Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Personal
Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
        provides that the right of the people to keep and bear arms
        shall not be infringed.
            (2) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
        protects the rights of individuals, including those who are not
        members of a militia or engaged in military service or
        training, to keep and bear arms.
            (3) The law-abiding citizens of the District of Columbia
        are deprived by local laws of handguns, rifles, and shotguns
        that are commonly kept by law-abiding persons throughout the
        United States for sporting use and for lawful defense of their
        persons, homes, businesses, and families.
            (4) The District of Columbia has one of the highest per
        capita murder rates in the Nation, which may be attributed in
        part to local laws prohibiting possession of firearms by law-
        abiding persons who would otherwise be able to defend
        themselves and their loved ones in their own homes and
        businesses.
            (5) The Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended by the
        Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986, and the Brady Handgun
        Violence Prevention Act of 1993, provide comprehensive Federal
        regulations applicable in the District of Columbia as
        elsewhere. In addition, existing District of Columbia criminal
        laws punish possession and illegal use of firearms by violent
        criminals and felons. Consequently, there is no need for local
        laws which only affect and disarm law-abiding citizens.
            (6) Legislation is required to correct the District of
        Columbia's law in order to restore the fundamental rights of
        its citizens under the Second Amendment to the United States
        Constitution and thereby enhance public safety.

SEC. 3. REFORM D.C. COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT FIREARMS.

    Section 4 of the Act entitled ``An Act to prohibit the killing of
wild birds and wild animals in the District of Columbia'', approved
June 30, 1906 (34 Stat. 809; section 1-303.43, D.C. Official Code) is
amended by adding at the end the following: ``Nothing in this section
or any other provision of law shall authorize, or shall be construed to
permit, the Council, the Mayor, or any governmental or regulatory
authority of the District of Columbia to prohibit, constructively
prohibit, or unduly burden the ability of persons not prohibited from
possessing firearms under Federal law from acquiring, possessing in
their homes or businesses, or using for sporting, self-protection or
other lawful purposes, any firearm neither prohibited by Federal law
nor subject to the National Firearms Act. The District of Columbia
shall not have authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage
or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms.''.

SEC. 4. REPEAL D.C. SEMIAUTOMATIC BAN.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(10) of the Firearms Control
Regulations Act of 1975 (section 7-2501.01(10), D.C. Official Code) is
amended to read as follows:
            ``(10) `Machine gun' means any firearm which shoots, is
        designed to shoot, or can be readily converted or restored to
        shoot automatically, more than 1 shot by a single function of
        the trigger, and includes the frame or receiver of any such
        weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively,
        or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in
        converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of
        parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts
        are in the possession or under the control of a person.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment to Provisions Setting Forth Criminal
Penalties.--Section 1(c) of the Act of July 8, 1932 (47 Stat. 651;
section 22-4501(c), D.C. Official Code) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) `Machine gun', as used in this Act, has the meaning given
such term in section 101(10) of the Firearms Control Regulations Act of
1975.''.

SEC. 5. REPEAL REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.

    (a) Repeal of Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--Section 201(a) of the Firearms Control
        Regulations Act of 1975 (section 7-2502.01(a), D.C. Official
        Code) is amended by striking ``any firearm, unless'' and all
        that follows through paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
        ``any firearm described in subsection (c).''.
            (2) Description of firearms remaining illegal.--Section 201
        of such Act (section 7-2502.01, D.C. Official Code) is amended
        by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) A firearm described in this subsection is any of the
following:
            ``(1) A sawed-off shotgun.
            ``(2) A machine gun.
            ``(3) A short-barreled rifle.''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--The heading of section 201 of
        such Act (section 7--2502.01, D.C. Official Code) is amended by
        striking ``Registration requirements'' and inserting ``Firearm
        Possession''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments to Firearms Control Regulations Act.--The
Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 is amended as follows:
            (1) Sections 202 through 211 (section 7-2502.02 through 7-
        2502.11, D.C. Official Code) are repealed.
            (2) Section 101 (section 7-2501.01, D.C. Official Code) is
        amended by striking paragraph (13).
            (3) Section 401 (section 7-2504.01, D.C. Official Code) is
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``the
                District;'' and all that follows and inserting the
                following: ``the District, except that a person may
                engage in hand loading, reloading, or custom loading of
                ammunition for firearms lawfully possessed under this
                Act.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``which are
                unregisterable under section 202'' and inserting
                ``which are prohibited under section 201''.
            (4) Section 402 (section 7-2504.02, D.C. Official Code) is
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``Any person
                eligible to register a firearm'' and all that follows
                through ``such business,'' and inserting the following:
                ``Any person not otherwise prohibited from possessing
                or receiving a firearm under Federal of District law,
                or from being licensed under section 923 of title 18,
                United States Code,''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by amending paragraph (1) to
                read as follows:
            ``(1) The applicant's name;''.
            (5) Section 403(b) (section 7-2504.03(b), D.C. Official
        Code) is amended by striking ``registration certificate'' and
        inserting ``dealer's license''.
            (6) Section 404(a)(3) (section 7-2504.04(a)(3)), D.C.
        Official Code) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking
                ``registration certificate number (if any) of the
                firearm,'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(iv), by striking ``holding
                the registration certificate'' and inserting ``from
                whom it was received for repair'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``and
                registration certificate number (if any) of the
                firearm'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking
                ``registration certificate number or'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking ``or
                registration number''; and
                    (F) in subparagraph (E), by striking clause (iii)
                and redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (iii)
                and (iv).
            (7) Section 406(c) (section 7-2504.06(c), D.C. Official
        Code) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Within 45 days of a decision becoming effective which is
unfavorable to a licensee or to an applicant for a dealer's license,
the licensee or application shall--
            ``(1) lawfully remove from the District all destructive
        devices in his inventory, or peaceably surrender to the Chief
        all destructive devices in his inventory in the manner provided
        in section 705; and
            ``(2) lawfully dispose, to himself or to another, any
        firearms and ammunition in his inventory.''.
            (8) Section 407(b) (section 7-2504.07(b), D.C. Official
        Code) is amended by striking ``would not be eligible'' and all
        that follows and inserting ``is prohibited from possessing or
        receiving a firearm under Federal or District law.''.
            (9) Section 502 (section 7-2505.02, D.C. Official Code) is
        amended--
                    (A) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Any person or organization not prohibited from possessing or
receiving a firearm under Federal or District law may sell or otherwise
transfer ammunition or any firearm, except those which are prohibited
under section 201, to a licensed dealer.'';
                    (B) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Any licensed dealer may sell or otherwise transfer a firearm
to any person or organization not otherwise prohibited from possessing
or receiving such firearm under Federal or District law.'';
                    (C) in subsection (d), by striking paragraphs (2)
                and (3); and
                    (D) by striking subsection (e).
            (10) Section 704 (section 7-2507.04, D.C. Official Code) is
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``any
                registration certificate or'' and inserting ``a''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``registration
                certificate,''.
    (c) Other Conforming Amendments.--Section 2(4) of the Illegal
Firearm Sale and Distribution Strict Liability Act of 1992 (section 7--
2531.01(2)(4), D.C. Official Code) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or ignoring proof of
        the purchaser's residence in the District of Columbia''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``registration and''.

SEC. 6. REPEAL HANDGUN AMMUNITION BAN.

    (a) Definition of Restricted Pistol Bullet.--Section 101(13a) of
the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 (section 7-2501.01(13a))
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(13)(A) `Restricted pistol bullet' means--
                    ``(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be
                used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely
                (excluding the presence of traces of other substances)
                from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel,
                iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted
                uranium; or
                    ``(ii) a full-jacketed projectile larger than .22
                caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and
                whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of
                the total weight of the projectile.
            ``(B) The term `restricted pistol bullet' does not include
        shotgun shot required by Federal or State environmental or game
        regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile
        designed for target shooting, a projectile which the Attorney
        General of the United States (pursuant to section 921(a)(17) of
        title 18, United States Code) finds is primarily intended to be
        used for sporting purposes, or any other projectile or
        projectile core which the Attorney General finds is intended to
        be used for industrial purposes, including a charge used in an
        oil and gas well perforating device.''.
    (b) Repeal of Ban.--Section 601 of the Firearms Control Regulations
Act of 1975 (section 7-2506.01, D.C. Official Code) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``ammunition'' each place it appears (other
        than paragraph (4)) and inserting ``restricted pistol
        bullets''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraph
        (4) as paragraph (3).

SEC. 7. RESTORE RIGHT OF SELF DEFENSE IN THE HOME.

    Section 702 of the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975
(section 7-2507.02, D.C. Official Code) is repealed.

SEC. 8. REMOVE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION OF UNREGISTERED
              FIREARMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 706 of the Firearms Control Regulations
Act of 1975 (section 7-2507.06, D.C. Official Code) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``that:'' and all that follows through
        ``(1) A'' and inserting ``that a''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2).
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to violations occurring after the 60-day period
which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 9. REMOVE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR CARRYING A FIREARM IN ONE'S
              DWELLING OR OTHER PREMISES.

    (a) In General.--Section 4(a) of the Act of July 8, 1932 (47 Stat.
651; section 22-4504(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``a
        pistol,'' and inserting the following: ``except in his dwelling
        house or place of business or on other land possessed by that
        person, whether loaded or unloaded, a firearm,''; and
            (2) by striking ``except that:'' and all that follows
        through ``(2) If the violation'' and inserting ``except that if
        the violation''.
    (b) Treatment of Certain Exceptions.--Section 5(a) of such Act (47
Stat. 651; section 22-4505(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``pistol'' each place it appears and
        inserting ``firearm''; and
            (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the
        following: ``, or to any person while carrying or transporting
        a firearm used in connection with an organized military
        activity, a target shoot, formal or informal target practice,
        sport shooting event, hunting, a firearms or hunter safety
        class, trapping, or a dog obedience training class or show, or
        the moving by a bona fide gun collector of part or all of the
        collector's gun collection from place to place for public or
        private exhibition while the person is engaged in, on the way
        to, or returning from that activity if each firearm is unloaded
        and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster, or to
        any person carrying or transporting a firearm in compliance
        with sections 926A, 926B or 926C of title 18, United States
        Code.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to violations occurring after the 60-day period
which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Output:
District of Columbia Personal Protection Act - Amends specified law prohibiting the killing of wild birds and wild animals in the District of Columbia to declare that nothing in it or any other provision of law shall authorize or be construed to permit the Council, the Mayor, or any governmental or regulatory authority of the District to prohibit, constructively prohibit, or unduly burden the ability of persons otherwise not prohibited from possessing firearms under Federal law from acquiring, possessing in their homes or businesses, or using for sporting, self-protection or other lawful purposes, any firearm neither prohibited by Federal law nor subject to the National Firearms Act. Denies the District any authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms.

Amends the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 to repeal the definition of a machine gun as any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily converted or restored to shoot semiautomatically, more than 12 shots without manual reloading. (Thus repeals the ban on semiautomatic weapons.)

 Redefines "machine gun" to include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

Repeals the District's: (1) registration requirement for possession of firearms; (2) prohibition on possession of handgun restricted pistol bullets; and (3) requirement that, under certain conditions, firearms in the possession of certain individuals must be kept unloaded, disassembled, or with the trigger locked.

Repeals the definition of restricted pistol bullet as any bullet designed for use in a pistol which, when fired from a pistol with a barrel of five inches or less in length, is capable of penetrating commercially available body armor with a penetration resistance equal to or greater than that of 18 layers of kevlar.

Maintains the current ban on the possession and control of a sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, or short-barreled rifle.

Eliminates criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm.

Amends Federal law to eliminate criminal penalties for carrying a pistol whether loaded or unloaded in one's dwelling house, place of business, or on land possessed by such person.

Amends the District of Columbia Code to extend to firearms generally (currently, only to pistols) the prohibition against carrying such a weapon either openly or concealed within the District without a license issued pursuant to D.C. law.

Specifies exceptions to the prohibition against carrying concealed weapons in the District.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on Filipino Veterans
Entitlement Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is hereby established the Commission on Filipino War Veterans
Entitlement (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--It shall be the duty of the Commission to--
            (1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding the
        enactment of those provisions of the First Supplemental Surplus
        Appropriation Rescission Act, 1946 (Public Law 301 of the 79th
        Congress, now codified as section 107 of title 38, United
        States Code), that required the denial of most veterans'
        benefits and privileges to Filipino veterans of World War II;
            (2) review existing Department of Veterans Affairs benefits
        and medical privileges that are available to those veterans;
            (3) determine what type and kind of fair, equitable, and
        justifiable veterans' benefits are due to those veterans; and
            (4) recommend appropriate changes in law.
    (b) Hearings.--The Commission shall hold public hearings in the
cities of Manila, Cebu, and Davao in the Philippines; Los Angeles and
San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; New York,
New York; Washington, DC; Honolulu, Hawaii, and in any other location
that the Commission determines to be appropriate.
    (c) Report.--The Commission shall submit to Congress a written
report of its findings and recommendations not later than October 1,
1994.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of seven
members, who shall be appointed as follows:
            (1) Three members shall be appointed by the President.
            (2) Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
        House of Representatives.
            (3) Two members shall be appointed by the President pro
        tempore of the Senate.
    (b) Terms, Vacancies.--The term of office for members shall be for
the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner in which the
original appointment was made.
    (c) First Meeting.--The first meeting of the Commission shall be
called by the President within 60 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
    (d) Quorum.--Four members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (e) Chairman, Vice Chairman.--The Commission shall elect a chairman
and vice chairman from among its members. The term of office of each
shall be for the life of the Commission.
    (f) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission who is not
otherwise employed by the United States Government shall receive
compensation at a rate equal to the daily rate prescribed for GS-18
under the General Schedule contained in section 5332 of title 5, United
States Code, for each day, including travel time, the member is engaged
in the actual performance of the member's duties as a member of the
Commission. A member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of
the United States Government shall serve without additional
compensation. All members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for
travel, subsistence, and other actual and necessary expenses incurred
by them in the performance of their duties.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings; Subpoenas.--The Commission or, on the authorization
of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings
and sit and act at such times and places, and request the attendance
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books,
records, correspondence, memorandum, papers, and documents as the
Commission or such subcommittee or member may deem advisable. The
Commission may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid of an
appropriate United States District Court to require, by subpoena or
otherwise, such attendance, testimony, or production.
    (b) Information From Executive Agencies.--The Commission may
require directly from the head of any department, agency, independent
instrumentality, or other authority of the executive branch of the
Government, available information which the Commission considers useful
in the discharge of its duties. All departments, agencies, and
independent instrumentalities, or other authorities of the executive
branch of the Government shall cooperate with the Commission and
furnish all information requested by the Commission to the extent
permitted by law.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    The Commission is authorized to--
            (1) appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as
        may be necessary, without regard to the provisions of title 5,
        United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
        service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
        subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to
        classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that the
        compensation of any employee of the Commission may not exceed a
        rate equivalent to the rate payable under GS-18 of the General
        Schedule under section 5332 of such title;
            (2) obtain the services of experts and consultants in
        accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of such title;
            (3) enter into agreements with the Administrator of General
        Services for procurement of necessary financial and
        administrative services, for which payment shall be made by
        reimbursement from funds of the Commission in such amounts as
        may be agreed upon by the Chairman of the Commission and the
        Administrator;
            (4) procure supplies, services, and property by contract in
        accordance with applicable laws and regulations and to the
        extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation
        Acts; and
            (5) enter into contracts with Federal or State agencies,
        private firms, institutions, and agencies for the conduct of
        research or surveys, the preparation of reports and other
        activities necessary to the discharge of the duties of the
        Commission, to the extent or in such amounts as are provided in
        appropriation Acts.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate on February 1, 1995.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is hereby authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to carry
out the provisions of this Act.

Output: Commission on Filipino Veterans Entitlement Act - Establishes the Commission on Filipino War Veterans Entitlement to:  (1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding the enactment of provisions of the First Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, 1946, which denied most veterans' benefits and privileges to Filipino veterans of World War II; (2) review existing Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and medical privileges available to those veterans; (3) determine what type of veterans' benefits are due to such veterans; and (4) recommend appropriate changes in law.  Terminates the Commission on February 1, 1995.  Authorizes appropriations.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Audit of the IRS Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that the General Accounting Office cannot attest
to the reliability of the Internal Revenue Service's financial
statements because--
            (1) the amount of total revenue and tax refunds could not
        be verified or reconciled to accounting records maintained for
        individual taxpayers in the aggregate;
            (2) the amounts reported for various types of taxes
        collected, such as social security, income, and excise taxes,
        could not be substantiated;
            (3) the reliability of reported estimates for valid
        accounts receivable and for collectible accounts receivable
        could not be determined;
            (4) a significant portion of the Internal Revenue Service's
        reported nonpayroll operating expenses could not be verified;
        and
            (5) amounts reported as appropriations available for
        operations could not be reconciled fully with the Treasury
        Department's central accounting records, and hundreds of
        millions of dollars in differences were identified.

SEC. 3. INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be
conducted an audit of the Internal Revenue Service. Such audit shall be
conducted by an independent external auditor selected by the Secretary
in accordance with subsection (b).
    (b) Selection of Independent External Auditor.--The independent
external auditor shall be selected from among the large, national
accounting firms determined by the Secretary to be capable of providing
the audit required by this section pursuant to a process by which the
Secretary invites such firms to submit a proposal for such audit,
together with a bid.
    (c) Initiation of Audit.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the independent external auditor selected to
conduct the audit required by this section shall begin such audit.
    (d) Auditing Procedures.--
            (1) In general.--The audit under subsection (a) shall be
        conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing
        principles. The independent external auditor shall consider the
        deficiencies described in section 2 as well as effectiveness of
        accounting organizations and systems, internal audit and
        control, and related administrative practices of the Internal
        Revenue Service.
            (2) Access to information.--
                    (A) Information given by the internal revenue
                service.--The Internal Revenue Service shall give the
                independent external auditor the information such
                auditor requires about the duties, powers, activities,
                organization, and financial transactions of the
                Internal Revenue Service. The independent external
                auditor may inspect an agency record to obtain such
                information.
                    (B) Books, papers, personnel, etc.--The independent
                external auditor shall have such access to the
                personnel and to the books, papers, and other
                information of the Internal Revenue Service as such
                auditor considers necessary or appropriate to conduct
                the audit required by this section.
    (e) Protection of Information.--
            (1) Level of protection.--The independent external auditor
        shall maintain the same level of confidentiality for a record
        made available under this section as is required of the
        Director of the Internal Revenue Service. Officers and
        employees of the independent external auditor shall be subject
        to the same statutory penalties for unauthorized disclosure or
        use of any such record as officers or employees of the Internal
        Revenue Service.
            (2) Personnel privacy.--The independent external auditor
        shall keep information described in section 552(b)(6) of title
        5, United States Code, that such auditor obtains in a way that
        prevents unwarranted invasions of personal privacy.
            (3) Providing information to congress.--This section does
        not authorize information to be withheld from Congress.
    (f) Report of Results of Audit.--Not later than one year after the
initiation of the audit required by this section, the independent
external auditor shall submit a report concerning the results of the
audit conducted under this section to the Committee on Ways and Means
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate.
    (g) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2),
        amounts appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service shall be
        available to carry out this section.
            (2) Exceptions.--Amounts made available to the Internal
        Revenue Service for the following shall not be available to
        carry out this section:
                    (A) To maintain a training program to ensure that
                Internal Revenue Service employees are trained in
                taxpayers' rights, in dealing courteously with the
                taxpayers, and in cross-cultural relations.
                    (B) The Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program.

Output: Audit of the IRS Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to arrange for an audit of the Internal Revenue Service by an independent external auditor.  Sets forth provisions concerning:  (1) selection of the auditor; (2) audit procedures; (3) confidentiality; (4) reporting audit results; and (5) funding the audit.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Home Energy Affordability Tax Relief
Act of 2008'' or the ``HEATR Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR RESIDENTIAL ENERGY COSTS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter B of chapter 65 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (relating to rules of special application) is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 6431. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR RESIDENTIAL ENERGY COSTS.

    ``(a) General Rule.--In the case of an individual, there shall be
allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for the
taxable year an amount equal to the lesser of--
            ``(1) 33 percent of the amount of the taxpayer's
        residential energy costs for such taxable year, or
            ``(2) $500.
    ``(b) Income Limitation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The amount allowable as a credit under
        subsection (a) for any taxable year shall be reduced (but not
        below zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to the
        amount so allowable (determined without regard to this
        paragraph) as--
                    ``(A) the amount (if any) by which the taxpayer's
                adjusted gross income exceeds $50,000 (twice such
                amount in the case of a joint return), bears to
                    ``(B) $10,000 (twice such amount in the case of a
                joint return).
            ``(2) Determination of adjusted gross income.--For purposes
        of paragraph (1), adjusted gross income shall be determined
        without regard to sections 911, 931, and 933.
    ``(c) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this
section--
            ``(1) Residential energy costs.--The term `residential
        energy costs' means the amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer
        during the taxable year--
                    ``(A) to any utility for electricity or natural gas
                used in the principal residence of the taxpayer during
                the heating season, and
                    ``(B) for any qualified fuel for use in the
                principal residence of the taxpayer but only if such
                fuel is the primary fuel for heating such residence.
            ``(2) Principal residence.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `principal residence'
                has the meaning given to such term by section 121;
                except that no ownership requirement shall be imposed.
                    ``(B) Special rules.--Such term shall not include--
                            ``(i) any residence located outside the
                        United States, and
                            ``(ii) any residence not used as the
                        taxpayer's principal place of abode throughout
                        the heating season.
            ``(3) Heating season.--The term `heating season' means
        October, November, December, January, February, and March.
            ``(4) Qualified fuel.--The term `qualified fuel' includes
        propane, heating oil, kerosene, wood, and wood pellets.
    ``(d) Other Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Individuals paying on level payment basis.--Amounts
        paid for natural gas under a level payment plan for any period
        shall be treated as paid for natural gas used during the
        portion (if any) of the heating season during such period to
        the extent of the amount charged for natural gas used during
        such portion of the heating season. A similar rule shall apply
        to electricity and any qualified fuel.
            ``(2) Homeowners associations, etc.--The application of
        this section to homeowners associations (as defined in section
        528(c)(1)) or members of such associations, and tenant-
        stockholders in cooperative housing corporations (as defined in
        section 216), shall be allowed by allocation, apportionment, or
        otherwise, to the individuals paying, directly or indirectly,
        for the residential energy cost so incurred.
            ``(3) Dollar amount in case of joint occupancy.--In the
        case of a dwelling unit which is the principal residence by 2
        or more individuals, the dollar limitation under subsection
        (a)(2) shall be allocated among such individuals under
        regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
            ``(4) Treatment as refundable credit.--For purposes of this
        title, the credit allowed by this section shall be treated as a
        credit allowed under subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of
        chapter 1 (relating to refundable credits).
    ``(e) Inflation Adjustment.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of any taxable year
        beginning in 2009, each of the dollar amounts contained in
        subsections (a)(2) and (b)(1)(A) shall be increased by an
        amount equal to--
                    ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                    ``(B) in the case of--
                            ``(i) the dollar amount contained in
                        subsection (a)(2), the fuel price inflation
                        adjustment for 2009, and
                            ``(ii) the dollar amount contained in
                        subsection (b)(1)(A), the cost-of-living
                        adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for
                        2009 by substituting `calendar year 2007' for
                        `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B)
                        thereof.
            ``(2) Fuel price inflation adjustment.--For purposes of
        paragraph (1)(B)(i)--
                    ``(A) In general.--The fuel price inflation
                adjustment for 2009 is the percentage (if any) by
                which--
                            ``(i) the CPI fuel component for October of
                        2008, exceeds
                            ``(ii) the CPI fuel component for October
                        of 2007.
                    ``(B) CPI fuel component.--The term `CPI fuel
                component' means the fuel component of the Consumer
                Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the
                Department of Labor.
            ``(3) Rounding.--
                    ``(A) Credit amount.--
                            ``(i) Credit amount.--If the dollar amount
                        in subsection (a)(2) (after being increased
                        under paragraph (1)), is not a multiple of $10,
                        such dollar amount shall be rounded to the
                        nearest multiple of $10.
                            ``(ii) Income threshold.--If the dollar
                        amount in subsection (b)(1)(A) (after being
                        increased under paragraph (1)), is not a
                        multiple of $50, such dollar amount shall be
                        rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
    ``(f) Application of Section.--This section shall apply to
residential energy costs paid or incurred after the date of the
enactment of this section, in taxable years ending after such date, and
before January 1, 2010.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United
        States Code, is amended by striking ``or 6428 or'' and
        inserting ``, 6428, 6431, or''.
            (2) The table of sections for subchapter B of chapter 65 of
        such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new
        item:

``Sec. 6431. Refundable credit for residential energy costs.''.
    (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. ELIMINATION OF DEDUCTION FOR INTANGIBLE DRILLING AND
              DEVELOPMENT COSTS FOR MAJOR OIL COMPANIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 263(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentences:
``This subsection shall not apply during any taxable year with respect
to an applicable taxpayer (as defined in section 901(m)(2)) if during
the preceding taxable year for the production of oil, the average price
of crude oil in the United States is greater than $34.71 per barrel,
and for the production of natural gas, the average wellhead price of
natural gas in the United States is greater than $4.34 per 1,000 cubic
feet. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall
determine average prices, taking into consideration the most recent
data reported by the Energy Information Administration. For taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2008, each dollar amount specified
in this subsection shall be adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-
month period ending the preceding September 30 in the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor.''
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATIONS OF FOREIGN TAX CREDIT RULES APPLICABLE TO MAJOR
              OIL COMPANIES WHICH ARE DUAL CAPACITY TAXPAYERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(relating to credit for taxes of foreign countries and of possessions
of the United States) is amended by redesignating subsection (m) as (n)
and by inserting after subsection (l) the following new subsection:
    ``(m) Special Rules Relating to Major Oil Companies Which Are Dual
Capacity Taxpayers.--
            ``(1) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
        this chapter, any amount paid or accrued by a dual capacity
        taxpayer which is an applicable taxpayer (as defined in section
        5896(b)) to a foreign country or possession of the United
        States for any period shall not be considered a tax--
                    ``(A) if, for such period, the foreign country or
                possession does not impose a generally applicable
                income tax, or
                    ``(B) to the extent such amount exceeds the amount
                (determined in accordance with regulations) which--
                            ``(i) is paid by such dual capacity
                        taxpayer pursuant to the generally applicable
                        income tax imposed by the country or
                        possession, or
                            ``(ii) would be paid if the generally
                        applicable income tax imposed by the country or
                        possession were applicable to such dual
                        capacity taxpayer.
                Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to imply
                the proper treatment of any such amount not in excess
                of the amount determined under subparagraph (B).
            ``(2) Applicable taxpayer.--For purposes of this
        subsection, the term `applicable taxpayer' means, with respect
        to operations in the United States--
                    ``(A) any integrated oil company (as defined in
                section 291(b)(4)), and
                    ``(B) any other producer or refiner of crude oil
                with gross receipts from the sale of such crude oil or
                refined oil products for the taxable year exceeding
                $100,000,000.
            ``(3) Dual capacity taxpayer.--For purposes of this
        subsection, the term `dual capacity taxpayer' means, with
        respect to any foreign country or possession of the United
        States, a person who--
                    ``(A) is subject to a levy of such country or
                possession, and
                    ``(B) receives (or will receive) directly or
                indirectly a specific economic benefit (as determined
                in accordance with regulations) from such country or
                possession.
            ``(4) Generally applicable income tax.--For purposes of
        this subsection--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `generally applicable
                income tax' means an income tax (or a series of income
                taxes) which is generally imposed under the laws of a
                foreign country or possession on income derived from
                the conduct of a trade or business within such country
                or possession.
                    ``(B) Exceptions.--Such term shall not include a
                tax unless it has substantial application, by its terms
                and in practice, to--
                            ``(i) persons who are not dual capacity
                        taxpayers, and
                            ``(ii) persons who are citizens or
                        residents of the foreign country or
                        possession.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
        apply to taxes paid or accrued in taxable years beginning after
        the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Contrary treaty obligations upheld.--The amendments
        made by this section shall not apply to the extent contrary to
        any treaty obligation of the United States.

SEC. 5. ELIMINATION OF ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY CREDIT FOR MAJOR OIL
              COMPANIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 43 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Nonapplication of Section.--This section shall not apply
during any taxable year with respect to an applicable taxpayer (as
defined in section 901(m)(2)) if during the preceding taxable year for
the production of oil, the average price of crude oil in the United
States is greater than $34.71 per barrel. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, the Secretary shall determine average prices, taking into
consideration the most recent data reported by the Energy Information
Administration. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008,
the dollar amount specified in this paragraph shall be adjusted to
reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding September
30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Output:
Home Energy Affordability Tax Relief Act of 2008 or the HEATR Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers an income-based refundable tax credit for residential energy costs. Limits such credit to the lesser of 33% of such costs or $500.

Eliminates for major integrated oil companies: (1) the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs in taxable years in which the average price of crude oil is greater than $34.71 per barrel and the average price of natural gas is greater that $4.34 per 1,000 cubic feet; and (2) the tax credit for enhanced oil recovery costs in taxable years in which the average price of crude oil is greater than $34.71 per barrel. Denies such oil companies and certain producers or refiners of crude oil a foreign tax credit for payments to certain foreign countries or U.S. possessions from which they receive a specified economic benefit as a dual capacity taxpayer.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Virtual Screening for Cancer Act of
2007''.

SEC. 2. SCREENING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY COLONOGRAPHY INCLUDED AS A
              COLORECTAL SCREENING TEST FOR PURPOSES OF COVERAGE UNDER
              THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861(pp)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(pp)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
        and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new
        subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Screening computed tomography
                colonography.''.
    (b) Frequency Limits and Payment for Screening Computed Tomography
Colonography.--Section 1834(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Screening computed tomography colonography.--
                    ``(A) Fee schedule.--With respect to a colorectal
                cancer screening test consisting of screening computed
                tomography colonography, payment under section 1848
                shall be consistent with payment under such section for
                similar or related services.
                    ``(B) Payment limit.--In the case of screening
                computed tomography colonography, payment under this
                part shall not exceed such amount as the Secretary
                specifies, based upon rates recognized for diagnostic
                computed tomography colonography.
                    ``(C) Facility payment limit.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding
                        subsections (i)(2)(A) and (t) of section 1833,
                        in the case of screening computed tomography
                        colonography furnished on or after January 1,
                        2008, that--
                                    ``(I) in accordance with
                                regulations, may be performed in an
                                ambulatory surgical center and for
                                which the Secretary permits ambulatory
                                surgical center payments under this
                                part; and
                                    ``(II) are performed in an
                                ambulatory surgical center or hospital
                                outpatient department,
                        payment under this part shall be based on the
                        lesser of the amount under the fee schedule
                        that would apply to such services if they were
                        performed in a hospital outpatient department
                        in an area or the amount under the fee schedule
                        that would apply to such services if they were
                        performed in an ambulatory surgical center in
                        the same area.
                            ``(ii) Limitation on coinsurance.--
                        Notwithstanding any other provision of this
                        title, in the case of a beneficiary who
                        receives the services described in clause (i)--
                                    ``(I) in computing the amount of
                                any applicable copayment, the
                                computation of such coinsurance shall
                                be based upon the fee schedule under
                                which payment is made for the services;
                                and
                                    ``(II) the amount of such
                                coinsurance shall not exceed 25 percent
                                of the payment amount under the fee
                                schedule described in subclause (I).
                    ``(D) Frequency limit.--No payment may be made
                under this part for a colorectal cancer screening test
                consisting of a screening computed tomography
                colonography--
                            ``(i) if the individual is under 50 years
                        of age; or
                            ``(ii)(I) in the case of individuals at
                        high risk for colorectal cancer, if the
                        procedure is performed within the 23 months
                        after a previous screening computed tomography
                        colonography or a previous screening
                        colonoscopy; or
                            ``(II) in the case of an individual who is
                        not at high risk for colorectal cancer, if the
                        procedure is performed within the 119 months
                        after a previous screening colonoscopy or
                        within the 47 months after a previous screening
                        flexible sigmoidoscopy or a previous screening
                        computed tomography colonography.''.
    (c) Conforming Frequency Limits for Other Colorectal Cancer
Screening Tests.--
            (1) Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.--Paragraph (2)(E)(ii)
        of section 1834(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
        1395m(d)) is amended by inserting ``or screening computed
        tomography colonography'' after ``previous screening flexible
        sigmoidoscopy''.
            (2) Screening colonoscopy.--Paragraph (3)(E) of such
        section is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``or screening computed tomography
                colonography'' after ``23 months after a previous
                screening colonoscopy''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``or screening computed tomography
                colonography'' after ``screening flexible
                sigmoidoscopy''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2009.

SEC. 3. EXEMPTION OF SCREENING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY COLONOGRAPHY FROM
              SPECIAL RULE ON IMAGING SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1848(b)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(b)(4)(B)) is amended by inserting ``and screening
computed tomography colonography'' after ``diagnostic and screening
mammography''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2009.

Output: Virtual Screening for Cancer Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide Medicare coverage for screening computed tomography as a colorectal screening test; and (2) exclude screening computed tomography colonography from the meaning of "imaging services" for which there is a special rule regarding outpatient services department (OPD) fee schedule payments.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Pipelines Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL SAFETY CERTIFICATION OF PIPELINE EMPLOYEES.

    Section 60102(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended
to read as follows:
                    ``(C) shall include a requirement that all
                individuals responsible for the operation and
                maintenance of pipeline facilities shall be tested for
                qualification to perform such functions and certified
                by the Secretary to perform such functions.''.

SEC. 3. CORROSION TESTING.

    Section 60102(f) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Corrosion testing.--Not later than 180 days after the
        date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall
        require that the operator of a pipeline facility with an
        instrumented internal inspection device periodically test the
        facility for corrosion and anomalies and make the results of
        the test available to the public. The period between each test
        shall be no longer than 5 years.''.

SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION OF SPILLS.

    Section 60102(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
        subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before subparagraph (C) (as so
        redesignated) the following:
            ``(A) spill of more than 40 gallons;
            ``(B) rupture of a pipeline;''.

SEC. 5. HYDROSTATIC TESTING.

    Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following:
            ``(4) Hydrostatic testing.--See subsection (d).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Hydrostatic Testing.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to this subsection, the
        Secretary shall require that the operator of a covered pipeline
        facility hydrostatically test the facility and make the results
        of the test available to the public.
            ``(2) Initial testing.--A pipeline facility shall be
        hydrostatically tested not later than 30 days after the date on
        which the facility becomes a covered pipeline facility under
        this subsection.
            ``(3) Intervals of testing.--Hydrostatic testing required
        pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted not less than
        once every 5 years
            ``(4) Alternative methods.--Upon request of the operator of
        a covered pipeline facility (other than a facility that is on
        the Secretary's list of high-risk pipelines), the Secretary may
        approve an alternative method of testing the facility
        (including inspection by an instrumented internal inspection
        device) for structural weaknesses instead of hydrostatic
        testing of the facility if the Secretary first provides written
        notification in the Federal Register and to interested State
        and local governments and other persons of the proposed
        approval and provides a period of 90 days for public comment on
        the proposed approval.
            ``(5) List of high-risk pipelines.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the
                date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
                shall establish a list of high-risk pipelines. A
                pipeline facility shall be placed on the list if the
                facility--
                            ``(i) has experienced 2 or more reportable
                        leaks (not including leaks that occurred during
                        a hydrostatic test of the pipeline facility)
                        due to corrosion or defect in the preceding 3-
                        year period;
                            ``(ii) has experienced 3 or more reportable
                        leaks (not including leaks that occurred during
                        a hydrostatic test of the pipeline facility)
                        due to corrosion, defect, or in whole or in
                        part by external forces in the preceding 3-year
                        period;
                            ``(iii) is less than 50 miles long and has
                        experienced a reportable leak (not including a
                        leak that occurred during a hydrostatic test of
                        the pipeline facility) due to corrosion or
                        defect in the preceding 3-year period; and
                            ``(iv) has experienced a reportable leak in
                        the preceding 5-year period due to corrosion or
                        defect (except during a hydrostatic test of the
                        pipeline facility) on a section of pipeline
                        that has been in operation for more than 30
                        years.
                    ``(B) Maintenance.--The Secretary shall maintain
                and periodically update the list under this paragraph.
                A pipeline facility placed on the list shall remain on
                the list until the last day of the 5-year period
                beginning on the date of the last reportable leak of
                the pipeline facility due to corrosion or defect.
                    ``(C) Special rule for determination of pipeline
                length.--For purposes of this paragraph, the length of
                a pipeline with more than 2 termini shall be the
                longest distance between any 2 termini on the pipeline.
            ``(6) Covered pipeline facility defined.--In this
        subsection, the term `covered pipeline facility' means a
        pipeline facility subject to this chapter--
                    ``(A) that is not covered by a certification under
                section 60105 or an agreement under section 60106; and
                    ``(B)(i) that has been in operation (before, on, or
                after the date of enactment of this subsection) for a
                period of 10 years or more; or
                    ``(ii) that is on the Secretary's list of high-risk
                pipelines under paragraph (5).''.

SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF PIPELINE MAPS ON INTERNET.

    Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
    ``(e) Availability of Pipeline Maps on Internet.--Not later than
October 1, 2000, the Secretary shall make available on the Internet
nationwide maps of the location of all pipeline facilities subject to
this chapter.''.

SEC. 7. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO STATES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 60129. Delegation of authority to States
    ``(a) Submission of State Program.--The Governor of each State
desiring to administer its own pipeline safety standards for interstate
pipelines within its jurisdiction may submit to the Secretary of
Transportation a full and complete description of the program the State
proposes to establish and administer under State law or under an
interstate compact. In addition, the State shall submit a statement
from the attorney general (or the attorney for those State pipeline
regulatory agencies which have independent legal counsel), or from the
chief legal officer in the case of an interstate agency, that the laws
of the State or the interstate compact, as the case may be, provide
adequate authority to carry out the proposed program.
    ``(b) Approval.--No State program may contain any standard that is
less stringent a standard than established by Federal regulation. The
Secretary shall approve each program no later than 90 days after the
date on which the program is submitted by the State, unless the
Secretary determines that the submitting State does not have the
resources or expertise necessary to carry out the program or that the
program would overburden the interstate nature of the pipeline in such
a way as to compromise safety or that the program includes a standard
that is less stringent than a standard established by Federal
regulation.
    ``(c) Withdrawal of Approval.--Whenever the Secretary determines
after a public hearing that a State is not administering a program
approved under this section in accordance with requirements of this
section, the Secretary shall so notify the State and, if appropriate
corrective action is not taken within a reasonable time (not to exceed
90 days), the Secretary shall withdraw approval of the program. The
Secretary shall not withdraw approval of any program under this
subsection unless the Secretary first has notified the State, and made
public, in writing the reasons for such withdrawal.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended
by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 60129. Delegation of authority to States.''.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVENESS OF EXTERNAL LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study
to determine the effectiveness external leak detection systems,
including hydrocarbon sensor cables, for the purpose of improving
pipeline leak detection.
    (b) Report.--Not later than October 1, 2000, the Secretary shall
transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study.

SEC. 9. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES OF NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
              RECOMMENDATIONS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Transportation shall complete cost-benefit analyses of all
recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board to the
Secretary that the Board classifies as being ``open''.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVENESS OF DOUBLE-WALLED PIPELINES.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study
to determine the effectiveness of double-walled pipelines for the
purpose of preventing ruptures and leaks.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the
results of the study.

SEC. 11. OPTIMAL MINIMUM BURIAL DEPTH.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study
to determine the optimal minimum burial depth of underground pipelines
for the purpose of preventing release of hazardous materials into the
air.
    (b) Report and Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a
report on the results of the study and shall issue a notice of proposed
rulemaking to modify regulations of the Department of Transportation
relating to pipeline burial depth to take into account the results of
the study.

Output:
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to require an operator of a pipeline facility that: (1) has an instrumented internal inspection device (smart pig) to test the pipeline once every five years for corrosion and anomalies and make test results available to the public; and (2) is not covered by a certain certification under a State pipeline safety program or by a State pipeline safety agreement to test the pipeline hydrostatically once every five years to redetermine its maximum allowable operating pressure of the pipeline and make test results available to the public. Authorizes the Secretary, upon the request of an operator of a non-high-risk pipeline, to approve an alternative method of testing the pipeline, including inspection by smart pig, for structural weaknesses instead of hydrostatic testing if the Secretary first provides notification in the Federal Register and to interested State and local governments and other persons of the proposed approval and provides for public comment. Directs the Secretary to establish a list of high-risk pipelines (that have had a specified number of leaks over a certain period of time).
(Sec. 4) Requires pipeline operators to report to the Secretary hazardous liquid spills of more than 40 gallons and ruptures to pipelines.
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to make available on the Internet maps of the location of all pipeline facilities subject to the Act.
(Sec. 7) Directs the Governor of each State desiring to administer its own pipeline safety standards for interstate pipelines to submit to the Secretary a complete description of its proposed program. Prohibits a State program from containing standards that are less stringent than those established by Federal law.
(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the effectiveness of: (1) external leak detection systems (including hydrocarbon sensor cables) for the purpose of improving pipeline leak detection; and (2) double-walled pipelines for the purpose of preventing ruptures and leaks.
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to complete cost-benefit analyses of all recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board to the Secretary that the Board classifies as being "open".
(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the optimal minimum burial depth of underground pipelines for the purpose of preventing the release of hazardous materials in the air.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve
Component Suicide Prevention Act''.

SEC. 2. SUICIDE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE AND
              INDIVIDUAL MOBILIZATION AUGMENTEES.

    (a) Finding.--Congress finds that a veteran who is either a member
of the Individual Ready Reserve, an Individual Mobilization Augmentee,
or an inactive member of the National Guard and is not assigned to a
unit that musters regularly and has an established support structure is
less likely to be helped by existing suicide prevention programs
carried out by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
    (b) In General.--
            (1) Suicide prevention.--Chapter 55 of title 10, United
        States Code, is amended by adding after section 1074l the
        following new section:
``Sec. 1074m. Suicide prevention for members of the Individual Ready
              Reserve, individual mobilization augmentees, and inactive
              members of the National Guard
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each
covered member receives a telephone call described in subsection (b)
not less than once every 90 days during the period in which--
            ``(1) the covered member is a member of the Individual
        Ready Reserve;
            ``(2) the Secretary determines that the covered member is
        an individual mobilization augmentee; or
            ``(3) the covered member is a member of the inactive
        National Guard.
    ``(b) Counseling Call.--A telephone call described in this
subsection is a call from properly trained personnel to determine the
emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns of the
covered member.
    ``(c) Referral.--(1) The personnel making a telephone call
described in subsection (b) shall refer a covered member identified as
being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical
treatment facility, accredited TRICARE provider, or other private
provider in accordance with paragraph (3) for immediate evaluation and
treatment by a qualified mental health care provider.
    ``(2) If a covered member is referred under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall confirm that the member has received the evaluation and
any necessary treatment.
    ``(3) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall refer a
covered member to a qualified private mental health care provider if
the Secretary determines that such private provider will ensure that
such member will receive treatment and assistance without delay.
    ``(d) Reports.--Not later than January 31 of each year, beginning
in 2013, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on--
            ``(1) the number of covered members who have been referred
        for counseling or mental health treatment under this section,
        as well as the health and career status of such members; and
            ``(2) any resource, regulatory, or statutory issues that
        may be impeding the counseling calls under this section from
        reaching all covered members.
    ``(e) Covered Member Defined.--In this section, the term `covered
member' means--
            ``(1) a member of the Individual Ready Reserve described in
        section 10144(b) of this title who has deployed to Afghanistan
        or Iraq in support of a contingency operation on or after
        September 11, 2001;
            ``(2) a member of a reserve component who the Secretary
        determines is an individual mobilization augmentee who has
        deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency
        operation on or after September 11, 2001; or
            ``(3) a member of the inactive National Guard who has
        deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency
        operation on or after September 11, 2001.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
        item relating to section 1074l the following new item:

``1074m. Suicide prevention for members of the Individual Ready
                            Reserve, individual mobilization
                            augmentees, and inactive members of the
                            National Guard.''.
    (c) GAO Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States, in
cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to Congress a
report on suicide among covered members (as defined in section 1074m(e)
of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (b)), including
how many such members who have separated from service have committed
suicide.
    (d) Use of Peer Counseling.--Consistent with the findings of the
August 2010 report titled ``The Final Report of the Department of
Defense Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed
Forces'', the Secretary of Defense shall develop, evaluate, and more
widely disseminate programs (including peer-to-peer counseling) that
promote--
            (1) connectedness between members of the Armed Forces and
        the family, peers, and the immediate chain of command of the
        members; and
            (2) suicide risk identification and response with
        particular emphasis on members of the Reserve Components.

Output:
Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Individual Ready Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that each of the following individuals receive, at least once every 90 days, a telephone call from properly-trained DOD personnel to determine their emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns: (1) members of the Individual Ready Reserve who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency operation, (2) a member of a reserve component who the Secretary determines is an individual mobilization augmentee who has so deployed, or (3) a member of the inactive National Guard.

Requires the person making the call to refer a member identified as being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical treatment facility or accredited TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program) provider for immediate evaluation and necessary treatment. Directs the Secretary to refer such member to a private provider upon determining that such provider will ensure that the member will receive treatment and assistance without delay.

Requires annual reports from the Secretary to Congress on the number of members so referred, as well as their health and career status, and any situations that may be impeding the counseling calls from reaching all appropriate members.

Requires a one-time report from the Comptroller General to Congress on suicide among such members.

Directs the Secretary to develop, evaluate, and more widely disseminate programs that promote: (1) connectivity between members of the Armed Forces and their family, peers, and immediate chain of command; and (2) suicide risk identification and response, with particular emphasis on members of reserve components.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Engaging Students Through Service
Learning Act''.

SEC. 2. K-12 SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:

``PART E--ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF K-12 EDUCATION THROUGH SERVICE
                                LEARNING

``SEC. 2501. FINDINGS.

    ``The Congress finds as follows:
            ``(1) Students learn best when they are actively engaged in
        meaningful and challenging learning experiences that encourage
        higher order skills development, critical thinking, and problem
        solving.
            ``(2) Service learning is a pedagogy that encompasses key
        elements of effective teaching and learning, including active
        learning, authentic experiences, opportunities for peer
        collaboration, problem solving, student leadership and
        empowerment, and cognitively challenging academic activities.
            ``(3) Students invest themselves in learning when their
        educational experiences have personal meaning to them and are
        connected to authentic, real issues in their everyday lives.
            ``(4) In service learning, students apply their knowledge
        and skills to solve actual community problems and experience
        the real-world value of what they are learning in school.
        Service learning can therefore have a powerful effect on
        students, increasing their academic engagement, their civic
        engagement and their social and emotional development.
            ``(5) Service learning can have a powerful effect on
        students, helping them to increase their academic engagement
        and performance, their civic engagement and desire to help
        others, and their social-emotional learning in areas related to
        21st century skill acquisition, such as task persistence,
        intellectual curiosity, and ability to work in teams.
            ``(6) In service learning, students connect to the
        community and to their classmates in ways that are far more
        powerful than simple cooperative learning.
            ``(7) Service learning has been found to promote behavioral
        and dispositional factors that mediate students' educational
        success such as greater motivation for school, engagement in
        learning tasks, building of self-efficacy and self-esteem, and
        propensity to engage in pro-social behaviors.
            ``(8) Research has demonstrated that test scores of
        students who participated in service learning are higher in
        reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science than
        those of non-participants.
            ``(9) High-quality service learning will improve student
        achievement and our schools because it employs effective,
        experiential learning strategies associated with student
        engagement in academic work and preparation for success in
        college and the workplace, engages students in solving complex
        problems, probes for deeper learning, and seeks opportunities
        for students to transfer knowledge from one context to another.
            ``(10) Principals report that service learning has a
        positive impact on teacher satisfaction, school climate,
        academic achievement, and school engagement.
            ``(11) Teachers who use service learning in the classroom
        as a type of positive teaching strategy achieve better results
        in a variety of academic and behavioral categories than those
        who don't, are more effective, challenged, and energized, and
        are more likely to remain within their chosen profession.
            ``(12) Only an estimated 24 percent of the approximately
        53,300,000 K-12 youth in the United States are given the
        opportunity to engage in any kind of service-learning
        experience, a decline from 32 percent in 1999.
            ``(13) Schools in high poverty areas are less likely to
        employ service learning as a teaching strategy, yet research
        has shown this is a particularly effective pedagogy for use in
        such schools. Service learning can significantly reduce the
        achievement gap between affluent and low-income students. Low-
        income students who participated in service opportunities have
        better school attendance and grades than low-income students
        who do not participate.
            ``(14) There is a need for a rigorous and focused
        initiative to demonstrate and broadly promote high-quality
        service learning that enhances teacher effectiveness, improves
        student learning and educational success, and positively
        affects school climate.
            ``(15) State educational agencies are the only entities
        with comprehensive, statewide responsibility for the quality of
        learning within a State.

``SEC. 2502. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this part is to authorize a national elementary
and secondary school service-learning program that will expand
opportunities for students to engage in high-quality service learning
that--
            ``(1) promotes student achievement in academic subjects,
        including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
            ``(2) incorporates 21st century skills, such as critical
        thinking, problem solving and collaboration;
            ``(3) integrates content knowledge and use of technology;
            ``(4) enhances school climate and civic engagement; and
            ``(5) improves post-school outcomes.

``SEC. 2503. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``The Secretary shall reserve funds for national activities as
follows:
            ``(1) The Secretary shall reserve not more than 10 percent
        to establish a National Center for K-12 Service Learning--
                    ``(A) to provide resources to State educational
                agencies to develop and expand the capacity of local
                educational agencies to improve teacher quality, school
                climate, and educational outcomes by providing an
                infrastructure for sustainable service-learning efforts
                through vision and leadership, professional
                development, curriculum and assessment, school-
                community collaborations, and continuous improvement;
                and
                    ``(B) to provide oversight, establish linkages with
                key Federal education initiatives, foster
                sustainability, provide evidence for the strengths and
                limitations of service-learning practices, and
                disseminate study findings.
            ``(2) The Secretary shall reserve not more than 10 percent
        for research and evaluation activities, including a study,
        conducted by the Institute of Education Sciences and connecting
        with State longitudinal data systems, on the effects of
        academic service learning on instructional quality and the
        academic success of students in low-performing schools. The
        study shall include the following elements:
                    ``(A) A comprehensive, rigorous research design
                that builds on prior studies on effective pedagogies,
                service learning, and student success.
                    ``(B) Gathering qualitative and quantitative data
                to comprehensively assess the impact service learning
                has on students' academic, civic, and behavioral
                performance, including student engagement.
                    ``(C) Tracking and measuring the success of
                systemic district-level change based on exemplary
                service-learning policies and practices.
                    ``(D) Measuring the effectiveness of a quality
                professional development leadership system, including
                the effect the professional development provided under
                this section has on teaching and pedagogy, including
                the impact on teachers likelihood of providing students
                with real-world problem-solving opportunities,
                opportunities for deeper learning and tying academic
                concepts to real-world contexts, opportunities for
                leadership, and opportunities for peer collaboration.
                    ``(E) Systematically measuring the influence of
                service-learning participation on students' academic
                achievement within and across States.
                    ``(F) Reporting annually to the public and the
                Congress.
            ``(3) The Secretary shall reserve not more than 5 percent
        for training and technical assistance for State-level program
        development. The Secretary shall contract with an entity, or
        entities, with a demonstrated record of achievement in
        promoting and disseminating best practices in service
        learning--
                    ``(A) to continually scan the field and build an
                ever-expanding knowledge base of exemplary service-
                learning models;
                    ``(B) to ensure the dissemination, adoption, and
                continuous improvement of these exemplary practices at
                the State and local level; and
                    ``(C) to conduct specific activities, including--
                            ``(i) developing and disseminating
                        exemplary program models that demonstrate how
                        high-quality service-learning programs can be
                        replicated and can become sustainable at the
                        State and local level by advancing the use of
                        service learning as a high-quality
                        instructional pedagogy;
                            ``(ii) providing resources to support
                        effective policy development at the State and
                        local level to advance efforts with respect to
                        high-quality teachers and equitable
                        distribution of quality teachers; and
                            ``(iii) providing exemplary professional
                        development models and technical assistance
                        materials that are available to any interested
                        party.

``SEC. 2504. STATE ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Grants.--A State educational agency desiring a grant under
this part shall submit an application to the Secretary that includes
the following assurances:
            ``(1) All local educational agencies in the State shall
        have access to high-quality professional development and peer
        mentoring through a cascade model, including resources and
        ongoing support to transform instructional practices.
            ``(2) The State educational agency shall generate
        strategies for improvement in the lowest performing areas
        utilizing service-learning policies and practices, National
        School Climate Standards, and exemplary practices for enhancing
        teacher quality.
            ``(3) The State educational agency shall establish State
        policies and support systems that result in effective programs.
            ``(4) The State educational agency shall establish
        effective partnerships to develop systemic implementation of
        service learning in teacher preparation and professional
        development.
    ``(b) Service-Learning Specialist.--Of the funds made available to
a State educational agency under this part, the agency shall reserve 10
percent to support a service-learning specialist who acts as a conduit
of information between the State and local level, provides training and
technical assistance, program improvement, and progress monitoring
    ``(c) State-Level Activities.--Of the funds made available to a
State educational agency under this part, the agency shall reserve 30
percent to support the following:
            ``(1) Collaboration and mentoring to increase consistency
        in implementation across States to ensure high-quality practice
        and sustainability.
            ``(2) Implementation of a statewide cascade professional
        development model.
            ``(3) Onsite support and mentoring of local educational
        agencies.
            ``(4) Dissemination of resources to support quality
        implementation, capacity building, and sustainability of local
        efforts, including through grants or contracts with qualified
        national intermediaries or community-based organizations.

``SEC. 2505. SUBGRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.

    ``(a) In General.--A State educational agency that receives funds
under this part shall use the funds remaining after the application of
section 2504 to make subgrants to local educational agencies that use--
            ``(1) the service-learning model to strengthen the content
        area disciplines and implementation of key educational
        innovations in areas with a high percentage of underperforming
        youth; and
            ``(2) a cascade professional model to bring practice to
        scale.
    ``(b) Competitive Subgrants.--Subgrants shall be made on a
competitive basis with consideration for geographic diversity,
including an equitable distribution between urban and rural local
educational agencies. Priority shall go to local education agencies
with high proportions of students living in poverty or performing below
grade level.
    ``(c) Application.--A local educational agency applying for a
subgrant under this section shall submit an application to the State
educational agency that includes information on how--
            ``(1) funds will be used to participate in the cascade
        professional development model, ensure sustainability, and
        replicate the service-learning model to increase academic
        engagement and performance in content area courses, increase
        civic skills and engagement, and enable students in low
        performing schools to help their own communities by giving them
        the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary to
        participate in high-quality service-learning experiences;
            ``(2) educators will--
                    ``(A) receive support in using instructional
                practices that incorporate the application of academic
                knowledge and skills to address relevant needs in their
                community; and
                    ``(B) identify current data, set measurable goals
                for their instructional activities, and measure impact
                on both students and the community; and
            ``(3) partnerships will be established to create a
        community-wide expectation that service learning is an
        essential part of a high-quality education.

``SEC. 2506. DEFINITION OF CASCADE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL.

    ``In this part, the term `cascade professional development model'
means a professional development model in which specialists are trained
in high-quality practice and delivery of professional development.
These experts then train educators, who are responsible for training,
mentoring, and supporting their peers. This model allows for
replication of effective practice and increased consistency in quality
among all States.

``SEC. 2507. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013 and succeeding
fiscal years.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 2441 the following:

``Part E--Enhancing the Effectiveness of K-12 Education Through Service
                                Learning

``Sec. 2501. Findings.
``Sec. 2502. Purposes.
``Sec. 2503. National activities.
``Sec. 2504. State activities.
``Sec. 2505. Subgrants to local educational agencies.
``Sec. 2506. Definition of cascade professional development model.
``Sec. 2507. Authorization of appropriations.''.

Output:
Engaging Students Through Service Learning Act - Amends title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish an Enhancing the Effectiveness of K-12 Education through Service Learning grant program.

Directs the Secretary of Education to reserve a portion of program funds to: (1) establish a National Center for K-12 Service Learning; and (2) conduct research and evaluation activities, including a study on the effects of academic service-learning on instructional quality and the success of students in low-performing schools; and (3) assist states in developing exemplary service-learning programs.

Requires the Secretary to award grants to states to: (1) support a service-learning specialist who acts as a conduit of information between the state and local level, (2) implement a statewide cascade professional development model and support local service-learning efforts, and (3) award competitive subgrants to local educational agencies.

Requires subgrantees to use: (1) the service-learning model to strengthen the content area disciplines and implement key educational innovations in areas with a high percentage of underperforming youth, and (2) a cascade professional development model to bring practice to scale.

Describes the cascade professional development model as one that trains high-quality professional development specialists who then train educators who are then responsible for training, mentoring, and supporting their peers.