Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on Catastrophic Disaster
Risk and Insurance Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, which struck the
        United States in 2005, caused over $200 billion in total
        economic losses, including insured and uninsured losses.
            (2) Although private sector insurance is currently
        available to spread some catastrophe-related losses throughout
        the Nation and internationally, most experts believe there will
        be significant insurance and reinsurance shortages, resulting
        in dramatic rate increases for consumers and businesses, and
        the unavailability of catastrophe insurance.
            (3) The Federal Government has provided and will continue
        to provide billions of dollars and resources to pay for losses
        from catastrophes, including hurricanes, volcanic eruptions,
        tsunamis, tornados, and other disasters, at huge costs to
        American taxpayers.
            (4) The Federal Government has a critical interest in
        ensuring appropriate and fiscally responsible risk management
        of catastrophes. Mortgages require reliable property insurance,
        and the unavailability of reliable property insurance would
        make most real estate transactions impossible. In addition, the
        public health, safety, and welfare demand that structures
        damaged or destroyed in a catastrophe be reconstructed as soon
        as possible. Therefore, the inability of the private sector
        insurance and reinsurance markets to maintain sufficient
        capacity to enable Americans to obtain property insurance
        coverage in the private sector endangers the national economy
        and the public health, safety, and welfare.
            (5) Multiple proposals have been introduced in the United
        States Congress over the past decade to address catastrophic
        risk insurance, including the creation of a national
        catastrophic reinsurance fund and the revision of the Federal
        tax code to allow insurers to use tax-deferred catastrophe
        funds, yet Congress has failed to act on any of these
        proposals.
            (6) To the extent the United States faces high risks from
        catastrophe exposure, essential technical information on
        financial structures and innovations in the catastrophe
        insurance market is needed.
            (7) The most efficient and effective approach to assessing
        the catastrophe insurance problem in the public policy context
        is to establish a bipartisan commission of experts to study the
        management of catastrophic disaster risk, and to require such
        commission to timely report its recommendations to Congress so
        that Congress can quickly craft a solution to protect the
        American people.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a bipartisan Commission on Catastrophic
Disaster Risk and Insurance (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission'').

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of the following:
            (1) The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
        or a designee of the Director.
            (2) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
        Atmospheric Administration or a designee of the Administrator.
            (3) 12 additional members or their designees of whom one
        shall be--
                    (A) a representative of a consumer group;
                    (B) a representative of a primary insurance
                company;
                    (C) a representative of a reinsurance company;
                    (D) an independent insurance agent with experience
                in writing property and casualty insurance policies;
                    (E) a State insurance regulator;
                    (F) a State emergency operations official;
                    (G) a scientist;
                    (H) a faculty member of an accredited university
                with experience in risk management;
                    (I) a member of nationally recognized think tank
                with experience in risk management;
                    (J) a homebuilder with experience in structural
                engineering;
                    (K) a mortgage lender; and
                    (L) a nationally recognized expert in antitrust
                law.
    (b) Manner of Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--Any member of the Commission described
        under subsection (a)(3) shall be appointed only upon unanimous
        agreement of--
                    (A) the majority leader of the Senate;
                    (B) the minority leader of the Senate;
                    (C) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
                and
                    (D) the minority leader of the House of
                Representatives.
            (2) Consultation.--In making any appointment under
        paragraph (1), each individual described in paragraph (1) shall
        consult with the President.
    (c) Eligibility Limitation.--Except as provided in subsection (a),
no member or officer of the Congress, or other member or officer of the
Executive Branch of the United States Government or any State
government may be appointed to be a member of the Commission.
    (d) Period of Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--Each member of the Commission shall be
        appointed for the life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall not
        affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as
        the original appointment was made.
    (e) Quorum.--
            (1) Majority.--A majority of the members of the Commission
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
        hearings.
            (2) Approval actions.--All recommendations and reports of
        the Commission required by this Act shall be approved only by a
        majority vote of a quorum of the Commission.
    (f) Chairperson.--The majority leader of the Senate, the minority
leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall jointly
select 1 member appointed pursuant to subsection (a) to serve as the
Chairperson of the Commission.
    (g) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its
Chairperson or a majority of its members at any time.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) assess--
                    (A) the condition of the property and casualty
                insurance and reinsurance markets in the aftermath of
                Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005, and the 4
                major hurricanes that struck the United States in 2004;
                and
                    (B) the ongoing exposure of the United States to
                earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and floods;
                and
            (2) recommend and report, as required under section 6, any
        necessary legislative and regulatory changes that will--
                    (A) improve the domestic and international
                financial health and competitiveness of such markets;
                and
                    (B) assure consumers of the--
                            (i) availability of adequate insurance
                        coverage when an insured event occurs; and
                            (ii) best possible range of insurance
                        products at competitive prices.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the appointment of
Commission members under section 4, the Commission shall submit to the
President and the Congress a final report containing a detailed
statement of its findings, together with any recommendations for
legislation or administrative action that the Commission considers
appropriate, in accordance with the requirements of section 5.
    (b) Considerations.--In developing any recommendations under
subsection (a), the Commission shall consider--
            (1) the catastrophic insurance and reinsurance market
        structures and the relevant commercial practices in such
        insurance industries in providing insurance protection to
        different sectors of the American population;
            (2) the constraints and opportunities in implementing a
        catastrophic insurance system that can resolve key obstacles
        currently impeding broader implementation of catastrophe risk
        management and financing with insurance;
            (3) methods to improve risk underwriting practices,
        including--
                    (A) analysis of modalities of risk transfer for
                potential financial losses;
                    (B) assessment of private securitization of
                insurances risks;
                    (C) private-public partnerships to increase
                insurance capacity in constrained markets; and
                    (D) the financial feasibility and sustainability of
                a national catastrophe pool or regional catastrophe
                pools designed to provide adequate insurance coverage
                and increased underwriting capacity to insurers and
                reinsurers;
            (4) approaches for implementing a public insurance scheme
        for low-income communities, in order to promote risk reduction
        and explicit insurance coverage in such communities;
            (5) methods to strengthen insurance regulatory requirements
        and supervision of such requirements, including solvency for
        catastrophic risk reserves;
            (6) methods to promote public insurance policies linked to
        programs for loss reduction in the uninsured sectors of the
        American population;
            (7) methods to strengthen the risk assessment and
        enforcement of structural mitigation and vulnerability
        reduction measures, such as zoning and building code
        compliance;
            (8) the appropriate role for the Federal Government in
        stabilizing the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance
        markets, with an analysis--
                    (A) of options such as--
                            (i) a reinsurance mechanism;
                            (ii) the modernization of Federal taxation
                        policies; and
                            (iii) an ``insurance of last resort''
                        mechanism; and
                    (B) how to fund such options; and
            (9) the merits of the 3 principle legislative proposals
        currently pending in the 109th Congress, namely:
                    (A) The creation of a Federal catastrophe fund to
                act as a backup to State catastrophe funds;
                    (B) Tax-deferred catastrophe accounts for insurers;
                and
                    (C) Tax-free catastrophe accounts for
                policyholders.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission or, at the direction of the
Commission, any subcommittee or member of the Commission, may, for the
purpose of carrying out this Act--
            (1) hold such public hearings in such cities and countries,
        sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony,
        receive such evidence, and administer such oaths or
        affirmations as the Commission or such subcommittee or member
        considers advisable; and
            (2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and
        testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books,
        records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes,
        and materials as the Commission or such subcommittee or member
        considers advisable.
    (b) Issuance and Enforcement of Subpoenas.--
            (1) Issuance.--Subpoenas issued under subsection (a) shall
        bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and
        shall be served by any person or class of persons designated by
        the Chairperson for that purpose.
            (2) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or failure to
        obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a), the United States
        district court for the judicial district in which the
        subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue
        an order requiring such person to appear at any designated
        place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence.
        Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by
        the court as a contempt of that court.
            (3) Confidentiality.--
                    (A) In general.--Information obtained under a
                subpoena issued under subsection (a) which is deemed
                confidential, or with reference to which a request for
                confidential treatment is made by the person furnishing
                such information--
                            (i) shall be exempt from disclosure under
                        section 552 of title 5, United States Code; and
                            (ii) shall not be published or disclosed
                        unless the Commission determines that the
                        withholding of such information is contrary to
                        the interest of the United States.
                    (B) Exception.--The requirements of subparagraph
                (A) shall not apply to the publication or disclosure of
                any data aggregated in a manner that ensures protection
                of the identity of the person furnishing such data.
    (c) Authority of Members or Agents of the Commission.--Any member
or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take
any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
    (d) Obtaining Official Data.--
            (1) Authority.--Notwithstanding any provision of section
        552a of title 5, United States Code, the Commission may secure
        directly from any department or agency of the United States any
        information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out the
        purposes of this Act.
            (2) Procedure.--Upon request of the Chairperson of the
        Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish
        the information requested to the Commission.
    (e) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, any administrative support
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities
under this Act.
    (g) Gifts.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may accept, use, and
        dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
            (2) Regulations.--The Commission shall adopt internal
        regulations governing the receipt of gifts or donations of
        services or property similar to those described in part 2601 of
        title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 8. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate
of basic pay prescribed for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section
5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel
time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the
duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without
compensation in addition to that received for their services as
officers or employees of the United States.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the
Commission.
    (c) Subcommittees.--The Commission may establish subcommittees and
appoint persons to such subcommittees as the Commission considers
appropriate.
    (d) Staff.--Subject to such policies as the Commission may
prescribe, the Chairperson of the Commission may appoint and fix the
pay of such additional personnel as the Chairperson considers
appropriate to carry out the duties of the Commission.
    (e) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--Subcommittee
members and staff of the Commission may be--
            (1) appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5,
        United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
        service; and
            (2) paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
        subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
        classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that an
        individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the
        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for GS-18 of the General
        Schedule under section 5332 of that title.
    (f) Experts and Consultants.--In carrying out its objectives, the
Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services of
consultants and experts under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States
Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for GS-18 of the General
Schedule under section 5332 of that title.
    (g) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, any Federal Government employee may be
detailed to the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the
Commission--
            (1) on a reimbursable basis; and
            (2) such detail shall be without interruption or loss of
        civil service status or privilege.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the
Commission submits its report under section 6.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out the
purposes of this Act.

Output: Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance Act of 2006 - Establishes a bipartisan Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance to assess: (1) the condition of the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance markets in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005, and the four major hurricanes that struck the United States in 2004; (2) the ongoing exposure of the United States to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and floods; and (3) recommend and report legislative and regulatory changes that will improve the domestic and international financial health and competitiveness of such markets.


Input:
SECTION 1. NATIONAL STANDARDS TO PREVENT DISTRACTED DRIVING.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 167. National standards to prevent distracted driving
    ``(a) Penalty.--On October 1, 2011, and October 1 of each fiscal
year thereafter, if a State does not meet the requirement of subsection
(b), the Secretary shall withhold from amounts apportioned to the State
on that date under each of sections 104(b)(1), 104(b)(3), and 104(b)(4)
an amount equal to the amount specified in subsection (c).
    ``(b) Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State meets the requirement of this
        subsection if the State has enacted and is enforcing a law that
        prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle in the State
        while the person is using a wireless communications device to
        compose, read, or send an electronic message, when the vehicle
        is in motion or part of traffic.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) does not apply if a
        wireless communications device is used--
                    ``(A) solely in a voice-activated or other hands-
                free mode;
                    ``(B) for making a cellular phone call;
                    ``(C) for obtaining emergency assistance to--
                            ``(i) report a traffic accident, medical
                        emergency, or serious traffic hazard; or
                            ``(ii) prevent a crime about to be
                        committed;
                    ``(D) in the reasonable belief that a person's life
                or safety is in immediate danger;
                    ``(E) in an authorized emergency vehicle while in
                the performance of official duties;
                    ``(F) when a motor vehicle is stopped and the
                driver has the motor vehicle transmission in neutral or
                park; and
                    ``(G) in other circumstances, as identified by the
                Secretary by regulation, in which use of a wireless
                communications device does not adversely affect safety.
    ``(c) Amount To Be Withheld.--If a State is subject to a penalty
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall withhold for a fiscal year
from the apportionments of the State described in subsection (a) an
amount equal to a percentage of the funds apportioned to the State
under each of sections 104(b)(1), 104(b)(3), and 104(b)(4) for fiscal
year 2009. The percentage shall be as follows:
            ``(1) For fiscal year 2012, 2 percent.
            ``(2) For fiscal year 2013, 4 percent.
            ``(3) For fiscal year 2014, 6 percent.
            ``(4) For fiscal year 2015, and each fiscal year
        thereafter, 8 percent.
    ``(d) Effect of Compliance and Noncompliance.--If, within 4 years
from the date that an apportionment for a State is withheld in
accordance with this section, the Secretary determines that the State
meets the requirement of subsection (b), the apportionment of the State
shall be increased by an amount equal to the amount withheld. If, at
the end of such 4-year period, a State does not meet the requirement of
subsection (b) any amounts so withheld from the State shall lapse.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
            ``(1) Electronic message.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `electronic message'
                means a self-contained piece of digital communication
                that is designed or intended to be transmitted between
                physical devices.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term includes e-mail, a text
                message, an instant message, a command or request to
                access a World Wide Web page, or other data that uses a
                commonly recognized electronic communications protocol.
                An electronic message does not include voice or other
                data transmitted as a result of making a phone call, or
                data transmitted automatically by a wireless
                communications device without direct initiation by a
                person.
            ``(2) Wireless communications device.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `wireless
                communications device' means--
                            ``(i) a cellular phone; or
                            ``(ii) a portable electronic device that is
                        capable of receiving and transmitting data,
                        including to text messages and e-mail, without
                        an access line for service.
                    ``(B) Exclusion.--The term does not include a
                device that is permanently affixed to the vehicle,
                including a global positioning system or navigation
                system.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended
by adding at the end the following:

``167. National standards to prevent distracted driving.''.

Output: Requires the Secretary of Transportation to withhold specified graduated percentages of a state's apportionment of certain federal-aid highway program funds for FY2012-FY2015, and thereafter, if the state has not enacted or is not enforcing a law that prohibits, with specified exceptions, a person from using a wireless communications device to compose, read, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle that is in motion or part of traffic.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Illegal Reentry Act'' or as
``Kate's Law''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR REENTRY OF REMOVED ALIEN.

    Section 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1326)
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
        (d) and (e), respectively;
            (2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the
        following:
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), any alien
who--
            ``(1) has been denied admission, excluded, deported, or
        removed or has departed the United States while an order of
        exclusion, deportation, or removal is outstanding; and
            ``(2) thereafter enters, attempts to enter, or is at any
        time found in, the United States, unless--
                    ``(A) prior to the alien's reembarkation at a place
                outside the United States or the alien's application
                for admission from foreign contiguous territory, the
                Secretary of Homeland Security has expressly consented
                to such alien's reapplying for admission; or
                    ``(B) with respect to an alien previously denied
                admission and removed, such alien shall establish that
                the alien was not required to obtain such advance
                consent under this Act or any prior Act;
        shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or
        imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
    ``(b) Criminal Penalties for Reentry of Certain Removed Aliens.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the penalty provided in
        subsection (a), and except as provided in subsection (c), an
        alien described in subsection (a)--
                    ``(A) who was convicted before such removal or
                departure of three or more misdemeanors involving
                drugs, crimes against the person, or both, or a felony
                (other than an aggravated felony), shall be fined under
                title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than
                10 years, or both;
                    ``(B) who has been excluded from the United States
                pursuant to section 235(c) because the alien was
                excludable under section 212(a)(3)(B) or who has been
                removed from the United States pursuant to the
                provisions of title V, and who thereafter, without the
                permission of the Secretary of Homeland Security,
                enters the United States, or attempts to do so, shall
                be fined under title 18, United States Code, and
                imprisoned for a period of 10 years, which sentence
                shall not run concurrently with any other sentence;
                    ``(C) who was removed from the United States
                pursuant to section 241(a)(4)(B) who thereafter,
                without the permission of the Secretary of Homeland
                Security, enters, attempts to enter, or is at any time
                found in, the United States (unless the Secretary of
                Homeland Security has expressly consented to such
                alien's reentry) shall be fined under title 18, United
                States Code, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or
                both; and
                    ``(D) who has been denied admission, excluded,
                deported, or removed 3 or more times and thereafter
                enters, attempts to enter, crosses the border to,
                attempts to cross the border to, or is at any time
                found in the United States, shall be fined under title
                18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 10
                years, or both.
            ``(2) Removal defined.--In this subsection and subsection
        (c), the term `removal' includes any agreement in which an
        alien stipulates to removal during (or not during) a criminal
        trial under either Federal or State law.
    ``(c) Mandatory Minimum Criminal Penalty for Reentry of Certain
Removed Aliens.--Notwithstanding the penalties provided in subsections
(a) and (b), an alien described in subsection (a)--
            ``(1) who was convicted before such removal or departure of
        an aggravated felony; or
            ``(2) who was convicted at least two times before such
        removal or departure of illegal reentry under this section;
shall be imprisoned not less than five years and not more than 20
years, and may, in addition, be fined under title 18, United States
Code.''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``section 242(h)(2)'' and inserting
                ``section 241(a)(4)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Attorney General'' and inserting
                ``Secretary of Homeland Security''.

Output: Stop Illegal Reentry Act or Kate's Law This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase from two years to five years the maximum prison term for an alien who reenters after being denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed.  It establishes:   a 10-year maximum prison term for an alien who reenters after being denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed on 3 or more prior occasions; and  a 5-year mandatory minimum prison term for an alien who reenters after being removed following a conviction for an aggravated felony or following 2 or more prior convictions for illegal reentry.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``GI Bill Processing Improvement Act
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF THE VETERANS BENEFITS
              ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Processing of Certain Educational Assistance Claims.--The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the maximum extent possible,
make such changes and improvements to the information technology system
of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to ensure that--
            (1) to the maximum extent possible, all original and
        supplemental claims for educational assistance under chapter 33
        of title 38, United States Code, are adjudicated
        electronically; and
            (2) rules-based processing is used to make decisions with
        respect to such claims with little human intervention.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to Congress a report on the changes made pursuant to the requirements
of subsection (a).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $30,000,000 to carry
out this section during fiscal years 2015 and 2016.

SEC. 3. APPROVAL OF COURSES OF EDUCATION PROVIDED BY PUBLIC
              INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR PURPOSES OF ALL-
              VOLUNTEER FORCE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND POST-
              9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE CONDITIONAL ON IN-STATE
              TUITION RATE FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Extension of Effective Date.--Section 702(b) of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) is
amended by striking ``July 1, 2015'' and inserting ``July 1, 2016''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 3679(c)(2)(B) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``or 3319'' and all that follows
and inserting ``of this title or to whom educational assistance is
transferred under section 3319 of this title''.

SEC. 4. RECODIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTION PROCESS FOR POST-9/
              11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3326. Election to receive educational assistance
    ``(a) Individuals Eligible To Elect Participation in Post-9/11
Educational Assistance.--An individual may elect to receive educational
assistance under this chapter if such individual--
            ``(1) as of August 1, 2009--
                    ``(A) is entitled to basic educational assistance
                under chapter 30 of the title and has used, but retains
                unused, entitlement under that chapter;
                    ``(B) is entitled to educational assistance under
                chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10 and has used,
                but retains unused, entitlement under the applicable
                chapter;
                    ``(C) is entitled to basic educational assistance
                under chapter 30 of this title but has not used any
                entitlement under that chapter;
                    ``(D) is entitled to educational assistance under
                chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10 but has not used
                any entitlement under such chapter;
                    ``(E) is a member of the Armed Forces who is
                eligible for receipt of basic educational assistance
                under chapter 30 this title and is making contributions
                toward such assistance under section 3011(b) or 3012(c)
                of this title; or
                    ``(F) is a member of the Armed Forces who is not
                entitled to basic educational assistance under chapter
                30 of this title by reason of an election under section
                3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1) of this title; and
            ``(2) as of the date of the individual's election under
        this paragraph, meets the requirements for entitlement to
        educational assistance under this chapter.
    ``(b) Cessation of Contributions Toward GI Bill.--Effective as of
the first month beginning on or after the date of an election under
subsection (a) of an individual described by paragraph (1)(E) of that
subsection, the obligation of the individual to make contributions
under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as applicable, shall
cease, and the requirements of such section shall be deemed to be no
longer applicable to the individual.
    ``(c) Revocation of Remaining Transferred Entitlement.--
            ``(1) Election to revoke.--If, on the date an individual
        described in paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(C) of subsection (a) makes
        an election under that subsection, a transfer of the
        entitlement of the individual to basic educational assistance
        under section 3020 of this title is in effect and a number of
        months of the entitlement so transferred remain unutilized, the
        individual may elect to revoke all or a portion of the
        entitlement so transferred that remains unutilized.
            ``(2) Availability of revoked entitlement.--Any entitlement
        revoked by an individual under this paragraph shall no longer
        be available to the dependent to whom transferred, but shall be
        available to the individual instead for educational assistance
        under chapter 33 of this title in accordance with the
        provisions of this section.
            ``(3) Availability of unrevoked entitlement.--Any
        entitlement described in paragraph (1) that is not revoked by
        an individual in accordance with that paragraph shall remain
        available to the dependent or dependents concerned in
        accordance with the current transfer of such entitlement under
        section 3020 of this title.
    ``(d) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and except as
        provided in subsection (e), an individual making an election
        under subsection (a) shall be entitled to educational
        assistance under this chapter in accordance with the provisions
        of this chapter, instead of basic educational assistance under
        chapter 30 this title, or educational assistance under chapter
        107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable.
            ``(2) Limitation on entitlement for certain individuals.--
        In the case of an individual making an election under
        subsection (a) who is described by paragraph (1)(A) of that
        subsection, the number of months of entitlement of the
        individual to educational assistance under this chapter 33
        shall be the number of months equal to--
                    ``(A) the number of months of unused entitlement of
                the individual under chapter 30 of this title, as of
                the date of the election, plus
                    ``(B) the number of months, if any, of entitlement
                revoked by the individual under subsection (c)(1).
    ``(e) Continuing Entitlement to Educational Assistance Not
Available Under 9/11 Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the event educational assistance to
        which an individual making an election under subsection (a)
        would be entitled under chapter 30 of this title, or chapter
        107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable, is not
        authorized to be available to the individual under the
        provisions of this chapter the individual shall remain entitled
        to such educational assistance in accordance with the
        provisions of the applicable chapter.
            ``(2) Charge for use of entitlement.--The utilization by an
        individual of entitlement under paragraph (1) shall be
        chargeable against the entitlement of the individual to
        educational assistance under this chapter at the rate of one
        month of entitlement under this chapter for each month of
        entitlement utilized by the individual under paragraph (1) (as
        determined as if such entitlement were utilized under the
        provisions of chapter 30 of this title, or chapter 107, 1606,
        or 1607 of title 10, as applicable).
    ``(f) Additional Post-9/11 Assistance for Members Having Made
Contributions Toward GI Bill.--
            ``(1) Additional assistance.--In the case of an individual
        making an election under subsection (a) who is described by
        subparagraph (A), (C), or (E) of paragraph (1) of that
        subsection, the amount of educational assistance payable to the
        individual under this chapter 33 as a monthly stipend payable
        under paragraph (1)(B) of section 3313(c) of this title, or
        under paragraphs (2) through (7) of that section (as
        applicable), shall be the amount otherwise payable as a monthly
        stipend under the applicable paragraph increased by the amount
        equal to--
                    ``(A) the total amount of contributions toward
                basic educational assistance made by the individual
                under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as of
                the date of the election, multiplied by
                    ``(B) the fraction--
                            ``(i) the numerator of which is--
                                    ``(I) the number of months of
                                entitlement to basic educational
                                assistance under chapter 30 of this
                                title remaining to the individual at
                                the time of the election; plus
                                    ``(II) the number of months, if
                                any, of entitlement under such chapter
                                30 revoked by the individual under
                                subsection (c)(1); and
                            ``(ii) the denominator of which is 36
                        months.
            ``(2) Months of remaining entitlement for certain
        individuals.--In the case of an individual covered by paragraph
        (1) who is described by subsection (a)(1)(E), the number of
        months of entitlement to basic educational assistance remaining
        to the individual for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i)(II) shall
        be 36 months.
            ``(3) Timing of payment.--The amount payable with respect
        to an individual under paragraph (1) shall be paid to the
        individual together with the last payment of the monthly
        stipend payable to the individual under paragraph (1)(B) of
        section 3313(c) of this title, or under subsections (b) through
        (g) of that section (as applicable), before the exhaustion of
        the individual's entitlement to educational assistance under
        this chapter.
    ``(g) Continuing Entitlement to Additional Assistance for Critical
Skills or Speciality and Additional Service.--An individual making an
election under subsection (a)(1) who, at the time of the election, is
entitled to increased educational assistance under section 3015(d) of
this title, or section 16131(i) of title 10, or supplemental
educational assistance under subchapter III of chapter 30 of this
title, shall remain entitled to such increased educational assistance
or supplemental educational assistance in the utilization of
entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter, in an amount
equal to the quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, equivalent of
the monthly amount of such increased educational assistance or
supplemental educational assistance payable with respect to the
individual at the time of the election.
    ``(h) Alternative Election by Secretary.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of an individual who, on or
        after January 1, 2016, submits to the Secretary an election
        under this section that the Secretary determines is clearly
        against the interests of the individual, the Secretary may make
        an alternative election on behalf of the individual that the
        Secretary determines is in the best interests of the
        individual.
            ``(2) Notice.--If the Secretary makes an election on behalf
        of an individual under this subsection, the Secretary shall
        notify the individual by not later than seven days after making
        such election and shall provide the individual with a 30-day
        period, beginning on the date of the individual's receipt of
        such notice, during which the individual may modify or revoke
        the election made by the Secretary on the individual's behalf.
        The Secretary shall include, as part of such notice, a clear
        statement of why the alternative election made by the Secretary
        is in the best interests of the individual as compared to the
        election submitted by the individual. The Secretary shall
        provide the notice required under this paragraph by electronic
        means whenever possible.
    ``(i) Irrevocability of Elections.--An election under subsection
(a) or (c)(1) is irrevocable.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``3326. Election to receive educational assistance.''.
    (c) Conforming Repeal.--Subsection (c) of section 5003 of the Post-
9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-252;
38 U.S.C. 3301 note) is hereby repealed.

SEC. 5. CENTRALIZED REPORTING OF VETERAN ENROLLMENT BY CERTAIN GROUPS,
              DISTRICTS, AND CONSORTIUMS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3684(a) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``32, 33,'' after
        ``31,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `educational
institution' may include a group, district, or consortium of separately
accredited educational institutions located in the same State that are
organized in a manner that facilitates the centralized reporting of the
enrollments in such group, district, or consortium of institutions.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to reports submitted on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. PROVISION OF INFORMATION REGARDING VETERAN ENTITLEMENT TO
              EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 36 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3699. Provision of certain information to educational
              institutions
    ``For each veteran or other individual pursuing a course of
education that has been approved under this chapter using educational
assistance to which the veteran or other individual is entitled under
chapter 30, 32, 33, or 35 of this title, the Secretary shall make
available to the educational institution offering the course
information about the amount of such educational assistance to which
the veteran or other individual is entitled. Such information shall be
provided to such educational institution through an Internet website
and shall be regularly updated to reflect any amounts used by the
veteran or other individual.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
3698 the following new item:

``3699. Provision of certain information to educational
                            institutions.''.

Output: GI Bill Processing Improvement Act of 2015 Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to alter the information technology system of the Veterans Benefits Administration to ensure that: (1) all claims for post-9/11 educational assistance are electronically adjudicated, to the maximum extent possible; and (2) rule-based processing is used to decide such claims with little human intervention. Changes from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016, the effective date of the requirement that the Secretary disapprove, for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force and the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance programs, courses of education provided by a public educational institution of higher education that charges veterans living in the state higher tuition and fees than it charges in-state residents, regardless of the veterans' state of residence. Allows individuals to elect to convert their educational assistance to the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program if, as of August 1, 2009, they meet specified conditions with respect to their entitlements and elections under the all-volunteer force educational assistance program or certain other educational programs for professional military, selected reserve, or reserve component members. Conditions such post-9/11 program eligibility on the individual meeting the requirements for the post-9/11 program as of the date of election.   Sets forth transitional rules with respect to the transfer or revocation of entitlements from a previous assistance program after an election to convert to the post-9/11 program. Requires certain assistance to remain available to individuals under their previous program if it is not available under the post-9/11 program. Authorizes the Secretary, if an individual submits an election that the Secretary determines is against the interests of the individual, to make an alternative election on the individual's behalf. Allows such individual, during a specified period, to modify or revoke the Secretary's alternative selection.  Requires individuals and educational institutions participating in the post-Vietnam era and post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance programs, in addition to those participating in the VA's other educational assistance programs, to report to the Secretary such enrollment and any updates on interruption or termination of the education (thereby making the enrollment reporting requirements for the post-Vietnam and post-9/11 programs consistent with other veterans' educational programs). Defines "educational institution" to permit the inclusion of groups, districts, or consortiums of separately accredited educational institutions in the same state that are organized in a manner facilitating the centralized reporting of enrollments. Directs the Secretary to make available to educational institutions, through an Internet website, information on the amount of educational assistance to which their students are entitled under the all-volunteer force, post-Vietnam era, post-9/11, and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance programs.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Close the Revolving Door Act of
2010''.

SEC. 2. LIFETIME BAN ON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM LOBBYING.

    (a) In General.--Section 207(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) Members of congress.--Any person who is a Senator, a
        Member of the House of Representatives or an elected officer of
        the Senate or the House of Representatives and who after that
        person leaves office, knowingly makes, with the intent to
        influence, any communication to or appearance before any
        Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress or any
        employee of any other legislative office of the Congress, on
        behalf of any other person (except the United States) in
        connection with any matter on which such former Senator,
        Member, or elected official seeks action by a Member, officer,
        or employee of either House of Congress, in his or her official
        capacity, shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this
        title.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 207(e)(2) of title 18, United
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the caption, by striking ``Officers and staff'' and
        inserting ``Staff''; and
            (2) by striking ``an elected officer of the Senate, or''.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.

    Paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5)(A), and (6)(A) of section 207(e) of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``1 year'' and
inserting ``6 years''.

SEC. 4. IMPROVED REPORTING OF LOBBYISTS ACTIVITIES.

    Section 6 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is
amended by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(c) Joint Web Site.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Senate and the
        Clerk of the House of Representatives shall maintain a joint
        lobbyist disclosure Internet database for information required
        to be publicly disclosed under this Act which shall be an
        easily searchable Web site called lobbyists.gov with a stated
        goal of simplicity of usage.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection
        $100,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.

SEC. 5. LOBBYIST REVOLVING DOOR TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Any person who is a registered lobbyist or an
agent of a foreign principal may not within 6 years after that person
leaves such position be hired by a Member or committee of either House
of Congress with whom the registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign
principal has had substantial lobbying contact.
    (b) Waiver.--This section may be waived in the Senate or the House
of Representatives by the Committee on Ethics or the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct based on a compelling national need.
    (c) Substantial Lobbying Contact.--For purposes of this section, in
determining whether a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign
principal has had substantial lobbying contact within the applicable
period of time, the Member or committee of either House of Congress
shall take into consideration whether the individual's lobbying
contacts have pertained to pending legislative business, or related to
solicitation of an earmark or other Federal funding, particularly if
such contacts included the coordination of meetings with the Member or
staff, involved presentations to staff, or participation in fundraising
exceeding the mere giving of a personal contribution. Simple social
contacts with the Member or committee of either House of Congress and
staff, shall not by themselves constitute substantial lobbying
contacts.

SEC. 6. PAYMENT FOR CHARTER FLIGHTS BY CAMPAIGN FUNDS AND DISCLOSURE OF
              CERTAIN AIR TRAVEL WITH A LOBBYIST BY A SENATOR.

    (a) Clarification of Rules on Use of Campaign Funds for Flights on
Commercial Aircraft.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 313(c) of the
        Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 439a(c)) is
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``a candidate for election for
                Federal office (other than a candidate who is subject
                to paragraph (2)), or any authorized committee of such
                a candidate, may not make any expenditure for a flight
                on an aircraft'' in the matter preceding subparagraph
                (A) and inserting ``in the case of a candidate for
                election to Federal office (other than a candidate who
                is subject to paragraph (2)), no political committee
                may make any expenditure for travel by such a
                candidate, or for travel on behalf of such a candidate,
                by means of a flight on an aircraft (regardless of
                whether such travel is in connection with an election
                for Federal office)'', and
                    (B) by striking ``candidate, the authorized
                committee, or other'' in subparagraph (B).
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection
        shall apply to flights taken on or after the date of the
        enactment of this Act.
    (b) Disclosure.--Paragraph 2(e)(1) of rule XXXV of the Standing
Rules of the Senate is amended--
            (1) in subclause (C), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) by inserting after subclause (D) the following:
            ``(E) the source will submit a list of the names of any
        registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal on the
        trip not later than 30 days after the trip; and''.

SEC. 7. BAN ON LOBBYISTS MAKING CASH CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Section 321 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441g) is amended by--
            (1) by striking ``No person'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no
person''; and
            (2) inserting at the end the following:
    ``(b) Lobbyist.--
            ``(1) Total ban.--If the person described in subsection (a)
        is a lobbyist, the amount referred to in subsection (a) shall
        be zero.
            ``(2) Lobbyist.--In this subsection, the term `lobbyist'
        shall have the same meaning given such term in section 3(10) of
        the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.''.

SEC. 8. REPORTING BY SUBSTANTIAL LOBBYING ENTITIES.

    The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 6 the following:

``SEC. 6A. REPORTING BY SUBSTANTIAL LOBBYING ENTITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--A substantial lobbying entity shall file on an
annual basis with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the
Secretary of the United States Senate a list of any employee,
individual under contract, or individual who provides paid consulting
services who is--
            ``(1) a former United States Senator or a former Member of
        the United States House of Representatives; or
            ``(2) a former congressional staff person who--
                    ``(A) made at least $100,000 in any 1 year as a
                congressional staff person;
                    ``(B) worked for a total of 4 years or more as a
                congressional staff person; or
                    ``(C) had a job title at any time while employed as
                a congressional staff person that contained any of the
                following terms: `Chief of Staff', `Legislative
                Director', `Staff Director', `Counsel', `Professional
                Staff Member', `Communications Director', or `Press
                Secretary'.
    ``(b) Contents of Filing.--The filing required by this section
shall contain a brief job description of each such employee, individual
under contract, or individual who provides paid consulting services,
and an explanation of their work experience under subsection (a) that
requires this filing.
    ``(c) Improved Reporting of Substantial Lobbying Entities.--The
Joint Web site being maintained by the Secretary of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House of Representatives, known as lobbyists.gov, shall
include an easily searchable database entitled `Substantial Lobbying
Entities' that includes qualifying employees, individuals under
contract, or individuals who provide paid consulting services, under
subsection (a).
    ``(d) Law Enforcement Oversight.--The Clerk of the House of
Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate shall provide a copy of
the filings of substantial lobbying entities to the District of
Columbia United States Attorney, to allow the District of Columbia
United States Attorney to determine whether any such entities are
underreporting the Federal lobbying activities of its employees,
individuals under contract, or individuals who provide paid consulting
services.
    ``(e) Substantial Lobbying Entity.--In this section, the term
`substantial lobbying entity' means an incorporated entity that employs
more than 3 federally registered lobbyists during a filing period.''.

SEC. 9. ENHANCED PENALTIES.

    Section 7(a) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.
1606(a)) is amended by striking ``$200,000'' and inserting
``$500,000''.

Output:
Close the Revolving Door Act of 2010 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a permanent ban (currently, a two-year ban) on lobbying contacts by any former Member of Congress or elected officer of the Senate or the House of Representatives with any Member, officer, or employee of either house of Congress or any employee of any other legislative office. Provides for a six-year lobbying ban (currently, a one-year ban) on former congressional staff.

Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to: (1) require the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives to maintain a joint Internet website for the disclosure of lobbying activity called "lobbyist.gov;" (2) require a substantial lobbying entity (defined as an incorporated entity that employs more than three federally-registered lobbyists during a filing period) to file annually with the Secretary and Clerk a list of any employee or contractor who is a former Member of Congress or congressional staff person who made at least $100,000 in any one year, who worked for a total of four years or more in that capacity, or who had a job title that contained the terms Chief of Staff, Legislative or Staff Director, Counsel, Professional Staff Member, Communications Director, or Press Secretary; (3) require the Secretary and the Clerk to provide a copy of the filings of substantial lobbying entities to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; and (4) increase from $200,000 to $500,000 the civil penalty for intentional failure to correct a defective filing of lobbying activity.

Prohibits any person who is a registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal, within six years after leaving such position, from being hired by a Member or committee of either house of Congress with whom that lobbyist or agent has had substantial lobbying contact, subject to a waiver based on a compelling national need.

Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit: (1) a political committee from making any expenditure or reimbursement for noncommercial air travel by a candidate for federal office; and (2) a lobbyist from making any contribution of U.S. or foreign currency to or for the benefit of any candidate for federal office.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hydroelectric Licensing Process
Improvement Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) hydroelectric power is an irreplaceable source of
        clean, economic, renewable energy with the unique capability of
        supporting reliable electric service while maintaining
        environmental quality;
            (2) hydroelectric power is the leading renewable energy
        resource of the United States;
            (3) hydroelectric power projects provide multiple benefits
        to the United States, including recreation, irrigation, flood
        control, water supply, and fish and wildlife benefits;
            (4) in the next 15 years, the bulk of all non-Federal
        hydroelectric power capacity in the United States is due to be
        relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and
            (5) the process of licensing hydroelectric projects by the
        Commission--
                    (A) has become inefficient, because Federal
                agencies that participate in the process are not
                required to submit their mandatory and recommended
                conditions to the license by a time certain; and
                    (B) does not produce optimal decisions, because the
                agencies are not required to consider a broad range of
                factors in determining those conditions.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to improve the hydroelectric licensing
process by--
            (1) authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to
        impose deadlines by which Federal agencies must submit proposed
        mandatory and recommended conditions to a license;
            (2) requiring the agencies to consider a broad range of
        factors in determining those conditions and to document the
        consideration of those factors; and
            (3) making other improvements to the licensing process.

SEC. 4. PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION BY FEDERAL AGENCIES OF CONDITIONS TO
              LICENSES.

    (a) In General.--Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 32. PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION BY FEDERAL AGENCIES OF CONDITIONS
              TO LICENSES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Condition.--The term `condition' means--
                    ``(A) a condition to a license for a project on a
                Federal reservation determined by a consulting agency
                for the purpose of the first proviso of section 4(e);
                and
                    ``(B) a prescription relating to the construction,
                maintenance, or operation of a fishway determined by a
                consulting agency for the purpose of the first sentence
                of section 18.
            ``(2) Consulting agency.--The term `consulting agency'
        means--
                    ``(A) in relation to a condition described in
                paragraph (1)(A), the Federal agency with
                administrative jurisdiction over the reservation; and
                    ``(B) in relation to a condition described in
                paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary of the Interior or the
                Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate.
    ``(b) Factors To Be Considered.--
            ``(1) In general.--In determining a condition, a consulting
        agency shall take into consideration--
                    ``(A) the impacts of the condition on--
                            ``(i) economic and power values;
                            ``(ii) electric generation capacity and
                        system reliability;
                            ``(iii) air quality; and
                            ``(iv) drinking, flood control, irrigation,
                        navigation, or recreation water supply; and
                    ``(B) compatibility with other conditions to be
                included in the license, including mandatory conditions
                of other agencies, when available.
            ``(2) Documentation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the course of the
                consideration of factors under paragraph (1) and before
                any review under subsection (e), a consulting agency
                shall create written documentation detailing, among
                other pertinent matters, all proposals made, comments
                received, facts considered, and analyses made regarding
                each of those factors sufficient to demonstrate that
                each of the factors was given full consideration in
                determining the condition to be submitted to the
                Commission.
                    ``(B) Submission to the commission.--A consulting
                agency shall include the documentation under
                subparagraph (A) in its submission of a condition to
                the Commission.
    ``(c) Scientific Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each condition determined by a
        consulting agency shall be subjected to appropriately
        substantiated scientific review.
            ``(2) Data.--For the purpose of paragraph (1), a condition
        shall be considered to have been subjected to appropriately
        substantiated scientific review if the review--
                    ``(A) was based on current empirical data or field-
                tested data; and
                    ``(B) was subjected to peer review.
    ``(d) Relationship to Impacts on Federal Reservation.--In the case
of a condition for the purpose of the first proviso of section 4(e),
each condition determined by a consulting agency shall be directly and
reasonably related to the impacts of the project within the Federal
reservation.
    ``(e) Administrative Review.--
            ``(1) Opportunity for review.--Before submitting to the
        Commission a proposed condition, and before a license applicant
        files a license application with the Commission, a consulting
        agency shall provide a license applicant an opportunity to
        obtain expedited review before an administrative law judge or
        other independent reviewing body of--
                    ``(A) the reasonableness of the condition in light
                of the effect that implementation of the condition will
                have on the energy and economic values of a project;
                and
                    ``(B) compliance by the consulting agency with the
                requirements of this section, including the requirement
                to consider the factors described in subsection (b)(1).
            ``(2) Completion of review.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A review under paragraph (1)
                shall be completed not more than 180 days after the
                license applicant notifies the consulting agency of the
                request for review.
                    ``(B) Failure to make timely completion of
                review.--If a consulting agency does not provide a
                license applicant a timely opportunity to review a
                proposed condition, the Commission may treat a
                condition submitted by the consulting agency as a
                recommendation is treated under section 10(j).
            ``(3) Remand.--If the administrative law judge or reviewing
        body finds that a proposed condition is unreasonable or that
        the consulting agency failed to comply with any of the
        requirements of this section, the administrative law judge or
        reviewing body shall--
                    ``(A) render a decision that--
                            ``(i) explains the reasons for a finding
                        that the condition is unreasonable and may make
                        recommendations that the administrative law
                        judge or reviewing body may have for the
                        formulation of a condition that would not be
                        found unreasonable; or
                            ``(ii) explains the reasons for a finding
                        that a requirement was not met and may describe
                        any action that the consulting agency should
                        take to meet the requirement; and
                    ``(B) remand the matter to the consulting agency
                for further action.
            ``(4) Submission to the commission.--Following
        administrative review under this subsection, a consulting
        agency shall--
                    ``(A) take such action as the consulting agency
                determines to be appropriate to formulate a condition
                that is not unreasonable or to comply with the
                requirements of this section; and
                    ``(B) include with its submission to the Commission
                of a proposed condition--
                            ``(i) the record on administrative review;
                        and
                            ``(ii) documentation of any action taken
                        following administrative review.
    ``(f) Deadline for Submission of Conditions.--
            ``(1) In general.--After an applicant files with the
        Commission an application for a license, the Commission may set
        a date by which a consulting agency shall file with the
        Commission a recommended or established condition.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the
        date for submission shall be not greater than 1 year after the
        date on which the Commission gives the consulting agency notice
        that a license application is ready for environmental review.
            ``(3) Default.--If a consulting agency does not file a
        recommended or established condition to a license by the date
        set under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) the consulting agency shall not thereafter
                have authority to recommend or establish a condition to
                the license; and
                    ``(B) the Commission may, but shall not be required
                to, recommend or establish an appropriate condition to
                the license that--
                            ``(i) furthers the interest sought to be
                        protected by the provision of law that
                        authorizes the consulting agency to propose or
                        establish a condition to the license; and
                            ``(ii) conforms to the requirements of this
                        Act.
            ``(4) Extension.--The Commission may make 1 extension, of
        not more than 30 days, of a deadline set under paragraph (1).
    ``(g) Economic Analysis By the Commission.--The Commission shall
conduct an economic analysis of each condition submitted by a
consulting agency to determine whether the condition would render the
project uneconomic.
    ``(h) Commission Determination on Effect of Conditions.--When
requested by a license applicant in a request for rehearing, the
Commission shall make a written determination on whether a condition
submitted by a consulting agency is--
            ``(1) in the public interest, as measured by the impact of
        the condition on the factors described in subsection (b)(1);
            ``(2) reasonable;
            ``(3) supported by substantial evidence; and
            ``(4) consistent with this Act and other terms and
        conditions to be included in the license.''.
    (b) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Section 4.--Section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16
        U.S.C. 797(e)) is amended in the first proviso of the first
        sentence by inserting after ``conditions'' the following: ``,
        determined in accordance with section 32,''.
            (2) Section 18.--Section 18 of the Federal Power Act (16
        U.S.C. 811) is amended in the first sentence by striking
        ``prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting
        ``prescribed, in accordance with section 32, by the Secretary
        of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate''.

SEC. 5. COORDINATED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.

    Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) (as
amended by section 3) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 33. COORDINATED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.

    ``(a) Lead Agency Responsibility.--The Commission, as the lead
agency for environmental reviews under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for projects licensed under
this part, shall conduct a single consolidated environmental review for
each such project.
    ``(b) Deadlines.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall set a deadline for
        the submission of comments by Federal, State, and local
        government agencies in connection with the preparation of any
        environmental impact statement or environmental assessment
        required for a project.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In setting a deadline under
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall take into consideration--
                    ``(A) the need of the license applicant for a
                prompt and reasonable decision;
                    ``(B) the resources of interested Federal, State,
                and local government agencies; and
                    ``(C) applicable statutory requirements.''.

SEC. 6. STUDY OF SMALL HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives a study
of the feasibility of establishing a separate licensing procedure for
small hydroelectric projects.
    (b) Definition of Small Hydroelectric Project.--The Commission may
by regulation define the term ``small hydroelectric project'' for the
purpose of subsection (a), except that the term shall include at a
minimum a hydroelectric project that has a generating capacity of 5
megawatts or less.

Output:
Hydroelectric Licensing Process Improvement Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal Power Act to prescribe factors which Federal agency participants in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydroelectric license renewal process (consulting agencies) must consider and document when setting forth conditions for such renewals, including the economic impact of such conditions as well as air quality, flood control, irrigation, navigation, and recreation and drinking water supply.
Requires that each condition be subjected to appropriately substantiated scientific peer review based on current empirical data or field-tested data.
Requires such consulting agency to provide a license applicant opportunity to obtain expedited administrative review of its proposed conditions before filing a FERC application.
Empowers the reviewing body to remand the matter to such agency if the reviewer finds the agency's proposed conditions do not comply with this Act.
Sets a one-year deadline by which a consulting agency must file its proposed licensing conditions with FERC.
Directs FERC to:  (1) conduct an economic analysis of each condition submitted by a consulting agency to determine whether it would render the project uneconomic; (2) conduct a single consolidated environmental review for each licensed project pursuant to its status as lead agency for environmental reviews; and (3) set a deadline for the submission of comments by Federal, State, and local government agencies regarding any environmental impact or assessment required for a project.  Instructs FERC to consider the need of license applicants for a prompt decision when setting such deadlines.
Directs FERC to study and report to certain congressional committees on the feasibility of establishing a separate licensing procedure for small hydroelectric projects with a generating capacity of five megawatts or less.


Input:
SECTION 1. NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL DATA CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
United States Geological Survey, shall--
            (1) establish a national biological data center (in this
        Act referred to as the ``center'') to collect nonhuman
        biological data and make such data available for public use;
        and
            (2) seek to enter into a contract with a small business for
        the purpose of managing the center.
    (b) Contract Term.--The contract under subsection (a) shall have a
term of 10 years.
    (c) Entity Selection.--
            (1) Competitive procedures.--The Secretary shall use
        competitive procedures (as defined in section 4(5) of the
        Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403(5))) to
        enter into the contract under subsection (a).
            (2) Qualification requirements.--To qualify to participate
        in the competitive procedures under paragraph (1), a small
        business shall have--
                    (A) no more than 500 employees;
                    (B) demonstrated expertise in--
                            (i) managing scientific and technical
                        information;
                            (ii) implementing scientific information
                        projects;
                            (iii) presenting scientific data in an
                        objective manner; and
                            (iv) managing interagency collaborations
                        related to scientific and technical
                        information;
                    (C) demonstrated involvement with biodiversity
                information programs and the National Biological
                Information Infrastructure of the United States
                Geological Survey (through partnership or other form of
                collaboration); and
                    (D) a demonstrated ability and willingness to
                partner with a research university and a national
                laboratory with expertise in biodiversity and
                computational sciences.
    (d) Leadership.--The head of the center shall be appointed by the
Secretary, in consultation with the program director of the National
Biological Information Infrastructure.
    (e) Duties of the National Biological Data Center.--The duties of
the center shall be determined by the Secretary and shall include, at a
minimum, the following activities:
            (1) Collect nonhuman biological data from Federal, public,
        private, and nonprofit entities, including--
                    (A) the National Biological Information
                Infrastructure; and
                    (B) institutions and organizations that partner
                with the National Biological Information
                Infrastructure.
            (2) Develop partnerships with public and private entities
        that are nationally recognized for computational capabilities
        and computer capacity to allow the center to efficiently
        develop a digital network for the storage and retrieval of data
        collected under paragraph (1).
            (3) Develop partnerships with academic and scientific
        institutions in the United States to increase the quantity of
        data--
                    (A) collected under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) made available for public use under paragraph
                (4).
            (4) Subject to Federal statutes and regulations relating to
        the disclosure of information collected under paragraph (1),
        including statutes and regulations related to intellectual
        property and section 552 of title 5, United States Code, make
        available for use by Federal, State, and local governments and
        members of the public any federally funded data collected under
        paragraph (1).
            (5) Make the data described in paragraph (4) available--
                    (A) through a single electronic search function; or
                    (B) in any case in which such data is not
                electronically maintained, at a one location.
            (6) Organize and manage data collected under paragraph (1)
        in a manner that--
                    (A) enables efficient and effective use of the data
                by the public;
                    (B) presents the data in an objective manner; and
                    (C) is consistent with efforts made by the National
                Biological Information Infrastructure to organize and
                manage nonhuman biological data for public use.
            (7) Prepare compilations that combine data from multiple
        data sets to improve the ease of use of such data sets by
        Federal, State, and local governments and by members of the
        public.
            (8) Conduct public awareness activities that promote the
        use of the data made available under paragraph (4) for purposes
        of encouraging--
                    (A) economic development;
                    (B) the development of public policy (including
                policy relating to land use, economic development,
                conservation, and preservation);
                    (C) scientific research; and
                    (D) science, technology, engineering, and
                mathematics education.
            (9) Hold an annual conference on nonhuman biological data
        collection for experts from Federal, State, and local
        governments and public and private entities for the purpose of
        providing advice to the head of the center related to improving
        the performance of the center.
            (10) Collect fees from State and local governments and
        members of the public for the use of--
                    (A) compilations prepared under paragraph (7); and
                    (B) other products produced by the center, except
                that the center may not collect a fee solely for
                accessing data collected by the center from another
                source.
    (f) Duties of Other Entities.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to Federal statutes and
        regulations relating to the disclosure of information collected
        under subsection (d)(1), including statutes and regulations
        related to intellectual property and section 552 of title 5,
        United States Code, any entity that collects or stores
        federally funded data on or after the end of the one-year
        period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act shall
        submit or make available such data to the center, in a form and
        manner described in standards published by the center, unless
        such data has been submitted to the National Biological
        Information Infrastructure.
            (2) National biological information infrastructure.--
        Subject to Federal statutes and regulations relating to the
        disclosure of information collected under subsection (d)(1),
        including statutes and regulations related to intellectual
        property and section 552 of title 5, United States Code, the
        National Biological Information Infrastructure shall submit or
        make available to the center, in a form and manner described in
        standards published by the center, all federally funded data
        that it stores or receives.
    (g) Availability of Fees.--Subject to appropriation, fees collected
under subsection (d)(10) shall remain available for use by the center
for activities under subsection (d).
    (h)  Reports.--
            (1) Annual report to secretary.--Not later than January 1
        of each year following the date of enactment of this Act, the
        head of the center shall submit to the Secretary of the
        Interior an annual report containing--
                    (A) information on the activities of the center
                during the preceding fiscal year and the plans of the
                center for activities in the current fiscal year; and
                    (B) such additional information as the Secretary
                may require.
            (2) Annual report to congress.--Not later than April 1 of
        each year following the date of enactment of this Act, the
        Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress an annual
        report on--
                    (A) information on the activities of the center
                during the preceding fiscal year and the plans of the
                center for activities in the current fiscal year; and
                    (B) the administration of the contract entered into
                under subsection (a).
    (i) Federally Funded Data Defined.--For purposes of this Act, the
term ``federally-funded data'' means nonhuman biological data that is
collected, maintained, or stored, in whole or in part, through the use
of Federal funds.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 per fiscal year.
Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until
expended.

Output: Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to: (1) establish a National Biological Data Center to collect nonhuman biological data and make such data available for public use; and (2) contract with a small business to manage the Center. Sets forth duties of the Center, including the collection of nonhuman biological data from federal, public, private, and nonprofit entities and the development of partnerships with public and private entities, academic and scientific institutions to allow the Center to develop a digital network for the storage and retrieval of nonhuman biological data.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing America's Facilities,
Equipment and Rail: Taking Responsibility for American National
Security In Transit Act'' or the ``SAFER TRANSIT Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Nationwide, Americans rely on 6,800 public
        transportation systems for their daily commute. Every weekday,
        public transportation riders take 35,000,000 trips. Public
        transportation significantly improves quality of life, saving
        Americans who live in areas served by public transportation
        systems nearly 865,000,000 hours in travel time annually.
            (2) Increasingly, public transportation is becoming a
        target of terrorist activity.
            (3) In 2004, terrorists simultaneously detonated explosives
        concealed inside backpacks on Madrid's commuter train system,
        killing 191 and injuring nearly 2000.
            (4) In 2005, four suicide bombers attacked London's public
        transportation system, killing 52.
            (5) In 2011, authorities discovered an improvised
        explosives device near Amtrak and commuter train tracks. The
        same year, German police found multiple firebombs alongside
        high-speed rail tracks and in tunnels leading into train
        stations.
            (6) On March 22, 2016, a coordinated terrorist attack
        targeted both the Brussels Airport and a metro station in the
        city killing 32 and injuring nearly 300 travelers.
            (7) According to the Global Terrorism Database, there were
        57 terror attacks on transportation from 2006 to 2014.
            (8) To ensure the continued effectiveness of public
        transportation, the Federal Government must balance transit
        system security and accessibility.
            (9) The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission
        Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53), conferred to the Department of
        Homeland Security the responsibility for assuring public
        transportation security.
            (10) A May 2016 report by the Inspector General of the
        Department of Homeland Security found that the Transportation
        Security Administration has limited regulatory oversight of
        Amtrak's passenger security.
            (11) A May 2016 report by the Government Accountability
        Office recommended that the Federal Air Marshal Service
        undertake a number of measures to ensure resources are
        allocated according to risk assessments.
            (12) Congress must provide the agencies and municipalities
        with the necessary resources to combat terrorism, and continue
        to conduct oversight of their effective use.

SEC. 3. RAIL SECURITY.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Office of
Management and Budget, shall submit to Congress a report on the plan of
the Secretary to expedite the implementation of the requirements of
subtitle B of title XV of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1161 et seq.) to--
            (1) assign rail carriers to high-risk tiers; and
            (2) establish a rail security training program.

SEC. 4. VISIBLE INTERMODAL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TEAMS.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1303(b) of the
Implementing Recommendations of the
9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1112) is
amended by striking ``fiscal years 2016 through 2018'' and inserting
``fiscal years 2016 through 2020''.
    (b) Surface Transportation Security Inspectors.--Section 1304(j) of
the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
(Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1113) is amended by striking ``this
section'' and all that follows and inserting ``this section such sums
as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.''.

SEC. 5. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 1409(h) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1138) is amended by
striking ``to make grants'' and all that follows and inserting ``to
carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal
years 2016 through 2020.''.

SEC. 6. RAILROAD SECURITY.

    Section 1513(i)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1163) is amended by
striking ``Out of funds'' and all that follows and inserting: ``There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016
through 2020.''.

SEC. 7. OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

    Section 1532(k)(1) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by
striking ``From amounts'' and all that follows and inserting ``There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016
through 2020.''.

SEC. 8. PUBLIC TRANSIT SECURITY POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a
program, to be known as the ``Local Transit Security Instructor
Training Program'', which shall be carried out at the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Centers.
    (b) Contents.--The program developed under subsection (a) shall be
an intensive training program designed to--
            (1) cover the comprehensive tactical subject matters
        pertaining to the unique nature of public transit operational
        environments and threats;
            (2) provide high-quality training and instill the
        knowledge, skills, and aptitudes needed for the highest
        proficiency in transit security; and
            (3) leverage the existing skills of trainee officers by
        emphasizing leadership, teach backs, and adult learning as well
        as the traditional technical skills needed by field training
        officers.
    (c) Availability.--The Secretary shall make such program available
to law enforcement agencies that are eligible for the Homeland Security
Grant Program under section 2002 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002
(6 U.S.C. 603) and have jurisdiction over a geographic area where a
public transit system operates rail or bus service.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVENESS OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL PROGRAM.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such steps as may be
necessary to ensure that the Federal Air Marshal Service (hereinafter
in this section referred to as the ``FAMS'') uses its resources to
cover the highest-risk flights. In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
            (1) consider risk when determining how to divide the
        international flight coverage resources of the FAMS among
        international destinations, incorporate risk into the method of
        the FAMS for initially setting its annual target numbers of
        average daily international and domestic flights;
            (2) conduct and document a risk assessment to further
        support the domestic resource allocation decisions of the FAMS,
        including the identification of high-priority geographic areas;
            (3) in conducting such risk assessment, evaluate the threat
        environment with regard to each of the different modes of
        transportation supported by the FAMS to inform resource
        allocation decisions, including the identification of high-
        priority modes of transportation;
            (4) document the rationale for the selection of
        international destinations by FAMS for air marshal deployment
        and the proportion of flights to cover at each destination;
            (5) adopt a consistent name and definition for the
        performance measure referred to as the TSA coverage score that
        accurately reflects its calculation method and composite
        nature; and
            (6) report the performance results for each of the
        subcategories that comprise the TSA coverage score to FAMS and
        TSA leadership.

SEC. 10. CBRNE DETECTORS ABOARD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall direct the Directorate of
Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security to
prioritize research of scalable, cost-effective technology solutions to
detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive
threats aboard public transportation of all modes that are capable
continuous, real-time sensing and detection of, and alerting passengers
and operating personnel to the presence of such a threat.

Output: Securing America's Facilities, Equipment and Rail: Taking Responsibility for American National Security in Transit Act or the SAFER TRANSIT Act This bill amends the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to reauthorize through FY2020 the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) program and other specified activities related to public transportation security.  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must: (1) develop a Local Transit Security Instructor Training Program, and (2) take steps necessary to ensure that the Federal Air Marshal Service uses its resources to cover the highest-risk flights. DHS shall direct the Directorate of Science and Technology to prioritize research of scalable, cost-effective technology solutions to detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats abroad public transportation that are capable of continuous, real-time detecting of, and alerting passengers and operating personnel to, such threats.