Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Scenic Columbia Gorge Restoration
Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. EXPEDITED RECOVERY ACTIVITIES IN RESPONSE TO CATASTROPHIC
              EVENTS IN NATIONAL SCENIC AREAS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Catastrophic event.--The term ``catastrophic event''
        means any natural disaster (such as hurricane, tornado,
        windstorm, snow or ice storm, rain storm, high water, wind-
        driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, volcanic eruption,
        landslide, mudslide, drought, or insect or disease outbreak) or
        any fire, flood, or explosion, regardless of cause.
            (2) Conclusion.--The term ``conclusion'', with respect to a
        catastrophic event, includes containment of the catastrophic
        event if occurring before the actual end of the catastrophic
        event.
            (3) National scenic area.--The term ``National Scenic
        Area'' means an area of the National Forest System federally
        designated as a National Scenic Area in recognition of the
        outstanding natural, scenic, and recreational values of the
        area.
            (4) Response activity.--The term ``response activity''
        means any salvage operation or reforestation activity proposed
        to be conducted within a National Scenic Area adversely
        impacted by a catastrophic event to address conditions caused
        or exacerbated by the catastrophic event.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
    (b) Prompt Proposal of Response Activities.--Within 30 days after
the conclusion of a catastrophic event within a National Scenic Area,
the Secretary shall begin proposing response activities for lands
within the National Scenic Area adversely impacted by the catastrophic
event.
    (c) Public Input and Response Process.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary shall allow 30 days for public scoping
and comment regarding a National Scenic Area response activity, 15 days
for filing an objection to the response activity, and 15 days for the
agency response to the filing of an objection. Upon completion of this
process and expiration of the period specified in subsection (d)(1) if
applicable, the Secretary shall implement the response activity.
    (d) Environmental Review.--
            (1) Expedited environmental assessment.--Except as provided
        in paragraph (2), notwithstanding any other provision of law,
        an environmental assessment prepared by the Secretary concerned
        pursuant to section 102 of the National Environmental Policy
        Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) for a National Scenic Area
        response activity shall be completed within 60 days after the
        conclusion of the catastrophic event.
            (2) Categorical exclusion.--A categorical exclusion is
        available for any National Scenic Area response activity that--
                    (A) does not exceed 10,000 acres within the
                National Scenic Area; and
                    (B) includes lands that--
                            (i) are visible from key viewing areas, as
                        described in the management plan for the
                        National Scenic Area;
                            (ii) provide screening for human
                        development;
                            (iii) are part of a municipal watershed; or
                            (iv) contain utility or power transmission
                        right-of-ways.
    (e) Consultation Under the Endangered Species Act.--
            (1) No consultation if response activity not likely to
        adversely affect a listed species or designated critical
        habitat.--Consultation under section 7 of the Endangered
        Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) shall not be required if
        the Secretary determines that a response activity is not likely
        to adversely affect a listed species or designated critical
        habitat.
            (2) Expedited consultation.--
                    (A) In general.--With respect to a response
                activity that is not covered by paragraph (1),
                consultation required under section 7 of the Endangered
                Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) shall be concluded
                within the 90-day period beginning on the date on which
                such consultation was requested by the Secretary.
                    (B) Effect of no conclusion.--In the case of a
                consultation described in subparagraph (A) that is not
                concluded within the 90-day period specified in such
                subparagraph, the response activity for which such
                consultation was initiated--
                            (i) shall be deemed to have not violated
                        section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973
                        (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)); and
                            (ii) may be carried out.
    (f) Prohibition on Restraining Orders, Preliminary Injunctions, and
Injunctions Pending Appeal.--No restraining order, preliminary
injunction, or injunction pending appeal shall be issued by any court
of the United States with respect to any decision to prepare or conduct
a response activity. Section 705 of title 5, United States Code, shall
not apply to any challenge to the response activity.
    (g) Funding Source.--Amounts in the special fund established
pursuant to section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the
Knutson-Vandenberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576b), shall be available to the
Secretary for response activities.
    (h) Reforestation Objective.--In the case of response activities
conducted on National Scenic Area lands adversely impacted by a
catastrophic event, the Secretary shall achieve reforestation of at
least 75 percent of the impacted lands before the end of the two-year
period following the conclusion of the catastrophic event.

Output: Scenic Columbia Gorge Restoration Act of 2017 This bill directs the Forest Service to begin proposing, within 30 days of a catastrophic event, response (salvage operations or reforestation) activities for lands within a national scenic area that have been adversely impacted by the event.   The bill provides a process for expedited environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, including a categorical exclusion not exceeding 10,000 acres for a response activity.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Treatment of Indian Tribal Natural
Resource Income Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF INCOME DERIVED BY INDIANS FROM NATURAL
              RESOURCES-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter C of chapter 80 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (relating to provisions affecting more than one subtitle)
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 7874. FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF INCOME DERIVED BY INDIANS FROM
              THE HARVEST OF TRIBALLY OWNED NATURAL RESOURCES.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Income and self-employment taxes.--No tax shall be
        imposed by subtitle A on income derived from a natural
        resources-related activity conducted--
                    ``(A) by a member of an Indian tribe directly or
                through a qualified Indian entity, or
                    ``(B) by a qualified Indian entity.
            ``(2) Employment taxes.--No tax shall be imposed by
        subtitle C on remuneration paid for services performed in
        natural resources-related activity by one member of a tribe for
        another member of such tribe or for a qualified Indian entity.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) Natural resources-related activity.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `natural resources-
                related activity' means, with respect to an Indian
                tribe, any activity directly related to cultivating,
                harvesting, processing, extracting, or transporting
                natural resources held in trust by the United States
                for the benefit of such tribe or directly related to
                selling such natural resources but only if
                substantially all of the selling activity is performed
                by members of such tribe.
                    ``(B) Extraction of minerals, etc. excluded.--Such
                term shall not include any activity directly related to
                extracting minerals, ores, oil, or gas.
            ``(2) Qualified indian entity.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified Indian
                entity' means an entity--
                            ``(i) engaged in a natural resources-
                        related activity of one or more Indian tribes,
                            ``(ii) all of whose equity interests are
                        owned by such tribes or members of such tribes,
                        and
                            ``(iii) substantially all of the management
                        functions of the entity are performed by
                        members of such tribes.
                    ``(B) Entities engaged in processing or
                transportation.--Except as provided in regulations
                similar to regulations in effect under section
                7873(b)(3)(A)(iii) on the date of the enactment of this
                section, if an entity is engaged to any extent in any
                processing or transporting of natural resources, the
                term `qualified Indian entity' shall also include an
                entity whose annual gross receipts are 90 percent or
                more derived from natural resources-related activities
                of one or more Indian tribes each of which owns at
                least 10 percent of the equity interests in the entity.
                For purposes of this subparagraph, equity interests
                owned by a member of such a tribe shall be treated as
                owned by the tribe.
    ``(c) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Distributions from qualified indian entity.--For
        purposes of this section, any distribution with respect to an
        equity interest in a qualified Indian entity of one or more
        Indian tribes to a member of one of such tribes shall be
        treated as derived by such member from a natural resources-
        related activity to the extent such distribution is
        attributable to income derived by such entity from a natural
        resources-related activity.
            ``(2) De minimis unrelated amounts may be excluded.--If,
        but for this paragraph, all but a de minimis amount derived by
        a qualified Indian tribal entity or by a tribal member through
        such entity, or paid to an individual for services, would be
        entitled to the benefits of subsection (a), then the entire
        amount shall be so entitled.
    ``(d) No Inference Created.--Nothing in this title shall create any
inference as to the existence or non-existence or scope of any
exemption from tax for income derived from tribal rights secured as of
January 1, 2001, by any treaty, law, or Executive Order.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter C
of chapter 80 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:

``Sec. 7874. Federal tax treatment of income derived by Indians from
                            the harvest of tribally owned natural
                            resources.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to periods before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.

Output: Treatment of Indian Tribal Natural Resource Income Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the imposition of income taxes or income derived from a natural resources-related activity conducted by: (1) a member of an Indian tribe directly or through a qualified Indian entity; or (2) a qualified Indian entity.Prohibits the imposition of employment taxes on remuneration paid for services performed in natural resources-related activity by one member of a tribe for another member of such tribe or for a qualified Indian entity.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Green Affordable Housing Act of
2009''.

SEC. 2. GREEN RETROFIT GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
shall carry out a program to make grants and loans under this section
to owners of eligible federally assisted housing projects for making
eligible green retrofit improvements to such projects.
    (b) Eligible Federally Assisted Housing Projects.--Grants and loans
under this section may be provided only for eligible green retrofit
improvements under subsection (c) for--
            (1) housing for which project-based assistance is provided
        under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
        U.S.C. 1437f);
            (2) housing that is assisted under section 202 of the
        Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
            (3) housing that is assisted under section 202 of the
        Housing Act of 1959, as such section existed before the
        enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing
        Act (Public Law 101-625);
            (4) housing that is assisted under section 811 of the
        Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.
        8013);
            (5) housing financed by a loan or mortgage insured under
        section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.
        1715l(d)(3)) that bears interest at a rate determined under the
        proviso of section 221(d)(5) of such Act (12 U.S.C.
        1715l(d)(5));
            (6) housing insured, assisted, or held by the Secretary or
        a State or State agency under section 236 of the National
        Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-1);
            (7) housing constructed or substantially rehabilitated
        pursuant to assistance provided under section 8(b)(2) of the
        United States Housing Act of 1937, as in effect before October
        1, 1983, that is assisted under a contract for assistance under
        such section;
            (8) housing assisted or formerly assisted under section 101
        of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (12 U.S.C.
        1701s);
            (9) multifamily housing projects assisted with amounts made
        available under the HOME Investment Partnerships Act (42 U.S.C.
        12721 et seq.);
            (10) housing for which a loan is made or insured under
        section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485); and
            (11) housing for which a low-income housing tax credit is
        provided pursuant to section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of
        1986 (26 U.S.C. 42).
    (c) Eligible Green Retrofit Improvements.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of this section, eligible
        green retrofit improvements are improvements to an eligible
        federally assisted housing project that are approved by the
        Secretary as having one or more of the following attributes, as
        compared with the comparable component that would normally be
        used by owners of similar properties in the same market area:
                    (A) Materially lower electric, heating fuel, or
                water consumption.
                    (B) Materially lower emissions of chemicals thought
                to be harmful to humans.
                    (C) Materially longer useful life.
                    (D) Materially more biodegradable.
                    (E) Materially more easily recycled.
                    (F) Materially lower use of raw materials or use of
                materially more recycled content.
                    (G) Materially lower transportation costs of
                products delivered to the project.
        For purposes of this paragraph, determinations of materiality
        shall be made by the Secretary in the sole discretion of the
        Secretary.
            (2) Related improvements.--For purposes of this section,
        eligible green retrofit improvements shall include improvements
        approved by the Secretary as related or collateral to the
        undertaking or provision of eligible green retrofit
        improvements approved pursuant to paragraph (1) for an eligible
        federally assisted housing project.
            (3) Verification.--For purposes of verifying improvements
        as eligible green retrofit improvements under this subsection,
        the Secretary shall, by regulation, provide for the following:
                    (A) Certification of building energy and
                environment auditors, inspectors, and raters by the
                Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), or an
                equivalent certification system as determined by the
                Secretary.
                    (B) Certification or licensing of building energy
                and environmental retrofit contractors by the Building
                Performance Institute (BPI), or an equivalent
                certification or licensing system as determined by the
                Secretary.
                    (C) Use of equipment and procedures of the Building
                Performance Institute, Residential Energy Services
                Network, or other appropriate equipment and procedures
                (such as infrared photography and pressurized testing,
                and tests for water use and indoor air quality), as
                determined by the Secretary, to test the energy and
                environmental efficiency of buildings effectively.
                    (D) Determination of energy savings by comparison
                of scores on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index
                before and after retrofit, with the final score
                produced by an objective third party.
    (d) Extension of Affordability Restrictions.--
            (1) Grants.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide a grant
                under this section for an eligible federally assisted
                housing project only if the owner of the project enters
                into such binding commitments as the Secretary shall
                require, which shall be applicable to any subsequent
                owner, to ensure that the project will be operated,
                until the expiration of the period specified in
                subparagraph (B), in accordance with all affordability
                restrictions that are applicable to the project under
                the federal assistance program referred to in
                subsection (b) under which assistance is provided for
                the project.
                    (B) Period.--The period specified in this paragraph
                for an eligible federally assisted housing project is
                the period that--
                            (i) begins upon the date of the expiration
                        of applicability, to the project, of the
                        affordability restrictions under the federal
                        assistance program referred to in subsection
                        (b) under which assistance is provided for the
                        project;
                            (ii) has such duration, as determined by
                        the Secretary, as commensurate with the amount
                        of the loan or grant assistance provided under
                        this section for the project; and
                            (iii) in no case exceeds 30 years.
                The Secretary may make such adjustments to such period
                as may be necessary to take into consideration any more
                significant restrictions accompanying other subsidies
                for the project.
            (2) Loans.--In providing loans under this section for
        eligible federally assisted housing projects, the Secretary may
        require the project to comply with affordability restrictions
        as the Secretary may establish, the terms of which shall be
        commensurate with the term and amount of the loan.
    (e) Limitation on Amount.--The amount of a grant or loan under this
section for an eligible federally assisted housing project may not
exceed--
            (1) a percentage, as determined by the Secretary, of the
        cost of the eligible green retrofit improvements for the
        project described in the retrofit plan under subsection (f)(2)
        for the project; and
            (2) a dollar amount limitation, as the Secretary may
        establish.
    (f) Applications.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for owners of
        eligible federally assisted housing project to submit
        applications to the Secretary for grants and loans under this
        subsection. The Secretary shall require each such application
        to include a retrofit plan under paragraph (2).
            (2) Retrofit plan.--
                    (A) Requirements.--The Secretary may not make any
                grant or loan under this section for any eligible green
                retrofit improvements for an eligible federally
                assisted housing project unless the owner of the
                project has submitted to the Secretary, and the
                Secretary has approved (pursuant to any amendments or
                changes as the Secretary may require), a detailed
                written plan regarding such improvements that complies
                with such requirements as the Secretary shall
                establish, which shall include the following:
                            (i) The plan shall set forth the current
                        utility costs for the project, including costs
                        for water, heat, and electricity.
                            (ii) The plan shall describe the eligible
                        green retrofit improvements to be made for the
                        project, setting forth--
                                    (I) a schedule for completing each
                                such improvement;
                                    (II) the cost of and sources of
                                funding for each such improvement;
                                    (III) the amount of anticipated
                                cost savings resulting from each such
                                improvement; and
                                    (IV) a schedule for such savings
                                for each such improvement based on the
                                current utility costs for the project
                                set forth pursuant to clause (i),
                                except that such cost-savings schedule
                                may not have a term exceeding 10 years.
                    (B) Cost-efficiency; cost savings.--The Secretary
                may approve a retrofit plan under this subsection only
                if the Secretary determines that--
                            (i) the total present value of the cost
                        savings resulting from the eligible green
                        retrofit improvements specified in the plan and
                        to be recovered over the term of the cost-
                        savings schedule included in the plan will
                        exceed the cost of making such improvements;
                        and
                            (ii) the eligible green retrofit
                        improvements specified in the plan will result
                        in savings in utility or other operating costs
                        for the eligible federally assisted housing
                        project of not less than 20 percent, in
                        comparison to utility and operating costs of
                        such project absent the eligible green retrofit
                        improvements to be undertaken under the plan.
            (3) Selection priorities.--In selecting applications for
        loans and grants under this section the Secretary may--
                    (A) give priority to applications providing for
                eligible green retrofit improvements that are funded in
                part with amounts from sources other than grants and
                loans under this section, and the extent of such
                priority provided may be based on the ratio of such
                funding from other sources; and
                    (B) give priority to applications based on the net
                amount of energy efficiency savings resulting from the
                eligible green retrofit improvements to be funded by
                such loans and grants.
    (g) Loans.--In such circumstances as the Secretary may provide, the
Secretary may provide assistance under this section in the form of a
loan, which shall have such term to maturity, shall bear interest, and
shall have such other terms and conditions as the Secretary may
establish.
    (h) Treatment of Grant Amounts.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, assistance amounts under this section may be treated
as amounts not derived from a Federal grant.
    (i) Monitoring.--
            (1) Submission of information to secretary.--The Secretary
        shall require each owner of an eligible federally assisted
        housing project for which a grant or loan under this section is
        made to submit to the Secretary such information, on a regular
        basis during the term of the cost savings schedule included in
        the retrofit plan for project for which such grant or loan is
        made or during such other term, and in such form and manner, as
        the Secretary considers appropriate to determine the cost
        savings resulting from the eligible green retrofit improvements
        funded with such grant or loan and to provide such other
        information as the Secretary considers necessary.
            (2) Other monitoring.--With respect to eligible federally
        assisted housing projects for which eligible green retrofit
        improvements have been made with assistance under this section,
        the Secretary shall--
                    (A) establish guidelines for obtaining
                certification of such projects, after retrofit, as
                Energy Star buildings, for assigning Home Energy Rating
                System (HERS) rating for such projects, and for
                completing applicable building performance labels; and
                    (B) establish processes for tracking the numbers
                and locations of such projects and obtaining
                information on projected and actual savings of energy
                and its value over time.
    (j) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following
definitions shall apply:
            (1) Affordability restrictions.--The term ``affordability
        restrictions'' means, with respect to an eligible federally
        assisted housing project, limits imposed by statute,
        regulation, or regulatory agreement on tenant rents, rent
        contributions, or income eligibility.
            (2) Cost-savings schedule.--The term ``cost-savings
        schedule'' means, with respect to a retrofit plan for an
        eligible federally assisted housing project, the schedule
        included in such plan pursuant to subsection (f)(2)(A)(ii)(IV).
            (3) Eligible federally assisted housing project.--The term
        ``eligible federally assisted housing project'' means a housing
        project described in subsection (b).
            (4) Retrofit plan.--The term ``retrofit plan'' means a plan
        required under subsection (f)(2).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Housing and Urban Development.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014,
which shall be available for--
            (1) grants under this section; and
            (2) costs (as such term in defined in section 502 of the
        Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a) of loans
        under this section.
    (l) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue any regulations
necessary to carry out this section.

Output:
Green Affordable Housing Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a program of grants and loans to owners of specified eligible federally assisted housing projects for making eligible green retrofit improvements to such projects.

Conditions such grants or loans on a HUD approved retrofit plan by the owners of such projects.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cape Fox Land Entitlement Adjustment
Act''.

 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Cape Fox Corporation (Cape Fox) is an Alaska Native
        Village Corporation organized pursuant to the Alaska Native
        Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for the Native
        Village of Saxman.
            (2) As with other village corporations organized pursuant
        to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in southeast Alaska,
        Cape Fox was limited to selecting 23,040 acres under section 16
        of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
            (3) Except for Cape Fox, all other village corporations
        organized pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
        in southeast Alaska were restricted from selecting land within
        two miles of a home rule city.
            (4) To protect the watersheds in the vicinity of Ketchikan,
        Cape Fox was restricted from selecting land within six miles of
        the boundary of the home rule City of Ketchikan under section
        22(l) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
        1621(l)).
            (5) The six mile restriction damaged Cape Fox by precluding
        the corporation from selecting valuable timber land, industrial
        sites, and other commercial property, not only in its core
        township but in surrounding land far removed from Ketchikan and
        its watershed.
            (6) As a result of the six mile restriction, only the
        remote mountainous northeast corner of Cape Fox's core
        township, which is nonproductive and of no known economic
        value, was available for selection by the corporation.
        Selection of this parcel was, however, mandated by section
        16(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
        1615(b)).
            (7) Cape Fox's land selections were further limited by the
        fact that the Annette Island Indian Reservation is within its
        selection area, and those lands were unavailable for selection
        under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Cape Fox is the
        only village corporation organized pursuant to the Alaska
        Native Claims Settlement Act affected by this restriction.
            (8) Adjustment of Cape Fox's selections and conveyances of
        land under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act requires
        adjustment of Sealaska Corporation's (Sealaska) selections and
        conveyances to avoid creation of additional split estate
        between National Forest System surface land and Sealaska
        subsurface land.
            (9) There is an additional need to resolve existing areas
        of Sealaska/Tongass split estate, in which Sealaska holds title
        or conveyance rights to several thousand acres of subsurface
        land that encumber management of Tongass National Forest
        surface land.
            (10) The Tongass National Forest land identified in this
        Act for selection by and conveyance to Cape Fox and Sealaska,
        subject to valid existing rights, provides a means to resolve
        some of the Cape Fox and Sealaska Alaska Native Claims
        Settlement Act land entitlement issues without significantly
        affecting Tongass National Forest resources, uses, or values.
            (11) Adjustment of Cape Fox's selections and conveyances of
        land under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act through the
        provisions of this Act, and the related adjustment of
        Sealaska's selections and conveyances hereunder, are in
        accordance with the purposes of the Alaska Native Claims
        Settlement Act and otherwise in the public interest.

SEC. 3. WAIVER OF CORE TOWNSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN LAND.

    Notwithstanding section 16(b) of the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (43 U.S. C. 1615(b)), Cape Fox shall not be required to
select or receive conveyance of the approximately 160 acres of Federal
unconveyed land within section 1, T. 75 S., R. 91 E., C.R.M.

 SEC. 4. SELECTION AND CONVEYANCE OUTSIDE EXTERIOR SELECTION BOUNDARY.

    (a) Selection of Surface Estate.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to land made available for
        selection under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, not
        later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
        Cape Fox may select the approximately 99 acres of the surface
        estate of Tongass National Forest land outside Cape Fox's
        current exterior selection boundary described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Land description.--The land referred to in paragraph
        (a) is described as follows:
                    T. 73 S., R. 90 E., C.R.M.
                    Section 33: SW portion of SE 1/4: 38 acres.
                    Section 33: NW portion of SE 1/4: 13 acres.
                    Section 33: SE 1/4 of SE 1/4: 40 acres.
                    Section 33: SE 1/4 of SW 1/4: 8 acres.
    (b) Conveyance of Subsurface Estate.--Upon conveyance to Cape Fox
of the surface estate to the land described in subsection (a)(2), the
Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Sealaska the subsurface
estate to that land.
    (c) Timing.--The Secretary of the Interior shall complete the
conveyances to Cape Fox and Sealaska under this section not later than
180 days after the Secretary of the Interior receives written notice of
the Cape Fox selection under subsection (a).

SEC. 5. EXCHANGE OF LAND BETWEEN CAPE FOX AND THE TONGASS NATIONAL
              FOREST.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall offer, and if
accepted by Cape Fox shall exchange, the Federal land described in
subsection (b) for land and interests therein identified by Cape Fox
under subsection (c) and, to the extent necessary, land and interests
therein identified under subsection (d).
    (b) Land To Be Exchanged to Cape Fox.--The land to be offered to
Cape Fox is Tongass National Forest land comprising approximately
2,663.9 acres in T. 36 S., R. 62 E., C.R.M. and T. 35 S., R. 62 E.,
C.R.M., as designated upon a map entitled ``Proposed Kensington Project
Land Exchange'', dated March 18, 2002, and available for inspection in
the Forest Service Region 10 regional office in Juneau, Alaska.
    (c) Land To Be Exchanged to the United States.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
        the enactment of this Act, Cape Fox may identify, in writing to
        the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior,
        the land and interests in land that Cape Fox proposes to
        exchange for the Federal land described in subsection (b). The
        land and interests in land shall be identified from land
        previously conveyed to Cape Fox comprising approximately 2,900
        acres and designated as parcels A-1 to A-3, B-1 to B-3, and C
        upon a map entitled ``Cape Fox Corporation ANCSA Land Exchange
        Proposal,'' dated March 15, 2002, and available for inspection
        in the Forest Service Region 10 regional office in Juneau,
        Alaska.
            (2) Conditions for parcels.--Land identified for exchange
        within each parcel shall abut National Forest System land and
        be in reasonably compact tracts.
            (3) Easement.--The land identified for exchange shall
        includes a public trail easement designated as ``D'' on the map
        described in paragraph (1), unless the Secretary of Agriculture
        agrees otherwise. The value of the easement shall be included
        in determining the total value of land conveyed to the United
        States.
    (d) Valuation of Exchange land.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
determine whether the land identified by Cape Fox under subsection (c)
is equal in value to the land described in subsection (b). If the land
identified under subsection (c) is determined to have insufficient
value to equal the value of the land described in subsection (b), Cape
Fox and the Secretary shall mutually identify additional Cape Fox land
for exchange sufficient to equalize the value of land conveyed to Cape
Fox. Such land shall be contiguous to adjacent National Forest System
land and in reasonably compact tracts.
    (e) Conditions.--Notwithstanding section 14(f) of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, the offer and conveyance of Federal land to Cape
Fox in the exchange shall be of the surface and subsurface estate. Such
offer and conveyance shall be subject to valid existing rights and all
provisions of section 14(g) of such Act.
    (f) Timing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall attempt to enter into
an agreement with Cape Fox to consummate the exchange consistent with
this Act. The land identified in the exchange agreement shall be
exchanged by conveyance at the earliest possible date after the
exchange agreement is signed. Subject only to conveyance from Cape Fox
to the United States of all its right, title, and interest in the Cape
Fox land included in the exchange consistent with this Act, the
Secretary of the Interior shall complete the interim conveyance to Cape
Fox of the Federal land included in the exchange not later than 180
days after the execution of the exchange agreement by Cape Fox and the
Secretary of Agriculture.

SEC. 6. EXCHANGE OF LAND BETWEEN SEALASKA AND THE TONGASS NATIONAL
              FOREST.

    (a) In General.--Upon conveyance of the Cape Fox land included in
the exchange under section 5 and conveyance and relinquishment by
Sealaska, in accordance with this Act, of the land and interests in
land described in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior shall
convey to Sealaska the Federal land identified for exchange under
subsection (b).
    (b) Land To Be Exchanged to Sealaska.--
            (1) Selection area.--The land to be exchanged to Sealaska
        is to be selected by Sealaska from Tongass National Forest land
        comprising approximately 9,329 acres in T. 36 S., R. 62 E.,
        C.R.M., T. 35 S., R. 62 E., C.R.M., and T. 34 S., Range 62 E.,
        C.R.M., as designated upon a map entitled ``Proposed Sealaska
        Corporation Land Exchange Kensington Lands Selection Area'',
        dated April, 2002 and available for inspection in the Forest
        Service Region 10 Regional Office in Juneau, Alaska.
            (2) Notice of land selection.--Not later than 60 days after
        receiving notice of the identification by Cape Fox of the
        exchange land under section 5(c), Sealaska may identify, in
        writing to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, the
        land that Sealaska selects to receive in exchange for the
        Sealaska land described in subsection (c).
            (3) Conditions.--Land selected by Sealaska shall be in no
        more than 2 contiguous and reasonably compact tracts that abut
        the land described for exchange to Cape Fox in section 5(b).
        The exchange conveyance to Sealaska shall be of the surface and
        subsurface estate in the land selected and agreed to by the
        Secretary but subject to valid existing rights and all other
        provisions of section 14(g) of the Alaska Native Claims
        Settlement Act.
            (4) Equal value.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
        determine whether the selected land is equal in value to the
        land described in subsection (c) and may adjust the amount of
        selected land in order to reach agreement with Sealaska
        regarding equal value.
    (c) Land To Be Exchanged to the United States.--The land and
interests therein to be exchanged by Sealaska is--
            (1) the subsurface estate underlying the Cape Fox exchange
        land described in section 5(c);
            (2) an additional approximately 2,506 acres of the
        subsurface estate underlying Tongass National Forest surface
        estate, described in Interim Conveyance No. 1673; and
            (3) rights to an additional approximately 2,698 acres of
        subsurface estate of Tongass National Forest land remaining to
        be conveyed to Sealaska from Group 1, 2, and 3 land as set
        forth in the Sealaska Corporation/United States Forest Service
        Split Estate Exchange Agreement of November 26, 1991, at
        Schedule B, as modified on January 20, 1995.
    (d) Timing.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall attempt, not later
than 90 days after receipt of the selection of land by Sealaska under
subsection (b), to enter into an agreement with Sealaska to consummate
the exchange consistent with this Act. The land identified in the
exchange agreement shall be exchanged by conveyance at the earliest
possible date after the exchange agreement is executed. Subject only to
the Cape Fox and Sealaska conveyances and relinquishments described in
subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall complete the
interim conveyance to Sealaska of the Federal land selected for
exchange not later than 180 days after execution of the agreement by
Sealaska and the Secretary of Agriculture.
    (e) Modification of Agreement.--The executed exchange agreement
under this section shall be considered a further modification of the
Sealaska Corporation/United States Forest Service Split Estate Exchange
Agreement, as ratified in section 17 of Public Law 102-415 (October 14,
1992).

SEC. 7. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    (a) Equal Value Requirement.--The exchanges described in this Act
shall be of equal value. Cape Fox and Sealaska shall have the
opportunity to present to the Secretary of Agriculture estimates of
value of exchange land with supporting information.
    (b) Title.--Cape Fox and Sealaska shall convey and provide evidence
of title satisfactory to the Secretary of Agriculture for their
respective lands to be conveyed to the United States under this Act,
subject only to exceptions, reservations, and encumbrances in the
interim conveyance or patent from the United States or otherwise
acceptable to the Secretary of Agriculture.
    (c) Hazardous Substances.--Cape Fox, Sealaska, and the United
States each shall not be subject to liability for the presence of any
hazardous substance in land or interests in land solely as a result of
any conveyance or transfer of the land or interests therein under this
Act.
    (d) Effect on ANCSA Selections.--Any conveyance of Federal surface
or subsurface land to Cape Fox or Sealaska under this Act shall be
considered, for all purposes, land conveyed pursuant to the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
change the total acreage of land entitlement of Cape Fox or Sealaska
under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Cape Fox and Sealaska
shall remain charged for any land they exchange under this Act and any
land conveyed pursuant to section 4, but shall not be charged for any
land received under sections 5 or 6. The exchanges described in this
Act shall be considered, for all purposes, actions which lead to the
issuance of conveyances to Native Corporations pursuant to the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act. Land or interests therein transferred to
the United States under this Act shall become and be administered as
part of the Tongass National Forest.
    (e) Effect on Statehood Selections.--Land conveyed to or selected
by the State of Alaska under the Alaska Statehood Act (Public Law 85-
508; 72 Stat. 339; 48 U.S.C. note prec. 21) shall not be eligible for
selection or conveyance under this Act without the consent of the State
of Alaska.
    (f) Maps.--The maps referred to in this Act shall be maintained on
file in the Forest Service Region 10 Regional Office in Juneau, Alaska.
The acreages cited in this Act are approximate, and if there is any
discrepancy between cited acreage and the land depicted on the
specified maps, the maps shall control. The maps do not constitute an
attempt by the United States to convey State or private land.
    (g) Easements.--Notwithstanding section 17(b) of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, Federal land conveyed to Cape Fox or Sealaska
pursuant to this Act shall be subject only to the reservation of public
easements mutually agreed to and set forth in the exchange agreements
executed under this Act. The easements shall include easements
necessary for access across the land conveyed under this Act for use of
national forest or other public land.
    (h) Old Growth Reserves.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall add an
equal number of acres to old growth reserves on the Tongass National
Forest as are transferred out of Federal ownership as a result of this
Act.

 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.

    (a) Department of Agriculture.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture such sums as may be
necessary for--
            (1) value estimation and related costs of exchanging land
        specified in this Act; and
            (2) road rehabilitation and habitat and timber stand
        improvement (including thinning and pruning) on land acquired
        by the United States under this Act.
    (b) Department of the Interior.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior such sums as may be
necessary for land surveys and conveyances pursuant to this Act.

Output: Cape Fox Land Entitlement Adjustment Act - Provides that Cape Fox Corporation shall not be required under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to select or receive conveyance of 160 nonproductive acres. Permits Cape Fox to select and the Secretary of the Interior to convey 99 acres of the surface estate of Tongass National Forest lands outside Cape Fox's current exterior selection boundary. Directs the Secretary to convey the subsurface estate to those lands to Sealaska Corporation.Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to offer and, if accepted by Cape Fox, to exchange specified Tongass National Forest lands for lands and interests identified by Cape Fox from specified lands previously conveyed to it. States that the Cape Fox land conveyed to the Federal Government shall include a public trail easement unless the Secretary of Agriculture agrees otherwise.Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon conveyance by Cape Fox of such lands and conveyance and relinquishment by Sealaska of the subsurface estate underlying those lands and other specified Tongass National Forest lands, to convey to Sealaska Tongass National Forest lands selected by Sealaska from a specified area. Requires: (1) such exchange to be considered a modification of the Sealaska Corporation/United States Forest Service Split Estate Exchange Agreement; and (2) conveyances under this Act by the Federal Government to be considered to be conveyances pursuant to ANCSA.Subjects Federal lands conveyed to Cape Fox and Sealaska under this Act to reservations of public easements only as mutually agreed to in the relevant exchange agreements, with such easements to be for access across the lands conveyed for use of national forests or other public land.


Input:
SECTION 1. SELECTION PANEL TO RECOMMEND INDIVIDUALS FOR COMMISSIONER OF
              INTERNAL REVENUE.

    (a) President To Nominate New Commissioner From Individuals
Recommended by Selection Commission.--Subsection (a) of section 7802 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to Commissioner of Internal
Revenue; Assistant Commissioners; Taxpayer Advocate) is amended by
inserting ``from individuals recommended by the Selection Commission
under subsection (e)'' after ``appointed by the President''.
    (b) Selection Commission.--Section 7802 of such Code is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Selection of Commissioner of Internal Revenue.--
            ``(1) In general.--When a vacancy occurs (or is expected to
        occur within 150 days) in the office of Commissioner of
        Revenue, a Selection Commission is established to recommend
        individuals to the President for appointment to the vacant
        office.
            ``(2) Selection commission.--The Selection Commission shall
        be composed of 5 individuals (from among individuals having
        contacts with the Internal Revenue Service in a professional
        capacity) appointed by the following organizations as follows:
                    ``(A) A representative from the American Institute
                of Certified Public Accountants who is a certified
                public accountant.
                    ``(B) A representative from the American Bar
                Association who is a member of the Tax Division.
                    ``(C) A scientist from the National Academy of
                Scientists.
                    ``(D) An engineer from the Institute for Electronic
                and Electrical Engineers.
                    ``(E) An economist from the American Economics
                Association.
        A vacancy in the Selection Commission shall be filled not later
        than 14 days after the date of the creation of the vacancy in
        the manner in which the original appointment was made.
            ``(3) Minimum number of recommended individuals.--A
        Selection Commission shall recommend at least 3 individuals.
        The President may request the Selection Commission to recommend
        additional individuals.
            ``(4) Deadline for recommendations.--Except for additional
        recommendations requested by the President under paragraph (3),
        the Selection Commission shall make its recommendations for
        Commissioner of Internal Revenue not later than 60 days after
        the date such Commission is established.
            ``(5) Administrative provisions.--
                    ``(A) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the
                Selection Commission shall be elected by the members.
                If not so elected within the 10-day period beginning on
                the date the Selection Commission first meets, the
                Chairperson shall be appointed by the President.
                    ``(B) Rates of pay.--Members of the Selection
                Commission shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily
                equivalent of the minimum annual rate of basic pay
                payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule (level
                III in the case of the Chairman of the Selection
                Commission) for each day (including travel time) during
                which they are engaged in the actual performance of
                duties vested in the Selection Commission.
                    ``(C) Travel expenses.--Each member of the
                Selection Commission shall receive travel expenses,
                including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
                accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5,
                United States Code.
                    ``(D) Staff.--The Selection Commission shall
                appoint a Director who shall be paid at the rate of
                basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive
                Schedule. With the approval of the Selection
                Commission, the Director may appoint and fix the pay of
                not more than 2 additional employees who shall be paid
                at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable
                for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
                    ``(E) Applicability of certain civil service
                laws.--The Director and staff of the Selection
                Commission may be appointed without regard to the
                provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
                appointments in the competitive service, and may be
                paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
                subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
                classification and General Schedule pay rates.
                    ``(F) Meetings.--The meetings of the Selection
                Commission shall be in executive session.
                    ``(G) Mails.--The Selection Commission may use the
                United States mails in the same manner and under the
                same conditions as other Federal agencies.
            ``(6) Termination.--The Selection Commission shall
        terminate at the close of the 7th day after the date on which
        an individual recommended by the Commission is sworn in as
        Commissioner of Internal Revenue.''
    (c) Term of Commissioner of Internal Revenue.--Subsection (a) of
section 7802 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following
new sentence: ``The term of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue is 6
years.''
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act but the amendment made
by subsection (c) shall not apply to the individual holding the office
of Commissioner of Internal Revenue on such date.

Output: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall:  (1) be appointed from among individuals recommended by a Selection Commission established (upon Commissioner vacancy) by this Act; and (2) serve a six-year term.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expand and Rebuild America's Schools
Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Many States and school districts will need to build new
        schools in order to accommodate increasing student enrollments;
        the Department of Education has predicted that the Nation will
        need 6,000 more schools by the year 2006.
            (2) In response to reduced class mandates enforced by State
        governments and increased enrollment, many school districts
        have been forced to utilize temporary classrooms and other
        structures to accommodate increased school populations, along
        with resorting to year-round schedules for students.
            (3) Research has proven a direct correlation between the
        condition of school facilities and student achievement.
        Recently, researchers found that students assigned to schools
        in poor condition can be expected to fall 10.9 percentage
        points behind those in buildings in excellent condition.
        Similar studies have demonstrated up to a 20 percent
        improvement in test scores when students were moved from a
        school with poor facilities to a new facility.
            (4) While school construction and maintenance are primarily
        a State and local concern, States and communities have not, on
        their own, met the increasing burden of providing acceptable
        school facilities, and the poorest communities have had the
        greatest difficulty meeting this need.
            (5) Many local educational agencies have difficulties
        securing financing for school facility construction and
        renovation, especially in States that require a \2/3\ majority
        of voter approval for the passage of local bond initiatives.
            (6) The Federal Government, by providing interest subsidies
        and similar types of support, can lower the costs of State and
        local school infrastructure investment, creating an incentive
        for businesses to support local school infrastructure
        improvement efforts.
            (7) The United States competitive position within the world
        economy is vulnerable if America's future workforce continues
        to be educated in schools not equipped for the 21st century.
        America must do everything in its power to properly educate its
        people to compete in the global marketplace.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to encourage public-private partnerships for the
        financing of school construction and expansion, and
            (2) to help local educational agencies bring all public
        school facilities up to an acceptable standard and build the
        additional classrooms needed to educate the growing number of
        students who will enroll in the next decade.

SEC. 4. CREDIT TO HOLDERS OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BONDS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 45D. CREDIT TO HOLDERS OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BONDS.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible taxpayer who
holds a school construction bond on the credit allowance date of such
bond which occurs during the taxable year, there shall be allowed as a
credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year
the amount determined under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Amount of Credit.--The amount of the credit determined under
this subsection with respect to any school construction bond is the
amount equal to the product of--
            ``(1) the credit rate determined by the Secretary under
        section 1397E(b)(2) for the month in which such bond was
        issued, multiplied by
            ``(2) the face amount of the bond held by the taxpayer on
        the credit allowance date.
    ``(c) Limitation Based on Amount of Tax.--The credit allowed under
subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess of--
            ``(1) the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in
        section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over
            ``(2) the sum of the credits allowable under this part
        (other than under this section and subpart C thereof, relating
        to refundable credits) and section 1397E.
    ``(d) School Construction Bond.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `school construction bond'
        means any bond issued as part of an issue if--
                    ``(A) 95 percent or more of the proceeds of such
                issue are to be used for a qualified purpose with
                respect to a new qualified school established by an
                eligible local education agency,
                    ``(B) the bond is issued by a State or local
                government within the jurisdiction of which such school
                is located,
                    ``(C) the issuer--
                            ``(i) designates such bond for purposes of
                        this section,
                            ``(ii) certifies that it has written
                        assurances that the private business
                        contribution requirement of paragraph (2) will
                        be met with respect to such school, and
                            ``(iii) certifies that it has the written
                        approval of the eligible local education agency
                        for such bond issuance, and
                    ``(D) the term of each bond which is part of such
                issue does not exceed the maximum term permitted under
                section 1397E(d)(3).
            ``(2) Private business contribution requirement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1),
                the private business contribution requirement of this
                paragraph is met with respect to any issue if the
                eligible local education agency that established the
                qualified school has written commitments from private
                entities to make qualified contributions having a
                present value (as of the date of issuance of the issue)
                of not less than 10 percent of the proceeds of the
                issue.
                    ``(B) Qualified contributions.--For purposes of
                subparagraph (A), the term `qualified contribution'
                means any contribution (of a type and quality
                acceptable to the eligible local education agency) of--
                            ``(i) equipment for use in the qualified
                        school (including state-of-the-art technology
                        and vocational equipment),
                            ``(ii) technical assistance in developing
                        curriculum or in training teachers in order to
                        promote appropriate market driven technology in
                        the classroom,
                            ``(iii) services of employees as volunteer
                        mentors,
                            ``(iv) internships, field trips, or other
                        educational opportunities outside the school
                        for students, or
                            ``(v) any other property or service
                        specified by the eligible local education
                        agency.
            ``(3) Qualified school.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified school'
                means any public school which is established by and
                operated under the supervision of an eligible local
                education agency to provide education or training below
                the postsecondary level if--
                            ``(i) such public school is designed in
                        cooperation with business to enhance the
                        academic curriculum, increase graduation and
                        employment rates, and better prepare students
                        for the rigors of college and the increasingly
                        complex workforce,
                            ``(ii) students in such public school will
                        be subject to the same academic standards and
                        assessments as other students educated by the
                        local education agency,
                            ``(iii) a well-structured program to
                        alleviate overcrowding and to improve students'
                        education has been constructed and implemented
                        in the opinion of the Secretary of Education,
                        and
                            ``(iv) at least 2 of the following
                        requirements are met:
                                    ``(I) There is a reasonable
                                expectation (as of the date of issuance
                                of the bonds) that at least 35 percent
                                of the population attending the such
                                public school will be eligible for free
                                or reduced-cost lunches under the
                                school lunch program established under
                                the National School Lunch Act.
                                    ``(II) There is a reasonable
                                expectation (as of the date of issuance
                                of the bonds) that the student growth
                                rate over the next 5 years for the
                                school district in which such public
                                school is to be located will be at
                                least 10 percent.
                                    ``(III) The average student-teacher
                                ratio for such district as of the date
                                of issuance of the bonds is at least 28
                                to 1.
                    ``(B) Eligible local education agency.--The term
                `eligible local education agency' means any local
                educational agency as defined in section 14101 of the
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
            ``(4) Qualified purpose.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified purpose'
                means, with respect to any qualified school--
                            ``(i) constructing a new school facility,
                        and
                            ``(ii) providing equipment for use at such
                        facility.
                    ``(B) School facility.--The term `school facility'
                means a new public structure suitable for use as a
                classroom, laboratory, library, media center, or
                related facility whose primary purpose is the
                instruction of public elementary or secondary students.
                Such term does not include an athletic stadium, or any
                other structure or facility intended primarily for
                athletic exhibitions, contests, games, or events for
                which admission is charged to the general public.
            ``(5) Eligible taxpayer.--The term `eligible taxpayer'
        means--
                    ``(A) a bank (within the meaning of section 581),
                    ``(B) an insurance company to which subchapter L
                applies, and
                    ``(C) a corporation actively engaged in the
                business of lending money.
    ``(e) Limitation on Amount of Bonds Designated.--
            ``(1) National limitation.--There is a national school
        construction bond limitation for each calendar year. Such
        limitation is $400,000,000 for 1998 and 1999, and, except for
        carryovers as provided under the rules applicable under
        paragraph (2), zero thereafter.
            ``(2) Allocation of limitation.--The national school
        construction bond limitation for a calendar year shall be
        allocated by the Secretary among the States on the basis of
        their respective populations of individuals below the poverty
        line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget). The
        limitation amount allocated to a State under the preceding
        sentence shall be allocated by the Secretary of Education to
        qualified schools within such State.
            ``(3) Designation subject to limitation amount.--The
        maximum aggregate face amount of bonds issued during any
        calendar year which may be designated under subsection (d)(1)
        with respect to any qualified school shall not exceed the
        limitation amount allocated to such school under paragraph (2)
        for such calendar year.
            ``(4) Carryover of unused limitation.--If for any calendar
        year--
                    ``(A) the limitation amount for any State, exceeds
                    ``(B) the amount of bonds issued during such year
                which are designated under subsection (d)(1) with
                respect to qualified schools within such State,
        the limitation amount for such State for the following calendar
        year shall be increased by the amount of such excess.
    ``(f) Other Definitions.--The definitions in subsections (d)(6) and
(f) of section 1397E shall apply for purposes of this section.
    ``(g) Credit Included in Gross Income.--Gross income includes the
amount of the credit allowed to the taxpayer under this section.''
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 45D. Credit to holders of school
                                        construction bonds.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to obligations issued after December 31, 1997.

Output: Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited credit to eligible taxpayers holding school construction bonds.  Defines such bonds.  Establishes a private business contribution requirement for bond issuers.  Defines as eligible taxpayers certain banks, insurance companies, and corporations.  Sets a national school construction bond limit.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits
and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Military transition program.
Sec. 3. Waiver of claim development period for claims under laws
                            administered by Secretary of Veterans
                            Affairs.
Sec. 4. Tolling of timing of review for appeals of final decisions of
                            Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Sec. 5. Exclusion of certain amounts from determination of annual
                            income with respect to pensions for
                            veterans and surviving spouses and children
                            of veterans.
Sec. 6. Extension of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
                            obtain certain income information from
                            other agencies.
Sec. 7. VetStar Award program.
Sec. 8. Increase in amount of pension for Medal of Honor recipients.
Sec. 9. Compliance with Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

SEC. 2. MILITARY TRANSITION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 4114 the following new section:
``Sec. 4115. Military transition program
    ``(a) Establishment; Eligibility.--(1) Subject to the availability
of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and
Training shall jointly carry out a program of training to provide
eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market.
    ``(2) For purposes of this section, the term `eligible veteran'
means any veteran whom the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines--
            ``(A) is not otherwise eligible for education or training
        services under this title;
            ``(B) has not acquired a marketable skill since being
        separated or released from service in the Armed Forces;
            ``(C) was discharged under honorable conditions; and
            ``(D)(i) has been unemployed for at least 90 days during
        the 180-day period preceding the date of application for the
        program established under this section; or
            ``(ii) during such 180-day period received a maximum hourly
        rate of pay of not more than 150 percent of the Federal minimum
        wage.
    ``(b) Apprenticeship or On-the-Job Training Program.--The program
established under this section shall provide for payments to employers
who provide for eligible veterans a program of apprenticeship or on-
the-job training if--
            ``(1) such program is approved as provided in paragraph (1)
        or (2) of section 3687(a) of this title;
            ``(2) the rate of pay for veterans participating in the
        program is not less than the rate of pay for nonveterans in
        similar jobs; and
            ``(3) the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans'
        Employment and Training reasonably expects that--
                    ``(A) the veteran will be qualified for employment
                in that field upon completion of training; and
                    ``(B) the employer providing the program will
                continue to employ the veteran at the completion of
                training.
    ``(c) Payments to Employers.--(1) Subject to the availability of
appropriations for such purpose, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Veterans' Employment and Training shall enter into contracts with
employers to provide programs of apprenticeship or on-the-job training
that meet the requirements of this section. Each such contract shall
provide for the payment of the amounts described in paragraph (2) to
employers whose programs meet such requirements.
    ``(2) The amount paid under this section with respect to any
eligible veteran for any period shall be 50 percent of the wages paid
by the employer to such veteran for such period. Wages shall be
calculated on an hourly basis.
    ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B)--
            ``(i) the amount paid under this section with respect to a
        veteran participating in the program established under this
        section may not exceed $20,000 in the aggregate or $1,666.67
        per month; and
            ``(ii) such payments may only be made during the first 12
        months of such veteran's participation in the program.
    ``(B) In the case of a veteran participating in the program on a
less than full-time basis, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Veterans' Employment and Training may extend the number of months of
payments under subparagraph (A) and proportionally adjust the amount of
such payments, but the aggregate amount paid with respect to such
veteran may not exceed $20,000 and the maximum number of months of such
payments may not exceed 24 months.
    ``(4) Payments under this section shall be made on a quarterly
basis.
    ``(5) Each employer providing a program of apprenticeship or on-
the-job training pursuant to this section shall submit to the Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training on a quarterly
basis a report certifying the wages paid to eligible veterans under
such program (which shall be certified by the veteran as being correct)
and containing such other information as the Assistant Secretary may
specify. Such report shall be submitted in the form and manner required
by the Assistant Secretary.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal year
for which the program is carried out.
    ``(e) Reporting.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans'
Employment and Training, shall include a description of activities
carried out under this section in the annual report prepared submitted
under section 529 of this title.
    ``(f) Termination.--The authority to carry out a program under this
section shall terminate on September 30, 2016.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
4114 the following new item:

``4115. Military transition program.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Subsection (a)(1) of section 3034
of such title is amended by striking ``and 3687'' and inserting ``3687,
and 4115''.
    (2) Subsections (a)(1) and (c) of section 3241 of such title are
each amended by striking ``section 3687'' and inserting ``sections 3687
and 4115''.
    (3) Subsection (d)(1) of section 3672 of such title is amended by
striking ``and 3687'' and inserting ``3687, and 4115''.
    (4) Paragraph (3) of section 4102A(b) of such title is amended by
striking ``section 3687'' and inserting ``section 3687 or 4115''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act.

SEC. 3. WAIVER OF CLAIM DEVELOPMENT PERIOD FOR CLAIMS UNDER LAWS
              ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5101 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) If a claimant submits to the Secretary a claim that the
Secretary determines is a fully developed claim, the Secretary shall
provide--
            ``(A) the claimant with the opportunity to waive any claim
        development period otherwise made available by the Secretary
        with respect to such claim; and
            ``(B) expeditious treatment to such claim.
    ``(2) If a person submits to the Secretary any written notification
sufficient to inform the Secretary that the person plans to submit a
fully developed claim and, not later than one year after submitting
such notification submits to the Secretary a claim that the Secretary
determines is a fully developed claim, the Secretary shall provide
expeditious treatment to the claim.
    ``(3) If the Secretary determines that a claim submitted by a
claimant as a fully developed claim is not fully developed, the
Secretary shall provide such claimant with the notice described in
section 5103(a) within 30 days after the Secretary makes such
determination.
    ``(4) For purposes of this section:
            ``(A) The term `fully developed claim' means a claim--
                    ``(i) for which the claimant--
                            ``(I) received assistance from a veterans
                        service officer, a State or county veterans
                        service organization, an agent, or an attorney;
                        or
                            ``(II) submits, together with the claim, an
                        appropriate indication that the claimant does
                        not intend to submit any additional information
                        or evidence in support of the claim and does
                        not require additional assistance with respect
                        to the claim; and
                    ``(ii) for which the claimant or the claimant's
                representative, if any, each signs, dates, and submits
                a certification in writing stating that, as of such
                date, no additional information or evidence is
                available or needs to be submitted in order for the
                claim to be adjudicated.
            ``(B) The term `expeditious treatment' means, with respect
        to a claim for benefits under the laws administered by the
        Secretary, treatment of such claim so that the claim is fully
        processed and adjudicated within 90 days after the Secretary
        receives an application for such claim.''.
    (b) Appeals Form Availability.--Subsection (b) of section 5104 of
such title is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and (2)'' and inserting ``(2)''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end the
        following: ``, and (3) any form or application required by the
        Secretary to appeal such decision''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to claims submitted on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. TOLLING OF TIMING OF REVIEW FOR APPEALS OF FINAL DECISIONS OF
              BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7266(a) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In order'' and inserting ``(1) Except as
        provided in paragraph (2), in order''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) The 120-day period described in paragraph (1) shall be
extended upon a showing of good cause for such time as justice may
require.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, it shall be considered good
cause if a person was unable to file a notice of appeal within the 120-
day period because of the person's service-connected disability.''.
    (b) Applicability.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 7266(a) of such
        title, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to a notice of
        appeal filed with respect to a final decision of the Board of
        Veterans' Appeals that was issued on or after July 24, 2008.
            (2) Reinstatement.--Any petition for review filed with the
        Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims that was dismissed by such
        Court on or after July 24, 2008, as untimely, shall, upon the
        filing of a petition by an adversely affected person filed not
        later than six months after the date of the enactment of this
        Act, be reinstated upon a showing that the petitioner had good
        cause for filing the petition on the date it was filed.

SEC. 5. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS FROM DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL
              INCOME WITH RESPECT TO PENSIONS FOR VETERANS AND
              SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF VETERANS.

    (a) Certain Amounts Paid for Reimbursements and for Pain and
Suffering.--Paragraph (5) of section 1503(a) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) payments regarding--
                    ``(A) reimbursements of any kind (including
                insurance settlement payments) for--
                            ``(i) expenses related to the repayment,
                        replacement, or repair of equipment, vehicles,
                        items, money, or property resulting from--
                                    ``(I) any accident (as defined in
                                regulations which the Secretary shall
                                prescribe), but the amount excluded
                                under this subclause shall not exceed
                                the greater of the fair market value or
                                reasonable replacement value of the
                                equipment or vehicle involved at the
                                time immediately preceding the
                                accident;
                                    ``(II) any theft or loss (as
                                defined in regulations which the
                                Secretary shall prescribe), but the
                                amount excluded under this subclause
                                shall not exceed the greater of the
                                fair market value or reasonable
                                replacement value of the item or the
                                amount of the money (including legal
                                tender of the United States or of a
                                foreign country) involved at the time
                                immediately preceding the theft or
                                loss; or
                                    ``(III) any casualty loss (as
                                defined in regulations which the
                                Secretary shall prescribe), but the
                                amount excluded under this subclause
                                shall not exceed the greater of the
                                fair market value or reasonable
                                replacement value of the property
                                involved at the time immediately
                                preceding the casualty loss; and
                            ``(ii) medical expenses resulting from any
                        accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss (as
                        defined in regulations which the Secretary
                        shall prescribe), but the amount excluded under
                        this clause shall not exceed the costs of
                        medical care provided to the victim of the
                        accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss; and
                    ``(B) pain and suffering (including insurance
                settlement payments and general damages awarded by a
                court) related to an accident, theft, loss, or casualty
                loss, but the amount excluded under this subparagraph
                shall not exceed an amount determined by the Secretary
                on a case-by-case basis;''.
    (b) Certain Amounts Paid by States and Municipalities as Veterans
Benefits.--Section 1503(a) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new
        paragraph (11):
            ``(11) payment of a monetary amount of up to $5,000 to a
        veteran from a State or municipality that is paid as a
        veterans' benefit due to injury or disease; and''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall apply with respect to determinations of income for calendar years
beginning after October 1, 2011.

SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
              OBTAIN CERTAIN INCOME INFORMATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES.

    Section 5317 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.

SEC. 7. VETSTAR AWARD PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish an award program, to be known as the ``VetStar Award
Program'', to annually recognize businesses for their contributions to
veterans' employment.
    (b) Administration.--The Secretary shall establish a process for
the administration of the award program, including criteria for--
            (1) categories and sectors of businesses eligible for
        recognition each year; and
            (2) objective measures to be used in selecting businesses
        to receive the award.
    (c) Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term ``veteran'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States
Code.

SEC. 8. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF PENSION FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.

    Section 1562(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``$1,000'' and inserting ``$2,000''.

SEC. 9. COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO ACT OF 2010.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee,

provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on
passage.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2010.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output:
Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010 - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training to carry out a joint training program to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market. Makes eligible for such program any veteran who: (1) is not otherwise eligible for education or training services through the VA; (2) has not acquired a marketable skill since being separated or released from military service; (3) was discharged under honorable conditions; and (4) has been unemployed for at least 90 days during the 180-day period preceding program application, or, during such 180-day period, received a maximum hourly pay rate of not more than 150% of the federal minimum wage. Allows for payments to employers for the provision of apprenticeship or on-job training under such program. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the program at the end of FY2016.

(Sec. 3) Allows a VA benefits claimant to waive any claim development period upon submission of a fully developed claim, and requires the Secretary to provide expeditious treatment of such a claim. Requires the Secretary to notify a claimant of a non-fully developed claim within 30 days after that determination. Directs the Secretary, in denying a benefit, to include in a notice of that decision any form or application required to appeal the decision.

(Sec. 4) Extends the 120-day time limit for the filing of a notice of appeal of a final decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals for such time as justice may require, upon a showing of good cause. Applies such extension retroactively to final Board decisions issued on or after July 24, 2008.

(Sec. 5) Excludes from annual income, for purposes of eligibility for VA pension benefits for veterans and their surviving spouses and children: (1) reimbursements for expenses resulting from any accident, theft or loss, or casualty loss, or medical expenses or pain and suffering related to such accidents or losses; and (2) payments of up to $5,000 paid by a state or municipality as a veterans' benefit due to injury or disease.

(Sec. 6) Extends through FY2015 VA authority to obtain veterans' income verification information from the Commissioner of Social Security or the Secretary of the Treasury.

(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to establish the VetStar Award Program to recognize annually businesses for their contribution to veterans' employment.

(Sec. 8) Increases from $1,000 to $2,000 the special monthly pension for Medal of Honor recipients.

(Sec. 9) Requires the budgetary effects of this Act to be determined by reference to the latest statement titled "Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation" for this Act, provided such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.