Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Golden Spike/Crossroads of the West
National Heritage Area Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the industrial, cultural, and natural heritage legacies
        of linking the United States by rail in northern Utah at the
        Crossroads of the West are nationally significant;
            (2) in the areas of northern Utah (including and in
        proximity to Ogden, Utah), linking the United States by rail at
        the Crossroads of the West helped establish and expand the
        industrial power of the United States;
            (3) the economic strength of the United States is connected
        integrally to the vitality of the intercontinental railways,
        which employ millions of workers;
            (4) the industrial and cultural heritage of the
        intercontinental railways at the Crossroads of the West
        includes social history and living cultural traditions of
        several generations;
            (5) the National Historic District in Ogden, Utah, is a
        prime example of the cultural heritage of the linking of the
        United States by rail at the Crossroads of the West;
            (6)(A) the Department of the Interior is responsible for
        protecting and interpreting the cultural and historic resources
        of the United States; and
            (B) there are significant examples of cultural and historic
        resources in Ogden, Utah, and northern Utah that merit the
        involvement of the Federal Government to develop programs and
        projects in cooperation with the city of Ogden, Utah, and other
        local and governmental bodies, to adequately conserve, protect,
        and interpret the heritage for the education and recreational
        benefit of people of the United States;
            (7) the city of Ogden, Utah, would be an appropriate entity
        to oversee the development of the Heritage Area; and
            (8) a 1993 National Park Service study, entitled ``Golden
        Spike Rail Feasibility Study'', demonstrated that sufficient
        historical resources exist to establish the Heritage Area.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to establish the Golden
Spike/Crossroads of the West National Heritage Area--
            (1) to foster a close working relationship with all levels
        of government, the private sector, and the local communities in
        Utah;
            (2) to empower communities in Utah to conserve their Golden
        Spike heritage while strengthening future economic
        opportunities; and
            (3) to conserve, interpret, and develop the historical,
        cultural, natural, and recreational resources related to the
        industrial and cultural heritage of the Heritage Area.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of Ogden, Utah.
            (2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
        Golden Spike/Crossroads of the West National Heritage Area
        established by section 4.
            (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
        the management plan for the Heritage Area required under
        section 6(a).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of the Interior.

SEC. 4. GOLDEN SPIKE/CROSSROADS OF THE WEST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of Utah the
Golden Spike/Crossroads of the West National Heritage Area.
    (b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the Heritage Area--
            (1) shall be those specified in the management plan
        approved under section 6; and
            (2) shall include land in Utah related to--
                    (A) Union Pacific Station in Ogden, Utah; and
                    (B) 24th and 25th Street Historic District in
                Ogden, Utah.
    (c) Map.--
            (1) Preparation.--The Secretary shall prepare a map of the
        Heritage Area.
            (2) Availability.--The map described in subparagraph (A)
        shall be on file and available for public inspection in the
        office of the Director of the National Park Service.
    (d) Administration.--The Heritage Area shall be administered in
accordance with this Act.
    (e) Study.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the City, shall
conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a national
heritage corridor from the City to Promontory Point.
    (f) Additions of Lands.--The Secretary may add land to the Heritage
Area in response to a request from the City.

SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF CITY AS MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

    (a) In General.--The City shall be the management entity for the
Heritage Area.
    (b) Federal Funding.--
            (1) Authorization to receive funds.--Subject to paragraph
        (2), the City may receive amounts appropriated to carry out
        this Act.
            (2) Disqualification.--If a management plan for the
        Heritage Area is not submitted to the Secretary in accordance
        with section 6, the City shall cease to be authorized to
        receive Federal funding under this Act until the date on which
        a management plan is submitted to the Secretary.
    (c) Authorities of City.--The City may, for purposes of preparing
and implementing the management plan, use Federal funds made available
under this Act--
            (1) to make grants and loans to the State of Utah
        (including political subdivisions), nonprofit organizations,
        and other persons;
            (2) to enter into cooperative agreements with or provide
        technical assistance to Federal agencies, the State of Utah
        (including political subdivisions), nonprofit organizations,
        and other persons;
            (3) to hire and compensate staff;
            (4) to obtain money from any source under any program or
        law requiring the recipient of the money to make a contribution
        in order to receive the money;
            (5) to contract for goods and services; and
            (6) for such other activities as are necessary to carry out
        the duties of the City under this Act.
    (d) Prohibition of Acquisition of Real Property.--The City shall
not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property
or any interest in real property.

SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT DUTIES OF THE CITY.

    (a) Heritage Area Management Plan.--
            (1) Submission for review by secretary.--Not later than 3
        years after the date of enactment of this Act, the City shall
        submit to the Secretary a management plan for the Heritage
        Area.
            (2) Plan requirements, generally.--A management plan
        submitted under this section shall--
                    (A) present comprehensive recommendations for the
                conservation, funding, management, and development of
                the Heritage Area;
                    (B) be prepared with public participation;
                    (C) take into consideration existing Federal,
                State, county, and local plans;
                    (D) involve residents, public agencies, and private
                organizations in the management of the Heritage Area;
                    (E) include a description of recommended actions
                that units of government and private organizations
                should take to protect the resources of the Heritage
                Area; and
                    (F) specify existing and potential sources of
                Federal and non-Federal funding for the conservation,
                management, and development of the Heritage Area.
            (3) Additional plan requirements.--The management plan
        shall include, as appropriate, the following:
                    (A) An inventory of resources contained in the
                Heritage Area that--
                            (i) shall include a list of property in the
                        Heritage Area that should be conserved,
                        restored, managed, developed, or maintained
                        because of the natural, cultural, or historic
                        significance of the property as it relates to
                        the themes of the Heritage Area; and
                            (ii) shall not include property that is
                        privately owned, unless the owner of the
                        property consents in writing to the inclusion.
                    (B) Recommendations for the interpretation of the
                Heritage Area, including recommendations for the
                development of intergovernmental cooperative agreements
                to manage the historical, cultural, and natural
                resources and recreational opportunities of the
                Heritage Area in a manner that maintains appropriate
                and compatible economic viability.
                    (C) A program for implementation of the management
                plan, including--
                            (i) plans for restoration and construction;
                        and
                            (ii) a description of any commitments that
                        have been made by persons interested in
                        management of the Heritage Area.
                    (D) An analysis of the means by which Federal,
                State, and local programs may best be coordinated to
                promote the purposes of this Act.
                    (E) An interpretive plan for the Heritage Area.
            (4) Approval and disapproval of the management plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after
                submission of the management plan by the City, the
                Secretary shall approve or disapprove the plan.
                    (B) No action on plan.--If the Secretary does not
                approve or disapprove the plan in accordance with
                subsection (A), the plan shall be considered approved.
                    (C) Disapproval.--If the Secretary disapproves the
                plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, in
                writing--
                            (i) advise the City of the reasons for the
                        disapproval; and
                            (ii) make recommendations to the City for
                        the revision of the plan.
                    (D) Proposed revisions to plan.--Not later than 60
                days after receipt from the City of proposed revisions
                to the plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove
                the proposed revisions.
                    (E) No action on proposed revisions.--If the
                Secretary does not approve or disapprove the proposed
                revisions to the plan in accordance with subparagraph
                (D), the plan and proposed revisions shall be
                considered approved.
    (b) Priorities.--The City shall give priority to the implementation
of actions, goals, and policies set forth in the management plan for
the Heritage Area, including--
            (1) the conservation of the Heritage Area;
            (2) the establishment and maintenance of interpretive
        exhibits in the Heritage Area;
            (3) the development of recreational opportunities in the
        Heritage Area;
            (4) the increase in public awareness of and appreciation
        for the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the
        Heritage Area;
            (5) the restoration of historic buildings that are located
        within the boundaries of the Heritage Area and related to the
        theme of the Heritage Area;
            (6) the placement of clear, consistent, and environmentally
        appropriate signs identifying access points and sites of
        interest throughout the Heritage Area; and
            (7) the encouragement of economic viability in the affected
        communities by appropriate means, in accordance with the goals
        of the management plan.
    (c) Consideration of Interests of Local Groups.--The City shall, in
preparing and implementing the management plan, consider the interests
of diverse units of government, businesses, private property owners,
and nonprofit groups in the Heritage Area.
    (d) Public Meetings.--The City shall conduct public meetings at
least annually regarding the implementation of the management plan.
    (e) Annual Reports.--The City shall, for each fiscal year in which
the City receives Federal funds under this Act, submit to the Secretary
an annual report that describes--
            (1) the accomplishments of the City;
            (2) the expenses and income of the City; and
            (3) each entity to which the City made a loan or grant
        during the year.
    (f) Cooperation With Audits.--The City shall, for any fiscal year
in which the City receives Federal funds under this Act, make available
for audit by Congress, the Secretary, and appropriate units of
government--
            (1) all records and other information pertaining to the
        expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations that the
        receiving organizations make available for audit; and
            (2) all records and other information pertaining to the
        expenditure of Federal funds.
    (g) Delegations.--
            (1) In general.--The City may delegate the responsibilities
        and actions under this section for each area or district
        identified in section 4(b)(2).
            (2) Review and approval.--All responsibilities and actions
        delegated under paragraph (1) shall be subject to review and
        approval by the City.

SEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Technical Assistance and Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide technical
        assistance and, subject to the availability of appropriations,
        grants, to assist in implementation of the management plan,
        to--
                    (A) the City; and
                    (B) on request of the City, units of government,
                nonprofit organizations, and other persons.
            (2) Prohibition of certain requirements.--The Secretary
        shall not, as a condition of the award of technical assistance
        or grants under this section, require any recipient of the
        technical assistance or grant to enact or modify land use
        restrictions.
            (3) Determinations regarding assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall determine
                whether, and in what amount, technical assistance or a
                grant shall be awarded under paragraph (1), giving
                preference to projects that provide a greater leverage
                of Federal funds.
                    (B) Criteria for determination.--A determination
                under subparagraph (A) shall be based on the relative
                degree to which the technical assistance or grant
                effectively--
                            (i) fulfills the objectives contained in
                        the management plan; and
                            (ii) achieves the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Provision of Information.--In cooperation with other Federal
agencies, the Secretary shall provide the general public with
information regarding the location and character of the Heritage Area.
    (c) Other Assistance.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative
agreements with public and private organizations for the purposes of
implementing this section.
    (d) Duties of Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal entity
conducting any activity directly affecting the Heritage Area shall--
            (1) consider the potential effect of the activity on the
        management plan; and
            (2) consult with the City with respect to the activity to
        minimize the adverse effects of the activity on the Heritage
        Area.

SEC. 8. LACK OF EFFECT ON LAND USE REGULATION AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.

    (a) Lack or Effect on Authority of Local Government.--Nothing in
this Act modifies or otherwise affects any authority of Federal, State,
or local governments to regulate any use of land under any other law
(including a regulation).
    (b) Lack of Zoning or Land Use Powers.--Nothing in this Act grants
powers of zoning or land use control to the City.
    (c) Local Authority and Private Property Not Affected.--Nothing in
this Act affects or authorizes the City to interfere with--
            (1) the rights of any person with respect to private
        property; or
            (2) any local zoning ordinance or land use plan of the
        State of Utah (including a political subdivision).

SEC. 9. SUNSET.

    The Secretary shall not make a grant or provide any assistance
under this Act after September 30, 2016.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act $1,000,000 for each fiscal year, except that the total
amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act shall not
exceed $10,000,000.
    (b) 50 Percent Match.--Federal funding provided under this Act may
not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any activity carried out
with Federal funds.

Output:
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of establishing a National Heritage Corridor from the city of Ogden to Promontory Point. Authorizes the Secretary to add to Area lands upon request from the city. Designates the city as the Area's management entity. Requires an Area management plan to be submitted by the city to the Secretary within three years after enactment of this Act. Outlines plan requirements, approval and disapproval procedures, and priorities. Requires the city, in preparing and implementing the management plan, to consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, private property owners, and nonprofit groups within the Area. Requires public meetings and annual reports.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance and grants to the city and the above entities for plan development and implementation. Prohibits the Secretary from making any grants or providing any assistance after September 30, 2016.
Authorizes appropriations, with a $10 million total limit for establishing the Area. Prohibits Federal funding from exceeding 50 percent of the cost of any activities carried out under this Act.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Quality Commitment Award
Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to provide for the establishment and
conduct of a national commitment to quality award program under which
awards are given to institutions of higher education that--
            (1) teach effective total quality management;
            (2) reorient their education programs to emphasize the
        value and prestige of pursuing careers in process manufacturing
        engineering;
            (3) apply total quality management to the operations of
        their institution of higher education; and
            (4) apply total quality management in their joint research
        and development contracts with private industry.

SEC. 3. AWARD PROGRAM.

    The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:

``SEC. 22. NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AWARD PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Established.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out an award
        program to be known as the National Commitment to Quality Award
        Program.
            ``(2) Contents.--In carrying out the award program
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall conduct a competition and make monetary
                awards in accordance with subsection (b)(1);
                    ``(B) may make special awards in accordance with
                subsection (b)(2); and
                    ``(C) shall provide each recipient of such a
                monetary or special award with a medal described in
                paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Medal.--Each recipient of an award under this section
        shall receive a medal bearing the inscriptions `National
        Commitment to Quality Award' and `The Quest for Excellence'.
        The medal shall be of such design and materials and bear such
        additional inscriptions as the Secretary may prescribe.
            ``(4) Designation.--Awards under this section shall be
        known as National Commitment to Quality Awards.
    ``(b) Awards.--
            ``(1) Competition for monetary awards.--(A) From amounts
        appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection (j), the
        Secretary shall periodically conduct a competition and make at
        least 3 monetary awards to institutions of higher education in
        accordance with the provisions of this section.
            ``(B) The monetary awards described in subparagraph (A)
        shall be in an amount equal to--
                    ``(i) $3,000,000 for the institution of higher
                education receiving first place in the competition
                described in subparagraph (A);
                    ``(ii) $2,000,000 for the institution receiving
                second place in such competition;
                    ``(iii) $1,000,000 for the institution receiving
                third place in such competition; and
                    ``(iv) not more than $1,000,000 for any other such
                institution receiving an award pursuant to such
                competition.
            ``(2) Specialized awards.--(A) From amounts appropriated
        pursuant to the authority of subsection (j), the Secretary may
        award to any institution of higher education that excels in
        teaching or practicing either total quality management or
        process manufacturing engineering services productivity
        improvement a specialized award.
            ``(B) The specialized award described in subparagraph (A)
        shall be in an amount which is not more than $500,000.
            ``(3) Application fee prohibited.--The Secretary shall not
        charge an institution of higher education a fee in order to
        apply for or receive an award under this section.
    ``(c) Making and Presentation of Awards.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President (on the basis of
        recommendations received from the Secretary), or the Secretary,
        shall periodically make awards to institutions of higher
        education which in the judgment of the President or the
        Secretary have substantially benefited the economic and social
        well being of the United States through activities that--
                    ``(A) teach effective total quality management
                techniques and approaches;
                    ``(B) demonstrate continuous improvement in the
                institution's total quality management curriculum;
                    ``(C) emphasize the value and prestige of pursuing
                careers in process manufacturing engineering;
                    ``(D) demonstrate continuous improvement in the
                institution's education program through application of
                total quality management principles within the
                institution; and
                    ``(E) demonstrate commitment and application of
                total quality management principles in joint research
                relationships that the institution maintains with
                private industry.
            ``(2) Presentation ceremony.--The presentation of the
        awards under this section shall be made by the President or the
        Secretary with such ceremonies as the President or the
        Secretary may deem proper.
            ``(3) Publication and ineligibility.--An institution of
        higher education to which an award is made under this section,
        and which agrees to help other institutions of higher education
        improve their total quality management curriculum may publicize
        its receipt of such award, but such institution shall be
        ineligible to receive another such award for a period of 5
        years.
            ``(4) Use of award.--An institution of higher education
        receiving an award under this section shall use the proceeds of
        such award to further improve the total quality management and
        process manufacturing engineering curriculum of such
        institution.
    ``(d) Award Criteria.--
            ``(1) In general.--Awards under this section shall be made
        to qualifying institutions of higher education that place an
        emphasis on--
                    ``(A) total quality management, including--
                            ``(i) leadership in teaching how to create
                        a quality culture;
                            ``(ii) leadership in teaching information
                        and analysis such as statistical process
                        contracts for quality improvement;
                            ``(iii) the effectiveness of the
                        institution's quality improvement program to
                        teach integration of quality requirements into
                        businesses' plans;
                            ``(iv) the success of the institution's
                        efforts to teach students how to realize the
                        full potential of the work force for quality;
                            ``(v) teaching quality awareness;
                            ``(vi) emphasis on customer satisfaction;
                            ``(vii) leadership in teaching how to
                        integrate the total quality management
                        philosophy; and
                            ``(viii) demonstrated success in teaching
                        students how to instill the full potential
                        total quality management philosophy in the work
                        force;
                    ``(B) the importance of process manufacturing,
                including--
                            ``(i) leadership in teaching a better
                        understanding of market forces and industry
                        needs, industrial processes, and manufacturing
                        and quality practices that are driven by market
                        pull, not science push;
                            ``(ii) leadership in developing and
                        teaching a more accelerated approach to
                        research, development, and manufacturing in
                        order to teach students how to move products
                        more quickly from the basic research phase to
                        the commercialization phase with an emphasis on
                        teamwork;
                            ``(iii) leadership in teaching better
                        integration of design and production, including
                        teaching students how to design with
                        manufacturability in mind, and to focus on
                        cost-effectiveness, quality reliability,
                        simplicity, flexibility, and modularity; and
                            ``(iv) leadership in teaching students to
                        give greater consideration to potential
                        commercial applications in the planning and
                        conduct of research and development through
                        input from potential users, and closer working
                        relationship between the national research
                        laboratories, industry, and universities.
    ``(e) Criteria for Qualification.--
            ``(1) In general.--(A) An institution of higher education
        may qualify for an award under this section only if such
        institution--
                    ``(i) applies to the Secretary in writing, for the
                award;
                    ``(ii) permits a rigorous evaluation in accordance
                with subparagraphs (B) and (C) of the success of the
                institution's curriculum for total quality management
                and process manufacturing engineering; and
                    ``(iii) meets such requirements and specifications
                as the Secretary, after receiving recommendations from
                the board of overseers, determines to be appropriate to
                achieve the purposes of this section.
            ``(B) In carrying out the provisions of clause (ii) of
        subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall develop evaluation
        criteria and procedures.
            ``(C) In applying the provisions of clause (iii) of
        subparagraph (A) with respect to any institution of higher
        education, the Secretary shall rely upon intensive evaluation
        by the board of overseers which shall--
                    ``(i) review the information submitted by the
                institution of higher education, and through a site
                visit verify the achievements of--
                            ``(I) the total quality management
                        curriculum and process manufacturing
                        engineering programs of such institution; and
                            ``(II) such institution in practicing total
                        quality management;
                    ``(ii) encompass all aspects of the institution of
                higher education's total quality management and process
                manufacturing engineering program, as well as such
                institution's future goals for its total quality
                management and process manufacturing engineering
                curriculum; and
                    ``(iii) include an analysis of whether the
                institution of higher education in practicing or
                applying total quality management to its relationships
                with industry and in its day-to-day administration of
                the institution.
            ``(2) Contractual arrangements.--The Secretary may, under
        appropriate contractual arrangements, carry out the Secretary's
        responsibilities under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph
        (1) through one or more broadbased nonprofit entities which are
        leaders in the field of quality improvement programs and which
        have a history of service to society.
            ``(3) Responsibilities of the board of overseers.--The
        board of overseers shall meet annually to review the work of
        the Secretary or the contractor and make such suggestions for
        the improvement of the award process as such board deems
        necessary. The board of overseers shall report the results of
        the award activities to the Secretary each fiscal year, along
        with its recommendations for improvement of the award process.
    ``(f) Information and Evaluation.--The Secretary shall ensure that
each applicant for an award under this section receives the complete
results of the evaluation of such institution conducted pursuant to
subsection (e)(1)(ii) as well as detailed explanations of all
suggestions for improvements. The Secretary shall also provide
information about the awards and successful total quality management
and process manufacturing engineering curriculum of the award-winning
institutions of higher education to each applicant for an award under
this section and other appropriate groups.
    ``(g) Funding.--The Secretary is authorized to seek and accept
gifts and donations of property or services from public and private
sources to carry out the award program assisted under this section.
    ``(h) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the
President and the Congress, within 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, a report on the progress, findings, and
conclusions of activities conducted pursuant to this section along with
a recommendation for possible modifications thereof.
    ``(i) Definitions.--For the purpose of this section--
            ``(1) the term `board of overseers' means the board of
        overseers established pursuant to section 17(d)(2)(B) of this
        Act for the year in which the determination is made;
            ``(2) the term `manufacturing process technology' means
        engineering training which specializes in understanding and
        implementing a manufacturing process under which a high quality
        product is produced in a timely fashion, including simulative
        engineering and the skills necessary for rapid representative
        prototyping;
            ``(3) the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Commerce;
        and
            ``(4) the term `total quality management' means a
        management approach which includes--
                    ``(A) systems thinking; and
                    ``(B) statistical proces control, theories of human
                behavior, leadership, and planning that is quality-
                driven, customer-oriented, and committed to teamwork.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year to
carry out this section.''.

Output:
National Quality Commitment Award Act of 1993 - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to establish the National Commitment to Quality Award Program involving the awarding of a medal and at least three monetary competitive awards to institutions of higher education.
Authorizes specialized monetary awards to any institution of higher education that excels in teaching or practicing either total quality management (TQM) or process manufacturing engineering services productivity improvement.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Opportunity Tax Credit
Extension Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. INCREASES IN HOPE SCHOLARSHIP CREDIT MADE PERMANENT.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 25A(b)(1) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to Hope Scholarship Credit)
are amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) 100 percent of so much of the qualified
                tuition and related expenses paid by the taxpayer
                during the taxable year (for education furnished to the
                eligible student during any academic period beginning
                in such taxable year) as does not exceed $2,000, plus
                    ``(B) 25 percent of such expenses so paid as
                exceeds $2,000 but does not exceed the applicable
                limit.''.
    (b) Credit Allowed for First 4 Years of Post-Secondary Education.--
Subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 25A(b)(2) of such Code are amended
by striking ``2'' each place it appears and inserting ``4''.
    (c) Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses To Include Required
Course Materials.--Subparagraph (A) of section 25A(f)(1) of such Code
is amended by striking ``and fees'' and inserting ``, fees, and course
materials''.
    (d) Increase in AGI Limits.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 25A(d) of such
        Code is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) Amount of reduction.--
                    ``(A) Hope scholarship credit.--In the case of the
                Hope Scholarship Credit, the amount determined under
                this paragraph is the amount which bears the same ratio
                to the credit which would be determined under
                subsection (a)(1) (without regard to this subsection)
                as--
                            ``(i) the excess of--
                                    ``(I) the taxpayer's modified
                                adjusted gross income for such taxable
                                year, over
                                    ``(II) $80,000 ($160,000 in the
                                case of a joint return), bears to
                            ``(ii) $10,000 ($20,000 in the case of a
                        joint return).
                    ``(B) Lifetime learning credit.--In the case of the
                Lifetime Learning Credit, the amount determined under
                this paragraph is the amount which bears the same ratio
                to the credit which would be determined under
                subsection (a)(2) (without regard to this subsection)
                as--
                            ``(i) the excess of--
                                    ``(I) the taxpayer's modified
                                adjusted gross income for such taxable
                                year, over
                                    ``(II) $40,000 ($80,000 in the case
                                of a joint return), bears to
                            ``(ii) $10,000 ($20,000 in the case of a
                        joint return).''.
            (2) Conforming amendments to inflation adjustments.--
                    (A) Amount of credit.--Subparagraph (A) of section
                25A(h)(1) of such Code is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``2001'' and inserting
                        ``2010'',
                            (ii) by striking ``calendar year 2000'' and
                        inserting ``calendar year 2009'', and
                            (iii) by striking ``$1,000'' and inserting
                        ``$2,000''.
                    (B) Income limits.--
                            (i) Paragraph (2) of section 25A(h) of such
                        Code is amended by redesignating subparagraphs
                        (A) and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C),
                        respectively, and by inserting before
                        subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated) the
                        following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) Hope scholarship credit.--In the case of a
                taxable year beginning after 2010, the $80,000 and
                $160,000 amounts in subsection (d)(2)(A) shall each be
                increased by an amount equal to--
                            ``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                            ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment
                        determined under section 1(f)(3) for the
                        calendar year in which the taxable year begins,
                        determined by substituting `calendar year 2009'
                        for `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B)
                        thereof.''.
                            (ii) Subparagraph (B) of section 25A(h)(2)
                        of such Code, as redesignated by clause (i), is
                        amended--
                                    (I) by striking ``In General'' in
                                the heading and inserting ``Lifetime
                                Learning Credit'', and
                                    (II) by striking ``subsection
                                (d)(2)'' and inserting ``subsection
                                (d)(2)(B)''.
                    (C) Rounding.--Subparagraph (C) of section
                25A(h)(2) of such Code, as redesignated by subparagraph
                (B)(i), is amended by inserting ``or (B)'' after
                ``subparagraph (A)''.
    (e) Credit Allowed Against Minimum Tax, Etc.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (i) of section 25A of such Code
        is amended by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (7)
        and by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (1)
        and (2), respectively.
            (2) Paragraph (2) of section 25A(i) of such Code, as
        redesignated by paragraph (1), is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting
                ``subsection (d)'', and
                    (B) by striking ``paragraph (5)'' and inserting
                ``paragraph (1)''.
            (3) The heading for such subsection (i) is amended to read
        as follows:
    ``(i) Hope Scholarship Credit Allowed Against Minimum Tax; Portion
of Credit Made Refundable.--''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010.

Output: American Opportunity Tax Credit Extension Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the Hope Scholarship tax credit, to: (1) make permanent increases in the amount of such tax credit; (2) allow such credit for the first four years of post-secondary education (currently, first two years); (3) include course materials in the definition of qualified tuition and related expenses for purposes of such credit; (4) increase adjusted gross income levels for purposes of determining eligibility for such credit and the lifetime learning tax credit; and (5) allow such credit as an offset against the alternative minimum tax (AMT).


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and
Immigration Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Under Federal immigration law, prospective immigrants,
        foreign students, refugees, and tourists who are infected with
        the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are prohibited from
        entering the United States. Applicants for permanent residence
        and refugee status are required to be tested for HIV infection.
            (2) Applicants for temporary admission as nonimmigrants,
        such as tourists and foreign students, are required to disclose
        their HIV status when applying for a visa. If questioned, such
        applicants may be required to undergo an HIV test.
            (3) The Secretary of Homeland Security may issue a waiver
        to the HIV prohibition, on a case-by-case basis, only to any
        HIV-positive individual who--
                    (A)(i) applies for permanent admission as an
                immigrant;
                    (ii) is the parent, spouse, unmarried son or
                daughter, or minor adopted child of a United States
                citizen or a permanent resident, or a refugee or asylee
                adjusting to immigrant status; and
                    (iii) can establish that--
                            (I) the danger to the public health of the
                        United States created by the applicant's
                        admission would be minimal;
                            (II) the possibility of the spread of the
                        infection created by the applicant's admission
                        would be minimal; and
                            (III) there would be no cost incurred by
                        any level of government agency of the United
                        States without the prior consent of that
                        agency;
                    (B)(i) applies for admission as a refugee;
                    (ii) is eligible for admission for humanitarian
                purposes or to assure family unity, or whose admission
                is otherwise in the public interest; and
                    (iii) meets the requirements described in
                subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(iii); or
                    (C) applies for a short-term nonimmigrant visa,
                including--
                            (i) a tourist who meets the requirements
                        described in subclauses (I) through (III) of
                        subparagraph (A)(iii) and intends to remain in
                        the United States for less than 30 days; and
                            (ii) a participant in a designated event,
                        such as a conference or international sporting
                        event and intends to remain in the United
                        States for less than 10 days.
            (4) The travel and immigration ban on HIV-positive
        individuals--
                    (A) was implemented in 1987 by regulations issued
                through the Public Health Service of the Department of
                Health and Human Services; and
                    (B) requires HIV screening for all persons over 14
                years of age who apply for an immigrant or nonimmigrant
                visa.
            (5) Section 212(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Immigration and
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(1)(A)(i)) authorizes the
        Secretary of Health and Human Services to prescribe regulations
        to determine which diseases are considered ``communicable
        diseases of public health significance'' that would exclude
        noncitizens with such diseases from entering the United States.
            (6) In 1991, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
        after conducting a public health analysis, proposed ending the
        HIV travel and immigration ban by removing HIV from the list of
        communicable diseases of public health significance. The
        proposal was eventually dropped due to opposition from the
        Congress.
            (7) In 1993, Congress revoked the authority of the
        Secretary of Health and Human Services to make a public health
        determination regarding HIV status as grounds for
        inadmissibility for potential foreign students, tourists,
        refugees, and immigrants to the United States by specifically
        designating ``infection with the etiologic agent for acquired
        immune deficiency syndrome'' as a communicable disease of
        public health significance under section 212(a)(1)(A)(i) of the
        Immigration and Nationality Act.
            (8) The United States is 1 of 13 countries with a law that
        bans travel and immigration for persons with HIV. The other
        countries are Armenia, Brunei, China, Iraq, Qatar, South Korea,
        Libya, Moldova, Oman, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, and
        Sudan.
            (9) The HIV travel and immigration ban impacts thousands of
        prospective HIV-positive foreign students, tourists, refugees
        and immigrants who may be denied entry into the United States
        due solely to their HIV status.
            (10) The HIV travel and immigration ban may discourage some
        foreign students, refugees, and nonpermanent residents who are
        in the United States and who may be at risk of infection from
        seeking testing, treatment, or care for HIV/AIDS.
            (11) The United Nations, the Joint United Nations Programme
        on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the World Health Organization oppose
        any restrictions on travel and immigration for people living
        with HIV/AIDS. The 2006 Consolidated Version of the United
        Nation's International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights,
        produced jointly by the Office of the United Nations High
        Commissioner for Human Rights and UNAIDS, states ``There is no
        public health rationale for restricting liberty of movement or
        choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status. According to
        current international health regulations, the only disease
        which requires a certificate for international travel is yellow
        fever. Therefore, any restrictions on these rights based on
        suspected or real HIV status alone, including HIV screening of
        international travellers, are discriminatory and cannot be
        justified by public health concerns. . . . Where States
        prohibit people living with HIV from longer-term residency due
        to concerns about economic costs, States should not single out
        HIV/AIDS, as opposed to comparable conditions, for such
        treatment and should establish that such costs would indeed be
        incurred in the case of the individual alien seeking residency.
        In considering entry applications, humanitarian concerns, such
        as family reunification and the need for asylum, should
        outweigh economic considerations.''.
            (12) On World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006, the President
        proposed streamlining the current waiver process for HIV-
        positive individuals seeking to enter the United States on
        short-term business or tourist visas for up to 60 days by
        granting them a categorical waiver. If implemented, the
        President's proposal would only affect the waiver process for
        short-term visitors, and would not affect HIV-positive
        individuals seeking permanent residence or nontourist visas.
            (13) There is no scientific evidence to support the claim
        that the HIV travel and immigration ban is an effective way to
        prevent the spread of HIV or that it provides any economic
        benefit by reducing costs to the public health care system.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT.

    Section 212(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1182(a)(1)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``which shall include
        infection with the etiologic agent for acquired immune
        deficiency syndrome,''; and
            (2) by striking ``is inadmissibility'' and inserting ``is
        inadmissible''.

SEC. 4. REVIEW OF TRAVEL AND IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS REGARDING HIV.

    (a) Review.--Not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall convene a
panel of public health experts, including nongovernmental experts, to
review all policies regarding HIV as a communicable disease of public
health significance under section 212(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182 (a)(1)(A)(i)), including--
            (1) the results of the last analysis of the policy
        conducted by the Public Health Service; and
            (2) a 60-day public comment period initiated after
        sufficient public notice in the Federal Register.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after initiating the review
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall--
            (1) make a determination regarding the continued listing of
        HIV as a communicable disease of public health significance
        under section 212(a)(1)(A)(i) of such Act;
            (2) submit a report to Congress containing the results of
        such review, including--
                    (A) the determination reached by the review
                process;
                    (B) the rationale for the determination;
                    (C) the anticipated public health impact of the
                determination in relation to other communicable
                diseases;
                    (D) the estimated costs of implementing the
                determination;
                    (E) the names and affiliations of members of the
                review panel; and
                    (F) a brief summary of the public comments; and
            (3) make the report described in paragraph (2) available to
        the public.

Output:
HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and Immigration Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) bar to U.S. admission.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) convene a panel of public health experts to review immigration policies regarding HIV as a communicable disease of public health significance (and thus a health-related ground for inadmissibility); and (2) make a determination and report to Congress regarding the continued listing of HIV as a health-related ground for inadmissibility.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic
River Study Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Kissimmee River has undergone, over the course of
        two decades, the largest river restoration effort in the world.
            (2) Extending approximately 105 miles from Orlando to Lake
        Okeechobee, the Kissimmee River forms the headwaters of Lake
        Okeechobee and the Everglades and serves as a vital component
        of ecosystem restoration in South Florida as a whole.
            (3) The Kissimmee River Restoration Project has
        significantly improved approximately 63,000 acres of wetlands
        within the Kissimmee River watershed and reestablished an
        environment suitable for fish, wildlife, and the wetland plants
        that existed prior to the Kissimmee River's channelization in
        the 1960s.
            (4) The Kissimmee River Restoration Project is expected to
        be completed in 2020, at which point it is expected to
        reestablish historic hydrologic conditions, recreate historic
        river and floodplain connectivity, recreate the historic mosaic
        of wetland plant communities, and restore historic biological
        diversity and functionality.
            (5) After decades of restoration efforts and the
        expenditure of nearly a billion dollars, upon completion of the
        Kissimmee River Restoration Project, a study should be
        conducted to determine the eligibility of including the fully
        restored Kissimmee River into the National Wild and Scenic
        River program to preserve the fully restored free-flowing
        condition and immediate environment of the river for the
        benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.
            (6) Inclusion of the Kissimmee River into the National Wild
        and Scenic River program would be a fitting tribute to the hard
        work of the Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water
        Management District's restoration work.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.

    (a) Designation for Potential Addition.--Section 5(a) of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
            ``(__) Kissimmee river, florida.--The segment from the
        southern shore of Lake Kissimmee to its confluence with Lake
        Okeechobee.''.
    (b) Study.--Section 5(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(__) Kissimmee river, florida.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the
                date on which funds are made available to carry out
                this paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall
                complete a study of the Kissimmee River, as described
                in subsection (a)(__), and submit a report describing
                the results of such study to the Committee on Natural
                Resources of the House of Representatives and the
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
                Senate.
                    ``(B) Report requirements.--The report required
                under subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) include a discussion of the effect of
                        the designation of the segment to be studied
                        under subsection (a)(__) on--
                                    ``(I) existing commercial and
                                recreational activities, such as cattle
                                ranching, dairy production, hunting,
                                fishing, trapping, recreational
                                shooting, motor boat use, or bridge
                                construction;
                                    ``(II) the authorization,
                                construction, operation, maintenance,
                                or improvement of energy production and
                                transmission infrastructure;
                                    ``(III) military operations; and
                                    ``(IV) the authority of State and
                                local governments to manage the
                                activities described in subclauses (I)
                                and (II); and
                            ``(ii) identify--
                                    ``(I) all authorities that will
                                authorize or require the Secretary of
                                the Interior to influence local land
                                use decisions (such as zoning) or place
                                restrictions on non-Federal land if the
                                area studied under subsection (a)(__)
                                is designated under the Wild and Scenic
                                Rivers Act;
                                    ``(II) all authorities that the
                                Secretary of the Interior may use to
                                condemn property if the area studied
                                under subsection (a)(__) is designated
                                under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act;
                                and
                                    ``(III) all private property
                                located in the area to be studied under
                                subsection (a)(__).
                    ``(C) Noninterference.--This study shall not
                interfere with the Kissimmee River Restoration Project
                authorized under section 101(8) of the Water Resources
                Development Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-580).''.
    (c) No Negative Impact.--Nothing authorized by this Act may
negatively impact agricultural production in the Kissimmee River basin.
    (d) No Effect on Management.--This Act and the amendments made by
this Act shall not interfere with the current management of the area of
the Kissimmee River described in section 5(a)(__) of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act, nor shall the fact that such area is listed for
study under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) be
used as justification for more restrictive management, such as
wilderness or as a category of wild

and scenic river, until Congress acts on the study recommendations.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 16, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2017 This bill amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the segment of the Kissimmee River in Florida from the southern shore of Lake Kissimmee to its confluence with Lake Okeechobee for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.  The Department of the Interior shall complete a study of such river segment. The study shall not interfere with the Kissimmee River Restoration Project authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 1992.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Company Capital Formation Act
of 2011''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT CERTAIN SECURITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15
U.S.C. 77c(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(b) The Commission'' and inserting the
        following:
    ``(b) Additional Exemptions.--
            ``(1) Small issues exemptive authority.--The Commission'';
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Additional issues.--The Commission shall by rule or
        regulation add a class of securities to the securities exempted
        pursuant to this section in accordance with the following terms
        and conditions:
                    ``(A) The aggregate offering amount of all
                securities offered and sold within the prior 12-month
                period in reliance on the exemption added in accordance
                with this paragraph shall not exceed $50,000,000.
                    ``(B) The securities may be offered and sold
                publicly.
                    ``(C) The securities shall not be restricted
                securities within the meaning of the Federal securities
                laws and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
                    ``(D) The civil liability provision in section
                12(a)(2) shall apply to any person offering or selling
                such securities.
                    ``(E) The issuer may solicit interest in the
                offering prior to filing any offering statement, on
                such terms and conditions as the Commission may
                prescribe in the public interest or for the protection
                of investors.
                    ``(F) The Commission shall require the issuer to
                file audited financial statements with the Commission
                annually.
                    ``(G) Such other terms, conditions, or requirements
                as the Commission may determine necessary in the public
                interest and for the protection of investors, which may
                include--
                            ``(i) a requirement that the issuer prepare
                        and electronically file with the Commission and
                        distribute to prospective investors an offering
                        statement, and any related documents, in such
                        form and with such content as prescribed by the
                        Commission, including audited financial
                        statements and a description of the issuer's
                        business operations, its financial condition,
                        its corporate governance principles, its use of
                        investor funds, and other appropriate matters;
                        and
                            ``(ii) disqualification provisions under
                        which the exemption shall not be available to
                        the issuer or its predecessors, affiliates,
                        officers, directors, underwriters, or other
                        related persons, which shall be substantially
                        similar to the disqualification provisions
                        contained in the regulations adopted in
                        accordance with section 926 of the Dodd-Frank
                        Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
                        (15 U.S.C. 77d note).
            ``(3) Limitation.--Only the following types of securities
        may be exempted under a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to
        paragraph (2): equity securities, debt securities, and debt
        securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests,
        including any guarantees of such securities.
            ``(4) Periodic disclosures.--Upon such terms and conditions
        as the Commission determines necessary in the public interest
        and for the protection of investors, the Commission by rule or
        regulation may require an issuer of a class of securities
        exempted under paragraph (2) to make available to investors and
        file with the Commission periodic disclosures regarding the
        issuer, its business operations, its financial condition, its
        corporate governance principles, its use of investor funds, and
        other appropriate matters, and also may provide for the
        suspension and termination of such a requirement with respect
        to that issuer.
            ``(5) Adjustment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
        enactment of the Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011
        and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall review the
        offering amount limitation described in paragraph (2)(A) and
        shall increase such amount as the Commission determines
        appropriate. If the Commission determines not to increase such
        amount, it shall report to the Committee on Financial Services
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking,
        Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on its reasons for not
        increasing the amount.''.
    (b) Treatment as Covered Securities for Purposes of NSMIA.--Section
18(b)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77r(b)(4)) is
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; or'' at the end
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E),
        and inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
                    ``(D) a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to
                section 3(b)(2) and such security is--
                            ``(i) offered or sold on a national
                        securities exchange; or
                            ``(ii) offered or sold to a qualified
                        purchaser as defined by the Commission pursuant
                        to paragraph (3) with respect to that purchase
                        or sale.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(5) of the Securities Act of
1933 is amended by striking ``section 3(b)'' and inserting ``section
3(b)(1)''.

SEC. 3. STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF STATE BLUE SKY LAWS ON REGULATION A
              OFFERINGS.

    Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General shall--
            (1) conduct a study on the impact of State laws regulating
        securities offerings (commonly referred to as ``Blue Sky
        laws'') on offerings made under Regulation A (17 C.F.R. 230.251
        et seq.); and
            (2) transmit a report on the findings of the study to the
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives
        and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
        Senate.

Output:
Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exempt from its regulation a class of securities for which the aggregate offering amount of all securities offered and sold within the prior 12-month period in reliance on such exemption is between $5 million and $50 million, subject to specified terms and conditions.

Limits such an exemption to equity securities, debt securities, and debt securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests, including any guarantees of such securities.

Authorizes the SEC to: (1) require an issuer of such exempted class of securities to make periodic disclosures available to investors regarding the issuer, its business operations, its financial condition, and its use of investor funds; and (2) provide for the suspension and termination of such a requirement with respect to that issuer.

Requires the SEC to: (1) review and increase biennially such offering amount limitation, as appropriate; and (2) report to certain congressional committees on its reasons for not increasing the amount if it determines not to do so.

Treats as a covered security with respect to a transaction exempt from registration requirements pursuant to a rule or regulation adopted under this Act any such security offered or sold: (1) on a national securities exchange, or (2) to a qualified purchaser.

Directs the Comptroller General to study the impact of state laws regulating securities offerings (Blue Sky laws) on offerings made under Regulation A (which specifies the terms and conditions of exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933).


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Iran and Hizballah Western
Hemisphere Prevention Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On June 26, 2017, Ali Issa Chamas, a dual Paraguayan-
        Lebanese national reportedly with ties to Hizballah, was
        indicted by a Miami Federal grand jury for drug trafficking
        after being arrested in the Tri-Border Area of Argentina,
        Paraguay, and Brazil for allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine to
        the United States.
            (2) On June 8, 2017, the Department of Justice announced
        the arrest of Ali Kourani and Samer El Debek for attempting to
        provide support to Hizballah, including in Panama, which
        involved locating the United States and Israeli Embassies and
        casing security procedures at the Panama Canal.
            (3) In April 2017, Commander, United States Southern
        Command, Admiral Kurt Tidd testified to Congress that ``as a
        continuing state sponsor of terrorism, Iranian involvement in
        the Western Hemisphere is always a matter of concern [and] with
        the easing of economic sanctions, Iran may be seeking to
        rebuild its relationships in the region''.
            (4) In February 2017, the United States imposed sanctions
        on Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami, designating him
        as a drug kingpin for facilitating narcotics to the United
        States. A subsequent CNN investigation linked El Aissami to
        ``173 Venezuelan passports and IDs that were issued to
        individuals from the Middle East, including people connected to
        the terrorist group Hezbollah''.
            (5) In September 2016, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
        conducted his first visit to Latin America, visiting Venezuela
        and Cuba. In the same month, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad
        Zarif also visited Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico,
        Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
            (6) In February 2016, a Federal prosecutor in Argentina
        alleged that Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman's death in
        January 2015 was a homicide. Nisman had previously published
        two reports documenting Iranian activities in several countries
        in the region and filed a judicial complaint against former
        Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for
        minimizing Iranian involvement in the 1994 terrorist attack
        against the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) that
        killed 85 people.
            (7) In February 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement
        Administration (DEA) announced the disruption of a Hizballah
        network as part of DEA's ``Project Cassandra'', which affirmed
        that members of Hizballah's External Security Organization
        Business Affairs Component (BAC) had established business
        relationships with South American drug cartels, such as La
        Oficina de Envigado.
            (8) According to the Department of State's 2015 Country
        Report on Terrorism, Hezbollah maintains a presence in the
        Western Hemisphere ``with members, facilitators, and supporters
        engaging in activity in support of the organization'', which
        includes ``efforts to build Hezbollah's infrastructure in South
        America and fundraising, both through licit and illicit
        means''.
            (9) In 2015, former Commander, United States Southern
        Command, General Kelly testified to Congress that ``our limited
        intelligence capabilities make it difficult to fully assess the
        amount of terrorist financing generated in Latin America, or
        understand the scope of possible criminal-terrorist
        collaboration''.
            (10) In November 2014, Brazilian media published police
        reports that revealed that Hizballah helped a Brazilian prison
        gang, the First Capital Command (PCC), obtain weapons in
        exchange for the protection of prisoners of Lebanese origin
        tied to Hizballah. Those same reports also found that Lebanese
        traffickers tied to Hizballah helped sell C4 explosives that
        the PCC allegedly stole in Paraguay.
            (11) In November 2014, Peruvian counterterrorism police
        arrested Mohammed Amadar, a Lebanese citizen, who was
        reportedly a Hizballah operative, after finding traces of
        explosive materials and detonators at his home. His targets
        reportedly included places associated with Israelis and Jews in
        Peru, the Israeli embassy in Lima, and Jewish community
        institutions.
            (12) Hizballah is classified by the Department of State as
        a Foreign Terrorist Organization, but multiple reports have
        found that Hizballah has significant and expanding ties to
        transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and money-
        laundering activities in the Western Hemisphere, including
        partnerships with Mexico's Los Zetas, Colombia's Revolutionary
        Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and Brazil's Primeriro Comando
        de la Capital.
            (13) As of June 2017, the United States has sanctioned 11
        individuals and four companies in the Tri-Border Area of
        Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil for their involvement with
        Hizballah's terror finance networks. However, multiple reports
        show that despite United States measures, some of these
        individuals who are Specially Designated Global Terrorists
        (SDGTs) under Executive Order 13224 of September 2001 continue
        to have access to the global financial system.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to
continue the policy outlined in the Hizballah International Financing
Prevention Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-102) and the government-wide
strategy outlined in Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of
2012 (Public Law 112-220) to prevent further penetration of Iran and
Hizballah into the Western Hemisphere and prioritize United States
diplomatic efforts to engage countries in the Western Hemisphere to
disrupt and degrade Hizballah's illicit networks operating in the
region.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Western hemisphere.--The term ``Western Hemisphere''
        has the meaning given such term in section 4(1) of the
        Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012 (Public
        Law 112-220; 22 U.S.C. 8701 note).
            (2) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant
        congressional committees'' has the meaning given such term in
        section 4(2) of the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere
        Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-220; 22 U.S.C. 8701 note).
            (3) Hizballah.--The term ``Hizballah'' has the meaning
        given such term in section 102(f) of the Hizballah
        International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-
        102; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
            (4) Hostile activities.--The term ``hostile activities''
        means any activities that promote anti-American or undemocratic
        views that threaten United States national security through
        government-to-government, private sector, nongovernmental
        organizations, or public diplomacy engagement.

SEC. 5. UNITED STATES STRATEGY TO PREVENT HOSTILE ACTIVITIES BY IRAN
              AND DISRUPT AND DEGRADE HIZBALLAH'S ILLICIT NETWORKS IN
              THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
relevant congressional committees a strategy to prevent hostile
activities by Iran and disrupt and degrade Hizballah's illicit networks
in the Western Hemisphere that--
            (1) identifies Department of State priorities, in
        coordination with other executive branch agencies, for defining
        United States policy to protect United States interests from
        Iranian and Hizballah threats in the Western Hemisphere;
            (2) involves a whole-of-government approach led by the
        Secretary of State, in coordination with other executive branch
        agencies, to ensure that information-sharing, interdictions,
        arrests, investigations, indictments, sanctions, and
        designations related to Hizballah individuals or networks in
        the Western Hemisphere are integrated, coordinated, and
        publicly communicated by the United States in a manner that
        supports United States interests;
            (3) outlines a counter-network disruption campaign that
        includes the input of other executive branch agencies and that
        uses all appropriate United States national tools;
            (4) describes Iranian and Hizballah activities in the
        Western Hemisphere, their relationships with transnational
        criminal organizations in the region, their use of the region's
        commodities trade to engage in illicit activities, and their
        use of Latin American and Caribbean visas, including through
        Citizenship by Investment Programs to seek admittance into the
        United States, as well as a plan to address any security
        vulnerabilities to the United States;
            (5) includes a review of all relevant United States
        sanctions that relate to Hizballah's activities in Latin
        America and the Caribbean and an assessment of their use,
        effectiveness, and any capability gaps;
            (6) includes a review of the use of the Department of
        State's rewards program under section 36 of the State
        Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2708) to obtain
        information related to Latin America-based Hizballah operatives
        and illicit networks and an assessment of the effectiveness of
        this program for targeting Hizballah in the Western Hemisphere;
            (7) includes a review of all relevant United States
        sanctions on financial institutions in Latin America and the
        Caribbean that engage in activities outlined by section 102 of
        Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015
        (Public Law 114-102; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) and an assessment of
        the use of the authorities outlined, their effectiveness, and
        recommendations for improvement;
            (8) describes Hizballah criminal support networks,
        including country facilitation, in the Western Hemisphere and
        outlines a United States approach to partners in the region to
        address those illicit networks and build country capacity to
        combat the transnational criminal activities of Hizballah; and
            (9) includes a review of the actions of governments in the
        Western Hemisphere to identify, investigate, and prosecute
        Latin America-based Hizballah operatives, and enforce sanctions
        either personally or to their business interests of Latin
        America-based Hizballah operatives as well as recommendations
        for United States action towards governments who refuse to
        impose sanctions or who willingly facilitate Latin America-
        based Hizballah illicit activities.
    (b) Form.--The strategy required by subsection (b) shall be
submitted in unclassified form to the greatest extent possible but may
include a classified annex.

SEC. 6. UNITED STATES BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT ON
              HIZBALLAH IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

    (a) Bilateral Engagement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall instruct the Secretary
of State to prioritize United States diplomatic engagement with
countries in the Western Hemisphere to increase cooperation and build
governments' capacity to prevent hostile activities by Iran and disrupt
and degrade Hizballah's illicit networks operating in the region. Such
diplomatic engagement may include--
            (1) efforts to target and expose illicit networks, arrest
        perpetrators, freeze assets, and attack Iran and Hizballah's
        use of illicit networks using international trade and banking
        systems;
            (2) efforts to revoke or deny visas from those implicated
        in Hizballah activity in the region, including lawyers,
        accountants, business partners, and service providers and
        politicians who knowingly facilitate or fail to take measures
        to counter Hizballah's illicit finance in their own
        jurisdictions;
            (3) efforts to assist willing nations with the development
        of counter-organized crime legislation, the strengthening of
        financial investigative capacity, and a fully-vetted counter-
        organized crime judicial model in places plagued with
        corruption; and
            (4) efforts to persuade governments in the region to list
        Hizballah as a terrorist organization.
    (b) Multilateral Engagement.--
            (1) In general.--Title I of the Hizballah International
        Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-102; 129 Stat.
        2206; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by adding at the end the
        following:

``SEC. 103. DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES.

    ``(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            ``(1) the designation of Hizballah as a terrorist
        organization by the Gulf Cooperation Council represents a
        positive step; and
            ``(2) the United States should provide necessary technical
        and other advice to the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council
        to enhance the effectiveness of that designation.
    ``(b) Diplomatic Initiatives.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this section, the President shall instruct--
            ``(1) the United States Permanent Representative to the
        Organization of American States to work to secure support at
        the Organization of American States for a resolution that would
        declare Hizballah as a terrorist organization and address
        Hizballah's illicit networks operating in the region;
            ``(2) the United States Ambassador to the Organization for
        Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to work to secure a
        report on compliance by participating states with OSCE Decision
        Number 1063, the `Consolidated Framework for the Fight Against
        Terrorism', in regard to Hizballah, with particular focus on
        the mandate to `suppress the financing of terrorism, including
        its links with money-laundering and illegal economic
        activities', especially as it relates transatlantic relations,
        including with Latin America and the Caribbean; and
            ``(3) United States diplomats to work with international
        forums, including the Financial Action Task Force, to identify
        government entities within Latin America and the Caribbean that
        provide support, facilitation, or assistance to individuals
        affiliated with Hizballah in the Western Hemisphere.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this section, and every 180 days thereafter for a period not to
exceed 3 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate a report describing efforts of the
United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American
States with respect to matters described in subsection (b)(1), efforts
of the United States Ambassador to the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe with respect to the matters described in
subsection (b)(2), and efforts by United States diplomats with respect
to the matters described in subsection (b)(3).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for the
        Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 is
        amended by inserting after the item related to section 102 the
        following new item:

``Sec. 103. Diplomatic initiatives.''.

SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT BRIEFINGS.

    The Secretary of State provide to the relevant congressional
committees annual briefings that review Department of State efforts to
implement the strategy to prevent hostile activities by Iran and
disrupt and degrade Hizballah's illicit networks in the Western
Hemisphere under section 5 and United States bilateral and multilateral
engagement with respect to Hizballah in the Western Hemisphere in
accordance with section 6 and the amendments made by section 6.

SEC. 8. REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The President shall, not later than 120 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate regulations as
necessary for the implementation of this Act and the amendments made by
this Act.
    (b) Notification to Congress.--Not less than 10 days before the
promulgation of regulations under subsection (a), the President shall
notify the relevant congressional committees of the proposed
regulations and the provisions of this Act that the regulations are
implementing.

SEC. 9. SUNSET.

    This Act shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date
on which the President certifies to Congress that Hizballah meets the
requirements described in section 303 of Hizballah International
Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-102; 50 U.S.C. 1701
note).

Output: Iran and Hizballah Western Hemisphere Prevention Act of 2017 This bill declares it to be U.S. policy to prevent further penetration of Iran and Hizballah into the Western Hemisphere and to prioritize diplomatic efforts to engage countries in the hemisphere to disrupt and degrade Hizballah's illicit networks operating in the region. The Department of State shall submit a strategy to prevent hostile activities by Iran and disrupt and degrade Hizballah's illicit networks in the hemisphere. The President shall instruct the State Department to prioritize U.S. diplomatic engagement with countries in the hemisphere in order to increase cooperation and build the capacity of the governments of those countries to prevent such activities and disrupt and degrade such networks.  The bill amends the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 to require the President to instruct:    the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) to work to secure OAS support for a resolution that would declare Hizballah to be a terrorist organization and address such illicit networks; and  the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to work in securing a report on compliance by participating states with OSCE Decision Number 1063, the Consolidated Framework for the Fight Against Terrorism, with regard to Hizballah; and  U.S. diplomats to work with international forums to identify government entities in Latin America and the Caribbean that support individuals affiliated with Hizballah in the hemisphere.   The State Department must provide to the relevant congressional committees annual briefings that review its efforts to implement such strategy and U.S. bilateral and multilateral engagement with respect to Hizballah in the hemisphere.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Mergers,
Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. REGISTRATION EXEMPTION FOR MERGER AND ACQUISITION BROKERS.

    Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78o(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) Registration exemption for merger and acquisition
        brokers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
                subparagraph (B), an M&A broker shall be exempt from
                registration under this section.
                    ``(B) Excluded activities.--An M&A broker is not
                exempt from registration under this paragraph if such
                broker does any of the following:
                            ``(i) Directly or indirectly, in connection
                        with the transfer of ownership of an eligible
                        privately held company, receives, holds,
                        transmits, or has custody of the funds or
                        securities to be exchanged by the parties to
                        the transaction.
                            ``(ii) Engages on behalf of an issuer in a
                        public offering of any class of securities that
                        is registered, or is required to be registered,
                        with the Commission under section 12 or with
                        respect to which the issuer files, or is
                        required to file, periodic information,
                        documents, and reports under subsection (d).
                    ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
                paragraph shall be construed to limit any other
                authority of the Commission to exempt any person, or
                any class of persons, from any provision of this title,
                or from any provision of any rule or regulation
                thereunder.
                    ``(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Control.--The term `control' means
                        the power, directly or indirectly, to direct
                        the management or policies of a company,
                        whether through ownership of securities, by
                        contract, or otherwise. There is a presumption
                        of control for any person who--
                                    ``(I) is a director, general
                                partner, member or manager of a limited
                                liability company, or officer
                                exercising executive responsibility (or
                                has similar status or functions);
                                    ``(II) has the right to vote 20
                                percent or more of a class of voting
                                securities or the power to sell or
                                direct the sale of 20 percent or more
                                of a class of voting securities; or
                                    ``(III) in the case of a
                                partnership or limited liability
                                company, has the right to receive upon
                                dissolution, or has contributed, 20
                                percent or more of the capital.
                            ``(ii) Eligible privately held company.--
                        The term `eligible privately held company'
                        means a company that meets both of the
                        following conditions:
                                    ``(I) The company does not have any
                                class of securities registered, or
                                required to be registered, with the
                                Commission under section 12 or with
                                respect to which the company files, or
                                is required to file, periodic
                                information, documents, and reports
                                under subsection (d).
                                    ``(II) In the fiscal year ending
                                immediately before the fiscal year in
                                which the services of the M&A broker
                                are initially engaged with respect to
                                the securities transaction, the company
                                meets either or both of the following
                                conditions (determined in accordance
                                with the historical financial
                                accounting records of the company):
                                            ``(aa) The earnings of the
                                        company before interest, taxes,
                                        depreciation, and amortization
                                        are less than $25,000,000.
                                            ``(bb) The gross revenues
                                        of the company are less than
                                        $250,000,000.
                            ``(iii) M&A broker.--The term `M&A broker'
                        means a broker, and any person associated with
                        a broker, engaged in the business of effecting
                        securities transactions solely in connection
                        with the transfer of ownership of an eligible
                        privately held company, regardless of whether
                        the broker acts on behalf of a seller or buyer,
                        through the purchase, sale, exchange, issuance,
                        repurchase, or redemption of, or a business
                        combination involving, securities or assets of
                        the eligible privately held company, if the
                        broker reasonably believes that--
                                    ``(I) upon consummation of the
                                transaction, any person acquiring
                                securities or assets of the eligible
                                privately held company, acting alone or
                                in concert, will control and, directly
                                or indirectly, will be active in the
                                management of the eligible privately
                                held company or the business conducted
                                with the assets of the eligible
                                privately held company; and
                                    ``(II) if any person is offered
                                securities in exchange for securities
                                or assets of the eligible privately
                                held company, such person will, prior
                                to becoming legally bound to consummate
                                the transaction, receive or have
                                reasonable access to the most recent
                                year-end balance sheet, income
                                statement, statement of changes in
                                financial position, and statement of
                                owner's equity of the issuer of the
                                securities offered in exchange, and, if
                                the financial statements of the issuer
                                are audited, the related report of the
                                independent auditor, a balance sheet
                                dated not more than 120 days before the
                                date of the offer, and information
                                pertaining to the management, business,
                                results of operations for the period
                                covered by the foregoing financial
                                statements, and material loss
                                contingencies of the issuer.
                    ``(E) Inflation adjustment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--On the date that is 5
                        years after the date of the enactment of the
                        Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales,
                        and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2014, and
                        every 5 years thereafter, each dollar amount in
                        subparagraph (D)(ii)(II) shall be adjusted by--
                                    ``(I) dividing the annual value of
                                the Employment Cost Index For Wages and
                                Salaries, Private Industry Workers (or
                                any successor index), as published by
                                the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the
                                calendar year preceding the calendar
                                year in which the adjustment is being
                                made by the annual value of such index
                                (or successor) for the calendar year
                                ending December 31, 2012; and
                                    ``(II) multiplying such dollar
                                amount by the quotient obtained under
                                subclause (I).
                            ``(ii) Rounding.--Each dollar amount
                        determined under clause (i) shall be rounded to
                        the nearest multiple of $100,000.''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and any amendment made by this Act shall take effect on
the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives January 14, 2014.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2014 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to exempt from its registration requirements certain merger and acquisition (M&A) brokers and associated persons. Denies such registration exemption, however, to brokers who: (1) receive, hold, transmit, or have custody of any funds or securities to be exchanged by parties to a transfer of ownership of an eligible privately held company; or (2) engage on behalf of an issuer in a public offering of securities that are either subject to mandatory registration, or with respect to which the issuer must file periodic information, documents, and reports.  Prohibits the construction of this Act to limit any other authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exempt any person, or any class of persons, from any provision of this Act, including any related rule or regulation.