Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Central Oregon Jobs and Water
Security Act''.

SEC. 2. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER; CROOKED, OREGON.

    Section 3(a)(72) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1274(a)(72)) is amended as follows:
            (1) By striking ``15-mile'' and inserting ``14.75-mile''.
            (2) In subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) by striking ``8-mile'' and all that follows
                through ``Bowman Dam'' and inserting ``7.75-mile
                segment from a point one-quarter mile downstream from
                the toe of Bowman Dam''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following: ``The
                developer for any hydropower development, including
                turbines and appurtenant facilities, at Bowman Dam, in
                consultation with the Bureau of Land Management, shall
                analyze any impacts to the Outstandingly Remarkable
                Values of the Wild and Scenic River that may be caused
                by such development, including the future need to
                undertake routine and emergency repairs, and shall
                propose mitigation for any impacts as part of any
                license application submitted to the Federal Energy
                Regulatory Commission.''.

SEC. 3. CITY OF PRINEVILLE WATER SUPPLY.

    Section 4 of the Act of August 6, 1956 (70 Stat. 1058), (as amended
by the Acts of September 14, 1959 (73 Stat. 554), and September 18,
1964 (78 Stat. 954)) is further amended as follows:
            (1) By striking ``ten cubic feet'' the first place it
        appears and inserting ``17 cubic feet''.
            (2) By striking ``during those months when there is no
        other discharge therefrom, but this release may be reduced for
        brief temporary periods by the Secretary whenever he may find
        that release of the full ten cubic feet per second is harmful
        to the primary purpose of the project''.
            (3) By adding at the end the following: ``Without further
        action by the Secretary, and as determined necessary for any
        given year by the City of Prineville, up to seven of the 17
        cubic feet per second minimum release shall also serve as
        mitigation for City of Prineville groundwater pumping, pursuant
        to and in a manner consistent with Oregon State law, including
        any shaping of the release of the up to seven cubic feet per
        second to coincide with City of Prineville groundwater pumping
        as may be required by the State of Oregon. As such, the
        Secretary is authorized to make applications to the State of
        Oregon in conjunction with the City to protect these supplies
        instream. The City shall make payment to the Secretary for that
        portion of the minimum release that actually serves as
        mitigation pursuant to Oregon State law for the City in any
        given year, with the payment for any given year equal to the
        amount of mitigation in acre feet required to offset actual
        City groundwater pumping for that year in accordance with
        Reclamation `Water and Related Contract and Repayment
        Principles and Requirements', Reclamation Manual Directives and
        Standards PEC 05-01, dated 09/12/2006, and guided by `Economic
        and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and
        Related Land Resources Implementation Studies', dated March 10,
        1983. The Secretary is authorized to contract exclusively with
        the City for additional amounts in the future at the request of
        the City.''.

SEC. 4. FIRST FILL PROTECTION.

    The Act of August 6, 1956 (70 Stat. 1058), as amended by the Acts
of September 14, 1959 (73 Stat. 554), and September 18, 1964 (78 Stat.
954), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``Sec. 6.  Other than the 17 cubic feet per second release provided
for in section 4, and subject to compliance with the Army Corps of
Engineers' flood curve requirements, the Secretary shall, on a `first
fill' priority basis, store in and release from Prineville Reservoir,
whether from carryover, infill, or a combination thereof, the
following:
            ``(1) 68,273 acre feet of water annually to fulfill all 16
        Bureau of Reclamation contracts existing as of January 1, 2011,
        and up to 2,740 acre feet of water annually to supply the McKay
        Creek lands as provided for in section 5 of this Act.
            ``(2) Not more than 10,000 acre feet of water annually, to
        be made available to the North Unit Irrigation District
        pursuant to a Temporary Water Service Contract, upon the
        request of the North Unit Irrigation District, consistent with
        the same terms and conditions as prior such contracts between
        the District and the Bureau of Reclamation.
    ``Sec. 7.  Except as otherwise provided in this Act, nothing in
this Act--
            ``(1) modifies contractual rights that may exist between
        contractors and the United States under Reclamation contracts;
            ``(2) amends or reopens contracts referred to in paragraph
        (1); or
            ``(3) modifies any rights, obligations, or requirements
        that may be provided or governed by Oregon State law.''.

SEC. 5. OCHOCO IRRIGATION DISTRICT.

    (a) Early Repayment.--Notwithstanding section 213 of the
Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390mm), any landowner within
Ochoco Irrigation District in Oregon, may repay, at any time, the
construction costs of the project facilities allocated to that
landowner's lands within the district. Upon discharge, in full, of the
obligation for repayment of the construction costs allocated to all
lands the landowner owns in the district, those lands shall not be
subject to the ownership and full-cost pricing limitations of the Act
of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.), and Acts supplemental to and
amendatory of that Act, including the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982
(43 U.S.C. 390aa et seq.).
    (b) Certification.--Upon the request of a landowner who has repaid,
in full, the construction costs of the project facilities allocated to
that landowner's lands owned within the district, the Secretary of the
Interior shall provide the certification provided for in subsection
(b)(1) of section 213 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C.
390mm(b)(1)).
    (c) Contract Amendment.--On approval of the district directors and
notwithstanding project authorizing legislation to the contrary, the
district's reclamation contracts are modified, without further action
by the Secretary of the Interior, to--
            (1) authorize the use of water for instream purposes,
        including fish or wildlife purposes, in order for the district
        to engage in, or take advantage of, conserved water projects
        and temporary instream leasing as authorized by Oregon State
        law;
            (2) include within the district boundary approximately
        2,742 acres in the vicinity of McKay Creek, resulting in a
        total of approximately 44,937 acres within the district
        boundary;
            (3) classify as irrigable approximately 685 acres within
        the approximately 2,742 acres of included lands in the vicinity
        of McKay Creek, where the approximately 685 acres are
        authorized to receive irrigation water pursuant to water rights
        issued by the State of Oregon and have in the past received
        water pursuant to such State water rights; and
            (4) provide the district with stored water from Prineville
        Reservoir for purposes of supplying up to the approximately 685
        acres of lands added within the district boundary and
        classified as irrigable under paragraphs (2) and (3), with such
        stored water to be supplied on an acre-per-acre basis
        contingent on the transfer of existing appurtenant McKay Creek
        water rights to instream use and the State's issuance of water
        rights for the use of stored water.
    (d) Limitation.--Except as otherwise provided in subsections (a)
and (c), nothing in this section shall be construed to--
            (1) modify contractual rights that may exist between the
        district and the United States under the district's Reclamation
        contracts;
            (2) amend or reopen the contracts referred to in paragraph
        (1); or
            (3) modify any rights, obligations or relationships that
        may exist between the district and its landowners as may be
        provided or governed by Oregon State law.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 5, 2012.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output:
Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to modify the boundary of the Crooked River, Oregon. Requires the developer for any hydropower development at Bowman Dam to analyze any impacts to the Outstanding Remarkable Values of the Wild and Scenic River that may be caused by such development and propose mitigation for such impacts as part of any license application submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

(Sec. 3) Increases (from 10 to 17 cubic feet per second) the minimum release that shall be maintained from the Prineville Reservoir for the benefit of downstream fish life. Requires 7 of the 17 cubic feet per second release to serve as mitigation for the city of Prineville groundwater pumping, as determined necessary for any given year by the city, including any shaping of the release of the up to 7 cubic feet per second to coincide with the city's groundwater pumping as may be required by the state of Oregon. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to make applications to that state in conjunction with that city to protect these supplies instream.

Directs the city to make payment to the Secretary for that portion of the minimum release that actually serves as mitigation under Oregon law. Authorizes the Secretary to contract exclusively with the city for additional amounts in the future at the city's request.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, on a "first fill" priority basis, to store in and release from the Reservoir: (1) 68,273 acre feet of water annually to fulfill all 16 Bureau of Reclamation contracts existing as of January 1, 2011; (2) up to 2,740 acre feet of water annually to supply the McKay Creek lands; and (3) up to 10,000 acre feet of water annually to the North Unit Irrigation District, upon request, pursuant to a Temporary Water Service Contract.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes any landowner within Ochoco Irrigation District, Oregon, to repay construction costs of project facilities allocated to that landowner's lands within that District. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon the request of a landowner who has repaid project construction costs, to provide certification of freedom from ownership and pricing limitations.

Modifies the District's reclamation contracts, on approval of the District directors, to: (1) authorize the use of water for instream purposes in order for the District to engage in, or take advantage of, conserved water projects and temporary instream leasing as authorized by Oregon law; (2) include within the district boundary approximately 2,742 acres in the vicinity of McKay Creek; (3) classify approximately 685 of such acres as irrigable; and (4) provide the District with stored water from Prineville Reservoir for supplying such 685 acres, contingent on the transfer of existing appurtenant McKay Creek water rights to instream use and the state's issuance of water rights for the use of stored water.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Oil Region
National Heritage Area Act''.
    (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act, the following
definitions shall apply:
            (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
        Oil Region National Heritage Area established in section 3(a).
            (2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity''
        means the Oil Heritage Region, Inc., or its successor entity.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of the Interior.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Oil Region of Northwestern Pennsylvania, with
        numerous sites and districts listed on the National Register of
        Historic Places, and designated by the Governor of Pennsylvania
        as one of the State Heritage Park Areas, is a region with
        tremendous physical and natural resources and possesses a story
        of State, national, and international significance.
            (2) The single event of Colonel Edwin Drake's drilling of
        the world's first successful oil well in 1859 has affected the
        industrial, natural, social, and political structures of the
        modern world.
            (3) Six national historic districts are located within the
        State Heritage Park boundary, in Emlenton, Franklin, Oil City,
        and Titusville, as well as 17 separate National Register sites.
            (4) The Allegheny River, which was designated as a
        component of the national wild and scenic rivers system in 1992
        by Public Law 102-271, traverses the Oil Region and connects
        several of its major sites, as do some of the river's
        tributaries such as Oil Creek, French Creek, and Sandy Creek.
            (5) The unspoiled rural character of the Oil Region
        provides many natural and recreational resources, scenic
        vistas, and excellent water quality for people throughout the
        United States to enjoy.
            (6) Remnants of the oil industry, visible on the landscape
        to this day, provide a direct link to the past for visitors, as
        do the historic valley settlements, riverbed settlements,
        plateau developments, farmlands, and industrial landscapes.
            (7) The Oil Region also represents a cross section of
        American history associated with Native Americans, frontier
        settlements, the French and Indian War, African Americans and
        the Underground Railroad, and immigration of Swedish and Polish
        individuals, among others.
            (8) Involvement by the Federal Government shall serve to
        enhance the efforts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, local
        subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, volunteer
        organizations, and private businesses, to promote the cultural,
        national, and recreational resources of the region in order to
        fulfill their full potential.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to enhance a cooperative
management framework to assist the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its
units of local government, and area citizens in conserving, enhancing,
and interpreting the significant features of the lands, water, and
structures of the Oil Region, in a manner consistent with compatible
economic development for the benefit and inspiration of present and
future generations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United
States.

SEC. 3. OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Oil Region
National Heritage Area.
    (b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the Heritage Area shall include
all of those lands depicted on a map entitled ``Oil Region National
Heritage Area'', numbered OIRE/20,000 and dated October, 2000. The map
shall be on file in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service. The Secretary of the Interior shall publish in the Federal
Register, as soon as practical after the date of the enactment of this
Act, a detailed description and map of the boundaries established under
this subsection.
    (c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the Heritage Area
shall be the Oil Heritage Region, Inc., the locally based private,
nonprofit management corporation which shall oversee the development of
a management plan in accordance with section 5(b).

SEC. 4. COMPACT.

    To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall enter
into a compact with the management entity. The compact shall include
information relating to the objectives and management of the area,
including a discussion of the goals and objectives of the Heritage
Area, including an explanation of the proposed approach to conservation
and interpretation and a general outline of the protection measures
committed to by the Secretary and management entity.

SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT
              ENTITY.

    (a) Authorities of the Management Entity.--The management entity
may use funds made available under this Act for purposes of preparing,
updating, and implementing the management plan developed under
subsection (b). Such purposes may include--
            (1) making grants to, and entering into cooperative
        agreements with, States and their political subdivisions,
        private organizations, or any other person;
            (2) hiring and compensating staff; and
            (3) undertaking initiatives that advance the purposes of
        the Heritage Area.
    (b) Management Plan.--The management entity shall develop a
management plan for the Heritage Area that--
            (1) presents comprehensive strategies and recommendations
        for conservation, funding, management, and development of the
        Heritage Area;
            (2) takes into consideration existing State, county, and
        local plans and involves residents, public agencies, and
        private organizations working in the Heritage Area;
            (3) includes a description of actions that units of
        government and private organizations have agreed to take to
        protect the resources of the Heritage Area;
            (4) specifies the existing and potential sources of funding
        to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;
            (5) includes an inventory of the resources contained in the
        Heritage Area, including a list of any property in the Heritage
        Area that is related to the themes of the Heritage Area and
        that should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or
        maintained because of its natural, cultural, historic,
        recreational, or scenic significance;
            (6) describes a program for implementation of the
        management plan by the management entity, including plans for
        restoration and construction, and specific commitments for that
        implementation that have been made by the management entity and
        any other persons for the first 5 years of implementation;
            (7) lists any revisions to the boundaries of the Heritage
        Area proposed by the management entity and requested by the
        affected local government; and
            (8) includes an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area.
    (c) Deadline; Termination of Funding.--
            (1) Deadline.--The management entity shall submit the
        management plan to the Secretary within 2 years after the funds
        are made available for this Act.
            (2) Termination of funding.--If a management plan is not
        submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this subsection,
        the management entity shall not qualify for Federal assistance
        under this Act.
    (d) Duties of Management Entity.--The management entity shall--
            (1) give priority to implementing actions set forth in the
        compact and management plan;
            (2) assist units of government, regional planning
        organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--
                    (A) establishing and maintaining interpretive
                exhibits in the Heritage Area;
                    (B) developing recreational resources in the
                Heritage Area;
                    (C) increasing public awareness of and appreciation
                for the natural, historical, and architectural
                resources and sites in the Heritage Area;
                    (D) the restoration of any historic building
                relating to the themes of the Heritage Area;
                    (E) ensuring that clear signs identifying access
                points and sites of interest are put in place
                throughout the Heritage Area; and
                    (F) carrying out other actions that the management
                entity determines to be advisable to fulfill the
                purposes of this Act;
            (3) encourage by appropriate means economic viability in
        the Heritage Area consistent with the goals of the management
        plan;
            (4) consider the interests of diverse governmental,
        business, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area; and
            (5) for any year in which Federal funds have been provided
        to implement the management plan under subsection (b)--
                    (A) conduct public meetings at least annually
                regarding the implementation of the management plan;
                    (B) submit an annual report to the Secretary
                setting forth accomplishments, expenses and income, and
                each person to which any grant was made by the
                management entity in the year for which the report is
                made; and
                    (C) require, for all agreements entered into by the
                management entity authorizing expenditure of Federal
                funds by any other person, that the person making the
                expenditure make available to the management entity for
                audit all records pertaining to the expenditure of such
                funds.
    (e) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The
management entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to
acquire real property or an interest in real property.

SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY.

    (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Overall assistance.--The Secretary may, upon
                the request of the management entity, and subject to
                the availability of appropriations, provide technical
                and financial assistance to the management entity to
                carry out its duties under this Act, including updating
                and implementing a management plan that is submitted
                under section 5(b) and approved by the Secretary and,
                prior to such approval, providing assistance for
                initiatives.
                    (B) Other assistance.--If the Secretary has the
                resources available to provide technical assistance to
                the management entity to carry out its duties under
                this Act (including updating and implementing a
                management plan that is submitted under section 5(b)
                and approved by the Secretary and, prior to such
                approval, providing assistance for initiatives), upon
                the request of the management entity the Secretary
                shall provide such assistance on a reimbursable basis.
                This subparagraph does not preclude the Secretary from
                providing nonreimbursable assistance under subparagraph
                (A).
            (2) Priority.--In assisting the management entity, the
        Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in the--
                    (A) implementation of the management plan;
                    (B) provision of educational assistance and advice
                regarding land and water management techniques to
                conserve the significant natural resources of the
                region;
                    (C) development and application of techniques
                promoting the preservation of cultural and historic
                properties;
                    (D) preservation, restoration, and reuse of
                publicly and privately owned historic buildings;
                    (E) design and fabrication of a wide range of
                interpretive materials based on the management plan,
                including guide brochures, visitor displays, audio-
                visual and interactive exhibits, and educational
                curriculum materials for public education; and
                    (F) implementation of initiatives prior to approval
                of the management plan.
            (3) Documentation of structures.--The Secretary, acting
        through the Historic American Building Survey and the Historic
        American Engineering Record, shall conduct studies necessary to
        document the industrial, engineering, building, and
        architectural history of the Heritage Area.
    (b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plans.--The Secretary,
in consultation with the Governor of Pennsylvania, shall approve or
disapprove a management plan submitted under this Act not later than 90
days after receiving such plan. In approving the plan, the Secretary
shall take into consideration the following criteria:
            (1) The extent to which the management plan adequately
        preserves and protects the natural, cultural, and historical
        resources of the Heritage Area.
            (2) The level of public participation in the development of
        the management plan.
            (3) The extent to which the board of directors of the
        management entity is representative of the local government and
        a wide range of interested organizations and citizens.
    (c) Action Following Disapproval.--If the Secretary disapproves a
management plan, the Secretary shall advise the management entity in
writing of the reasons for the disapproval and shall make
recommendations for revisions in the management plan. The Secretary
shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision within 90 days after
the date it is submitted.
    (d) Approving Changes.--The Secretary shall review and approve
amendments to the management plan under section 5(b) that make
substantial changes. Funds appropriated under this Act may not be
expended to implement such changes until the Secretary approves the
amendments.
    (e) Effect of Inaction.--If the Secretary does not approve or
disapprove a management plan, revision, or change within 90 days after
it is submitted to the Secretary, then such management plan, revision,
or change shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary.

SEC. 7. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL ENTITIES.

    Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activities directly
affecting the Heritage Area shall--
            (1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity
        with respect to such activities;
            (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the management entity
        in carrying out their duties under this Act and, to the maximum
        extent practicable, coordinate such activities with the
        carrying out of such duties; and
            (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support
        such activities in a manner that the management entity
        determines shall not have an adverse effect on the Heritage
        Area.

SEC. 8. SUNSET.

    The Secretary may not make any grant or provide any assistance
under this Act after the expiration of the 15-year period beginning on
the date that funds are first made available for this Act.

SEC. 9. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE
              PROPERTY.

    (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--No
privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or promoted by
the management plan for the Heritage Area until the owner of that
private property has been notified in writing by the management entity
and has given written consent for such preservation, conservation, or
promotion to the management entity.
    (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property included
within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have their property
immediately removed from the boundary by submitting a written request
to the management entity.

SEC. 10. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

    (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to--
            (1) require any private property owner to allow public
        access (including Federal, State, or local government access)
        to such private property; or
            (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law
        with regard to public access to or use of private property.
    (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not be
considered to create any liability, or to have any effect on any
liability under any other law, of any private property owner with
respect to any persons injured on such private property.
    (c) Recognition of Authority To Control Land Use.--Nothing in this
Act shall be construed to modify the authority of Federal, State, or
local governments to regulate land use.
    (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage Area.--
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the owner of any
private property located within the boundaries of the Heritage Area to
participate in or be associated with the Heritage Area.
    (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for the
Heritage Area represent the area within which Federal funds
appropriated for the purpose of this Act may be expended. The
establishment of the Heritage Area and its boundaries shall not be
construed to provide any nonexisting regulatory authority on land use
within the Heritage Area or its viewshed by the Secretary, the National
Park Service, or the management entity.

SEC. 11. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES.

    Nothing in this Act shall preclude the management entity from using
Federal funds available under Acts other than this Act for the purposes
for which those funds were authorized.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act--
            (1) not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year; and
            (2) not more than a total of $10,000,000.
    (b) 50 Percent Match.--Financial assistance provided under this Act
may not be used to pay more than 50 percent of the total cost of any
activity carried out with that assistance.

Output:
Oil Region National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Oil Region National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania.

Designates the Oil Heritage Region, Inc., to be the management entity for the Area. Directs such entity to: (1) prepare and implement a management plan for the Area, which shall be approved or disapproved by the Secretary of the Interior; (2) assist local governments, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits, developing recreational resources, and restoring historic buildings in the Area; and (3) encouraging economic viability in the Area. Prohibits such entity from using Federal funds under this Act to acquire real property. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to such entity. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Historic American Building Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record, to conduct studies to document the industrial, engineering, building, and architectural history of the Area. Prohibits any privately owned property from being preserved, conserved, or promoted by the management plan until the owner has been notified and has consented. Requires removal of private property from Area boundaries upon the owner's request. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the Federal assistance match to 50 percent of any activity's total cost.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs
Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this Act:
            (1) The term ``employee'' means an employee (as defined by
        section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) of the Department
        of Veterans Affairs who is serving under an appointment without
        time limitation and has been currently employed by the
        Department for a continuous period of at least 3 years, but
        does not include--
                    (A) a reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of
                chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5, United States
                Code, or another retirement system for employees of the
                Government;
                    (B) an employee having a disability on the basis of
                which such employee is eligible for disability
                retirement under subchapter III of chapter 83 or
                chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, or another
                retirement system for employees of the Government;
                    (C) an employee who is in receipt of a specific
                notice of involuntary separation for misconduct or
                unacceptable performance;
                    (D) an employee who previously has received any
                voluntary separation incentive payment by the
                Government under this Act or any other authority;
                    (E) an employee covered by statutory reemployment
                rights who is on transfer to another organization; or
                    (F) an employee who, during the 24-month period
                preceding the date of separation, has received a
                recruitment or relocation bonus under section 5753 of
                title 5, United States Code, or a recruitment bonus
                under section 7458 of title 38, United States Code; and
                    (G) any employee who, during the 12-month period
                preceding the date of separation, received a retention
                allowance under section 5754 of title 5, United States
                Code, or a retention bonus under section 7458 of title
                38, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``Department'' means the Department of
        Veterans Affairs.
            (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Veterans
        Affairs.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT PLANS; APPROVAL.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, before obligating any resources for
voluntary separation incentive payments, shall submit to the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget a strategic plan outlining the
use of such incentive payments and a proposed organizational chart
for the Department once such incentive payments have been completed.
    (b) Contents.--The plan shall specify--
            (1) the positions and functions to be reduced or
        eliminated, identified by organizational unit, geographic
        location, occupational category and grade level; the proposed
        coverage may be based on--
                    (A) any component of the Department of Veterans
                Affairs;
                    (B) any occupation, occupation level or type of
                position;
                    (C) any geographic location; or
                    (D) any appropriate combination of the factors in
                subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C);
            (2) the manner in which such reductions will improve
        operating efficiency or meet actual or anticipated levels of
        budget or staffing resources;
            (3) the period of time during which incentives may be paid;
        and
            (4) a description of how the affected components of the
        Department of Veterans Affairs will operate without the
        eliminated functions and positions.
    (c) Approval.--The Director of the Office of Management and Budget
shall approve or disapprove each plan submitted under subsection (a)
and may make appropriate modifications to the plan with respect to the
time period in which voluntary separation incentives may be paid, with
respect to the number and amounts of incentive payments, or with
respect to the coverage of incentives on the basis of the factors in
subsection (b)(1).

SEC. 4. VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

    (a) Authority To Provide Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may pay a voluntary
        separation incentive payment to an employee only to the extent
        necessary to reduce or eliminate the positions and functions
        identified by the strategic plan.
            (2) Employees who may receive incentives.--In order to
        receive a voluntary separation incentive payment, an employee
        must separate from service with the Department voluntarily
        (whether by retirement or resignation) under the provisions of
        this Act.
    (b) Amount and Treatment of Payments.--A voluntary separation
incentive payment--
            (1) shall be paid in a lump sum after the employee's
        separation;
            (2) shall be equal to the lesser of--
                    (A) an amount equal to the amount the employee
                would be entitled to receive under section 5595(c) of
                title 5, United States Code, if the employee were
                entitled to payment under such section (without
                adjustment for any previous payment made under that
                section); or
                    (B) an amount determined by the Secretary, not to
                exceed $25,000;
            (3) shall not be a basis for payment, and shall not be
        included in the computation, of any other type of Government
        benefit;
            (4) shall not be taken into account in determining the
        amount of severance pay to which an employee may be entitled
        under section 5595 of title 5, United States Code, based on any
        other separation; and
            (5) shall be paid from the appropriations or funds
        available for payment of the basic pay of the employee.

SEC. 5. EFFECT OF SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

    (a) Repayment Upon Subsequent Employment.--An individual who has
received a voluntary separation incentive payment under this Act and
accepts any employment with the Government, or who works for any agency
of the Government through a personal services contract, within five
years after the date of the separation on which the payment is based
shall be required to repay, before the individual's first day of
employment, the entire amount of the incentive payment to the
Department.
    (b) Waiver Authority for Certain Individuals.--(1) If the
employment under subsection (a) is with an Executive agency (as defined
by section 105 of title 5, United States Code), the United States
Postal Service, or the Postal Rate Commission, the Director of the
Office of Personnel Management may, at the request of the head of the
agency, waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique
abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the
position.
    (2) If the employment under subsection (a) is with an entity in the
legislative branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official
may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique
abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the
position.
    (3) If the employment under subsection (a) is with the judicial
branch, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States
Courts may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses
unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the
position.
    (c) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the term
``employment'' includes--
            (1) for the purposes of subsections (a) and (b), employment
        of any length or under any type of appointment, but does not
        include employment that is without compensation; and
            (2) for the purposes of subsection (a), employment with any
        agency of the Government through a personal services contract.

SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL AGENCY CONTRIBUTION TO RETIREMENT FUND.

    (a) Additional Contribution.--In addition to any other payments
which it is required to make under subchapter III of chapter 83 or
chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary shall remit to
the Office of Personnel Management for deposit in the Treasury of the
United States to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and
Disability Fund an amount equal to 15 percent of the final basic pay of
each employee of the Department who is covered under subchapter III of
chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5 to whom a voluntary separation
incentive has been paid under this Act.
    (b) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the term ``final
basic pay'', with respect to an employee, means the total amount of
basic pay that would be payable for a year of service by that employee,
computed using the employee's final rate of basic pay, and, if last
serving on other than a full-time basis, with appropriate adjustment
therefor.

SEC. 7. REDUCTION OF AGENCY EMPLOYMENT LEVELS.

    (a) In General.--The total full-time equivalent employment in the
Department shall be reduced by one for each separation of an employee
who receives a voluntary separation incentive payment under this Act.
The reduction shall be calculated by comparing the Department's full-
time equivalent employment for the fiscal year in which the voluntary
separation payments are made with the actual full-time equivalent
employment for the prior fiscal year.
    (b) Enforcement.--The President, through the Office of Management
and Budget, shall monitor the Department and take any action necessary
to ensure that the requirements of this section are met.
    (c) Waiver Authority.--Subsection (a) may be waived upon a
determination by the President that--
            (1) the existence of a state of war or other national
        emergency so requires; or
            (2) the existence of an extraordinary emergency which
        threatens life, health, safety, property, or the environment so
        requires.

SEC. 8. CONTINUED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

    Section 8905a(d)(4) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after force ``, or an
        involuntary separation from a position in or under the
        Department of Veterans Affairs due to a reduction in force or a
        title 38 staffing adjustment'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting at the beginning
        thereof ``With respect to the Department of Defense,'';
            (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
            (4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
        subparagraph (C):
                    ``(C) With respect to the Department of Veterans
                Affairs, this paragraph shall apply with respect to any
                individual whose continued coverage is based on a
                separation occurring on or after the date of the
                enactment of this subparagraph and before--
                            ``(i) October 1, 2004; or
                            ``(ii) February 1, 2005, if specific notice
                        of such separation was given to such individual
                        before October 1, 2004.''.

SEC. 9. REGULATIONS.

    The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe
any regulations necessary to administer the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. LIMITATION; SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    (a) Limitation.--No voluntary separation incentive under this Act
may be paid based on the separation of an employee after September 30,
2004.
    (b) Savings Clause.--This Act supplements and does not supersede
other authority of the Secretary.

SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this
Act.

Output:
Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, before obligating any resources for voluntary separation incentive payments (payments), to submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a strategic plan outlining the use of such payments and a proposed organizational chart for the Department of Veterans Affairs once such payments have been completed.  Requires such plan to include:  (1) the positions and functions to be reduced or eliminated; (2) their effects on meeting efficiency, budget, or staffing goals; (3) the period of time during which such incentives may be paid; and (4) a description of how the affected Department components will operate without the eliminated functions and positions.
Authorizes the Secretary to make such a payment only to reduce or eliminate positions or functions identified in the plan.  Requires such payments to be in a lump sum and no greater than $25,000 apiece. Requires full repayment from any individual who is subsequently reemployed with any Federal department or agency, with exceptions for certain employment in which the individual possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available.
Requires the Secretary to remit to the Office of Personnel Management for credit to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund 15 percent of the final basic pay of each individual receiving such payments.
Reduces the total full-time equivalent employees in the Department by one for each individual receiving such a payment.  Authorizes the President to waive such reductions upon a determination of the existence of:  (1) a state of war or other national emergency; or (2) an extraordinary emergency which threatens life, health, safety, property, or the environment.
Provides for continued temporary health insurance coverage for individuals receiving such payments.
Prohibits any payment based on the separation of an employee after September 30, 2004.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Nursing School Capacity Act of
2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Researchers in the field of public health have
        identified the need for a national study to identify
        constraints encountered by schools of nursing in graduating the
        number of nurses sufficient to meet the health care needs of
        the United States.
            (2) The shortage of qualified registered nurses has
        adversely affected the health care system of the United States.
            (3) Individual States have had varying degrees of success
        with programs designed to increase the recruitment and
        retention of nurses.
            (4) Schools of nursing have been unable to provide a
        sufficient number of qualified graduates to meet the workforce
        needs.
            (5) Many nurses are approaching the age of retirement, and
        the problem worsens each year.
            (6) In 2004, an estimated 125,000 applications from
        qualified applicants were rejected by schools of nursing, due
        to a shortage of faculty and a lack of capacity for additional
        students.

SEC. 3. STUDY WITH RESPECT TO CONSTRAINTS WITH RESPECT TO SCHOOLS OF
              NURSING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
request the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences
to enter into an agreement under which the Institute conducts a study
for the purpose of--
            (1) identifying constraints encountered by schools of
        nursing in admitting and graduating the number of registered
        nurses necessary to ensure patient safety and meet the need for
        quality assurance in the provision of health care; and
            (2) developing recommendations to alleviate the constraints
        on a short-term and long-term basis.
    (b) Certain Components.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
agreement under subsection (a) provides that the study under such
subsection will include information on the following:
            (1) The trends in applications for attendance at schools of
        nursing that are relevant to the purpose described in such
        subsection, including trends regarding applicants who are
        accepted for enrollment and applicants who are not accepted,
        particularly qualified applicants who are not accepted.
            (2) The number and demographic characteristics of entry-
        level and graduate students currently enrolled in schools of
        nursing, the retention rates at the schools, and the number of
        recent graduates from the schools, as compared to previous
        years and to the projected need for registered nurses based on
        two-year, five-year, and ten-year projections.
            (3) The number and demographic characteristics of nurses
        who pursue graduate education in nursing and non-nursing
        programs but do not pursue faculty positions in schools of
        nursing, the reasons therefor, including any regulatory
        barriers to choosing to pursue such positions, and the effect
        of such decisions on the ability of the schools to obtain
        adequate numbers of faculty members.
            (4) The extent to which entry-level graduates of the
        schools are satisfied with their educational preparation,
        including their participation in nurse externships,
        internships, and residency programs, and to which they are able
        to effectively transition into the nursing workforce.
            (5) The satisfaction of nurse managers and administrators
        with respect to the preparation and performance levels of
        entry-level graduates from the schools after one-year, three-
        year, and five-years of practice, respectively.
            (6) The extent to which the current salary, benefit
        structures, and characteristics of the workplace, including the
        number of nurses who are presently serving in faculty
        positions, influence the career path of nurses who have pursued
        graduate education.
            (7) The extent to which the use of innovative technologies
        for didactic and clinical nursing education might provide for
        an increase in the ability of schools of nursing to train
        qualified nurses.
    (c) Recommendations.--Recommendations under subsection (a)(2) may
include recommendations for legislative or administrative changes at
the Federal or State level, and measures that can be taken in the
private sector--
            (1) to facilitate the recruitment of students into the
        nursing profession;
            (2) to facilitate the retention of nurses in the workplace;
        and
            (3) to improve the resources and ability of the education
        and health care systems to prepare a sufficient number of
        qualified registered nurses.
    (d) Methodology of Study.--
            (1) Scope.--The Secretary shall ensure that the agreement
        under subsection (a) provides that the study under such
        subsection will consider the perspectives of nurses and
        physicians in each of the various types of inpatient,
        outpatient, and residential facilities in the health care
        delivery system; faculty and administrators of schools of
        nursing; providers of health plans or health insurance; and
        consumers.
            (2) Consultation with relevant organization.--The Secretary
        shall ensure that the agreement under subsection (a) provides
        that relevant agencies and organizations with expertise on the
        nursing shortage will be consulted with respect to the study
        under such subsection, including but not limited to the
        following:
                    (A) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
                    (B) The American Academy of Nursing.
                    (C) The American Association of Colleges of
                Nursing.
                    (D) The American Nurses Association.
                    (E) The American Organization of Nurse Executives.
                    (F) The National Institute of Nursing Research.
                    (G) The National League for Nursing.
                    (H) The National Organization for Associate Degree
                Nursing.
                    (I) The National Student Nurses Association.
    (e) Report.--The Secretary shall ensure that the agreement under
subsection (a) provides that not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, a report providing the findings and
recommendations made in the study under such subsection will be
submitted to the Secretary, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Labor,
Education, and Pensions of the Senate.
    (f) Other Organization.--If the Institute declines to conduct the
study under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into an agreement
with another appropriate private entity to conduct the study.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``Institute'' means the Institute of Medicine
        of the National Academy of Sciences.
            (2)(A) The term ``school of nursing'' means a collegiate,
        associate degree, or diploma school of nursing in a State.
            (B) The terms ``collegiate school of nursing'', ``associate
        degree school of nursing'', and ``diploma school of nursing''
        have the meanings given to such terms in section 801 of the
        Public Health Service Act.
            (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health
        and Human Services.

Output: Nursing School Capacity Act of 2005 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request that the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) conduct a study to: (1) identify constraints encountered by schools of nursing in admitting and graduating the number of registered nurses necessary to ensure patient safety and meet the need for quality assurance in the provision of health care; and (2) develop recommendations to alleviate the constraints on a short-term and long-term basis. Directs the Secretary to provide that the study consider the perspectives of: (1) nurses and physicians in inpatient, outpatient, and residential facilities; (2) faculty and administrators of nursing schools; (3) providers of health plans or health insurance; and (4) consumers.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment
Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Project Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds:
            (1) Nationwide, older abandoned or under-used commercial
        and industrial sites known as brownfields are often overlooked
        for redevelopment because of real or perceived contamination
        from past commercial or industrial activities.
            (2) Reuse of these sites often requires site assessment and
        cleanup, adding costs and uncertainties to the redevelopment
        process, and prompting many developers to pursue cheaper, less
        complicated development options on undeveloped sites.
            (3) Brownfields are at a competitive disadvantage relative
        to greenfield sites, as capital for their cleanup and
        redevelopment may not be available. Often located in distressed
        areas, brownfields, owned by public, private, or nonprofit
        entities, are frequently unable to secure financing for site
        remediation.
            (4) States have created remedial action programs to allow a
        person to respond voluntarily to a release or suspected release
        of hazardous substances at low and medium priority facilities.
        Such programs have flourished due to the States' ability to
        streamline duplicative State and Federal regulatory
        requirements and affect a timely, cost-effective, and
        environmentally protective cleanup of sites.
            (5) Because of their experience in administering targeted
        loan assistance programs, States are in a good position to use
        Federal funds to capitalize revolving loan funds to support
        local cleanup and redevelopment projects.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a pilot
project to revitalize distressed communities by providing loans for
cleanup of eligible brownfield facilities and properties that are
remediated through State voluntary cleanup programs and that have the
potential to attract private investment, foster clean manufacturing,
and create jobs for local residents.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROJECT PROVIDING REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR CLEANUPS UNDER
              STATE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment of Loan Program.--The Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency (hereinafter in this Act referred to as
the ``Administrator'') shall establish a pilot project to provide a
capitalization loan to one or more States that submit applications to
the Administrator to establish or expand a State revolving loan fund
for purposes of providing loans for voluntary environmental cleanups of
eligible facilities.
    (b) Application for Loan.--An application for a capitalization loan
under this section shall be in such form as the Administrator considers
appropriate. At a minimum, the application shall include each of the
following:
            (1) Evidence that the State is carrying out a voluntary
        cleanup program for eligible facilities. The Administrator
        shall ensure that the State voluntary program provides, at a
        minimum, adequate opportunities for meaningful public
        participation, sufficient technical assistance, and adequate
        oversight and enforcement authority to ensure that cleanups
        protect human health and the environment, adequate resources
        are available to carry out cleanup, and certification from the
        State to the owner or prospective purchaser that the cleanup is
        complete.
            (2) Evidence that the State will provide a matching share
        of at least 20 percent of the costs of such cleanup from either
        new or existing sources of State funding.
            (3) A description of the State's proposed revolving loan
        program and of the State's capability to manage the program.
        States may use interest income or loan repayments (in an amount
        equal to not more than 10 percent of their revolving loan
fund amount) for program administrative purposes. At a minimum, the
State's revolving loan program shall--
                    (A) provide loans to both public and private
                parties conducting voluntary cleanups under the State's
                voluntary cleanup program who are unable to secure
loans from private lending institutions or other means of financing;
                    (B) require that borrowers demonstrate credit
                worthiness and the ability to carry out the cleanup;
                and
                    (C) give priority to loans for the purpose of
                cleaning up--
                            (i) facilities that are planned to be
                        reused for industrial purposes that employ
                        environmentally sound practices; and
                            (ii) facilities that will generate jobs for
                        contractors whose principal place of business
                        is the political subdivision in which the
                        facility is located or for laborers who reside
                        in such political subdivisions.
            (4) A statement that the State will begin repayment of the
        loan within 5 years after receipt of the loan, and evidence of
        the State's ability to repay the loan.
            (5) A statement that a loan from the revolving loan fund
        will not be used to pay for any of the following:
                    (A) New construction at previously undeveloped
                sites.
                    (B) Environmental fines or penalties.
                    (C) Speculative assessments or speculative
                rehabilitation at facilities with little or no
                potential for economic development.
            (6) Such other elements as the Administrator considers
        appropriate.
    (c) Amount of Loan.--The Administrator shall determine the
distribution of funds among the eligible States. The amount of a
capitalization loan made by the Administrator under this Act to a State
may not exceed 15 percent of the amount available each year to all the
eligible States.
    (d) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Administrator for purposes of making capitalization loans to States
under the pilot project established by this section the sum of
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $7,500,000 for each of the fiscal
years 1999 and 2000.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act, the term ``eligible facility'' means a
facility or property that is a low- or medium-priority environmental
hazard for the State, but whose environmental contamination is thought
to be preventing the timely use, redevelopment, or reuse of the
facility or property, and is thought to be limited in scope and readily
assessable, except that such term shall not include any of the
following:
            (1) A facility for which an abatement action has been taken
        or is scheduled to be taken under section 106 of the
        Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
        Liability Act of 1980 or for which an action has been taken or
        is scheduled to be taken under section 7003 of the Solid Waste
        Disposal Act.
            (2) A facility that is the subject of a Federal response
        action under section 104 of the Comprehensive Environmental
        Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C.
        9601 et seq.).
            (3) A facility included on the National Priorities List or
        proposed for inclusion and for which documentation for listing
        has been prepared by the State or the Administrator.
            (4) A facility required to have a permit under section 3005
        of the Solid Waste Disposal Act that does not have a permit
        under that section and does not qualify for authorization to
        operate in interim status under subsection (e) of that section.
            (5) A land disposal unit with respect to which a closure
        requirement under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act
        (42 U.S.C. 6921 et seq.) is submitted and closure requirements
        are specified in a closure plan or permit.
            (6) A facility that is the subject of a corrective action
        under section 3004(u) or 3008(h) of the Solid Waste Disposal
        Act (42 U.S.C. 5924(u) or 6928(h)) that has been evaluated as
        high priority under the Environmental Protection Agency's
        National Corrective Action Priority System as set forth in
        regulations under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
            (7) A facility at which assistance for response activities
        may be obtained pursuant to subtitle I of the Solid Waste
        Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.) from the Leaking
        Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund established under section
        9508 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (8) A facility owned or operated by a department, agency,
        or instrumentality of the United States.

Output:
Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Project Act of 1997 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a pilot project of capitalization loans to States to establish or expand revolving loan funds for voluntary cleanup of eligible facilities.  Defines "eligible facility," with exceptions, as a facility or property that is a low- or medium-priority environmental hazard for the State but whose environmental contamination is thought to be:  (1) preventing the timely use, redevelopment, or reuse of the facility or property; and (2) limited in scope and readily assessable.
Authorizes appropriations.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``STEM Support for Teachers in
Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act'' or the ``STEM\2\ Act''.

SEC. 2. STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING.

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

             ``PART E--STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING

``SEC. 2501. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian
        tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given those
        terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
        Education Assistance Act.
            ``(2) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology,
        engineering, and mathematics.

``SEC. 2502. PLANNING GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to address the lack
of coordination among STEM education efforts in the States.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization,
nonprofit organization, or institution of higher education that
identifies a coalition of related entities to participate in the grant
application process under this section and subsequent STEM network
activities funded with a grant awarded under this section.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out
        this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of
        awarding, on a competitive basis, planning grants to eligible
        entities to enable the eligible entities to--
                    ``(A) develop effective State or tribal STEM
                networks for communication and collaboration that
                include school teachers, institutions of higher
                education, nonprofit organizations, businesses,
                Federal, State, and local governments, and any other
                relevant entities; and
                    ``(B) through such State STEM networks, identify
                future STEM skills needed for STEM and non-STEM
                occupations.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this
        section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure
        a distribution of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
        poverty eligible entities.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
    ``(e) Reports.--
            ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity
        receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the
        Secretary an annual report describing the progress made on the
        grant.
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after
        the date of enactment of the STEM Support for Teachers in
        Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act, and every 3 years
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress
        regarding the program supported under this section.

``SEC. 2503. TRAINING PROGRAM GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the
capacity of preservice and existing teachers, elementary schools,
middle schools, and secondary schools to use proven methods, including
inquiry or project-based learning, to inspire and prepare students for
STEM careers and build STEM literacy.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization,
local educational agency, institution of higher education, or nonprofit
organization.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out
        this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of
        awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities
        to enable the eligible entities to develop, carry out, and
        evaluate training programs for STEM education--
                    ``(A) in elementary schools, middle schools, and
                secondary schools for existing teachers; and
                    ``(B) in postsecondary schools for preservice
                teachers.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this
        section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure
        an equitable distribution--
                    ``(A) between eligible entities serving urban areas
                and eligible entities serving rural areas; and
                    ``(B) of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
                poverty eligible entities.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require. Such application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor
        and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program,
        including how the eligible entity plans to measure the impact
        of the training on--
                    ``(A) teachers who attended the training after the
                teachers return to the classroom; or
                    ``(B) preservice teachers; and
            ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines
        appropriate.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section shall use grant funds to carry out a training program,
using best practice models (including inquiry and project-based models)
and through summer institutes or other professional development
enrichment programs, that provides professional development regarding
STEM education to existing and preservice STEM teachers (including STEM
teachers who are master teachers or have otherwise demonstrated mastery
of STEM teaching) and administrators who are employed as teachers and
administrators, respectively, as of the time of the program.
    ``(f) Reports.--
            ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity
        receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the
        Secretary an annual report that describes the progress made on
        the grant and includes the results from the evaluation
        described in the application under subsection (d).
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after
        the date of enactment of this part, and every 3 years
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress
        regarding the program supported under this section.

``SEC. 2504. ACADEMIC STANDARDS GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the
capacity of States to implement new mathematics and science academic
standards.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization,
local educational agency, public charter school, institution of higher
education, or nonprofit organization.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out
        this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a
        competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible
        entities to support curriculum development, assessments, or
        related activities that would enable States to adopt new
        mathematics and science academic standards.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this
        section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure
        a distribution of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
        poverty eligible entities.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require. Such application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor
        and evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum development,
        assessments, or related activities that would enable States to
        adopt new mathematics and science academic standards; and
            ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines
        appropriate.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section shall use grant funds to carry out curriculum development,
assessments, or related activities that would enable States to adopt
new mathematics and science academic standards and provide professional
development regarding STEM education standards and national tests for
administrators who are employed as teachers and administrators,
respectively, as of the time of the program.
    ``(f) Reports to the Secretary.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an annual report
that describes the progress made on the grant and includes the results
from the evaluation described in the application under subsection (d).

``SEC. 2505. NATIONAL PANEL.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a national panel
to review, evaluate, and identify--
            ``(1) rigorous kindergarten through grade 12 STEM curricula
        models, including computer or web-based simulation education
        programs, kinesthetic learning, and inquiry- or project-based
        learning techniques; and
            ``(2) best practices with respect to STEM curricula.
    ``(b) Members.--The Secretary shall determine the membership of the
national panel described in subsection (a), which shall be comprised of
individuals who have the wisdom and experience to identify and
recommend the most effective STEM curricula models, such as--
            ``(1) representatives of technology industries and
        business;
            ``(2) teachers and school administrators;
            ``(3) representatives of nonprofit organizations and
        community organizations;
            ``(4) faculty members of institutions of higher education;
            ``(5) research specialists and curricula specialists;
            ``(6) at least 1 rural education expert;
            ``(7) at least 1 high school or college student to provide
        a youth perspective; and
            ``(8) other individuals, as determined appropriate by the
        Secretary.
    ``(c) Reports.--The panel shall prepare reports and recommendations
regarding the panel's findings as requested by the Secretary.

``SEC. 2506. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014 and each of the 5
succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 2441 the following:

             ``Part E--STEM Education Planning and Training

``Sec. 2501. Definitions.
``Sec. 2502. Planning grants.
``Sec. 2503. Training program grants.
``Sec. 2504. Academic standards grants.
``Sec. 2505. National panel.
``Sec. 2506. Authorization of appropriations.''.

Output: STEM Support for Teachers in Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act or the STEM 2 Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive planning grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, or institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop effective state or tribal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) networks that coordinate STEM education efforts by: (1) facilitating communication and collaboration among public and private STEM stakeholders, and (2) identifying STEM occupational skills needed in the future. Directs the Secretary to award competitive grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, local educational agencies (LEAs), IHEs, or nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate STEM education training programs for teachers and administrators in elementary, middle, and secondary schools and for preservice teachers in postsecondary schools. Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, LEAs, public charter schools, IHEs, or nonprofit organizations to support curriculum development, assessments, or related activities that enable states to adopt new mathematics and science academic standards.  Requires the Secretary to establish a national panel to identify and recommend the most effective STEM curricula models for kindergarten through grade 12.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``International Peacekeeping Reform
Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2 LIMITATION ON THE USE OF FUNDS FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING
              ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Limitation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none
of the funds made available to the Department of State under the
account ``Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities'' or
any other funds made available to the Department of State under any law
to pay for assessed or voluntary contributions to United Nations
peacekeeping activities shall be available for obligation or
expenditure to the United Nations to establish, expand in size, or
modify in mission a United Nations peacekeeping operations unless, with
respect to such peacekeeping operation--
            (1) the President submits a certification to the
        appropriate congressional committees under subsection (c); and
            (2) except as provided in paragraph (b), the President has
        notified the appropriate congressional committees of the intent
        to support the establishment of the peacekeeping operation at
        least 15 days before any vote in the Security Council to
        establish, expand, or modify such operation. The notification
        shall include the following:
                    (A) A cost assessment of such action (including the
                total estimated cost and the United States share of
                such cost).
                    (B) Identification of the source of funding for the
                United States share of the costs of the action (whether
                in an annual budget request, reprogramming
                notification, a rescission of funds, a budget
                amendment, or a supplemental budget request.
    (b) Presidential Determination of Existence of Emergency.--If the
President determines that an emergency exists which prevented
submission of the 15-day advance notification specified in paragraph
(a) and that the proposed action is in the direct national security
interests of the United States, the notification described in paragraph
(a) shall be provided in a timely manner but no later than 48 hours
after the vote by the Security Council.
    (c) Certification to Congress.--The President shall determine and
certify to the Congress that the United Nations Peacekeeping operation
described under paragraph (a) meets the following requirements:
            (1) The operation involves an international conflict in
        which hostilities have ceased and all significant parties to
        the conflict agree to the imposition of United Nations
        peacekeeping forces for the purpose of seeking an enduring
        solution to the conflict.
            (2) With respect to any assessed contribution to such
        United Nations peacekeeping activity, the percentage of the
        United States assessed share for the total cost of the
        operation is no greater than the percentage of the United
        States assessed share for the regular United Nations budget.
            (3) In the event that the provision of United States
        intelligence information involving sensitive sources and
        methods on intelligence gathering is planned to be provided to
        the United Nations to support the operation, adequate measures
        have been taken by the United Nations to protect such
        information.
            (4) With respect to the participation in the operation of
        units of the United States Armed Forces trained to carry out
        direct combat missions--
                    (A) the operation directly advances United States
                national security interests,
                    (B) the participation of such units is critical to
                the success of the operation,
                    (C) such units will be under the operational
                command and control of the United States Armed Forces,
                and
                    (D) any member of the United States Armed Forces
                participating in the operation would have access to the
                full protection of the Geneva Convention Relative to
                the Treatment of Prisoners of War (signed at Geneva,
                August 12, 1949) if captured and held by combatants or
                other parties to the conflict.
    (d) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            (1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means
        the Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees of the
        Senate and the International Relations and Appropriations
        Committees of the House of Representatives;
            (2) the term ``adequate measures'' refers to the
        implementation of procedures for protecting intelligence
        sources and methods (including protection from release to
        nations and foreign nationals that are otherwise not eligible
        to receive such information) no less stringent than procedures
        maintained by nations with which the United States regularly
        shares similar types of intelligence information, as determined
        by the Director of Central Intelligence upon consultation with
        the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense; and
            (3) the term ``direct combat'' means engaging an enemy or
        hostile force with individual or crew-served weapons while
        being exposed to direct enemy fire, a high probability of
        direct physical contact with the enemy or hostile force, and a
        substantial risk of capture.

Output:
International Peacekeeping Reform Act of 1997 - Prohibits funds made available to the Department of State under the Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities Account, or under any law to pay for contributions for United Nations peacekeeping activities, from being available to the United Nations for the establishment, expansion, or modification in mission of a United Nations peacekeeping operation unless the President:  (1) makes the certification required by this Act; and (2) notifies the Congress, at least 15 days before (or in the event of an emergency, within 48 hours after) any vote by the United Nations Security Council to establish, expand, or modify such operation, of the intent to support the operation.
Directs the President to certify that the peacekeeping operation meets the following requirements:  (1) the operation involves an international conflict in which hostilities have ceased and all significant parties to the conflict agree to the imposition of United Nations forces to seek an enduring solution to the conflict; (2) the percentage of the U.S.-assessed share of the operation's cost is no greater than the percentage of the share for the regular United Nations budget; (3) adequate measures have been taken by the United Nations to protect sensitive U.S.-supplied intelligence information; and (4) with respect to units of the U.S. armed forces trained to carry out direct combat missions, the operation advances U.S. national security interests, the units are critical to the success of the operation and will be under U.S. command and control, and any armed forces member would be protected by the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Reservists Small Business
Relief Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. REPAYMENT DEFERRAL FOR ACTIVE DUTY RESERVISTS.

    Section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Repayment Deferred for Active Duty Reservists.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible reservist.--The term `eligible
                reservist' means a member of a reserve component of the
                Armed Forces ordered to active duty during a period of
                military conflict.
                    ``(B) Essential employee.--The term `essential
                employee' means an individual who is employed by a
                small business concern and whose managerial or
                technical expertise is critical to the successful day-
                to-day operations of that small business concern.
                    ``(C) Period of military conflict.--The term
                `period of military conflict' means--
                            ``(i) a period of war declared by Congress;
                            ``(ii) a period of national emergency
                        declared by Congress or by the President; or
                            ``(iii) a period of a contingency
                        operation, as defined in section 101(a) of
                        title 10, United States Code.
                    ``(D) Qualified borrower.--The term `qualified
                borrower' means--
                            ``(i) an individual who is an eligible
                        reservist and who received a direct loan under
                        subsection (a) or (b) before being ordered to
                        active duty; or
                            ``(ii) a small business concern that
                        received a direct loan under subsection (a) or
                        (b) before an eligible reservist, who is an
                        essential employee, was ordered to active duty.
            ``(2) Deferral of direct loans.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administration shall, upon
                written request, defer repayment of principal and
                interest due on a direct loan made under subsection (a)
                or (b), if such loan was incurred by a qualified
                borrower.
                    ``(B) Period of deferral.--The period of deferral
                for repayment under this paragraph shall begin on the
                date on which the eligible reservist is ordered to
                active duty and shall terminate on the date that is 180
                days after the date such eligible reservist is
                discharged or released from active duty.
                    ``(C) Interest rate reduction during deferral.--
                Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the
                period of deferral described in subparagraph (B), the
                Administration may, in its discretion, reduce the
                interest rate on any loan qualifying for a deferral
                under this paragraph.
            ``(3) Deferral of loan guarantees and other financings.--
        The Administration shall--
                    ``(A) encourage intermediaries participating in the
                program under subsection (m) to defer repayment of a
                loan made with proceeds made available under that
                subsection, if such loan was incurred by a small
                business concern that is eligible to apply for
                assistance under subsection (b)(3); and
                    ``(B) not later than 30 days after the date of
                enactment of this subsection, establish guidelines to--
                            ``(i) encourage lenders and other
                        intermediaries to defer repayment of, or
                        provide other relief relating to, loan
                        guarantees under subsection (a) and financings
                        under section 504 of the Small Business
                        Investment Act of 1958 that were incurred by
                        small business concerns that are eligible to
                        apply for assistance under subsection (b)(3),
                        and loan guarantees provided under subsection
                        (m) if the intermediary provides relief to a
                        small business concern under this paragraph;
                        and
                            ``(ii) implement a program to provide for
                        the deferral of repayment or other relief to
                        any intermediary providing relief to a small
                        business borrower under this paragraph.''.

SEC. 3. DISASTER LOAN ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY RESERVISTS' SMALL
              BUSINESSES.

    Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is
amended by inserting after the undesignated paragraph that begins with
``Provided, That no loan'', the following:
            ``(3)(A) In this paragraph--
                    ``(i) the term `essential employee' means an
                individual who is employed by a small business concern
                and whose managerial or technical expertise is critical
                to the successful day-to-day operations of that small
                business concern;
                    ``(ii) the term `period of military conflict' has
                the meaning given the term in subsection (n)(1); and
                    ``(iii) the term `substantial economic injury'
                means an economic harm to a business concern that
                results in the inability of the business concern--
                            ``(I) to meet its obligations as they
                        mature;
                            ``(II) to pay its ordinary and necessary
                        operating expenses; or
                            ``(III) to market, produce, or provide a
                        product or service ordinarily marketed,
                        produced, or provided by the business concern.
            ``(B) The Administration may make such disaster loans
        (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending
        institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate
        or deferred basis) to assist a small business concern that has
        suffered or that is likely to suffer substantial economic
        injury as the result of an essential employee of such small
        business concern being ordered to active military duty during a
        period of military conflict.
            ``(C) A small business concern described in subparagraph
        (B) shall be eligible to apply for assistance under this
        paragraph during the period beginning on the date on which the
        essential employee is ordered to active duty and ending on the
        date that is 90 days after the date on which such essential
        employee is discharged or released from active duty.
            ``(D) Any loan or guarantee extended pursuant to this
        paragraph shall be made at the same interest rate as economic
        injury loans under paragraph (2).
            ``(E) No loan may be made under this paragraph, either
        directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending
        institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate
        or deferred basis, if the total amount outstanding and
        committed to the borrower under this subsection would exceed
        $1,500,000, unless such applicant constitutes a major source of
        employment in its surrounding area, as determined by the
        Administration, in which case the Administration, in its
        discretion, may waive the $1,500,000 limitation.
            ``(F) For purposes of assistance under this paragraph, no
        declaration of a disaster area shall be required.''.

SEC. 4. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY
              RESERVISTS' SMALL BUSINESSES.

    (a) In General.--Section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
637) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Management Assistance for Small Businesses Affected by
Military Operations.--The Administration shall utilize, as appropriate,
its entrepreneurial development and management assistance programs,
including programs involving State or private sector partners, to
provide business counseling and training to any small business concern
adversely affected by the deployment of units of the Armed Forces of
the United States in support of a period of military conflict (as
defined in section 7(n)(1)).''.
    (b) Enhanced Publicity During Operation Allied Force.--For the
duration of Operation Allied Force and for 120 days thereafter, the
Administration shall enhance its publicity of the availability of
assistance provided pursuant to the amendments made by this Act,
including information regarding the appropriate local office at which
affected small businesses may seek such assistance.

SEC. 5. GUIDELINES.

    Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall issue such
guidelines as the Administrator determines to be necessary to carry out
this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATES.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the
amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act.
    (b) Disaster Loans.--The amendments made by section 3 shall apply
to economic injury suffered or likely to be suffered as the result of a
period of military conflict occurring or ending on or after March 24,
1999.

            Passed the Senate July 27, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.

Output:
Military Reservists Small Business Relief Act of 1999 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA), upon written request, to defer repayment of principal and interest due on a direct general business or disaster loan made to a member of the reserves ordered to active duty during a period of military conflict, as long as such reservist: (1) received the loan before being ordered to such duty; and (2) is an essential employee of a small business for which the loan was made.  Extends such deferral period until 180 days after such reservist is discharged or released from active duty. Directs the SBA to encourage lenders and loan intermediaries participating in other SBA loan programs to defer repayment of similar loans as well as loans made under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.
Authorizes the SBA to make disaster loans to assist a small business that has or is likely to suffer economic injury as the result of the essential employee of such business being ordered to active duty during a period of military conflict.  Extends such assistance until 90 days after such reservist is discharged or released from such duty.  Provides a loan limitation. Applies such assistance to periods of military conflict occurring on or after March 24, 1999.
Directs the SBA to utilize its entrepreneurial development and management assistance programs to provide business counseling and training to any small business adversely affected by the deployment of units of U.S. armed forces in support of a period of military conflict. Requires the SBA, for the duration of Operation Allied Force and 120 days thereafter, to enhance its publicity of the availability of such assistance.