Input:
SECTION 1. HIGHWAY FUEL TAX HOLIDAY.

    (a) Temporary Suspension of Highway Fuel Taxes on Gasoline and
Diesel Fuel.--
            (1) In general.--Section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code
        of 1986 (relating to imposition of tax on gasoline, diesel
        fuel, and kerosene) is amended by adding at the end the
        following new subsection:
    ``(f) Temporary Suspension of Taxes on Gasoline and Diesel Fuel.--
            ``(1) In general.--During the applicable period, each rate
        of tax referred to in paragraph (2) shall be reduced to zero
        cents per gallon.
            ``(2) Rates of tax.--The rates of tax referred to in this
        paragraph are--
                    ``(A) the rate of tax otherwise applicable to
                gasoline under clause (i) of subsection (a)(2)(A),
                determined with regard to subsection (a)(2)(B) and
                without regard to subsection (a)(2)(C),
                    ``(B) the rate of tax otherwise applicable to
                diesel fuel under clause (iii) of subsection (a)(2)(A),
                determined with regard to subsection (a)(2)(B) and
                without regard to subsection (a)(2)(C), and
                    ``(C) the rate of tax otherwise applicable to
                diesel fuel under paragraph (1) of section 4041(a) with
                respect to fuel sold for use or used in a diesel-
                powered highway vehicle.
            ``(3) Applicable period.--For purposes of this subsection,
        the term `applicable period' means the period beginning on May
        26, 2008, and ending on September 1, 2008.
            ``(4) Maintenance of trust fund deposits.--In determining
        the amounts to be appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund under
        section 9503 and to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust
        Fund under 9508, an amount equal to the reduction in revenues
        to the Treasury by reason of this subsection shall be treated
        as taxes received in the Treasury under this section or section
        4041.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection
        shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Floor Stock Refunds.--
            (1) In general.--If--
                    (A) before the tax suspension date, a tax referred
                to in section 4081(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code
                of 1986 has been imposed under such Code on any liquid,
                and
                    (B) on such date such liquid is held by a dealer
                and has not been used and is intended for sale,
        there shall be credited or refunded (without interest) to the
        person who paid such tax (hereafter in this subsection referred
        to as the ``taxpayer''), against the taxpayer's subsequent
        semi-monthly deposit of such tax, an amount equal to the excess
        of the tax paid by the taxpayer over the amount of such tax
        which would be imposed on such liquid had the taxable event
        occurred on the tax suspension date.
            (2) Time for filing claims; certifications necessary to
        file claims.--
                    (A) In general.--No credit or refund shall be
                allowed or made under this subsection--
                            (i) unless claim therefore is filed with
                        the Secretary before the date which is 6 months
                        after the tax suspension date, and
                            (ii) in any case where liquid is held by a
                        dealer (other than the taxpayer) on the tax
                        suspension date, unless the taxpayer files with
                        the Secretary--
                                    (I) a certification that the
                                taxpayer has given a credit to such
                                dealer with respect to such liquid
                                against the dealer's first purchase of
                                liquid from the taxpayer subsequent to
                                the tax suspension date, and
                                    (II) a certification by such dealer
                                that such dealer has given a credit to
                                a succeeding dealer (if any) with
                                respect to such liquid against the
                                succeeding dealer's first purchase of
                                liquid from such dealer subsequent to
                                the tax suspension date.
                    (B) Reasonableness of claims certified.--Any
                certification made under subparagraph (A) shall include
                an additional certification that the claim for credit
                was reasonably based on the taxpayer's or dealer's past
                business relationship with the succeeding dealer.
            (3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    (A) the terms ``dealer'' and ``held by a dealer''
                have the respective meanings given to such terms by
                section 6412 of such Code; except that the term
                ``dealer'' includes a producer, and
                    (B) the term ``tax suspension date'' means May 26,
                2008.
            (4) Certain rules to apply.--Rules similar to the rules of
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 6412 of such Code shall
        apply for purposes of this subsection.
    (c) Floor Stocks Tax.--
            (1) Imposition of tax.--In the case of any liquid on which
        tax would have been imposed under section 4081 of the Internal
        Revenue Code of 1986 during the applicable period but for the
        amendment made by subsection (a), and which is held on the
        floor stocks tax date by any person, there is hereby imposed a
        floor stocks tax in an amount equal to the tax which would be
        imposed on such liquid had the taxable event occurred on the
        floor stocks tax date.
            (2) Liability for tax and method of payment.--
                    (A) Liability for tax.--A person holding a liquid
                on the floor stocks tax date to which the tax imposed
                by paragraph (1) applies shall be liable for such tax.
                    (B) Method of payment.--The tax imposed by
                paragraph (1) shall be paid in such manner as the
                Secretary shall prescribe.
                    (C) Time for payment.--The tax imposed by paragraph
                (1) shall be paid on or before the date which is 6
                months after the floor stocks tax date.
            (3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    (A) Held by a person.--A liquid shall be considered
                as ``held by a person'' if title thereto has passed to
                such person (whether or not delivery to the person has
                been made).
                    (B) Gasoline and diesel fuel.--The terms
                ``gasoline'' and ``diesel fuel'' have the respective
                meanings given such terms by section 4083 of such Code.
                    (C) Floor stocks tax date.--The term ``floor stocks
                tax date'' means September 2, 2008.
                    (D) Applicable period.--The term ``applicable
                period'' means the period described in section
                4081(f)(3) of such Code.
            (4) Exception for exempt uses.--The tax imposed by
        paragraph (1) shall not apply to gasoline or diesel fuel held
        by any person exclusively for any use to the extent a credit or
        refund of the tax imposed by section 4081 of such Code is
        allowable for such use.
            (5) Exception for fuel held in vehicle tank.--No tax shall
        be imposed by paragraph (1) on gasoline or diesel fuel held in
        the tank of a motor vehicle.
            (6) Exception for certain amounts of fuel.--
                    (A) In general.--No tax shall be imposed by
                paragraph (1)--
                            (i) on gasoline (other than aviation
                        gasoline) held on the floor stocks tax date by
                        any person if the aggregate amount of gasoline
                        held by such person on such date does not
                        exceed 4,000 gallons, and
                            (ii) on diesel fuel held on such date by
                        any person if the aggregate amount of diesel
                        fuel held by such person on such date does not
                        exceed 2,000 gallons.
                The preceding sentence shall apply only if such person
                submits to the Secretary (at the time and in the manner
                required by the Secretary) such information as the
                Secretary shall require for purposes of this
                subparagraph.
                    (B) Exempt fuel.--For purposes of subparagraph (A),
                there shall not be taken into account fuel held by any
                person which is exempt from the tax imposed by
                paragraph (1) by reason of paragraph (4) or (5).
                    (C) Controlled groups.--For purposes of this
                paragraph--
                            (i) Corporations.--
                                    (I) In general.--All persons
                                treated as a controlled group shall be
                                treated as 1 person.
                                    (II) Controlled group.--The term
                                ``controlled group'' has the meaning
                                given to such term by subsection (a) of
                                section 1563 of such Code; except that
                                for such purposes the phrase ``more
                                than 50 percent'' shall be substituted
                                for the phrase ``at least 80 percent''
                                each place it appears in such
                                subsection.
                            (ii) Nonincorporated persons under common
                        control.--Under regulations prescribed by the
                        Secretary, principles similar to the principles
                        of clause (i) shall apply to a group of persons
                        under common control where 1 or more of such
                        persons is not a corporation.
            (7) Other law applicable.--All provisions of law, including
        penalties, applicable with respect to the taxes imposed by
        section 4081 of such Code shall, insofar as applicable and not
        inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph, apply with
        respect to the floor stock taxes imposed by paragraph (1) to
        the same extent as if such taxes were imposed by such section
        4081.
    (d) Secretary.--For purposes of this section, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's
delegate.
    (e) Benefits of Tax Reduction Should Be Passed on to Consumers.--It
is the policy of Congress that--
            (1) consumers immediately receive the benefit of the
        reduction in taxes resulting from the amendment made by
        subsection (a), and
            (2) transportation motor fuels producers and other dealers
        take such actions as necessary to reduce transportation motor
        fuels prices to reflect such reduction, including immediate
        credits to customer accounts representing tax refunds allowed
        as credits against excise tax deposit payments under the floor
        stocks refund provisions of subsection (b).

Output:
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuels between May 26, 2008, and September 1, 2008. Provides for reimbursement from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund for any reduction in Trust Fund receipts resulting from such suspension.

Expresses the policy of Congress that: (1) consumers immediately receive the benefit of the reduction in taxes resulting from this Act; and (2) transportation motor fuels producers and other dealers take necessary actions to reduce fuel prices to reflect such reduction in taxes.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Violence Against Children Act of
2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) People under the age of 18 make up approximately 12
        percent of all crime victims known to police, including 71
        percent of all sex crime victims and 38 percent of all
        kidnaping victims.
            (2) People from the ages of 12 through 17 are over 2 times
        more likely to be victims of violent crime than adults.
            (3) It has been estimated that only 28 percent of crimes
        against children are actually reported.
            (4) Some 1,200 children die as a result of abuse each year,
        and approximately 879,000 children are victims of abuse.
            (5) Child abuse has long-lasting negative effects upon
        children and families, including delayed development,
        depression, substance abuse, and increased likelihood of
        experiencing or perpetrating domestic violence as an adult.
            (6) Most local agencies lack adequate resources to protect
        and serve the needs of children and families that are brought
        to their attention.
            (7) Failure to pay child support is in itself a form of
        neglect, as children who do not receive financial support are
        more likely to live in poverty, and are therefore more likely
        to suffer from inadequate education, a lack of quality health
        care, and a lack of affordable housing.

       TITLE I--ENHANCED FEDERAL ROLE IN CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

SEC. 101. ENHANCED PENALTIES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting at the end the following:
``Sec. 2260A. Violence against children
    ``(a) In General.--Whoever, whether or not acting under color of
law, in any circumstance described in subsection (b), by force or
threat of force willfully injures or attempts to injure any person
under 18 years of age--
            ``(1) shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years and
        fined in accordance with this title; and
            ``(2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for
        life, and fined in accordance with this title if--
                    ``(A) death results from the offense; or
                    ``(B) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt
                to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to
                commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.
    ``(b) Circumstances.--For purposes of subsection (a), the
circumstances described in this subsection are that--
            ``(1) the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs during
        the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant
        or the victim--
                    ``(A) across a State line or national border; or
                    ``(B) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality
                of interstate or foreign commerce; or
            ``(2) in connection with the conduct described in
        subsection (a), the defendant employs a firearm, explosive or
        incendiary device, or other weapon that has traveled in
        interstate or foreign commerce.
    ``(c) Penalties.--An offense under this section shall also be
subject to the penalties provided in section 1111 of this title (as
amended by the PROTECT Act) if the offense is also an offense under
that section.''.
    (b) Amendment to Chapter Analysis.--The chapter analysis for
chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting at
the end the following:

``2260A. Violence against children.''.
    (c) Enhanced Penalties for Existing Crimes When Committed Against
Children.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28,
United States Code, and in accordance with this Act and its purposes,
the United States Sentencing Commission shall review and amend its
guidelines and its policy statements to provide enhanced penalties when
the victim of a Federal crime is under the age of 18.
    (d) GAO Review of State Laws.--Not later than 6 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall--
            (1) review the statutory penalties for crimes against
        children under State laws and the sentencing practices of the
        States with respect to those crimes, including whether a State
        provides enhanced penalties when the victim of the crime is a
        child; and
            (2) report the findings of the review to Congress.

SEC. 102. ENHANCED ASSISTANCE FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND
              PROSECUTIONS BY STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
              OFFICIALS.

    (a) In General.--At the request of a State, Indian tribal
government, or unit of local government, the Attorney General shall
provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or any other form of
assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime
that--
            (1) constitutes a crime of violence (as defined in section
        16 of title 18, United States Code);
            (2) constitutes a felony under the laws of the State or
        Indian tribe; and
            (3) is committed against a person under 18 years of age.
    (b) Priority.--If the Attorney General determines that there are
insufficient resources to fulfill requests made pursuant to subsection
(a), the Attorney General shall give priority to requests for
assistance to--
            (1) crimes committed by, or believed to be committed by,
        offenders who have committed crimes in more than 1 State; and
            (2) rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the
        extraordinary expenses relating to the investigation or
        prosecution of the crime.

                        TITLE II--GRANT PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall award grants to assist
States, Indian tribal governments, and units of local government to
develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution of
crimes against children.
    (b) Purposes.--Grants provided under this section shall provide
personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, and other
equipment for the more widespread apprehension, prosecution, and
adjudication of persons committing crimes against children, and
specifically, for the purposes of--
            (1) training law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges,
        and other court personnel to more effectively identify and
        respond to crimes against children;
            (2) developing, training, or expanding units of law
        enforcement officers, prosecutors, or courts specifically
        targeting crimes against children;
            (3) developing and implementing more effective police and
        prosecution policies, protocols, orders, and services
        specifically devoted to preventing, identifying, and responding
        to crimes against children;
            (4) developing, installing, or expanding data collection
        and communication systems, including computerized systems,
        linking police, prosecutors, and courts for the purpose of
        identifying and tracking arrests, prosecutions, and convictions
        for crimes against children;
            (5) encouraging, developing, and strengthening programs,
        procedures, and policies that enhance cross-collaboration and
        cross-communication between law enforcement and child services
        agencies regarding the care, treatment, and services for child
        victims; and
            (6) developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs
        addressing the needs and circumstances of Indian tribes in
        dealing with crimes against children.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each State, Indian tribal government, or
        unit of local government that desires a grant under this
        section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at
        such time, in such manner, and accompanied by or containing
        such information as the Attorney General shall reasonably
        require.
            (2) Requirements.--A State, Indian tribal government, or
        unit of local government applying for a grant under this
        section shall--
                    (A) describe--
                            (i) the purposes for which the grant is
                        needed;
                            (ii) the intended use of the grant funds;
                        and
                            (iii) the expected results from the use of
                        grant funds;
                    (B) demonstrate that, in developing a plan to
                implement the grant, the State, Indian tribal
                government, or unit of local government has consulted
                and coordinated with nonprofit, nongovernmental victim
                services programs that have experience in providing
                services to victims of crimes against children; and
                    (C) certify that--
                            (i) any Federal funds received under this
                        section will be used to supplement, not
                        supplant, non-Federal funds that would
                        otherwise be available for activities funded
                        under this section; and
                            (ii) the State, the Indian tribal
                        government, or the State in which the unit of
                        local government is located is in compliance
                        with sections 301 and 302.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

SEC. 202. EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND VICTIMS' ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall award grants to assist
States, Indian tribal governments, units of local government, and
nongovernmental organizations to provide education, prevention,
intervention, and victims' assistance services regarding crimes against
children.
    (b) Purposes.--Grants provided under this section shall be used to
provide education, prevention, and intervention services to prevent
crimes against children and to provide assistance to children, and the
families of children, who are victims of crime, including--
            (1) educational seminars;
            (2) the operation of hotlines;
            (3) training programs for professionals;
            (4) the preparation of informational materials;
            (5) intervention services to prevent crimes against
        children;
            (6) other efforts to increase awareness of the facts about,
        or to help prevent, crimes against children, including efforts
        to increase awareness in underserved racial, ethnic, and
        language minority communities;
            (7) emergency medical treatment for victims;
            (8) counseling to victims of crimes against children and
        their families; and
            (9) increasing the supply of mental health professionals
        specializing in the mental health of victims of crimes against
        children.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each State, Indian tribal government, unit
        of local government, or nongovernmental organization that
        desires a grant under this section shall submit an application
        to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and
        accompanied by or containing such information as the Attorney
        General shall reasonably require.
            (2) Requirements.--A State, Indian tribal government, unit
        of local government, or nongovernmental organization applying
        for a grant under this section shall--
                    (A) describe--
                            (i) the purposes for which the grant is
                        needed;
                            (ii) the intended use of the grant funds;
                        and
                            (iii) the expected results from the use of
                        grant funds;
                    (B) demonstrate that, in developing a plan to
                implement the grant--
                            (i) in the case of a State, Indian tribal
                        government, or unit of local government, that
                        the State, Indian tribal government, or unit of
                        local government has consulted and coordinated
                        with nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services
                        programs that have experience in providing
                        services to victims of crimes against children;
                        and
                            (ii) in the case of a nongovernmental
                        organization, that the nongovernmental
                        organization has experience in providing
                        education, prevention, or intervention services
                        regarding crimes against children or has
                        experience in providing services to victims of
                        crimes against children; and
                    (C) certify that--
                            (i) any Federal funds received under this
                        section will be used to supplement, not
                        supplant, non-Federal funds that would
                        otherwise be available for activities funded
                        under this section, provided that the Attorney
                        General may waive such requirement for
                        nongovernmental organizations in extraordinary
                        circumstances; and
                            (ii) the State, the Indian tribal
                        government, the State in which the unit of
                        local government is located, or the State in
                        which the nongovernmental organization will
                        operate the activities funded under this
                        section is located, is in compliance with
                        section 303.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

                     TITLE III--NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS

SEC. 301. NATIONWIDE AMBER ALERT.

    Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act,
each State receiving grants pursuant to section 201 shall have in place
a statewide AMBER Alert communications network for child abduction
cases.

SEC. 302. IMPROVED STATISTICAL GATHERING.

    Each State receiving grants pursuant to section 201 shall use, or
shall be in the process of testing or developing protocols to use, the
National Incident-Based Reporting System.

SEC. 303. NATIONAL SAFE HAVEN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, each State receiving grants pursuant to section 202 shall
have in effect a statute that--
            (1) permits a parent to leave a newborn baby with a
        medically-trained employee of a hospital emergency room
        anonymously without any criminal or other penalty;
            (2) includes a mechanism to encourage and permit a hospital
        employee in the receiving hospital to collect information about
        the medical history of the family subject to the approval of
        the parent;
            (3) requires law enforcement entities in the State,
        immediately after relinquishment of a child under paragraph
        (1), to search State and Federal missing person databases to
        ensure that the child has not been reported missing; and
            (4) includes a plan for publicizing the State's Safe Haven
        law.
    (b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a State statute
in effect pursuant to this section may deny a parent the ability to
leave a newborn baby anonymously without any criminal or other penalty
if the newborn baby shows signs of abuse or appears to have been
intentionally harmed.

SEC. 304. IMPROVED CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES PROGRAMS.

    (a) Report by States.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, each State receiving an allotment for child
welfare services under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 620 et seq.) shall submit to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services a report detailing the State's program funded
under that subpart, including the process for maintaining records and
verifying the well-being of the children under the State's care.
    (b) GAO Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the General Accounting Office shall report to Congress on
State practices and policies under the child welfare program funded
under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 620 et seq.). The report shall include the following:
            (1) How States are maintaining records and verifying the
        well-being of the children under their care, including how well
        States are keeping track of where those children are.
            (2) Whether and how the review system being undertaken by
        the Secretary of Health and Human Services is helping States to
        reform their child welfare system.
            (3) The best practices being implemented by the States.
            (4) Recommendations for legislative changes by Congress.

                  TITLE IV--CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 401. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON TAX TREATMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT.

    It is the sense of the Senate that Congress should pass legislation
to extend the current Federal tax treatment on bad debt to nonpayment
of child support by--
            (1) allowing those that do not receive the child support
        they are owed to deduct that amount from their Federal income
        taxes; and
            (2) requiring those who fail to pay child support to add
        the unpaid amount to their income for Federal tax purposes.

Output: Violence Against Children Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prescribe penalties to be imposed for injuring or attempting to injure a person under 18 years of age (including life imprisonment if death results or if the offense includes kidnaping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempting to kill) under circumstances in which: (1) the conduct occurs during the course of, or as a result of, the travel of the defendant or victim across a State line or national border; or (2) in connection with such conduct, the defendant employs a weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce. Directs the: (1) United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines to provide enhanced penalties when the victim of a Federal crime is under 18; and (2) the Comptroller General to review State penalties and sentencing guidelines for crimes against children.Requires the Attorney General: (1) at the request of a State, Indian tribal government, or local government, to provide assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any felony crime of violence against a child; and (2) to award grants to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution of crimes against children and to provide education, prevention, intervention, and victims' assistance services regarding crimes against children.Requires each State receiving: (1) law enforcement grants under this Act to have in place a statewide AMBER Alert communications network for child abduction cases and to use the National Incident-Based Reporting System; (2) education, prevention, and victims' assistance grants to have in effect a statute allowing a parent to leave a newborn baby at a hospital anonymously; and (3) certain allotments for child welfare allotments to submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a report on the State's funded program, including the process for maintaining records and verifying the well-being of the children under the State's care.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Birth Defects
Prevention Act of 1993''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Birth defects are the leading cause of infant
        mortality, directly responsible for one out of every five
        infant deaths.
            (2) Thousands of the 250,000 infants born with a birth
        defect annually face a lifetime of chronic disability and
        illness.
            (3) Birth defects threaten the lives of infants of all
        racial and ethnic backgrounds. However, some conditions pose
        excess risks for certain populations. For example, compared to
        all infants born in the United States, Hispanic-American
        infants are more likely to be born with anencephaly spina
        bifida and other neural tube defects and African-American
        infants are more likely to be born with sickle-cell anemia.
            (4) Birth defects can be caused by exposure to
        environmental hazards, adverse health conditions during
        pregnancy, or genetic mutations. Prevention efforts are slowed
        by lack of information about the number and causes of birth
        defects. Outbreaks of birth defects may go undetected because
        surveillance and research efforts are underdeveloped and poorly
        coordinated.

SEC. 2. BIRTH DEFECTS PREVENTION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317A the following new
section:

            ``birth defects prevention and research programs

    ``Sec. 317B. (a) National Birth Defects Surveillance Program.--The
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control, may award grants to, enter into cooperative agreements with,
or provide direct technical assistance in lieu of cash to States, State
health authorities, or health agencies of political subdivisions of a
State for collection, analysis, and reporting of birth defects
statistics from birth certificates, infant death certificates, hospital
records, or other sources and to collect and disaggregate such
statistics by gender and racial and ethnic group.
    ``(b) Centers for Excellence for Birth Defects Prevention
Research.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish at least
        five regional birth defects monitoring and research programs
        for the purpose of collecting and analyzing information on the
        number, incidence, correlates, and causes of birth defects, to
        include information regarding gender and different racial and
        ethnic groups, including Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites,
        African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.
            ``(2) Authority for awards.--For purposes of paragraph (1),
        the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for
        Disease Control, may award grants or enter into cooperative
        agreements with State departments of health, universities, or
        other private, nonprofit entities engaged in research to enable
        such entities to serve as Centers of Excellence for Birth
        Defects Prevention Research.
            ``(3) Application.--To be eligible for grants or
        cooperative agreements under paragraph (2), the entity shall
        prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such
        time, in such manner and containing such information as the
        Secretary may prescribe, including assurances that--
                    ``(A) the program will collect, analyze, and report
                birth defects data according to guidelines prescribed
                by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control;
                    ``(B) the program will coordinate States birth
                defects surveillance and prevention efforts within a
                region;
                    ``(C) education, training, and clinical skills
                improvement for health professionals aimed at the
                prevention and control of birth defects will be
                included in the program activities;
                    ``(D) development and evaluation of birth defects
                prevention strategies will be included in the program
                activities, as appropriate; and
                    ``(E) the program funds will not be used to
                supplant or duplicate State efforts.
            ``(4) Centers to focus on racial and ethnic disparities in
        birth defects.--One of the Centers of Excellence shall focus on
        birth defects among ethnic minorities, and shall be located in
        a standard metropolitan statistical area that has over a 60
        percent ethnic minority population, is federally designated as
        a health professional shortage area, and has an incidence of
        one or more birth defects more than four times the national
        average.
    ``(c) Clearinghouse.--The Centers for Disease Control shall serve
as the coordinating agency for birth defects prevention activities
through establishment of a clearinghouse for the collection and storage
of data and generated from birth defects monitoring programs developed
under subsections (a) and (b). Functions of such clearinghouse shall
include facilitating the coordination of research and policy
development to prevent birth defects. The clearinghouse shall
disaggregate data by gender and by racial and ethnic groups, the major
Hispanic subgroups, non-Hispanic whites, African Americans, Native
Americans, and Asian Americans.
    ``(d) Prevention Strategies.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control, shall award grants to or
enter into cooperative agreements with State departments of health,
universities, or other private, or nonprofit entities to enable such
entities to develop, evaluate and implement prevention strategies
designed to reduce the incidence and effects or birth defects
including--
            ``(1) demonstration projects for the prevention of birth
        defects, including--
                    ``(A) at least one project aimed at enhancing
                prevention services in a `high-risk area' that has a
                proportion of birth to minority women above the
                national average, is federally designated as a health
                professional shortage area, and has a high incidence of
                one or more birth defects; and
                    ``(B) at least one outcome research project to
                study the effectiveness of infant interventions aimed
                at amelioration of birth defects; and
            ``(2) public information and education programs for the
        prevention of birth defects, including but not limited to
        programs aimed at prevention of alcohol and illicit drug use
        during pregnancy and promotion of use of folic acid vitamin
        supplements for women of childbearing age in a manner which is
        sensitive to the cultural and linguistic context of a given
        community.
    ``(e) Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment of committee.--The Secretary shall
        establish an Advisory Committee for Birth Defects Prevention
        (in this subsection referred to as the `Committee'). The
        Committee shall provide advice and recommendations on
        prevention and amelioration of birth defects to the Secretary
        and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control.
            ``(2) Functions.--With respect to birth defects prevention,
        the Committee shall--
                    ``(A) make recommendations regarding prevention
                research and intervention priorities;
                    ``(B) study and recommend ways to prevent birth
                defects, with emphasis on emerging technologies;
                    ``(C) identify annually the important areas of
                government and nongovernment cooperation needed to
                implement prevention strategies;
                    ``(D) identify research and prevention strategies
                which would be successful in addressing birth defects
                disparities among the major Hispanic subgroups, non-
                Hispanic whites, African Americans, Native Americans,
                and Asian Americans; and
                    ``(E) review and recommend policies and guidance
                related to birth defects research and prevention.
            ``(3) Composition.--The Committee shall be composed of 15
        members appointed by the Secretary, including--
                    ``(A) four health professionals, who are not
                employees of the United States, who have expertise in
                issues related to prevention of or care for children
                with birth defects;
                    ``(B) two representatives from health professional
                associations;
                    ``(C) four representatives from voluntary health
                agencies concerned with conditions leading to birth
                defects or childhood disability;
                    ``(D) five members of the general public, of whom
                at least three shall be parents of children with birth
                defects or persons having birth defects; and
                    ``(E) representatives of the Public Health Service
                agencies involved in birth defects research and
                prevention programs and representatives of other
                appropriate Federal agencies, including but not limited
                to the Department of Education and the Environmental
                Protection Agency, shall be appointed as ex officio,
                liaison members for purposes of informing the Committee
                regarding Federal agency policies and practices;
            ``(4) Structure.--
                    ``(A) Term of office.--Appointed members of the
                Committee shall be appointed for a term of office of 3
                years, except that of the members first appointed, 5
                shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 5 shall be
                appointed for a term of 2 years, and 5 shall be
                appointed for a term of 3 years, as determined by the
                Secretary.
                    ``(B) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet not less
                than three times per year and at the call of the chair.
                    ``(C) Compensation.--Members of the Committee who
                are employees of the Federal Government shall serve
                without compensation. Members of the Committee who are
                not employees of the Federal Government shall be
                compensated at a rate not to exceed the daily
                equivalent of the rate in effect for grade GS-18.
    ``(f) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate a biennial
report regarding the incidence of birth defects, the contribution of
birth defects to infant mortality, the outcome of implementation of
prevention strategies, and identified needs for research and policy
development to include information regarding the various racial and
ethnic groups, including Hispanic, non-Hispanic whites, African
Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) For the purpose of carrying out subsections (a), (b),
        and (c), there are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000
        for fiscal year 1994, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and
        such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1996
        and 1997.
            ``(2) For the purpose of carrying out subsection (d), there
        are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year
        1994, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be
        necessary for each of the fiscal years 1996 and 1997.
            ``(3) For the purpose of carrying out subsections (e) and
        (f), there are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for
        each of the fiscal years 1994 through 1997.''.

Output:
Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish birth defects prevention and research programs.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to provide for collection, analysis, and reporting of birth defects statistics from birth certificates, infant death certificates, hospital records, or other sources and to collect and disaggregate such statistics by gender and racial and ethnic group.
Directs the Secretary to establish at least five regional birth defects monitoring and research programs to collect and analyze information on the number, incidence, correlation, and causes of birth defects.  Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of CDC, to award grants or enter into cooperative agreements with specified entities to serve as Centers of Excellence for Birth Defects Prevention Research. Requires one of the Centers to focus on birth defects among ethnic minorities.
Requires the CDC to establish a clearinghouse for the collection and storage of data generated from birth defects monitoring programs developed under this Act.
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to provide for the evaluation, and implementation of prevention strategies designed to reduce the incidence and effects of birth defects.
Directs the Secretary to establish an Advisory Committee for Birth Defects Prevention.
Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding birth defects.
Authorizes appropriations.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster Recovery Personal
Protection Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United
        States states that, ``A well regulated Militia, being necessary
        to the security of a free State, the right of the people to
        keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'' and Congress has
        repeatedly recognized this language as protecting an individual
        right.
            (2) In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, State and local law
        enforcement and public safety service organizations were
        overwhelmed and could not fulfill the safety needs of the
        citizens of the State of Louisiana.
            (3) In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the safety of these
        citizens, and of their homes and property, was threatened by
        instances of criminal activity.
            (4) Many of these citizens lawfully kept firearms for the
        safety of themselves, their loved ones, their businesses, and
        their property, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment, and used
        their firearms, individually or in concert with their
        neighbors, for protection against crime.
            (5) In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, certain agencies
        confiscated the firearms of these citizens, in contravention of
        the Second Amendment, depriving these citizens of the right to
        keep and bear arms and rendering them helpless against criminal
        activity.
            (6) These confiscations were carried out at gunpoint, by
        nonconsensual entries into private homes, by traffic
        checkpoints, by stoppage of boats, and otherwise by force.
            (7) The citizens from whom firearms were confiscated were
        either in their own homes or attempting to flee the flooding
        and devastation by means of motor vehicle or boat, and were
        accosted, stopped, and arbitrarily deprived of their private
        property and means of protection.
            (8) The means by which the confiscations were carried out,
        which included intrusion into the home, temporary detention of
        persons, and seizures of property, constituted unreasonable
        searches and seizures and deprived these citizens of liberty
        and property without due process of law in violation of
        fundamental rights under the Constitution of the United States.
            (9) Many citizens who took temporary refuge in emergency
        housing were prohibited from storing firearms on the premises,
        and were thus treated as second-class citizens who had
        forfeited their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
            (10) At least 1 highly-qualified search and rescue team was
        prevented from joining in relief efforts because the team
        included individuals with firearms, although these individuals
        had been deputized as Federal law enforcement officers.
            (11) These confiscations and prohibitions, and the means by
        which they were carried out, deprived the citizens of Louisiana
        not only of their right to keep and bear arms, but also of
        their rights to personal security, personal liberty, and
        private property, all in violation of the Constitution and laws
        of the United States.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CONFISCATION OF FIREARMS DURING CERTAIN NATIONAL
              EMERGENCIES.

    Title VII of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:

``SEC. 706. FIREARMS POLICIES.

    ``(a) Prohibition on Confiscation of Firearms.--No officer or
employee of the United States (including any member of the uniformed
services), person operating pursuant to or under color of Federal law,
receiving Federal funds, under the control of any Federal official, or
providing services to such an officer, employee, or other person, while
acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency, may--
            ``(1) temporarily or permanently seize, or authorize
        seizure of, any firearm the possession of which is not
        prohibited under Federal or State law, other than for
        forfeiture in compliance with Federal law or as evidence in a
        criminal investigation;
            ``(2) require the registration of any firearm for which
        registration is not required by Federal or State law;
            ``(3) prohibit the possession of any firearm, or promulgate
        any rule, regulation, or order prohibiting the possession of
        any firearm, in any place or by any person where such
        possession is not otherwise prohibited by Federal or State law;
        or
            ``(4) prohibit the carrying of a firearm by any person
        otherwise authorized to carry firearms under Federal or State
        law, solely because such person is operating under the
        direction, control, or supervision of a Federal agency in
        support of relief from a major disaster or emergency.
    ``(b) Private Rights of Action.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any individual aggrieved by a violation
        of this section may seek relief in an action at law, suit in
        equity, or other proper proceeding for redress against any
        person who subjects such individual, or causes such individual
        to be subjected, to the deprivation of any of the rights,
        privileges, or immunities secured by this section.
            ``(2) Remedies.--In addition to any existing remedy in law
        or equity, under any law, an individual aggrieved by the
        seizure or confiscation of a firearm in violation of this
        section may bring an action for the return of such firearm in
        the United States district court in the district in which that
        individual resides or in which such firearm may be found.
            ``(3) Attorney fees.--In any action or proceeding to
        enforce this section, the court shall award the prevailing
        party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney's
        fee as part of the costs.''.

Output:
Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any U.S. officer or employee, or person operating under color of federal law, under control of a federal official, or providing services to such person, while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency, from: (1) seizing, or authorizing seizure of, any firearm the possession of which is not prohibited under federal or state law, other than for forfeiture in compliance with federal law or as evidence in a criminal investigation; (2) requiring registration of any firearm for which registration is not required by federal or state law; (3) prohibiting possession of any firearm in any place or by any person where such possession is not otherwise prohibited; or (4) prohibiting the carrying of a firearm by any person otherwise authorized to carry firearms, solely because such person is operating under the direction, control, or supervision of a federal agency in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency.

Authorizes any individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act to seek relief by bringing an action for redress and by bringing a civil action in U.S. district court for return of a confiscated firearm.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Governance Improvement Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 4002(d) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302(d)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d)(1) The board of directors of the corporation consists of--
            ``(A) the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of
        Labor, and the Secretary of Commerce;
            ``(B) a member that is a representative of employers
        offering defined benefit plans;
            ``(C) a member that is a representative of organized labor
        and employees; and
            ``(D) 2 other members.
    ``(2)(A) The members of the board of directors described under
subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1)--
                    ``(i) shall be appointed by the President by and
                with the advice and consent of the Senate--
                            ``(I) at the beginning of the second year
                        of the President's term of office, with respect
                        to such members described under subparagraphs
                        (B) and (C) of paragraph (1); and
                            ``(II) at the beginning of the fourth year
                        of the President's term of office, with respect
                        to such members described under subparagraph
                        (D) of paragraph (1); and
                    ``(ii) shall serve for a term of 4 years.
            ``(B) Not more than 2 members of the board of directors
        described under subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1)
        shall be affiliated with the same political party.
            ``(C) Each member of the board of directors described under
        subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1) shall not have a
        direct financial interest in the decisions of the corporation.
    ``(3) Each member of the board of directors described under
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall designate in writing an
official, not below the level of Assistant Secretary, to serve as the
voting representative of such member on the board. Such designation
shall be effective until revoked or until a date or event specified
therein. Any such representative may refer for board action any matter
under consideration by the designating board member.
    ``(4) The members of the board of directors described under--
            ``(A) subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), shall serve
        without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel,
        subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the
        performance of their duties as members of the board; and
            ``(B) subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1) shall,
        for each day (including traveltime) during which they are
        attending meetings or conferences of the board or otherwise
        engaged in the business of the board, be compensated at a rate
        fixed by the corporation which is not in excess of the daily
        equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade
        GS-18 of the General Schedule, and while away from their homes
        or regular places of business they may be allowed travel
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
        authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    ``(5)(A) The Secretary of Labor is the chairman of the board of
directors.
    ``(B) The President shall designate 1 of the members appointed
under paragraph (2) as the vice-chairman of the board of directors.
    ``(6) The Inspector General of the corporation shall report to the
board of directors, and not less than twice a year, shall attend a
meeting of the board of directors to provide a report on the activities
and findings of the Inspector General, including with respect to
monitoring and review of the operations of the corporation.
    ``(7) The General Counsel of the corporation shall--
            ``(A) serve as the secretary to the board of directors, and
        shall advise such board as needed; and
            ``(B) have overall responsibility for all legal matters
        affecting the corporation and provide the corporation with
        legal advice and opinions on all matters of law affecting the
        corporation, except that the authority of the General Counsel
        shall not extend to the Office of Inspector General and the
        independent legal counsel of such Office.
    ``(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Office
of Inspector General and the legal counsel of such Office is
independent of the management of the corporation and the General
Counsel of the corporation.''.
    (b) Number of Meetings; Public Availability.--Section 4002(e) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302(e))
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The board'' and inserting ``(1) The
        board'';
            (2) by striking ``the corporation.'' and inserting ``the
        corporation, but in no case less than 4 times a year with a
        quorum of not less than 5 members. Not less than 1 meeting of
        the board of directors during each year shall be a joint
        meeting with the advisory committee under subsection (h).'';
        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) The chairman of the board of directors shall make available
to the public the minutes from each meeting of the board, unless the
chairman designates a meeting or portion of a meeting as closed to the
public, based on the confidentiality of the matters to be discussed
during such meeting.''.
    (c) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) Issues considered by the committee.--Section 4002(h)(1)
        of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29
        U.S.C. 1302(h)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``, and (D)'' and inserting ``,
                (D)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``time to time.'' and inserting
                ``time to time, and (E) other issues as determined
                appropriate by the advisory committee.''.
            (2) Joint meeting.--Section 4002(h)(3) of the Employee
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302(h)(3))
        is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Not less than
        1 meeting of the advisory committee during each year shall be a
        joint meeting with the board of directors under subsection
        (e).''.

SEC. 3. AVOIDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

    Section 4002 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(29 U.S.C. 1302) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) The Director of the corporation, and each member of the board
of directors described under subparagraphs (B) through (D) of
subsection (d)(1), shall agree in writing to recuse him or herself from
participation in activities which present a potential conflict of
interest or appearance of such conflict, including by not serving on a
technical evaluation panel.''.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Formation of Committees.--It is the sense of Congress that the
board of directors of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
established under section 4002 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302), as amended by this Act, should
form committees, including an audit committee and an investment
committee, to enhance the overall effectiveness of the board of
directors.
    (b) Risk Management Position.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under section 4002 of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302),
as amended by this Act, should establish a risk management position
that evaluates and mitigates the risk that the corporation might
experience. The individual in such position should coordinate the risk
management efforts of the corporation, explain risks and controls to
senior management and the board of directors of the corporation, and
make recommendations.

Output:
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Governance Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise requirements regarding the composition and duties of members of the board of directors of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

Requires: (1) the board to meet at least four times a year with a quorum of at least five members; and (2) board minutes be made public.

Requires the advisory committee to the PBGC to meet jointly with the board at least one time each year.

Requires the Director and members of the board of the PBGC to agree in writing to recuse themselves from participation in activities which potentially could be a conflict of interest.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the board should form committees, including an audit committee and an investment committee, to enhance the PBGC board's overall effectiveness; and (2) the PBGC should establish a risk management position that evaluates and mitigates risk it might experience.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Federal Communications Commission has assigned 2-1-
        1 as the national telephone number for telephone service for
        information and referral on human services, declaring that 2-1-
        1 best satisfies the public interest in allotting the limited
        resource of this abbreviated number. In 2005, the Commission
        will assess the widespread utilization of the 2-1-1 telephone
        number and evaluate whether to continue the assignment of that
        telephone number for that service.
            (2) The number ``2-1-1'' is an easy-to-remember telephone
        number that facilitates critical connections between
        individuals and families seeking services, volunteer
        opportunities, or both and appropriate human service agencies,
        including community-based and faith-based organizations and
        government agencies.
            (3) There are more than 820,000 nonprofit organizations in
        the United States. Individuals and families often find it
        difficult to navigate through a complex and ever-growing maze
        of human service agencies and programs, spending inordinate
        amounts of time trying to identify an agency or program that
        provides a service that may be immediately or urgently required
        and often abandoning the search from frustration or a lack of
        quality information.
            (4) At the Federal, State, and local levels, government
        funding supports well-intentioned programs that are not fully
        utilized because of a lack of access to and information on such
        programs by the public. Program administrators have indicated
        that there is a need for a simple way to connect those eligible
        for programs with available program resources. 2-1-1 telephone
        service will reduce the number of inappropriate calls to
        government offices by directing consumers to the appropriate
        human services agency, resulting in a more effective use of
        government services.
            (5) Many families need information on government and not-
        for-profit services that address domestic violence, support
        adequate and stable housing, alleviate hunger, and provide for
        high-quality day care, afterschool activities, summer
        activities, job training and assistance, elder care, and
        disaster recovery.
            (6) Individuals often need support, services, or both when
        suffering emotional distress, having suicidal thoughts or
        behavior, contemplating violence, or using drugs or alcohol.
            (7) Americans desire to volunteer and become involved in
        their communities. This desire, together with a desire to
        donate to organizations which provide human services, are among
        the reasons to contact a center which provides information and
        referral on volunteer opportunities and human services.
            (8) Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, an
        estimated 400 telephone hotlines were established in New York,
        New York, for various funds and services, creating a confusing
        network for victims and volunteers to navigate. A Comptroller
        General report on charitable aid following the terrorist
        attacks found that ``families of victims generally believed
        they had to navigate a maze of service providers in the early
        months'' and that ``good information about and easy access to
        available assistance could help survivors in the recovery
        process''.
            (9) The 107th Congress recognized the importance of 2-1-1
        telephone service in community preparedness and response by
        including use of that telephone number for public information
        as an allowable use of funds under grants for preparedness and
        response to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies
        under section 319C-1 of the Public Health Service Act (42
        U.S.C. 247d-3a), as added by section 131 of the Public Health
        Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
        (Public Law 107-188).
            (10) While 20 percent of the population has access to 2-1-1
        telephone service in 21 States, inadequate funding prevents
        access to that telephone service throughout each of the States.
        2-1-1 telephone service is currently available statewide only
        in Connecticut and Hawaii.
            (11) Rapid deployment nationwide of 2-1-1 telephone service
        as a means of access to information about and referral on human
        services requires collaboration among State governments,
        comprehensive and specialized information and referral centers,
        human service organizations and service providers, emergency
        management and homeland security officials, telephone
        companies, and other relevant entities.
            (12) 2-1-1 telephone service facilitates the availability
        of a single repository where comprehensive data on all
        community services is collected, maintained, and updated
        regularly, reducing costs and duplication of efforts. The
        reliable data provided through 2-1-1 telephone service helps to
        better assess the needs of our communities and to immediately
        mobilize resources toward those needs.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO FACILITATE NATIONWIDE AVAILABILITY OF 2-1-1 SERVICE
              FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL ON HUMAN SERVICES.

    (a) Grants Required.--The Secretary of Commerce shall award a grant
to each State to carry out a program for the purpose of making
available throughout such State 2-1-1 telephone service for information
and referral on human services.
    (b) Grant To Be Available for Each State.--In awarding grants under
this section, the Secretary shall develop a formula for allocating
grant amounts among the States so that a grant may be awarded to each
State seeking a grant.
    (c) Requirement on Share of Activities.--
            (1) Requirement.--A State may not be awarded a grant under
        this section unless the State ensures that at least 50 percent
        of the resources of the program funded by the grant will be
        derived from other sources.
            (2) In-kind contributions.--The requirement in paragraph
        (1) may be satisfied by in-kind contributions of goods or
        services.
    (d) Lead Entity.--
            (1) In general.--A State seeking a grant under this section
        shall carry out this section through a lead entity meeting the
        requirements of this subsection.
            (2) 2-1-1 Collaborative.--An entity shall be treated as the
        2-1-1 Collaborative for a State under this subsection if the
        entity--
                    (A) exists for such purpose under State law;
                    (B) exists for such purpose by order of the State
                public utility commission; or
                    (C) is a collaborative entity established by the
                State for such purpose from among representatives of--
                            (i) an informal existing 2-1-1 statewide
                        collaborative, if any, in the State;
                            (ii) State agencies;
                            (iii) community-based organizations;
                            (iv) faith-based organizations;
                            (v) not-for-profit organizations;
                            (vi) comprehensive and specialized
                        information and referral providers, including
                        current 2-1-1 call centers;
                            (vii) foundations; and
                            (viii) businesses.
            (3) Requirements for preexisting lead entities.--An entity
        described by subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may be
        treated as a lead entity under this subsection only if such
        entity collaborates, to the extent practicable, with the
        organizations and entities listed in subparagraph (C) of that
        paragraph.
    (e) Application.--
            (1) In general.--The lead entity on behalf of each State
        seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the
        Secretary an application therefor in such form as the Secretary
        shall require.
            (2) Information.--An application on behalf of a State under
        this subsection shall contain information as follows:
                    (A) Information on the program to be carried out by
                the lead entity of the State in order to plan to make
                available throughout the State 2-1-1 telephone service
                for information and referral on human services,
                including information on the manner in which the lead
                entity will develop, sustain, and evaluate the program.
                    (B) Information on the sources of resources for the
                program for purposes of meeting the requirement in
                subsection (c).
                    (C) Any additional information that the Secretary
                may require for purposes of this section.
    (f) Subgrants.--
            (1) Authority.--In carrying out a program to make 2-1-1
        telephone service available throughout a State at no charge to
        the caller, the lead entity of the State may make subgrants to
        such persons or entities as the lead entity considers
        appropriate for purposes of the program, including subgrants to
        provide funds--
                    (A) for the provision of 2-1-1 telephone service;
                    (B) for the operation and maintenance of 2-1-1 call
                centers; and
                    (C) for such other purposes as the 2-1-1
                Collaborative considers appropriate for purposes of the
                program, including planning, public awareness,
                training, accreditation, and evaluation.
            (2) Considerations.--In awarding a subgrant under this
        subsection, a lead entity shall consider--
                    (A) the ability of the person or entity seeking the
                subgrant to carry out activities or provide services
                consistent with the program;
                    (B) the extent to which the award of the subgrant
                will facilitate equitable geographic distribution of
                subgrants under this section to ensure that rural
                communities have access to 2-1-1 telephone service; and
                    (C) the extent to which the recipient of the
                subgrant will establish and maintain cooperative
                relationships with specialized information and referral
                centers, crisis centers, 9-1-1 call centers, and 3-1-1
                call centers, if applicable.
    (g) Use of Grant and Subgrant Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--Amounts awarded as grants or subgrants
        under this section shall be used solely to make available 2-1-1
        telephone service for community information and referral on
        human services, including telephone connections between
        families and individuals seeking such services and the
        providers of such services.
            (2) Particular matters.--In making 2-1-1 telephone service
        available, the recipient of a grant or subgrant shall, to the
        maximum extent practicable--
                    (A) abide by the Key Standards for 2-1-1 Centers as
                specified in the Standards for Professional Information
                and Referral Requirements for Alliance of Information
                Referral Systems (AIRS) Accreditation and Operating 2-
                1-1 Systems; and
                    (B) collaborate with human service organizations,
                whether public or private, to provide an exhaustive
                database of services with which to provide information
                or referral to individuals utilizing 2-1-1 telephone
                service.
            (3) Use of funds.--Amounts of a subgrant under subsection
        (e) may be used by grantees for Statewide and regional
        planning, start-up costs (including costs of software and
        hardware upgrades and telecommunications costs), training,
        accreditation, public awareness, evaluation of activities, and
        the provision of 2-1-1 telephone service.
    (h) Requirement on Allocation of Grant Amounts.--Of the amounts
awarded under this section, an aggregate of not less than 10 percent
shall be allocated for evaluation, training, and technical assistance,
and for management and administration of subgrants awarded under this
section.
    (i) Reports.--The lead entity of each State awarded a grant under
this section for a fiscal year shall submit to the Secretary, not later
than 60 days after the end of such fiscal year, a report on the program
funded by the grant. Each report shall--
            (1) describe the program funding by the grant; and
            (2) assess the effectiveness of the program in making
        available throughout such State 2-1-1 telephone service for
        information and referral on human services in accordance with
        the provisions of this section.
    (j) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Human services.--The term ``human services'' means
        services as follows:
                    (A) Services that assist individuals in becoming
                more self-sufficient, in preventing dependency, and in
                strengthening family relationships.
                    (B) Services that support personal and social
                development.
                    (C) Services that help ensure the health and well-
                being of individuals, families, and communities.
            (2) Information and referral center.--The term
        ``information and referral center'' means a center that--
                    (A) maintains a database of providers of human
                services in a State or locality;
                    (B) assists individuals, families, and communities
                in identifying, understanding, and accessing the
                providers of human services and the human services
                offered by the providers of such services; and
                    (C) tracks types of calls referred and received to
                document the demands for services.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States,
        the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
        Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of
        the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act amounts as follows:
            (1) For fiscal year 2004, $200,000,000.
            (2) For each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009, such sums
        as may be necessary.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall remain
available until expended.

Output:
Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to award a grant to each State to carry out a program for making available throughout that State the 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services. Requires a participating State to ensure that at least 50 percent of the resources of the program funded by the grant will be derived from other sources. Requires a State seeking a grant to carry out its activities through a lead entity to be known as a 2-1-1 Collaborative.

Requires grant amounts to be used solely to make available to a State 2-1-1 telephone service for community information and referral on human services, including telephone connections between families and individuals seeking services and the service providers.

Requires grant recipients to: (1) abide by the Key Standards for 2-1-1 Centers; and (2) collaborate with human service organizations to provide an exhaustive database of services with which to provide information or referral to individuals utilizing the 2-1-1 service.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Imported and Domestic Product Safety
Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Product Safety
        Coordinating Council established by section 4(a).
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
        Imported and Domestic Product Safety appointed under section
        3(b).
            (3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of
        Imported and Domestic Product Safety established by section
        3(a).
            (4) Product.--The term ``product'' means any of the
        following:
                    (A) Food, as defined in section 201 of the Federal
                Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321),
                including--
                            (i) poultry and poultry products, as
                        defined in section 4 of the Poultry Products
                        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 453);
                            (ii) meat and meat food products, as
                        defined in section 1 of the Federal Meat
                        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601); and
                            (iii) eggs and egg products, as defined in
                        section 4 of the Egg Products Inspection Act
                        (21 U.S.C. 1033).
                    (B) A drug, device, cosmetic, dietary supplement,
                infant formula, and food additive, as such terms are
                defined in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
                Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
                    (C) A consumer product, as such term is defined in
                section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15
                U.S.C. 2052).
                    (D) A motor vehicle, motor vehicle equipment, and
                replacement equipment, as such terms are defined in
                section 30102 of title 49, United States Code.
                    (E) A biological product, as such term is defined
                in section 351(i) of the Public Health Service Act (42
                U.S.C. 262(i)).
                    (F) A pesticide, as such term is defined in section
                2 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
                Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136).
                    (G) Any other food, consumer product, fishery
                product, beverage, or tobacco product with respect to
                which a department or agency that is represented on the
                Council has jurisdiction.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC PRODUCT SAFETY; DIRECTOR.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of
Commerce an office to be known as the ``Office of Imported and Domestic
Product Safety''.
    (b) Director.--The Director of Imported and Domestic Product Safety
shall be the head of the Office. The Director shall be appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among
individuals who have--
            (1) not less than 10 years of leadership and management
        experience in the public or private sector; and
            (2) expertise in areas relating to product safety and
        protection of the public.
    (c) Duties of the Director.--The Director shall, working with the
Council--
            (1) ensure that there is coordination among all departments
        and agencies that have responsibility for product safety in a
        manner that--
                    (A) protects the health and safety of United States
                consumers; and
                    (B) provides that consumers and businesses have
                access to product safety information;
            (2) establish policies, objectives, and priorities to
        improve the management, coordination, promotion, and oversight
        of all departments and agencies that have responsibility for
        product safety;
            (3) work with consumer groups, industry, and other
        interested parties to establish the policies, objectives, and
        priorities described in paragraph (2);
            (4) improve the www.Recalls.gov Internet website (or
        successor Federal website) that provides product safety
        information and recall information for products under different
        Federal agencies;
            (5) develop and maintain a database that--
                    (A) is centralized;
                    (B) is user friendly;
                    (C) is accessible to the public;
                    (D) includes information about all mandatory and
                voluntary actions taken with respect to product safety
                by businesses and departments and agencies that have
                responsibility for product safety, including--
                            (i) recalls;
                            (ii) advisories;
                            (iii) alerts;
                            (iv) seizures;
                            (v) defect determinations;
                            (vi) import bans; and
                            (vii) such other actions as the Director
                        considers appropriate; and
                    (E) incorporates hyperlinks to databases maintained
                by the departments and agencies that have
                responsibility for product safety with respect to the
                actions described in subparagraph (D);
            (6) develop guidelines for effective and efficient
        dissemination, by the departments and agencies of members of
        the Council, of product recall alerts to consumers and
        businesses, including retailers, the media, and medical
        professionals;
            (7) promote the development of risk assessment models to
        assist Federal departments and agencies responsible for the
        importation and safety of products to better identify and
        prevent the importation or introduction into commerce of unsafe
        products;
            (8) promote the development of tracing technology to
        provide consumers with access to the supply chain history of a
        product;
            (9) develop guidelines to facilitate information sharing
        relating to the importation and safety of products among
        businesses, United States trading partners, and departments and
        agencies of Federal, State, and local governments;
            (10) develop and maintain a public electronic directory of
        services to assist consumers and businesses in locating product
        safety information;
            (11) develop a framework for engaging United States trading
        partners in efforts to improve product safety, including
        cooperation and coordination related to safety standards,
        testing, certification, audits, and inspections before products
        are shipped to the United States;
            (12) establish an inventory of memoranda of understanding
        negotiated by Federal departments and agencies with foreign
        governments related to the importation and safety of products;
            (13) promote coordination among Federal departments and
        agencies seeking to negotiate new memoranda described in
        paragraph (11); and
            (14) develop guidelines to ensure that there is a unified
        effort to protect the health and safety of United States
        consumers, including--
                    (A) simplifying consumer-retailer interaction
                regarding products identified as unsafe;
                    (B) improving product labeling;
                    (C) developing comprehensive recordkeeping
                throughout the production, importation, and
                distribution of products; and
                    (D) increasing public access to information
                regarding--
                            (i) product safety standards, testing, and
                        certification;
                            (ii) enforcement of product safety laws;
                        and
                            (iii) product-related deaths, injuries, and
                        illness.
    (d) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Director may employ and fix the
        compensation of such officers and employees as may be necessary
        to assist the Director in carrying out the duties of the
        Director set forth by subsection (c).
            (2) Detail of government employees.--The Director may
        direct, with the concurrence of the Secretary of a department
        or head of an agency, the temporary reassignment within the
        Federal Government of personnel employed by such department or
        agency on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis to the
        Office.
    (e) Supervision.--The Director shall report to the Secretary of
Commerce.
    (f) Compensation.--Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:
            ``Director of Imported and Domestic Product Safety,
        Department of Commerce.''.

SEC. 4. PRODUCT SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Product Safety
Coordinating Council--
            (1) to improve the management, coordination, promotion, and
        oversight of product safety responsibilities; and
            (2) to assist the Director in--
                    (A) carrying out the functions of the Office set
                forth by section 3(c);
                    (B) developing the strategic plan under section 5;
                and
                    (C) developing the report under section 6.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Council shall consist of the Director
        and 1 individual designated by each of the following from their
        respective departments and agencies:
                    (A) The Commissioner of Customs and Border
                Protection of the Department of Homeland Security.
                    (B) The Under Secretary for International Trade of
                the Department of Commerce.
                    (C) The United States Trade Representative.
                    (D) The Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and
                Agricultural Affairs of the Department of State.
                    (E) The Under Secretary for Food Safety of the
                Department of Agriculture.
                    (F) The Commissioner of the Food and Drug
                Administration of the Department of Health and Human
                Services.
                    (G) The Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
                of the Department of Commerce.
                    (H) The Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety
                Commission.
                    (I) The Administrator of the National Highway
                Traffic Safety Administration of the Department of
                Transportation.
                    (J) The Administrator of the Environmental
                Protection Agency.
                    (K) The Administrator of the Alcohol and Tobacco
                Tax and Trade Bureau of the Department of the Treasury.
                    (L) The Attorney General.
                    (M) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control
                and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human
                Services.
                    (N) The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.
                    (O) The Chairman of the United States International
                Trade Commission.
                    (P) The Director of the Office of Management and
                Budget.
                    (Q) Such other officers of the United States as the
                Director determines necessary to carry out the
                functions of the Council.
            (2) Qualifications.--Each individual designated under
        paragraph (1) shall be selected from among individuals who
        are--
                    (A) involved in product safety and protection of
                the public from risks to safety; and
                    (B) qualified to serve on the Council.
    (c) Department and Agency Responsibilities.--
            (1) In general.--The department or agency of each member of
        the Council shall assist the Director in--
                    (A) developing and implementing a unified effort to
                protect the health and safety of United States
                consumers;
                    (B) ensuring that consumers and businesses have
                access to product safety information; and
                    (C) carrying out the duties of the Director set
                forth by section 3(c).
            (2) Cooperation.--Each member of the Council shall ensure
        that the department or agency the member represents--
                    (A) provides such assistance, information, and
                advice as the Director may request;
                    (B) complies with information sharing policies,
                procedures, guidelines, and standards established by
                the Director; and
                    (C) provides adequate resources to support the
                activities and operations of the Office.
    (d) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not less frequently than
monthly at the call of the Director.
    (e) Chairperson.--The Director shall be the chairperson of the
Council.

SEC. 5. STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) Strategic Plan Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Director shall, after consulting with the members of the Council,
submit to the President and to Congress a strategic plan.
    (b) Contents of Strategic Plan.--The strategic plan submitted under
subsection (a) shall contain--
            (1) a detailed description of the goals, objectives, and
        priorities of the Office and the Council;
            (2) a description of the methods for achieving such goals,
        objectives, and priorities;
            (3) a description of the performance measures that will be
        used to monitor results in achieving such goals, objectives,
        and priorities; and
            (4) an estimate of the resources necessary to achieve such
        goals, objectives, and priorities, and an estimate of the cost
        of such resources.

SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORT ON PRODUCT SAFETY.

    (a) Annual Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act and November 1 of each calendar year
thereafter, the Director shall submit to the President and to Congress
a written report on the safety of products.
    (b) Content of Report.--The report submitted under subsection (a)
shall contain a detailed description of how the duties set forth in
section 3(c) are being implemented.
    (c) Consultations.--The Director shall consult with the members of
the Council with respect to the preparation of the report required by
subsection (a). Any comments provided by the members of the Council for
a report under such subsection shall be submitted to the Director not
later than 1 month before the date such report is submitted to
Congress. The Director shall submit the report to Congress after taking
into account all comments received.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act and the activities of the Office.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF INTERAGENCY SUPPORT FOR PRODUCT SAFETY
              COORDINATION.

    The use of interagency funding and other forms of support is
authorized by Congress to carry out the functions and activities of the
Office and the functions and activities of the Council.

Output:
Imported and Domestic Product Safety Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Commerce an Office of Imported and Domestic Product Safety to carry out specified duties, including: (1) coordinating all departments and agencies that have product safety responsibilities in a way that protects the health and safety of U.S. consumers and provides consumers and businesses with access to product safety information; (2) improving the www.Recalls.gov website; and (3) developing a publicly accessible database with information about all mandatory and voluntary product safety actions taken by businesses, departments, and agencies.

Establishes a Product Safety Coordinating Council to assist the Office's director.