical appropriateness of
                        inpatient rehabilitation facility admissions;
                        and
                            (ii) distinguishing an inpatient
                        rehabilitation facility from an acute care
                        hospital and other providers of intensive
                        medical rehabilitation;
                    (C) the efficacy of inpatient rehabilitation
                services, as opposed to other post-acute inpatient
                settings, through a comparison of quality and cost,
                controlling for patient characteristics (such as
                medical severity and motor and cognitive function) and
                discharge destination;
                    (D) the effect of any medicare regulations on
                access to inpatient rehabilitation care by medicare
                beneficiaries and the clinical effectiveness of care
                available to such beneficiaries in other health care
                settings; and
                    (E) any other topic or issue that the Secretary or
                Congress requests the Advisory Council to provide
                advice and recommendations on; and
            (2) appropriate Federal agencies (as defined in subsection
        (a)) on how to best utilize available research funds and
        authorities focused on medical rehabilitation research,
        including post-acute care site of service and outcomes
        research.
    (e) Periodic Reports.--The Advisory Council shall provide the
Secretary with periodic reports that summarize--
            (1) the Council's activities; and
            (2) any recommendations for legislation or administrative
        action the Council considers to be appropriate.
    (f) Termination.--The Advisory Council shall terminate on September
30, 2010.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of
this section.
    (h) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of
enactment of this Act.

Output:
Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, during the period between July 1, 2005, and the date two years after the enactment of this Act, from: (1) requiring a compliance rate, pursuant to the criterion (commonly known as the "75 percent rule") used to determine whether a hospital or hospital unit is an inpatient rehabilitation facility, that is greater than the 50 percent compliance threshold that became effective on July 1, 2004; (2) changing the designation of any inpatient rehabilitation facility in compliance with the 50 percent threshold; or (3) conducting medical necessity review of inpatient rehabilitation facilities using any guidelines other than the national criteria established in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual.

Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for: (1) making any necessary retroactive adjustment to restore the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility as a result of this Act; (2) making any necessary payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities based on such adjustment for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005, and before enactment of this Act; and (3) developing and implementing an appeals process that provides for expedited review of any adjustment to the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility made during such period

Directs the Secretary to establish the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation to provide advice and recommendations to: (1) Congress and the Secretary concerning the coverage of rehabilitation services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; and (2) appropriate federal agencies on how best to utilize available research funds and authorities focused on medical rehabilitation research.


Input:
SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE DIPLOMATIC
              OFFENSIVE TO HELP BROKER NATIONAL RECONCILIATION EFFORTS
              IN IRAQ.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
            (1) The men and women of the United States Armed Forces
        have performed with honor and distinction in executing
        Operation Iraqi Freedom and deserve the gratitude of the
        American people.
            (2) General David H. Petraeus, Commander of the
        Multinational Force-Iraq, stated on March 8, 2007, ``There is
        no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq.''.
            (3) President George W. Bush reiterated on July 12, 2007,
        that the United States troop surge implemented in 2007 ``seeks
        to open space for Iraq's political leaders to advance the
        difficult process of national reconciliation, which is
        essential to lasting security and stability''.
            (4) Greater involvement and diplomatic engagement by Iraq's
        neighbors and key international actors can help facilitate the
        national political reconciliation so essential to sustainable
        success in Iraq.
            (5) The United States troop surge carried out in 2007 has
        not, as of yet, been matched by a comparable diplomatic surge
        designed to ensure that Iraqi national leaders carry through on
        the process of national reconciliation.
            (6) The final report of the Iraq Study Group, released in
        December 2006, declared, ``The United States must build a new
        international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region.
        In order to foster such consensus, the United States should
        embark on a robust diplomatic effort to establish an
        international support structure intended to stabilize Iraq and
        ease tensions in other countries in the region. This support
        structure should include every country that has an interest in
        averting a chaotic Iraq, including all of Iraq's neighbors.''.
            (7) On August 10, 2007, the United Nations Security Council
        voted unanimously to expand the mandate of its mission in Iraq
        to assist the national government with political
        reconciliation, bring together Iraq's neighbors to discuss
        border security and energy access, and facilitate much needed
        humanitarian assistance.
            (8) The United States Ambassador to Iraq, the Honorable
        Ryan C. Crocker, asserted on September 11, 2007, in testimony
        before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, ``With
        respect, again, to [Iraq's] neighbors and others, that is
        exactly our intent to have a more intensive, positive, more
        regulated engagement between Iraq and its neighbors. . . . The
        United Nations is now positioned to play a more active and
        involved role.''.
            (9) General Petraeus said on September 11, 2007, in
        response to a question on the need for greater civilian
        activity in Iraq, ``I agree with the chairman of the Joint
        Chiefs of Staff who has said repeatedly that certain elements
        of our government are at war, DoD, State, AID, but not all of
        the others. . . . We can use help in those areas. Some of the
        areas are quite thin, agriculture, health, and some others.''.
            (10) The United States troop surge carried out in 2007 has
        not, as of yet, been matched by a comparable civilian surge
        designed to help the Government of Iraq strengthen its
        capabilities in providing essential government services.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States Government should take the lead in
        organizing a comprehensive diplomatic offensive, consisting of
        bilateral, regional, and international initiatives, to assist
        the Government of Iraq in achieving national reconciliation and
        successfully meeting key security, political, and economic
        benchmarks;
            (2) it is in the interest of the United States and the
        people of Iraq that Iraq is not seen as a uniquely ``American''
        problem, but rather as of enduring importance to the security
        and prosperity of its neighbors, the entire Middle East region,
        and the broader international community;
            (3) the greater involvement in a constructive fashion of
        Iraq's neighbors, whether through a regional conference or
        another mechanism, can help stabilize Iraq and end the outside
        flows of weapons, explosive materials, foreign fighters, and
        funding that contribute to the current sectarian warfare in
        Iraq;
            (4) the President and the Secretary of State should invest
        their personal time and energy in these diplomatic efforts to
        ensure that they receive the highest priority within the United
        States Government and are viewed as a serious effort in the
        region and elsewhere;
            (5) the President, in order to demonstrate that a regional
        diplomacy strategy enjoys attention at the highest levels of
        the United States Government, should appoint a seasoned, high-
        level Presidential envoy to the Middle East region to
        supplement the efforts of Ambassador Crocker and focus on the
        establishment of a regional framework to help stabilize Iraq;
            (6) the United States Government should build upon
        tentative progress achieved by the International Compact for
        Iraq and the Iraq Neighbors Conference to serve as the basis
        for a more intensive and sustained effort to construct an
        effective regional mechanism;
            (7) the President should direct the United States Permanent
        Representative to the United Nations to use the voice and vote
        of the United States at the United Nations to seek the
        appointment of an international mediator in Iraq, under the
        auspices of the United Nations Security Council, to engage
        political, religious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in Iraq to
        foster national reconciliation efforts;
            (8) the United States Government should begin planning for
        a wide-ranging dialogue on the mandate governing international
        support for Iraq when the current United Nations mandate
        authorizing the United States-led coalition expires at the end
        of 2007;
            (9) the United States Government should more directly press
        Iraq's neighbors to open fully operating embassies in Baghdad
        and establish inclusive diplomatic relations with the
        Government of Iraq to help ensure the Government is viewed as
        legitimate throughout the region;
            (10) the United States Government should strongly urge the
        governments of those countries that have previously pledged
        debt forgiveness and economic assistance to the Government of
        Iraq to fully carry through on their commitments on an
        expedited basis;
            (11) a key objective of any diplomatic offensive should be
        to ameliorate the suffering and deprivation of Iraqi refugees,
        both those displaced internally and those who have fled to
        neighboring countries, through coordinated humanitarian
        assistance and the development of a regional framework to
        establish long-term solutions to the future of displaced Iraqi
        citizens;
            (12) the United States Government should reallocate
        diplomats and Department of State funds as required to ensure
        that any comprehensive diplomatic offensive to stabilize Iraq
        on an urgent basis has the needed resources to succeed; and
            (13) the United States Government should reallocate
        civilian expertise to help governmental entities in Iraq
        strengthen their ability to provide essential government
        services to the people of Iraq.

Output: Expresses the sense of the Senate on the need for a comprehensive diplomatic offensive to help broker national reconciliation efforts in Iraq and lay the foundation for the eventual redeployment of U.S. combat forces.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Accelerating Biomedical Research
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The National Institutes of Health (referred to in this
        section as the ``NIH'') is the leading biomedical research
        entity in the world. It supports researchers in every State as
        they discover treatments and cures to prevent and reduce human
        suffering. Thanks in large part to NIH-funded medical research,
        Americans today are living longer and healthier. Life
        expectancy in the United States has jumped from 47 years in
        1900 to 78 years in 2009, and disability in people over age 65
        has dropped dramatically in the past 3 decades.
            (2) Over the past 40 years, NIH-supported research
        contributed to the discovery of 153 new Food and Drug
        Administration-approved drugs, vaccines, or new indications for
        current drugs.
            (3) The application success rate is now at an all-time low.
        From 1980 to 2003, the last year of the doubling, the grant
        application success rate ranged between 25 and 35 percent. By
        2013, the grant success rate had fallen to 16.8 percent.
            (4) Recent Federal funding cuts threaten to diminish United
        States leadership in the world. The international community has
        recognized the role biomedical research plays in generating
        economic growth. England, China, Brazil, South Korea, India,
        Singapore, Germany, France and Japan are increasing their
        investment, despite the worldwide recession. Only the United
        States has decreased its investment, from 0.215 percent of
        Gross Domestic Product in 2003 (the last year of the doubling)
        to 0.174 percent in 2013. In 8 years, if current trends
        continue, China will surpass the United States in total
        government biomedical research investment.
            (5) NIH is vital to the United States economy. In fiscal
        year 2012, the NIH extramural program supported around 50,000
        competitive research grants and 300,000 scientists and research
        personnel at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools, and
        other research institutions across our 50 States.
            (6) Economists have estimated the return on each dollar of
        investment in NIH to generate anywhere from $1.80 to $3.20 in
        economic output. The Federal investment of $3,800,000,000 in
        the Human Genome Project from 1988 to 2003 helped drive
        $796,000,000,000 in economic output, which is a return of $141
        for every $1 invested.
            (7) In 2013, sales of products built around licensed NIH
        and Food and Drug Administration inventions included 358
        licensees reporting a total of $7,000,000,000 in sales.
            (8) The historic doubling of Federal funding for the
        National Institutes of Health ended in fiscal year 2003. Since
        that time, NIH appropriations have not kept up with biomedical
        inflation. NIH has lost more than 20 percent of its purchasing
        power for medical research since 2003.
            (9) If NIH had kept up with biomedical inflation, NIH's
        appropriation would have totaled $37,000,000,000 in 2013,
        instead of the $28,900,000,000 that was actually appropriated,
        a loss of $8,100,000,000 or 28 percent. To restore funding to
        the 2003 post-doubling level would require Congress to
        appropriate $46,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2021, the final year
        of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25).
            (10) High health care costs from a variety of common
        conditions threaten Federal, State, and local budgets, as well
        as the budgets of American families. Recent estimates indicate
        that the economic costs of Alzheimer's disease is over
        $200,000,000,000 each year but will rise to over
        $1,000,000,000,000 by 2050 unless a prevention or cure is
        found. In 2006, economists found that a future 1 percent
        reduction in mortality rates from cancer would save
        $500,000,000,000 to current and future Americans. A cure for
        cancer was estimated to save $50,000,000,000,000 to Americans,
        more than 3 times the gross domestic product of the United
        States in 2012. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
        reports that annual costs from undiagnosed diabetes was
        $245,000,000,000 each year. And a recent study projects that by
        2030, nearly 44 percent of the United States population will
        face some form of cardiovascular disease costing a total of
        $1,208,000,000,000 between 2012 and 2030.
            (11) Budget cap adjustments are how Congress traditionally
        prioritizes areas of spending that produce economic growth and
        reduce costs that contribute to the Federal debt.

SEC. 3. CAP ADJUSTMENT.

    Section 251(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
        and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following:
                    ``(D) National institutes of health.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If a bill or joint
                        resolution making appropriations for a fiscal
                        year is enacted that specifies amounts for the
                        National Institutes of Health at the Department
                        of Health and Human Services (75-9915-1-1-552),
                        then the adjustments for that fiscal year shall
                        be the amount of additional new budget
                        authority provided in that Act for such
                        programs for that fiscal year, but shall not
                        exceed--
                                    ``(I) for fiscal year 2015,
                                $3,000,000,000 in additional new budget
                                authority;
                                    ``(II) for fiscal year 2016,
                                $6,300,000,000 in additional new budget
                                authority;
                                    ``(III) for fiscal year 2017,
                                $8,100,000,000 in additional new budget
                                authority;
                                    ``(IV) for fiscal year 2018,
                                $10,000,000,000 in additional new
                                budget authority;
                                    ``(V) for fiscal year 2019,
                                $12,000,000,000 in additional new
                                budget authority;
                                    ``(VI) for fiscal year 2020,
                                $14,100,000,000 in additional new
                                budget authority; and
                                    ``(VII) for fiscal year 2021,
                                $16,300,000,000 in additional new
                                budget authority.
                            ``(ii) Definitions.--As used in this
                        subparagraph:
                                    ``(I) Additional new budget
                                authority.--The term `additional new
                                budget authority' means the amount
                                provided for a fiscal year, in excess
                                of $29,926,104,000, in an appropriation
                                Act and specified to support the
                                National Institutes of Health.
                                    ``(II) National institutes of
                                health.--The term `National Institutes
                                of Health' means the appropriations
                                accounts that support the various
                                institutes, offices, and centers that
                                make up the National Institutes of
                                Health.''.

Output: Accelerating Biomedical Research Act - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require certain adjustments to discretionary spending limits in FY2015-FY2021 to accommodate increases in appropriations to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Technology Investment Incentive Act
of 2003''.

SEC. 2. EXPENSING OF SOFTWARE AND QUALIFIED TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Part VI of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section
179A the following new section:

``SEC. 179B. EXPENSING OF SOFTWARE AND QUALIFIED TECHNOLOGICAL
              EQUIPMENT.

    ``(a) Treatment as Expenses.--A taxpayer may elect to treat the
cost of any section 179B property as an expense which is not chargeable
to capital account. Any cost so treated shall be allowed as a deduction
for the taxable year in which the section 179B property is placed in
service.
    ``(b) Section 179B Property.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `section 179B property' means
        property--
                    ``(A)(i) which is qualified technological equipment
                (as defined in section 168(i)(2)) to which section 168
                applies, or
                    ``(ii) which is qualified computer software to
                which section 167 applies,
                    ``(B) which is section 1245 property (as defined in
                section 1245(a)(3)),
                    ``(C) which is acquired by purchase (as defined in
                section 179(b)(2)) after the date of the enactment of
                this section and before September 11, 2004, for use in
                the active conduct of a trade or business, and
                    ``(D) which is placed in service on or before
                September 11, 2004.
            ``(2) Qualified computer software.--The term `qualified
        computer software' means computer software (as defined in
        section 197(e)(3)(B)) which is described in section
        197(e)(3)(A)(i).
    ``(c) Property Used Outside the United States Not Qualified.--No
deduction shall be allowed under subsection (a) with respect to
property which is used predominantly outside the United States or with
respect to the portion of the cost of any property taken into account
under section 179.
    ``(d) Basis Reduction.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this title, the basis of
        any property shall be reduced by the amount of the deduction
        with respect to such property which is allowed by subsection
        (a).
            ``(2) Ordinary income recapture.--For purposes of section
        1245, the amount of the deduction allowable under subsection
        (a) with respect to any property that is of a character subject
        to the allowance for depreciation shall be treated as a
        deduction allowed for depreciation under section 167.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 263(a)(1) of such Code is amended by striking
        ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (G), by striking the period
        at the end of subparagraph (H) and inserting ``, or'', and by
        inserting after subparagraph (H) the following new
        subparagraph:
                    ``(I) expenditures for which a deduction is allowed
                under section 179B.''.
            (2) Section 312(k)(3)(B) of such Code is amended by
        striking ``or 179A'' each place it appears in the heading and
        text and inserting ``, 179A, or 179B''.
            (3) Section 1016(a) of such Code is amended by striking
        ``and'' at the end of paragraph (29), by striking the period at
        the end of paragraph (30) and inserting ``, and'', and by
        inserting after paragraph (30) the following new paragraph:
            ``(31) to the extent provided in section 179B(d)(1),''.
            (4) Section 1245(a) of such Code is amended by inserting
        ``179B,'' after ``179A,'' both places it appears in paragraphs
        (2)(C) and (3)(C).
            (5) The table of contents for subpart B of part IV of
        subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting
        after the item relating to section 179A the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 179B. Expensing of software and
                                        qualified technological
                                        equipment.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this
Act.

SEC. 3. 3-YEAR DEPRECIATION OF WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT,
              ADVANCED SERVICES EQUIPMENT, NETWORK OR NETWORK SYSTEM
              EQUIPMENT, AND RESEARCH EXPENSES FOR SOFTWARE
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (e) of section 168 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to classification of property) is
amended by adding after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Certain property treated as 3-year property.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `3-year property'
                includes property--
                            ``(i) described in subparagraph (B), (C),
                        or (D),
                            ``(ii) acquired by purchase (as defined in
                        section 179(b)(2)) after the date of the
                        enactment of this paragraph and on or before
                        September 11, 2004, and
                            ``(iii) placed in service on or before
                        September 11, 2004.
                    ``(B) Wireless telecommunications equipment.--
                Property is described in this subparagraph if such
                property is equipment used in the transmission,
                reception, coordination, or switching of wireless
                telecommunications service.
                    ``(C) Advanced services equipment.--Property is
                described in this subparagraph if such property is
                equipment (excluding cabling) used in the provision of
                Internet or electronic communications access services
                or support, or which supports access to electronic
                media and data and associated communications support,
                provided that such services or support, constitute or
                directly contribute to the provisions of advanced
                telecommunications capability.
                    ``(D) Network or network system equipment.--
                Property is described in this subparagraph if such
                property is information technology equipment, including
                computer servers, hubs, bridges, switches and routers,
                which are interconnected so as to enable computers and
                peripherals to communicate with each other either
                individually or as a single unit.
                    ``(E) Treatment under alternative system.--Property
                treated as 3-year property by this paragraph shall be
                treated as having a class life of 3 years for purposes
                of subsection (g).''
    (b) Research Expenses for Software Development.--Subsection (b) of
section 174 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
            ``(3) Expenditures for software development.--Paragraph (1)
        shall be applied by substituting `36 months' for `60 months' in
        the case of expenditures for software development which are
        made after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and
        before September 11, 2004.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this
Act.

Output: Technology Investment Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit the expensing of certain technological equipment and computer software; and (2) include, for recovery purposes, as three-year property certain wireless telecommunications equipment, advanced services equipment, network or network system equipment, and research expenses for software development.


Input:
SECTION 1. ENERGYGRANT COMPETITIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Institution of higher education.--The term
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Energy, acting through the Director appointed under
        subsection (c).
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) the District of Columbia;
                    (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
                    (D) any other territory or possession of the United
                States.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a
program to awards grants, on a competitive basis, to each consortium of
institutions of higher education operating in each of the regions
established under subsection (d) to conduct research, extension, and
education programs relating to the energy needs of the regions.
    (c) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint a Director to carry out
the program established under this section.
    (d) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use amounts made
        available under this section to award grants, on a competitive
        basis, to each consortium of institutions of higher education
        located in each of at least 6 regions established by the
        Secretary that, collectively, cover all States.
            (2) Manner of distribution.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
                (B), in making grants for a fiscal year under this
                section, the Secretary shall award grants to each
                consortium of institutions of higher education in equal
                amounts for each region of not less than $50,000,000
                for each region.
                    (B) Territories and possessions.--The Secretary may
                adjust the amount of grants awarded to a consortium of
                institutions of higher education in a region under this
                section if the region contains territories or
                possessions of the United States.
            (3) Plans.--As a condition of an initial grant under this
        section, a consortium of institutions of higher education in a
        region shall submit to the Secretary for approval a plan that--
                    (A) addresses the energy needs for the region; and
                    (B) describes the manner in which the proposed
                activities of the consortium will address those needs.
            (4) Failure to comply with requirements.--If the Secretary
        finds on the basis of a review of the annual report required
        under subsection (g) or on the basis of an audit of a
        consortium of institutions of higher education conducted by the
        Secretary that the consortium has not complied with the
        requirements of this section, the consortium shall be
        ineligible to receive further grants under this section for
        such period of time as may be prescribed by the Secretary.
    (e) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Competitive grants.--
                    (A) In general.--A consortium of institutions of
                higher education in a region that is awarded a grant
                under this section shall use the grant to conduct
                research, extension, and education programs relating to
                the energy needs of the region, including--
                            (i) the promotion of low-carbon clean and
                        green energy and related jobs that are
                        applicable to the region;
                            (ii) the development of low-carbon green
                        fuels to reduce dependency on oil;
                            (iii) the development of energy storage and
                        energy management innovations for intermittent
                        renewable technologies; and
                            (iv) the accelerated deployment of
                        efficient-energy technologies in new and
                        existing buildings and in manufacturing
                        facilities.
                    (B) Administration.--
                            (i) In general.--Subject to clauses (ii)
                        through (vi), the Secretary shall make grants
                        under this paragraph in accordance with section
                        989 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
                        16353).
                            (ii) Priority.--A consortium of
                        institutions of higher education in a region
                        shall give a higher priority to programs that
                        are consistent with the plan approved by the
                        Secretary for the region under subsection
                        (d)(3).
                            (iii) Term.--A grant awarded to a
                        consortium of institutions of higher education
                        under this section shall have a term that does
                        not exceed 5 years.
                            (iv) Cost-sharing requirement.--As a
                        condition of receiving a grant under this
                        paragraph, the Secretary shall require the
                        recipient of the grant to share costs relating
                        to the program that is the subject of the grant
                        in accordance with section 988 of the Energy
                        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).
                            (v) Buildings and facilities.--Funds made
                        available for grants under this section shall
                        not be used for the construction of a new
                        building or facility or the acquisition,
                        expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an
                        existing building or facility (including site
                        grading and improvement and architect fees).
                            (vi) Limitation on indirect costs.--A
                        consortium of institutions of higher education
                        may not recover the indirect costs of using
                        grants under subparagraph (A) in excess of the
                        limits established under paragraph (2).
                    (C) Federally funded research and development
                centers.--
                            (i) In general.--A federally funded
                        research and development center may be a member
                        of a consortium of institutions of higher
                        education that receives a grant under this
                        section.
                            (ii) Scope.--The Secretary shall ensure
                        that the scope of work performed by a single
                        federally funded research and development
                        center in the consortium is not more
                        significant than the scope of work performed by
                        any of the other academic institutions of
                        higher education in the consortium.
            (2) Administrative expenses.--A consortium of institutions
        of higher education may use up to 15 percent of the funds
        described in subsection (d) to pay administrative and indirect
        expenses incurred in carrying out paragraph (1), unless
        otherwise approved by the Secretary.
    (f) Grant Information Analysis Center.--A consortium of
institutions of higher education in a region shall maintain an Energy
Analysis Center at 1 or more of the institutions of higher education to
provide the institutions of higher education in the region with
analysis and data management support.
    (g) Annual Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year, a consortium of institutions of higher education receiving
a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report that
describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program
carried out by the consortium of institutions of higher education under
this section during the fiscal year.
    (h) Administration.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish such criteria and
procedures as are necessary to carry out this section.
    (i) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate with the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Commerce each activity
carried out under the program under this section--
            (1) to avoid duplication of efforts; and
            (2) to ensure that the program supplements and does not
        supplant--
                    (A) the Sun Grant program established under section
                7526 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
                (7 U.S.C. 8114); and
                    (B) the national Sea Grant college program carried
                out by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
                Atmospheric Administration.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out--
            (1) this section $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010
        through 2014; and
            (2) the activities of the Department of Energy (including
        biomass and bioenergy feedstock assessment research) under the
        Sun Grant program established under section 7526 of the Food,
        Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8114)
        $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Output:
Directs the Secretary of Energy to award competitive matching grants to consortia of institutions of higher education (IHEs) located in at least six regions covering all the states to conduct research, extension, and education programs relating to the energy needs of such regions.

Includes among such needs: (1) the promotion of low-carbon clean and green energy and related jobs; (2) the development of low-carbon green fuels to reduce dependency on oil; (3) the development of energy storage and energy management innovations for intermittent renewable technologies; and (4) the accelerated deployment of efficient-energy technologies in buildings and manufacturing facilities.

Allows federally funded research and development centers to be members of such consortia.

Requires each grantee to maintain an Energy Analysis Center to provide the IHEs in the region with analysis and data management support.

Authorizes appropriations for this Act's grant program and the Department of Energy's Sun Grant program, which supports research involving bioenergy and biofuels production.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Solar Stimulus for Job Creation and
Energy Independence Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. REFUNDABLE INVESTMENT CREDIT FOR PROPERTY USED TO MANUFACTURE
              SOLAR ENERGY PROPERTY.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 48(a)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining energy property) is amended by
striking ``or'' at the end of clause (vi), by adding ``or'' at the end
of clause (vii), and by inserting after clause (vii) the following new
clause:
                            ``(viii) property used to manufacture
                        equipment described in clause (i) or (ii),''.
    (b) Credit To Be Refundable.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 38 of the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to limitation based on
        amount of tax) is amended by redesignating paragraph (5) as
        paragraph (6) and by inserting after paragraph (4) the
        following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Special rules for solar energy investment credit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of the solar energy
                investment credit--
                            ``(i) this section and section 39 shall be
                        applied separately with respect to such credit,
                            ``(ii) in applying paragraph (1) to such
                        credit--
                                    ``(I) the tentative minimum tax
                                shall be treated as being zero, and
                                    ``(II) the limitation under
                                paragraph (1) (as modified by subclause
                                (I)) shall be reduced by the credit
                                allowed under subsection (a) for the
                                taxable year (other than the solar
                                energy investment credit), and
                            ``(iii) the amount of the solar energy
                        investment credit in excess of the limitation
                        under paragraph (1) (as modified by subclause
                        (II)) shall be treated as a credit under
                        subpart C.
                    ``(B) Solar energy investment credit.--For purposes
                of this subsection, the term `solar energy investment
                credit' means so much of the energy credit as is
                attributable to property described in clause (viii) of
                section 48(a)(3)(A).
                    ``(C) Termination.--This paragraph shall not apply
                to any taxable year ending after December 31, 2010.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Subclause (II) of section 38(c)(2)(A)(ii) of
                such Code is amended by striking ``and the specified
                credits'' and inserting ``the specified credits, and
                the solar energy investment credit''.
                    (B) Subclause (II) of section 38(c)(3)(A)(ii) of
                such Code is amended by striking ``and the specified
                credits'' and inserting ``, the specified credits, and
                the solar energy investment credit''.
                    (C) Subclause (II) of section 38(c)(4)(A)(ii) of
                such Code is amended by inserting ``and the solar
                energy investment credit'' after ``specified credits''.
                    (D) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31,
                United States Code, is amended by inserting
                ``38(c)(5),'' after ``36,''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of
this Act.

SEC. 3. EXCEPTION FROM SUBSIDIZED ENERGY FINANCING RULES FOR SOLAR
              ENERGY PROPERTY.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (C) of section 48(a)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining subsidized energy financing) is
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Such term
shall not include any loan described in section 141(c)(2)(D).''
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to property placed in service after such date in taxable years
ending after such date.

SEC. 4. EXCEPTION FROM PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND TESTS FOR FINANCING OF
              SOLAR ENERGY PROPERTY.

    (a) Exception From Private Business Use Test.--Paragraph (6) of
section 141(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Solar energy property.--For purposes of
                subparagraph (A), property described in clause (i) or
                (ii) of section 48(a)(3)(A) shall not be treated as
                used in a trade or business.''.
    (b) Exception From Private Loan Financing Test.--Paragraph (2) of
section 141(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to
exception for tax assessment, etc., loans) is amended by striking
``or'' at the end of subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the
end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the
end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) enables the borrower to finance the
                acquisition, construction, and installation of property
                described in clause (i) or (ii) of section
                48(a)(3)(A).''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to obligations issued after the date of the enactment of this
Act.

SEC. 5. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY.

    Section 203 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15852) is
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
        subsection (d):
    ``(d) Contracts for Renewable Energy.--Notwithstanding section
501(b)(1)(B) of title 40, United States Code, a contract for renewable
energy may be made for a period of not more than 25 years.''.

Output:
Solar Stimulus for Job Creation and Energy Independence Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for the refundability of the energy tax credit for investment in property used to manufacture solar energy property through 2010; and (2) exempt certain solar energy property from private activity bond usage and loan financing rules.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to limit to 25 years the contract period for federal purchases of renewable energy.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Workforce Training Enhancement Act
of 2016''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The viability of the domestic steel industry is crucial
        to the United States economy and national security.
            (2) The steel and taconite iron mining industries have been
        severely impacted by the foreign dumping and overproduction of
        steel and are continually faced with unfair trade practices.
            (3) In 2014, United States imports of steel and steel
        products increased by 36 percent and captured 28 percent of the
        total United States steel market. In 2015, United States
        imports of steel and steel products continued to increase, and
        captured 29 percent of the total United States steel market.
            (4) In 1974, Congress enacted the Trade Act of 1974 (19
        U.S.C. 2101 et seq.), which established the trade adjustment
        assistance program under chapter 2 of title II of that Act (19
        U.S.C. 2271 et seq.) to assist workers who have been adversely
        affected by trade.
            (5) The trade adjustment assistance program provides vital
        benefits and services to workers whose employment has been
        adversely affected by foreign trade. Those benefits and
        services include education and training, income support,
        relocation assistance, job search assistance, and the health
        coverage tax credit.
            (6) Since the inception of the trade adjustment assistance
        program, more than 5,000,000 United States workers have been
        certified as eligible for benefits and services under the
        program.
            (7) As of September 30, 2015, the trade adjustment
        assistance program had served more than 2,200,000 workers.
            (8) In fiscal year 2015, the Department of Labor certified
        413 petitions for eligibility for the trade adjustment
        assistance program, which provided access to trade adjustment
        assistance benefits for 57,631 workers.
            (9) In 2015, more than 13,000 new participants were
        enrolled in the trade adjustment assistance for workers program
        and the program provided services and benefits to more than
        47,000 workers.
            (10) From fiscal year 2012 through fiscal year 2015, the
        average processing time for a petition under the trade
        adjustment assistance for workers program was 49.1 days and the
        average processing time for fiscal year 2015 was 47.2 days.
            (11) The trade adjustment assistance program provides vital
        education and training services to assist trade-affected
        workers to acquire new skills and prepare for new employment.
            (12) From 2012 through 2015, more than 9,800 steelworkers
        and iron ore miners in 17 States lost their jobs as a result of
        increases in imports of steel and steel products and were
        certified as eligible to apply for the trade adjustment
        assistance program.
            (13) In fiscal year 2015, more than 6,500 steelworkers were
        certified as eligible for trade adjustment assistance,
        including workers who were laid off or furloughed in 2014.
            (14) In order to empower workers who have been adversely
        affected by foreign trade, States should have the option of
        providing the funding for vital educational and training
        programs for workers while their petitions for certification of
        eligibility for trade adjustment assistance is pending.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF STATES TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN COSTS OF PROVIDING
              TRAINING TO WORKERS AFTER A PETITION FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT
              ASSISTANCE IS FILED.

    (a) In General.--Section 236(a)(6) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2296(a)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(C)(i) If the conditions described in clause (ii) are met, a
State may use the funds distributed to the State under paragraph (2) to
reimburse the costs of providing training to a worker before the worker
is approved for training under paragraph (1) paid by--
            ``(I) the State from funds provided by the State;
            ``(II) the State or local workforce development areas
        within the State from funds available under subtitle B of title
        I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
        3151 et seq.); or
            ``(III) an eligible entity under section 170 of that Act
        (29 U.S.C. 3225) in the State from funds available under that
        section.
    ``(ii) The conditions described in this clause are met if--
            ``(I) as of the date of the reimbursement under clause (i)
        the worker is covered by a certification for eligibility under
        subchapter A; and
            ``(II) the training, the costs of which are being
        reimbursed--
                    ``(aa) commenced after the date on which the total
                or partial separations of the group of workers covered
                by the certification for eligibility began or
                threatened to begin; and
                    ``(bb) meets the requirements for approval of
                training under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 236(a)(4)(B) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296(a)(4)(B)) is amended by striking ``No'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (6)(C), no''.

Output: Workforce Training Enhancement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974, with respect to trade adjustment assistance (TAA) for training to adversely affected workers, to authorize a state to use certain funds distributed by the Department of Labor to reimburse the costs of providing training to an adversely affected worker before the worker is approved for training under the Act if those costs have been paid by:  the state from state funds, the state or local workforce development areas within the state from funds available for workforce investment activities and providers under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or another entity eligible in the state under the national dislocated worker grants program from funds available for that program.  The use of funds under this Act shall be conditioned, however, on the worker's coverage by a certification for TAA eligibility for training meeting approval requirements which commenced after the date on which the total or partial separations of the group of workers covered by the certification for eligibility began or threatened to begin.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Survivor Benefits
Improvement Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS UNDER SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN FOR
              SURVIVING SPOUSES OVER AGE 62.

    (a) Phased Increase in Basic Annuity.--
            (1) Standard annuity.--
                    (A) Increase to 55 percent.--Clause (i) of
                subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 1451 of title 10,
                United States Code, is amended by striking ``35 percent
                of the base amount.'' and inserting ``the product of
                the base amount and the percent applicable to the
                month, as follows:
                                    ``(I) For a month before October
                                2004, the applicable percent is 35
                                percent.
                                    ``(II) For a month during fiscal
                                year 2005, the applicable percent is 40
                                percent.
                                    ``(III) For a month during fiscal
                                year 2006, the applicable percent is 45
                                percent.
                                    ``(IV) For a month during fiscal
                                year 2007, the applicable percent is 50
                                percent.
                                    ``(V) For a month during a fiscal
                                year after fiscal year 2007, the
                                applicable percent is 55 percent.''.
                    (B) Coordination with savings provision under prior
                law.--Clause (ii) of such subsection is amended by
                striking ``, at the time the beneficiary becomes
                entitled to the annuity,''.
            (2) Reserve-component annuity.--Subsection (a)(2)(B)(i)(I)
        of such section is amended by striking ``35 percent'' and
        inserting ``the percent specified under subsection (a)(1)(B)(i)
        as being applicable for the month''.
            (3) Survivors of eligible persons dying on active duty,
        etc.--
                    (A) Increase to 55 percent.--Clause (i) of
                subsection (c)(1)(B) of such section is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``35 percent'' and
                        inserting ``the applicable percent''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``The percent applicable for a month under the
                        preceding sentence is the percent specified
                        under subsection (a)(1)(B)(i) as being
                        applicable for that month.''.
                    (B) Coordination with savings provision under prior
                law.--Clause (ii) of such subsection is amended by
                striking ``, at the time the beneficiary becomes
                entitled to the annuity,''.
            (4) Clerical amendment.--The heading for subsection
        (d)(2)(A) of such section is amended to read as follows:
        ``Computation of annuity.--''.
    (b) Corresponding Phased Elimination of Supplemental Annuity.--
            (1) Phased reduction of supplemental annuity.--Section
        1457(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``5, 10, 15, or 20 percent'' and
                inserting ``the applicable percent''; and
                    (B) by inserting after the first sentence the
                following: ``The percent used for the computation shall
                be an even multiple of 5 percent and, whatever the
                percent specified in the election, may not exceed 20
                percent for months before October 2004, 15 percent for
                months during fiscal year 2005, 10 percent for months
                during fiscal year 2006, and 5 percent for months after
                September 2006.''.
            (2) Repeal upon implementation of 55 percent sbp annuity.--
        Effective on October 1, 2007, chapter 73 of such title is
        amended--
                    (A) by striking subchapter III; and
                    (B) by striking the item relating to subchapter III
                in the table of subchapters at the beginning of that
                chapter.
    (c) Recomputation of Annuities.--
            (1) Periodic recomputation required.--Effective on the
        first day of each month specified in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) each annuity under section 1450 of title 10,
                United States Code, that commenced before that month,
                is computed under a provision of section 1451 of that
                title amended by subsection (a), and is payable for
                that month shall be recomputed so as to be equal to the
                amount that would be in effect if the percent
                applicable for that month under that provision, as so
                amended, had been used for the initial computation of
                the annuity; and
                    (B) each supplemental survivor annuity under
                section 1457 of such title that commenced before that
                month and is payable for that month shall be recomputed
                so as to be equal to the amount that would be in effect
                if the percent applicable for that month under that
                section, as amended by this section, had been used for
                the initial computation of the supplemental survivor
                annuity.
            (2) Time for recomputation.--The requirement under
        paragraph (1) for recomputation of certain annuities applies
        with respect to the following months:
                    (A) October 2004.
                    (B) October 2005.
                    (C) October 2006.
                    (D) October 2007.
    (d) Recomputation of Retired Pay Reductions for Supplemental
Survivor Annuities.--The Secretary of Defense shall take such actions
as are necessitated by the amendments made by subsection (b) and the
requirements of subsection (c)(1)(B) to ensure that the reductions in
retired pay under section 1460 of title 10, United States Code, are
adjusted to achieve the objectives set forth in subsection (b) of that
section.

SEC. 3. OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN COMMENCING
              OCTOBER 1, 2004.

    (a) Persons Not Currently Participating in Survivor Benefit Plan.--
            (1) Election of sbp coverage.--An eligible retired or
        former member may elect to participate in the Survivor Benefit
        Plan under subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United
        States Code, during the open enrollment period specified in
        subsection (f).
            (2) Election of supplemental annuity coverage.--An eligible
        retired or former member who elects under paragraph (1) to
        participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan at the maximum level
        may also elect during the open enrollment period to participate
        in the Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan established under
        subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code.
            (3) Eligible retired or former member.--For purposes of
        paragraphs (1) and (2), an eligible retired or former member is
        a member or former member of the uniformed services who on the
        day before the first day of the open enrollment period is not a
        participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan and--
                    (A) is entitled to retired pay; or
                    (B) would be entitled to retired pay under chapter
                1223 of title 10, United States Code, but for the fact
                that such member or former member is under 60 years of
                age.
            (4) Status under sbp of persons making elections.--
                    (A) Standard annuity.--A person making an election
                under paragraph (1) by reason of eligibility under
                paragraph (3)(A) shall be treated for all purposes as
                providing a standard annuity under the Survivor Benefit
                Plan.
                    (B) Reserve-component annuity.--A person making an
                election under paragraph (1) by reason of eligibility
                under paragraph (3)(B) shall be treated for all
                purposes as providing a reserve-component annuity under
                the Survivor Benefit Plan.
    (b) Election To Increase Coverage Under SBP.--A person who on the
day before the first day of the open enrollment period is a participant
in the Survivor Benefit Plan but is not participating at the maximum
base amount or is providing coverage under the Plan for a dependent
child and not for the person's spouse or former spouse may, during the
open enrollment period, elect to--
            (1) participate in the Plan at a higher base amount (not in
        excess of the participant's retired pay); or
            (2) provide annuity coverage under the Plan for the
        person's spouse or former spouse at a base amount not less than
        the base amount provided for the dependent child.
    (c) Election for Current SBP Participants To Participate in
Supplemental SBP.--
            (1) Election.--A person who is eligible to make an election
        under this paragraph may elect during the open enrollment
        period to participate in the Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan
        established under subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 10,
        United States Code, as added by section 1404.
            (2) Persons eligible.--Except as provided in paragraph (3),
        a person is eligible to make an election under paragraph (1) if
        on the day before the first day of the open enrollment period
        the person is a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan at the
        maximum level, or during the open enrollment period the person
        increases the level of such participation to the maximum level
        under subsection (b) of this section, and under that Plan is
        providing annuity coverage for the person's spouse or a former
        spouse.
            (3) Limitation on eligibility for certain sbp participants
        not affected by two-tier annuity computation.--A person is not
        eligible to make an election under paragraph (1) if (as
        determined by the Secretary concerned) the annuity of a spouse
        or former spouse beneficiary of that person under the Survivor
        Benefit Plan will be computed under section 1451(e) of title
        10, United States Code. However, such a person may during the
        open enrollment period waive the right to have that annuity
        computed under such section. Any such election is irrevocable.
        A person making such a waiver may make an election under
        paragraph (1) as in the case of any other participant in the
        Survivor Benefit Plan.
    (d) Manner of Making Elections.--An election under this section
must be made in writing, signed by the person making the election, and
received by the Secretary concerned before the end of the open
enrollment period. Any such election shall be made subject to the same
conditions, and with the same opportunities for designation of
beneficiaries and specification of base amount, that apply under the
Survivor Benefit Plan or the Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan, as the
case may be. A person making an election under subsection (a) to
provide a reserve-component annuity shall make a designation described
in section 1448(e) of title 10, United States Code.
    (e) Effective Date for Elections.--Any such election shall be
effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the
month in which the election is received by the Secretary concerned.
    (f) Open Enrollment Period Defined.--The open enrollment period is
the one-year period beginning on October 1, 2004.
    (g) Effect of Death of Person Making Election Within Two Years of
Making Election.--If a person making an election under this section
dies before the end of the two-year period beginning on the effective
date of the election, the election is void and the amount of any
reduction in retired pay of the person that is attributable to the
election shall be paid in a lump sum to the person who would have been
the deceased person's beneficiary under the voided election if the
deceased person had died after the end of such two-year period.
    (h) Applicability of Certain Provisions of Law.--The provisions of
sections 1449, 1453, and 1454 of title 10, United States Code, are
applicable to a person making an election, and to an election, under
this section in the same manner as if the election were made under the
Survivor Benefit Plan or the Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan, as the
case may be.
    (i) Additional Premium.--The Secretary of Defense may require that
the premium for a person making an election under subsection (a)(1) or
(b) include, in addition to the amount required under section 1452(a)
of title 10, United States Code, an amount determined under regulations
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the purposes of this
subsection. Any such amount shall be stated as a percentage of the base
amount of the person making the election and shall reflect the number
of years that have elapsed since the person retired, but may not exceed
4.5 percent of that person's base amount.
    (j) Report Concerning Open Season.--Not later than July 1, 2004,
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the
open season authorized by this section for the Survivor Benefit Plan.
The report shall include the following:
            (1) A description of the Secretary's plans for
        implementation of the open season.
            (2) The Secretary's estimates of the costs associated with
        the open season, including any anticipated effect of the open
        season on the actuarial status of the Department of Defense
        Military Retirement Fund.
            (3) Any recommendation by the Secretary for further
        legislative action.

Output: Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 - Adjusts the basic Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity amount for surviving spouses, age 62 and older, of former military personnel to: (1) 35 percent of the retired pay of the decedent (current law), for months before October 2004; (2) 40 percent for months during FY 2005; (3) 45 percent for months during FY 2006; (4) 50 percent for months during FY 2007; and (5) 55 percent for months after FY 2007. Adjusts similarly percentage amounts with respect to survivors of reserve personnel and survivors of persons who die while on active duty. Provides a corresponding phased elimination of the SBP supplemental annuity authorized to be provided to such surviving spouses. Requires periodic recomputation of: (1) annuity amounts beginning in October 2004; and (2) retired pay reductions for supplemental survivor annuities.Provides a one-year open enrollment period for SBP participation, commencing October 1, 2004, for those currently not participating, those electing to increase current coverage, and those wishing to participate in the supplemental SBP.Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to require appropriate premiums for SBP participation.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Right of Passage Community Service
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The teenage years are a pivotal time of life, when
        young people are making choices that will effect them for the
        rest of their lives.
            (2) How young people spend their time during their teenage
        years may set them on a course of active citizenship and
        engaged learning, or down a path of risky behavior with the
        likelihood of failure.
            (3) Research suggests that when young people see that they
        are able to improve the lives of others they feel that they are
        able to control and improve their own lives.
            (4) If properly trained, organized, and supervised,
        teenagers are a resource that can make a significant
        contribution to their communities.
            (5) Opportunities for volunteer service during the teenage
        years could become a right of passage for future generations.
            (6) The National Academy of Sciences Report on Youth
        Development concluded that ``the future well-being of the
        country depends on raising generations of skilled, competent,
        and responsible adults''.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to--
            (1) create a national network of service programs for
        middle school students to serve in their communities after
        school and during the summer;
            (2) provide students with opportunities to serve in their
        communities and participate in other programs such as workshops
        in leadership development, public speaking, conflict
        resolution, team-building, and other character-building
        programs;
            (3) provide young people an experience that reinforces
        their connection to the community, enriches their education,
        and strengthens their personal and civic values; and
            (4) instill an ethic of service in young people which will
        stay with them throughout their lives.

SEC. 3. RIGHT OF PASSAGE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 122(a) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572(a)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
            ``(15) A community-based Right of Passage after school and
        summer service corps program that offers young people--
                    ``(A) the opportunity to perform service in their
                communities;
                    ``(B) the opportunity to participate in activities
                that would provide training in leadership development,
                public speaking, conflict resolution, team building,
                and other critical skills;
                    ``(C) service-learning curricula linked to academic
                goals; and
                    ``(D) the opportunity to work with older AmeriCorps
                members who can organize service projects and act as
                mentors.''.
    (b) Eligibility.--Section 137 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12591) is
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Special Rules for Right of Passage Program.--An individual
shall be considered to be a participant in a Right of Passage
community-based after school or summer service corps program described
in section 122(a)(15) (42 U.S.C. 12591) that is carried out with
assistance provided under section 121(a) (42 U.S.C. 12571) if the
individual--
            ``(1) satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2),
        and (6) of subsection (a); and
            ``(2) is between the ages of 12 and 16, inclusive at the
        time the individual begins the term of service.''.
    (c) Terms of Service.--Section 139(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
12593(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Special rule for right of passage program.--An
        individual participating in a Right of Passage community-based
        after school or summer service corps program described in
        section 122(a)(15) shall agree to participate in the program
        for not less than 160 hours during a period of not less than 2
        months and not more than 1 year.''.
    (d) National Service Educational Award.--
            (1) Special rule for right of passage program.--Section 141
        of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12595) is amended by adding at the end
        the following:
    ``(c) Special Rule for Right of Passage Program.--An individual
participating in a Right of Passage community-based after school or
summer service corps program described in section 122(a)(15), upon
completion of the required 160 hours of service shall receive an
education award of $500.''.
            (2) Eligible individuals.--Section 146 is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ``or a program
                described in section 122(a)(9);'' and inserting ``, a
                program described in section 122(a)(9), or a program
                described in section 122(a)(15);''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d)(2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
                        ``or'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
                        ``period.'' and inserting ``period; or''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) participated in a program described in
                section 12572(a)(15).''.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Corporation shall transmit to the Congress a report and evaluation of
the program authorized by this Act.

Output: Right of Passage Community Service Act - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to add to the list of national service programs eligible for Federal assistance a community-based Right of Passage after school and summer service corps program. Establishes qualifications for participating students, including that they be between ages 12 and 16 at the time they begin serving. Specifies skills such as leadership and conflict resolution that the program will help students develop.Requires participants to spend at least 160 hours in the program during a period of between two months and one year. Rewards participants upon service completion with a national service education award of $500.