Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Care Agreements Rule
Enhancement Act'' or the ``Veteran CARE Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is--
            (1) to maintain the access of veterans to high-quality
        hospital care, medical services, and extended care if that care
        is not available directly from the Department of Veterans
        Affairs;
            (2) to continue to allow the use by the Department of
        agreements covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulation and
        agreements that are not covered by such regulation, similar to
        those agreements used under the original Medicare fee-for-
        service program (Medicare Parts A and B), if it is not
        practicable to contract for the care needed by veterans through
        an agreement covered by such regulation;
            (3) to address the fact that individual health care
        providers, especially smaller providers in rural areas, may not
        be willing to accept veterans as patients when doing so would
        require the significant time and administrative requirements in
        connection with entering into agreements with the Department
        that are covered by such regulation;
            (4) to address the deficiencies in current law regarding
        agreements entered into by the Department that have raised
        legal issues; and
            (5) to ensure that agreements that are not covered by such
        regulation include robust terms and conditions that address the
        quality of health care for veterans, oversight of the provision
        of such health care, and protections for taxpayers.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
              AFFAIRS AND NON-DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding after section 1703 the following new
section:
``Sec. 1703A. Veterans Care Agreements with certain health care
              providers
    ``(a) Agreements To Furnish Care.--(1) If the Secretary is not
feasibly able to furnish hospital care, medical services, or extended
care under this chapter at facilities of the Department or under
contracts or sharing agreements entered into under authorities other
than this section, the Secretary may furnish such care and services by
entering into agreements under this section with eligible providers
that are certified under subsection (c). An agreement entered into
under this section may be referred to as a `Veterans Care Agreement'.
    ``(2) The Secretary is not feasibly able to furnish care or
services as described in paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that
the medical condition of the veteran, the travel involved, the nature
of the care or services required, or a combination of those factors
make the use of facilities of the Department, contracts, or sharing
agreements impracticable or inadvisable.
    ``(3) Eligibility of a veteran under this section for the care or
services described in paragraph (1) shall be determined as if such care
or services were furnished in a facility of the Department and
provisions of this title applicable to veterans receiving such care or
services in a facility of the Department shall apply to veterans
receiving such care or services under this section.
    ``(b) Eligible Providers.--For purposes of this section, an
eligible provider is one of the following:
            ``(1) A provider of services that has enrolled and entered
        into a provider agreement under section 1866(a) of the Social
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)).
            ``(2) A physician or supplier that has enrolled and entered
        into a participation agreement under section 1842(h) of such
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(h)).
            ``(3) A provider of items and services receiving payment
        under a State plan under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396
        et seq.) or a waiver of such a plan.
            ``(4) A provider that is--
                    ``(A) an Aging and Disability Resource Center, an
                area agency on aging, or a State agency (as defined in
                section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42
                U.S.C. 3002)); or
                    ``(B) a center for independent living (as defined
                in section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
                U.S.C. 796a)).
            ``(5) Such other health care providers as the Secretary
        considers appropriate for purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Certification of Eligible Providers.--(1) The Secretary shall
establish a process for the certification of eligible providers under
this section that shall, at a minimum, set forth the following:
            ``(A) Procedures for the submittal of applications for
        certification and deadlines for actions taken by the Secretary
        with respect to such applications.
            ``(B) Standards and procedures for approval and denial of
        certification, duration of certification, revocation of
        certification, and recertification.
            ``(C) Procedures for assessing eligible providers based on
        the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse of such providers similar
        to the level of screening under section 1866(j)(2)(B) of the
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(j)(2)(B)) and the
        standards set forth under section 9.104 of title 48, Code of
        Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall deny or revoke certification to an
eligible provider under this subsection if the Secretary determines
that the eligible provider is currently--
            ``(A) excluded from participation in a Federal health care
        program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of the Social Security
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(f))) under section 1128 or 1128A of the
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7 and 1320a-7a); or
            ``(B) identified as an excluded source on the list
        maintained in the System for Award Management, or any successor
        system.
    ``(d) Terms of Agreements.--Each agreement entered into with an
eligible provider under this section shall include provisions requiring
the eligible provider to do the following:
            ``(1) To accept payment for care and services furnished
        under this section at rates established by the Secretary for
        purposes of this section, which shall be, to the extent
        practicable, the rates paid by the United States for such care
        and services to providers of services and suppliers under the
        Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act
        (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
            ``(2) To accept payment under paragraph (1) as payment in
        full for care and services furnished under this section and to
        not seek any payment for such care and services from the
        recipient of such care and services.
            ``(3) To furnish under this section only the care and
        services authorized by the Department under this section unless
        the eligible provider receives prior written consent from the
        Department to furnish care or services outside the scope of
        such authorization.
            ``(4) To bill the Department for care and services
        furnished under this section in accordance with a methodology
        established by the Secretary for purposes of this section.
            ``(5) Not to seek to recover or collect from a health-plan
        contract or third party, as those terms are defined in section
        1729 of this title, for any care or services for which payment
        is made by the Department under this section.
            ``(6) To provide medical records for veterans furnished
        care or services under this section to the Department in a
        timeframe and format specified by the Secretary for purposes of
        this section.
            ``(7) To meet such other terms and conditions, including
        quality of care assurance standards, as the Secretary may
        specify for purposes of this section.
    ``(e) Termination of Agreements.--(1) An eligible provider may
terminate an agreement with the Secretary under this section at such
time and upon such notice to the Secretary as the Secretary may specify
for purposes of this section.
    ``(2) The Secretary may terminate an agreement with an eligible
provider under this section at such time and upon such notice to the
eligible provider as the Secretary may specify for purposes of this
section, if the Secretary--
            ``(A) determines that the eligible provider failed to
        comply substantially with the provisions of the agreement or
        with the provisions of this section and the regulations
        prescribed thereunder;
            ``(B) determines that the eligible provider is--
                    ``(i) excluded from participation in a Federal
                health care program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(f))) under
                section 1128 or 1128A of the Social Security Act (42
                U.S.C. 1320a-7 and 1320a-7a); or
                    ``(ii) identified as an excluded source on the list
                maintained in the System for Award Management, or any
                successor system;
            ``(C) ascertains that the eligible provider has been
        convicted of a felony or other serious offense under Federal or
        State law and determines that the continued participation of
        the eligible provider would be detrimental to the best
        interests of veterans or the Department; or
            ``(D) determines that it is reasonable to terminate the
        agreement based on the health care needs of a veteran or
        veterans.
    ``(f) Periodic Review of Certain Agreements.--(1) Not less
frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall review each
Veterans Care Agreement of material size entered into during the two-
year period preceding the review to determine whether it is feasible
and advisable to furnish the hospital care, medical services, or
extended care furnished under such agreement at facilities of the
Department or through contracts or sharing agreements entered into
under authorities other than this section.
    ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a Veterans Care Agreement is
of material size as determined by the Secretary for purposes of this
section.
    ``(B) A Veterans Care Agreement entered into after September 30,
2016, for the purchase of extended care services is of material size if
the purchase of such services under the agreement exceeds $1,000,000
annually. The Secretary may adjust such amount to account for changes
in the cost of health care based upon recognized health care market
surveys and other available data and shall publish any such adjustments
in the Federal Register.
    ``(g) Exclusion of Certain Federal Contracting Provisions.--(1) An
agreement under this section may be entered into without regard to any
law that would require the Secretary to use competitive procedures in
selecting the party with which to enter into the agreement.
    ``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and unless
otherwise provided in this section or regulations prescribed pursuant
to this section, an eligible provider that enters into an agreement
under this section is not subject to, in the carrying out of the
agreement, any law that providers of services and suppliers under the
Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) are not subject to.
    ``(B) An eligible provider that enters into an agreement under this
section is subject to--
            ``(i) all laws regarding integrity, ethics, fraud, or that
        subject a person to civil or criminal penalties; and
            ``(ii) all laws that protect against employment
        discrimination or that otherwise ensure equal employment
        opportunities.
    ``(h) Monitoring of Quality of Care.--The Secretary shall establish
a system or systems, consistent with survey and certification
procedures used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and
State survey agencies to the extent practicable--
            ``(1) to monitor the quality of care and services furnished
        to veterans under this section; and
            ``(2) to assess the quality of care and services furnished
        by an eligible provider for purposes of determining whether to
        renew an agreement under this section with the eligible
        provider.
    ``(i) Dispute Resolution.--(1) The Secretary shall establish
administrative procedures for eligible providers with which the
Secretary has entered an agreement under this section to present any
dispute arising under or related to the agreement.
    ``(2) Before using any dispute resolution mechanism under chapter
71 of title 41 with respect to a dispute arising under an agreement
under this section, an eligible provider must first exhaust the
administrative procedures established by the Secretary under paragraph
(1).''.
    (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe
an interim final rule to carry out section 1703A of such title, as
added by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item related
to section 1703 the following new item:

``1703A. Veterans Care Agreements with certain health care
                            providers.''.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH STATE
              HOMES TO PROVIDE NURSING HOME CARE.

    (a) Use of Agreements.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 1745(a) of title
        38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding
        subparagraph (A), by striking ``a contract (or agreement under
        section 1720(c)(1) of this title)'' and inserting ``an
        agreement''.
            (2) Payment.--Paragraph (2) of such section is amended by
        striking ``contract (or agreement)'' each place it appears and
        inserting ``agreement''.
    (b) Exclusion of Certain Federal Contracting Provisions.--Such
section is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4)(A) An agreement under this section may be entered into
without regard to any law that would require the Secretary to use
competitive procedures in selecting the party with which to enter into
the agreement.
    ``(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii) and unless otherwise
provided in this section or regulations prescribed pursuant to this
section, a State home that enters into an agreement under this section
is not subject to, in the carrying out of the agreement, any law that
providers of services and suppliers under the Medicare program under
title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) are not
subject to.
    ``(ii) An eligible provider that enters into an agreement under
this section is subject to--
            ``(I) all laws regarding integrity, ethics, fraud, or that
        subject a person to civil or criminal penalties; and
            ``(II) all laws that protect against employment
        discrimination or that otherwise ensure equal employment
        opportunities.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
        apply to agreements entered into under section 1745 of such
        title on and after the date on which the regulations prescribed
        by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement such
        amendments take effect.
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the date
        described in paragraph (1) in the Federal Register not later
        than 30 days before such date.

Output: Veteran Care Agreements Rule Enhancement Act or Veteran CARE Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), if unable to furnish hospital care, medical services, or extended care at VA facilities or under other authorized contracts or sharing agreements, to enter into a Veterans Care Agreement with an eligible provider to furnish such care and services. The VA shall review agreements exceeding $1 million annually at least once every two years. The VA shall establish a process for the certification of eligible providers. An eligible provider is:   a physician or provider of services that has entered into a provider agreement under the Social Security Act;  a provider of items and services receiving payments under a state Medicaid plan;  an aging and disability resource center, an area agency on aging, or a center for independent living; or any other health care provider the VA considers appropriate.  The VA shall establish a system or systems to monitor the quality of care and services furnished to veterans, which shall be used in assessing whether to renew an agreement.  An agreement may be made with a health care provider to provide veterans with nursing home care.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Women's High-Growth
Business Bipartisan Task Force Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean
        the Small Business Administration and the Administrator
        thereof, respectively;
            (2) the term ``Task Force'' means the National Women's
        High-Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force established under
        section 3; and
            (3) the term ``small business concern owned and controlled
        by women'' has the meaning given that term in section 3(n) of
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(n)).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL WOMEN'S HIGH-GROWTH BUSINESS BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the National Women's High-
Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force, which shall serve as an
independent source of advice, research, and policy recommendations to--
            (1) the Administrator;
            (2) the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Women's
        Business Ownership of the Administration;
            (3) Congress;
            (4) the President; and
            (5) other Federal departments and agencies.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Number of members.--The Task Force shall be composed of
        15 members, of which--
                    (A) 8 shall be individuals who own small business
                concerns owned and controlled by women, including not
                fewer than 2 individuals who own small business
                concerns owned and controlled by women in industries in
                which women are traditionally underrepresented;
                    (B) 2 shall be individuals having expertise
                conducting research on women's business, women's
                entrepreneurship, new business development by women,
                and high-growth business development; and
                    (C) 5 shall be individuals who represent women's
                business organizations, including women's business
                centers and women's business advocacy groups.
            (2) Appointment of members.--
                    (A) Owners of small business concerns owned and
                controlled by women.--Of the members of the Task Force
                described in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) 2 shall be appointed by the Chairperson
                        of the Committee on Small Business and
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate;
                            (ii) 2 shall be appointed by the Ranking
                        Member of the Committee on Small Business and
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate;
                            (iii) 2 shall be appointed by the
                        Chairperson of the Committee on Small Business
                        of the House of Representatives; and
                            (iv) 2 shall be appointed by the Ranking
                        Member of the Committee on Small Business of
                        the House of Representatives.
                    (B) Other members.--The members of the Task Force
                described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1)
                shall be appointed by the Administrator.
                    (C) Initial appointments.--The individuals
                described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall appoint
                the initial members of the Task Force not later than 90
                days after the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (D) Geographic considerations.--In making an
                appointment under this paragraph, the individuals
                described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall give
                consideration to the geographic areas of the United
                States in which the members of the Task Force live and
                work, particularly to ensure that rural areas are
                represented on the Task Force.
                    (E) Political affiliation.--Not more than 8 members
                of the Task Force may be members of the same political
                party.
            (3) Chairperson.--
                    (A) Election of chairperson.--The members of the
                Task Force shall elect 1 member of the Task Force as
                Chairperson of the Task Force.
                    (B) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the position of
                Chairperson of the Task Force shall be filled by the
                Task Force at the first meeting of the Task Force after
                the date on which the vacancy occurs.
            (4) Term of service.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
                (B), the term of service of each member of the Task
                Force shall be 3 years.
                    (B) Terms of initial appointees.--Of the members of
                the Task Force first appointed after the date of
                enactment of this Act--
                            (i) 6 shall be appointed for a term of 4
                        years, including--
                                    (I) 1 member appointed by the
                                individuals described in each of
                                clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of
                                paragraph (2)(A); and
                                    (II) 2 members appointed by the
                                Administrator; and
                            (ii) 5 shall be appointed for a term of 5
                        years, including--
                                    (I) 1 member appointed by the
                                individuals described in each of
                                clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of
                                paragraph (2)(A); and
                                    (II) 1 member appointed by the
                                Administrator.
            (5) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled
        not later than 30 days after the date on which the vacancy
        occurs, in the manner in which the original appointment was
        made, and shall be subject to any conditions that applied to
        the original appointment. An individual chosen to fill a
        vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member
        replaced.
            (6) Prohibition on federal employment.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
                (B), no member of the Task Force may serve as an
                officer or employee of the United States.
                    (B) Exception.--A member of the Task Force who
                accepts a position as an officer or employee of the
                United States after appointment to the Task Force may
                continue to serve on the Task Force for not more than
                30 days after the date of such acceptance.
            (7) Compensation and expenses.--
                    (A) No compensation.--Each member of the Task Force
                shall serve without compensation.
                    (B) Expenses.--The Administrator shall reimburse
                the members of the Task Force for travel and
                subsistence expenses in accordance with section 5703 of
                title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
            (1) review and monitor plans and programs developed in the
        public and private sectors that affect the ability of small
        business concerns owned and controlled by women to obtain
        capital and credit and to access markets, and provide advice on
        improving coordination between such plans and programs;
            (2) monitor and promote the plans, programs, and operations
        of the Federal departments and agencies that contribute to the
        formation and development of small business concerns owned and
        controlled by women, and make recommendations to Federal
        departments and agencies concerning the coordination of such
        plans, programs, and operations;
            (3) develop and promote initiatives, policies, programs,
        and plans designed to encourage the formation of startups and
        high-growth small business concerns owned and controlled by
        women;
            (4) advise the Administrator on the development and
        implementation of an annual comprehensive plan for joint
        efforts by the public and private sectors to facilitate the
        formation and development of startups and high-growth small
        business concerns owned and controlled by women; and
            (5) examine the link between women who own small business
        concerns and intellectual property, including--
                    (A) the number of patents, trademarks, and
                copyrights granted to women; and
                    (B) the challenges faced by high-growth small
                business concerns owned and controlled by women in
                obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights.
    (d) Powers.--
            (1) Hearings.--The Task Force may hold such hearings, sit
        and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and
        receive such evidence as the Task Force considers advisable to
        carry out its duties.
            (2) Task groups.--The Task Force may, from time to time,
        establish temporary task groups, as necessary to carry out the
        duties of the Task Force.
            (3) Information from federal agencies.--Upon request of the
        Chairperson of the Task Force, the head of any Federal
        department or agency shall furnish such information to the Task
        Force as the Task Force considers necessary to carry out its
        duties.
            (4) Use of mails.--The Task Force may use the United States
        mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as
        Federal departments and agencies.
            (5) Gifts.--The Task Force may accept, use, and dispose of
        gifts or donations of services or property.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet--
                    (A) not less than 3 times each year;
                    (B) at the call of the Chairperson; and
                    (C) upon the request of--
                            (i) the Administrator;
                            (ii) the Chairperson and Ranking Member of
                        the Committee on Small Business and
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate; or
                            (iii) the Chairperson and Ranking Member of
                        the Committee on Small Business of the House of
                        Representatives.
            (2) Participation of federal agencies.--
                    (A) Participation encouraged.--The Task Force shall
                allow and encourage participation in meetings by
                representatives from Federal agencies.
                    (B) Functions of representatives of federal
                agencies.--A representative from a Federal agency--
                            (i) may be used as a resource; and
                            (ii) may not vote or otherwise act as a
                        member of the Task Force.
            (3) Location.--Each meeting of the full Task Force shall be
        held at the headquarters of the Administration, unless, not
        later than 1 month before the meeting, a majority of the
        members of the Task Force agree to meet at another location.
            (4) Support by administrator.--The Administrator shall
        provide suitable meeting facilities and such administrative
        support as may be necessary for each full meeting of the Task
        Force.
    (f) Reports.--
            (1) Reports by task force.--
                    (A) Reports required.--Not later than 30 days after
                the end of each fiscal year, the Task Force shall
                submit to the President and to the Committee on Small
                Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the
                Committee on Small Business of the House of
                Representatives, a report containing--
                            (i) a detailed description of the
                        activities of the Task Force, including a
                        report on how the Task Force has carried out
                        the duties described in subsection (c);
                            (ii) the findings and recommendations of
                        the Task Force; and
                            (iii) the recommendations of the Task Force
                        for--
                                    (I) promoting intellectual property
                                rights for high-growth small business
                                concerns owned and controlled by women;
                                and
                                    (II) such legislative and
                                administrative actions as the Task
                                Force considers appropriate to promote
                                the formation and development of small
                                business concerns owned and controlled
                                by women.
                    (B) Form of reports.--The report required under
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) any concurring or dissenting views of
                        the Administrator; and
                            (ii) the minutes of each meeting of the
                        Task Force.
            (2) Reports by chief counsel for advocacy.--
                    (A) Studies.--
                            (i) In general.--Not less frequently than
                        twice each year, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy
                        of the Small Business Administration, in
                        consultation with the Task Force, shall conduct
                        a study of an issue that is important to small
                        business concerns owned and controlled by
                        women.
                            (ii) Topics.--The topic of a study under
                        clause (i) shall--
                                    (I) be an issue that the Task Force
                                determines is critical to furthering
                                the interests of small business
                                concerns owned and controlled by women;
                                and
                                    (II) relate to--
                                            (aa) Federal prime
                                        contracts and subcontracts
                                        awarded to small business
                                        concerns owned and controlled
                                        by women;
                                            (bb) access to credit and
                                        investment capital by women
                                        entrepreneurs;
                                            (cc) acquiring and
                                        enforcing intellectual property
                                        rights; or
                                            (dd) any other issue
                                        relating to small business
                                        concerns owned and controlled
                                        by women that the Task Force
                                        determines is appropriate.
                            (iii) Contracting.--In conducting a study
                        under this subparagraph, the Chief Counsel may
                        contract with a public or private entity.
                    (B) Report.--The Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall--
                            (i) submit a report containing the results
                        of each study under subparagraph (A) to the
                        Task Force, the Committee on Small Business and
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate, and the
                        Committee on Small Business of the House of
                        Representatives; and
                            (ii) make each report submitted under
                        clause (i) available to the public online.
    (g) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task
Force.

SEC. 4. REPEAL.

    (a) Final Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act--
            (1) the Interagency Committee on Women's Business
        Enterprise shall submit to the President and the Committee on
        Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the
        Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a
        report containing the information described in paragraphs (1),
        (2), and (3) of section 404 of the Women's Business Ownership
        Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7104), as in effect on the day before
        the date of enactment of this Act; and
            (2) the National Women's Business Council shall submit to
        the President and the Committee on Small Business and
        Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small
        Business of the House of Representatives a report containing
        the information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of
        section 406(d)(6) of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988
        (15 U.S.C. 7106), as in effect on the day before the date of
        enactment of this Act.
    (b) Repeal.--The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C.
631 note) is amended by striking title IV (15 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 8(b)(1)(G) (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(G)), by
        striking ``and to carry out the activities authorized by title
        IV of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988''; and
            (2) in section 29(g) (15 U.S.C. 656(g))--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``women's
                business enterprises (as defined in section 408 of the
                Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631
                note))'' and inserting ``small business concerns owned
                and controlled by women''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)--
                            (i) in subclause (VI), by adding ``and'' at
                        the end;
                            (ii) in subclause (VII), by striking the
                        semicolon at the end and inserting a period;
                        and
                            (iii) by striking subclauses (VIII), (IX),
                        and (X).
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c)
shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Output:
National Women's High-Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force Act of 2012 - Establishes the National Women's High-Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force to provide women-owned, start-up and high-growth business advice, research, and policy recommendations to the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Assistant Administrator of the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership, Congress, the President, and other federal departments and agencies.

Directs the Task Force, among other things, to review, monitor, and advise on plans and programs developed in the public and private sectors that affect the ability of small businesses owned and controlled by women to obtain capital and credit and to access markets. Requires the Task Force to report annually to the President and the congressional small business committees on the activities of the Task Force.

Directs the SBA's Chief Counsel to: (1) semiannually conduct a study of an issue of importance to small businesses owned and controlled by women, and (2) submit each study's results to the Task Force and the small business committees.

Amends the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 to repeal provisions establishing the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Centennial Challenge
Fund Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress here by finds that--
            (1) Our national parks are icons of America;
            (2) The one hundredth anniversary of the National Park
        System will be in 2016;
            (3) It is appropriate for all Americans to help in the
        efforts to enhance our parks as the country gets ready for this
        centennial celebration;
            (4) The President has proposed a National Park Centennial
        Initiative that, over ten years, will provide up to $3 billion
        to prepare parks for another century of conservation,
        preservation, and enjoyment; and
            (5) A part of that Initiative is the establishment of a
        Centennial Challenge to encourage individuals, foundations, and
        the private sector to donate money each year by providing up to
        $100 million in dedicated Federal funding to match donations
        for signature projects and programs.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish a fund in
the Treasury that will be used to finance signature projects and
programs to enhance the National Park System as it approaches its
centennial in 2016 and to prepare the parks for another century of
conservation, preservation, and enjoyment.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act, the term---
            (1) ``Challenge Fund'' means the National Park Centennial
        Challenge Fund.
            (2) ``Director'' means the Director of the National Park
        Service.
            (3) ``Secretary'' means Secretary of the Interior.
            (4) ``Signature project or program'' means, for the
        purposes of this Act, any project or program identified by the
        Director as one that will help prepare the national parks for
        another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.
            (5) ``Qualified donation'' means a cash non-Federal
        donation to the National Park Service that the Director
        certifies is for a listed signature project or program.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a fund to
be known as the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund. The Challenge
Fund shall consist of:
            (1) Qualified donations transferred from the Donations to
        the National Park Service account, in accordance with section
        6(a) of this Act: and
            (2) Amounts appropriated from the general fund of the
        Treasury, in accordance with section 6(b) of this Act.
    (b) Availability.--All amounts deposited in the Challenge Fund
shall be available, subject to restrictions in section 6(c) of this
Act, to the Secretary for signature projects and programs under this
Act without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.
No monies shall be available for indirect administrative costs. The
expenditure of amounts in the Challenge Fund shall follow Federal
procurement and financial laws and standards.

SEC. 5. SIGNATURE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.

    (a) List.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall
develop a list of signature projects and programs eligible for funding
from the Challenge Fund. The list shall be submitted to the President
and to the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural
Resources in the United States Senate, and to the Committees on
Appropriations and Natural Resources in the House of Representatives.
    (b) Signature Projects and Programs.--For purposes of this Act, a
signature project or program shall be a project or program identified
by the Director as one that will help prepare the national parks for
another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.
    (c) Updates.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, may, from
time to time as the Secretary or Director finds necessary, add any
project or program to the list developed pursuant to subsection (a)
that the Director believes is a signature project or program. If the
Director adds any project or program to the list, the Secretary shall
notify the Committees referred to in subsection (a) at the time the
project or program is added.

SEC. 6. DONATIONS AND MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS.

    (a) Qualified Donations.--Beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending
on September 30, 2017, the Secretary may transfer to the Challenge Fund
qualified donations of cash, including cash to liquidate a letter of
credit, received by the National Park Service.
    (b) Matching Amount.--There is hereby appropriated in each fiscal
year beginning on October 1, 2007 and ending on September 30, 2017, an
amount equal to the qualified donations received and the pledge of
donations through letters of credit in the same fiscal year, not to
exceed $100 million in any one year. In no case may the matching amount
exceed the amount of donations received or pledged in any year. For the
purpose of this subsection, the Secretary may consider a donation for
any fiscal year to be received when a pledge of a donation for that
fiscal year is guaranteed and a valid irrevocable letter of credit is
issued for such purposes.
    (c) The Secretary may not obligate any amounts based on a letter of
credit, or amounts to match a letter of credit pursuant to subsection
(b), until amounts from that letter of credit are deposited in the
Challenge Fund.
    (d) Solicitation.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
expanding any authority that exists on the date of its enactment with
respect to the ability of the National Park Service and its employees
to receive or solicit for donations.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    The Secretary shall provide with the submission of the President's
budget a list of the signature projects and programs and the status of
their funding.

SEC. 8. REGULATIONS.

    The Secretary may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary
to carry out this Act.

Output:
National Park Centennial Challenge Fund Act - Establishes in the Treasury the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund (the Challenge Fund) which shall consist of qualified donations transferred from the Donations to the National Park Service account and amounts appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury, in accordance with this Act.

Makes available all amounts deposited in the Challenge Fund to the Secretary of the Interior for signature projects and programs under this Act (projects and programs identified by the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) as those that will help prepare the national parks for another century of conservation, preservation, and enjoyment).

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to develop a list of signature projects and programs eligible for funding from the Challenge Fund. Requires that such list be submitted to the President and specified congressional committees.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Air Traffic Supervisor Retirement
Reform Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Civil Service Retirement System.--Section 8331 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (25);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (26) and
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(27) `air traffic controller' or `controller' means--
                    ``(A) a controller within the meaning of section
                2109(1); and
                    ``(B) a civilian employee of the Department of
                Transportation or the Department of Defense holding a
                supervisory, managerial, executive, technical,
                semiprofessional, or professional position for which
                experience as a controller (within the meaning of
                section 2109(1)) is a prerequisite.''
    (b) Federal Employees' Retirement System.--Section 8401 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (31);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (32) and
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(33) `air traffic controller' or `controller' means--
                    ``(A) a controller within the meaning of section
                2109(1); and
                    ``(B) a civilian employee of the Department of
                Transportation or the Department of Defense holding a
                supervisory, managerial, executive, technical,
                semiprofessional, or professional position for which
                experience as a controller (within the meaning of
                section 2109(1)) is a prerequisite.''

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; OTHER PROVISIONS.

    (a) Effective Date.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), this Act
and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the 60th day
after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Treatment of Pre-Effective Date Service.--
            (1) Employee contributions.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (C), upon
                application to the Office of Personnel Management, any
                service to which this subsection applies shall, for
                purposes of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5, United States
                Code, as applicable, be treated in the same way as if
                the amendments made by this Act had been in effect when
                such service was rendered.
                    (B) Service to which this subsection applies.--This
                subsection applies with respect to any service as a
                controller, within the meaning of section 8331(27)(B)
                or 8401(33)(B) of title 5, United States Code (as
                amended by this Act), performed before the effective
                date of this Act.
                    (C) Requirements.--
                            (i) Deposit requirement.--Subparagraph (A)
                        shall not apply with respect to any service
                        unless there is deposited into the Civil
                        Service Retirement and Disability Fund, with
                        interest, an amount equal to the amount by
                        which--
                                    (I) the deductions from pay which
                                would have been required for such
                                service had the amendments made by this
                                Act been in effect when such service
                                was rendered, exceeds
                                    (II) the deductions or deposits
                                actually made, under section 8334 or
                                8422 of title 5, United States Code, as
                                applicable, with respect to such
                                service.
                            (ii) Status at time of application.--This
                        paragraph shall not apply with respect to any
                        individual who is not serving as a controller,
                        within the meaning of either provision cited in
                        subparagraph (B), on the date on which an
                        application under this paragraph is made with
                        respect to any service of such individual.
                    (D) Certification.--For purposes of chapter 83 or
                84 of title 5, United States Code, the Office shall
                accept the certification of the Secretary of
                Transportation or the Secretary of Defense, as the case
                may be, concerning the service of, and the amount of
                compensation received by, an individual with respect to
                any service for which an application under this
                paragraph is made.
            (2) Government contributions.--Not later than 90 days after
        the full deposit required under paragraph (1) with respect to
        an individual has been paid, the agency that employed such
        individual during the period of service to which such deposit
        relates shall pay into the Civil Service Retirement and
        Disability Fund, with interest, an amount equal to the amount
        by which--
                    (A) the Government contributions which would have
                been required to have been paid into the Fund for such
                service had the amendments made by this Act been in
                effect when such service was rendered, exceeds
                    (B) the Government contributions actually made,
                under section 8334 or 8423 of title 5, United States
                Code, as applicable, with respect to such service.
            (3) Regulations.--The Office shall prescribe such
        regulations as may be necessary to carry out this subsection,
        including provisions relating to the time and manner in which
        any application or deposit shall be made, and how any interest
        shall be computed.
    (c) Mandatory Separation.--Nothing in section 8335(a) or 8425(a) of
title 5, United States Code, shall be considered to require the
separation of an individual from a position as a controller (within the
meaning of section 8331(27)(B) or section 8401(33)(B) of title 5,
United States Code, as amended by this Act) if such individual was
first appointed to any such position before the effective date of this
Act.

Output: Air Traffic Supervisor Retirement Reform Act of 1995 - Provides that service performed by certain civilian employees of the Departments of Transportation or of Defense holding specified positions for which experience as an air traffic controller is a prerequisite (air traffic second-level supervisors and managers) shall be creditable for retirement under the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems.


Input:
SECTION 1. PLACEMENT PROGRAMS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY
              REDUCTION IN FORCE ACTIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Public Servant
Priority Placement Act of 1995''.
    (b) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new
section:
``Sec. 3329b. Placement programs for Federal employees affected by
              reduction in force actions
    ``(a) For purposes of this section the term ``agency'' means an
``Executive agency'' as defined under section 105, except such term
shall not include the General Accounting Office.
    ``(b) No later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this section, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall
establish a Government-wide program and each agency shall establish an
agency program to facilitate employment placement for Federal employees
who--
            ``(1) are scheduled to be separated from service under a
        reduction in force under--
                    ``(A) regulations prescribed under section 3502; or
                    ``(B) procedures established under section 3595; or
            ``(2) are separated from service under such a reduction in
        force.
    ``(c) Each agency placement program established under subsection
(b) shall provide a system to require the offer of a vacant position in
an agency to an employee of such agency affected by a reduction in
force action, if--
            ``(1) the position cannot be filled within the agency;
            ``(2) the employee to whom the offer is made is qualified
        for the offered position;
            ``(3)(A) the classification of the offered position is
        equal to or no more than one grade below the classification of
        the employee's present or last held position; or
            ``(B)(i) the basic rate of pay of the offered position is
        equal to the basic rate of pay of the employee's present or
        last held position; or
            ``(ii) sections 5362 and 5363 apply to the basic rate of
        pay of the employee in the offered position; and
            ``(4) the geographic location of the offered position is
        within the commuting area of--
                    ``(A) the residence of the employee; or
                    ``(B) the location of the employee's present or
                last held position.
    ``(d) The Government-wide placement program established under
subsection (b) shall--
            ``(1) coordinate with programs established by agencies for
        the placement of agency employees affected by a reduction in
        force action within such agency; and
            ``(2) provide a system to require the offer of a vacant
        position in an agency to an employee of another agency affected
        by a reduction in force action, if--
                    ``(A) the vacant position cannot be filled through
                the placement program or otherwise be filled from
                within the agency in which the position is located;
                    ``(B) the employee to whom the offer is made is
                well qualified for the offered position;
                    ``(C)(i) the classification of the offered position
                is equal to the classification of the employee's
                present or last held position; or
                    ``(ii) the basic rate of pay of the offered
                position is equal to the basic rate of pay of the
                employee's present or last held position; and
                    ``(D) the geographic location of the offered
                position is within the commuting area of--
                            ``(i) the residence of the employee; or
                            ``(ii) the location of the employee's
                        present or last held position.
    ``(e)(1) The agency placement program established under this
section shall not affect any priority placement program of the
Department of Defense that is in operation on the date of the enactment
of this section.
    ``(2) The interagency placement program established under this
section shall not affect the priority of placement of any employee
under the agency placement program of such employee's employing
agency.''.
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--(1) The section heading
for the second section 3329 (relating to Government-wide list of vacant
positions) is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3329a. Government-wide list of vacant positions''.
    (2) The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by striking out the item relating to the second
section 3329 (relating to Government-wide list of vacant positions) and
inserting in lieu thereof the following:

``3329a. Government-wide list of vacant positions.
``3329b. Placement programs for Federal employees affected by reduction
                            in force actions.''.

Output: Public Servant Priority Placement Act of 1995 - Amends Federal civil service law to require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to establish a Government-wide priority placement program, and each Federal agency to establish a similar agency-wide program, for Federal employees affected by a reduction in force.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of
2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The ethic of hunting involves the consideration of fair
        chase, which allows the animal the opportunity to avoid the
        hunter.
            (2) At more than 1,000 commercial canned hunt operations
        across the country, trophy hunters pay a fee to shoot captive
        exotic animals, from African lions to giraffes and blackbuck
        antelope, in fenced-in enclosures.
            (3) Clustered in a captive setting at unusually high
        densities, confined exotic animals attract disease more readily
        than more widely dispersed native species who roam freely.
            (4) The transportation of captive exotic animals to
        commercial canned hunt operations can facilitate the spread of
        disease across great distances.
            (5) The regulation of the transport and treatment of exotic
        animals on shooting preserves falls outside the traditional
        domains of State agriculture departments and State fish and
        game agencies.
    (b) Purposes.--This Act--
            (1) is limited in its purpose and will not limit the
        licensed hunting of any native mammals or any native or exotic
        birds;
            (2) does not aim to criticize those hunters who pursue
        animals that are not enclosed within a fence; and
            (3) does not attempt to prohibit slaughterhouse activities,
        nor does it aim to prohibit the routine euthanasia of
        domesticated farm animals.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORT OR POSSESSION OF EXOTIC ANIMALS FOR PURPOSES OF
              KILLING OR INJURING THEM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 50. Exotic animals
    ``(a) Prohibition.--
            ``(1) In general.--Whoever, in or substantially affecting
        interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly transfers,
        transports, or possesses a confined exotic animal, for the
        purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of that animal for
        entertainment or for the collection of a trophy, shall be fined
        under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
            ``(2) Exception.--This section shall not apply to the
        killing or injuring of an exotic animal in a State or Federal
        natural area reserve undertaking habitat restoration.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `confined exotic animal' means a mammal of a
        species not historically indigenous to the United States, that
        has been held in captivity, whether or not the defendant knows
        the length of the captivity, for the shorter of--
                    ``(A) the majority of the animal's life; or
                    ``(B) a period of 1 year; and
            ``(2) the term `captivity' does not include any period
        during which an animal lives as it would in the wild--
                    ``(A) surviving primarily by foraging for naturally
                occurring food;
                    ``(B) roaming at will over an open area of not less
                than 1,000 acres; and
                    ``(C) having the opportunity to avoid hunters.
    ``(c) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any person authorized by the Secretary
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
        States Fish and Wildlife Service, may--
                    ``(A) without a warrant, arrest any person that
                violates this section (including regulations
                promulgated under this section) in the presence or view
                of the arresting person;
                    ``(B) execute any warrant or other process issued
                by an officer or court of competent jurisdiction to
                enforce this section; and
                    ``(C) with a search warrant, search for and seize
                any animal taken or possessed in violation of this
                section.
            ``(2) Forfeiture.--Any animal seized with or without a
        search warrant shall be held by the Secretary or by a United
        States marshal, and upon conviction of the defendant, shall be
        forfeited to the United States and disposed of by the Secretary
        of the Interior in accordance with law.
            ``(3) Assistance.--The Director of the United States Fish
        and Wildlife Service may use by agreement, with or without
        reimbursement, the personnel and services of any other Federal
        or State agency for the purpose of enforcing this section.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 3 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 50. Exotic animals.''.

Output:
Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit anyone, in or substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, from knowingly transferring, transporting, or possessing a confined exotic animal for purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of such animal for entertainment or for the collection of a trophy. Exempts the killing or injuring of an exotic animal in a state or federal natural area reserve undertaking habitat restoration from such prohibition.

Defines "confined exotic animal" as a mammal of a species not historically indigenous to the United States that has been held in captivity for the majority of its life or for a period of one year.

Allows persons authorized by the Secretary of the Interior to make arrests, execute warrants, and search for and seize animals to enforce the provisions of this Act.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping College Students Cross the
Finish Line Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE AWARDS TO UNDERGRADUATE AND
              VOCATIONAL STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ASSIST IN
              COMPLETION OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

    Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070 et seq.) is amended by inserting after subpart 7 the following new
subpart:

``Subpart 8--Grants to Institutions To Provide Awards to Undergraduate
and Vocational Students With Financial Need To Assist in Completion of
                    Degree and Certificate Programs

``SEC. 420. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE AWARDS TO UNDERGRADUATE
              AND VOCATIONAL STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ASSIST IN
              COMPLETION OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Grants for Establishment of Financial Assistance Program.--
The Secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education to
establish programs of financial assistance for students in accordance
with this section.
    ``(b) Financial Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--An institution of higher education
        receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall establish a
        financial assistance program to award funds to not less than
        100 eligible students per academic year in accordance with this
        subsection.
            ``(2) Student eligibility.--A student shall be eligible for
        an award under a financial assistance program established by an
        institution of higher education in accordance with this
        subsection if--
                    ``(A) such student is enrolled as an undergraduate
                or vocational student at such institution on a not less
                than half-time basis;
                    ``(B) such student is academically able to complete
                the degree or certificate program for which such
                student is enrolled within an academic year;
                    ``(C) such student is in good academic standing at
                such institution (as determined by such institution) at
                the time of the distribution of the award;
                    ``(D) in the case of a student who previously
                received an award under this section, such student
                maintained good academic standing during the academic
                period for which the student received such previous
                award under this section;
                    ``(E) such student has an outstanding tuition
                payment due to such institution and is unable to fully
                pay the amount due; and
                    ``(F) the institution determines that without
                financial assistance, such student will discontinue the
                degree or certificate program for which such student is
                enrolled due to an inability to pay tuition.
            ``(3) Grant amount.--The amount of an award to a student
        under a financial assistance program established by an
        institution of higher education in accordance with this
        subsection for a semester or equivalent shall be the lesser
        of--
                    ``(A) $1,000; or
                    ``(B) the amount of tuition such institution
                determines the student is unable to pay for such
                semester or equivalent.
            ``(4) Limitation on number of grants.--A student may only
        receive an award under a financial assistance program
        established by an institution of higher education in accordance
        with this subsection for a total of two semesters or the
        equivalent of two semesters.
            ``(5) Information on other financial assistance.--
                    ``(A) Information required.--Each institution of
                higher education receiving a grant under subsection (a)
                shall provide information to each covered student
                attending such institution on financial assistance
                available from any source other than this section.
                    ``(B) Covered student defined.--In this paragraph,
                the term `covered student' means a student receiving an
                award under a financial assistance program established
                by an institution of higher education in accordance
                with this subsection in an amount that does not fully
                pay an outstanding tuition payment due to such
                institution.
    ``(c) Financial Literacy Survey.--The Secretary shall create, and
each student receiving an award under a financial assistance program
established by an institution of higher education in accordance with
subsection (b) shall complete, an online survey concerning financial
literacy. Such survey shall include matters relating to budgeting and
saving, student loan debt, and career planning.
    ``(d) Reports.--
            ``(1) Institutions of higher education.--Each institution
        of higher education receiving a grant under subsection (a)
        shall annually submit to the Secretary a report containing, for
        the academic year preceding the date of the submission of such
        report--
                    ``(A) the number of students enrolled at such
                institution that received an award under a financial
                assistance program established by such institution in
                accordance with subsection (b);
                    ``(B) the number of such students who completed the
                degree or certificate program in which such students
                were enrolled during such academic year;
                    ``(C) the number of such students who, following
                completion of the degree or certificate program in
                which such students were enrolled, subsequently
                enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a higher
                level;
                    ``(D) the number of such students who, following
                completion of the degree or certificate program in
                which such students were enrolled, subsequently
                obtained full-time employment and the average salary
                for such students; and
                    ``(E) any other information that the Secretary
                considers necessary.
            ``(2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall annually submit to
        Congress a report on the implementation of this section. Such
        report shall include--
                    ``(A) the aggregate data submitted by all
                institutions of higher education in accordance with
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) an analysis of the grant program under this
                section and any suggestions for improving such program;
                and
                    ``(C) any other information that the Secretary
                considers necessary.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal years 2015 through 2020.''.

Output: Helping College Students Cross the Finish Line Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to establish a financial assistance program that awards funds to at least 100 of the IHE's undergraduate or vocational students each academic year who:  are enrolled on at least a half-time basis; are academically able to complete the degree or certificate program in which they are enrolled within an academic year; are in good academic standing; if they previously received such an award, maintained good academic standing during the academic period for which they received such award; are unable to fully pay an outstanding tuition payment that is due; and without financial assistance, will discontinue the degree or certificate program in which they are enrolled.  Caps the amount of such award. Prohibits a student from receiving an award for more than two semesters or the equivalent of two semesters. Requires the IHEs to provide each student who receives an award that does not fully cover the amount due on the student's outstanding tuition with information on the financial assistance available from any other source. Directs the Secretary to create, and each student that receives an award to complete, an online financial literacy survey that includes matters relating to budgeting and saving, student loan debt, and career planning.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Texas National Forests Improvement
Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SITES, TEXAS NATIONAL FOREST
              SYSTEM LANDS.

    (a) Authority To Sell or Exchange.--The Secretary of Agriculture
may convey, by sale or exchange, under such terms and conditions as the
Secretary may prescribe, any and all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to the following parcels of National Forest System
land (including improvements thereon) located in the State of Texas:
        (1) Davy Crockett National Forest, Trinity Ranger Quarters
    #066310 (Tract K-2D), located at State Highway 94, Groveton, Texas,
    consisting of approximately 3.0 acres, as depicted on the map
    entitled ``Trinity Ranger Quarters, Tract K-2D'', dated September
    1, 1999.
        (2) Davy Crockett National Forest quarters #066380 (Tract K-
    604), located at 514 Devine Street, Groveton, Texas, consisting of
    approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map entitled ``Davy
    Crockett National Forest Quarters, Tract K-604'', dated September
    1, 1999.
        (3) Sabine National Forest quarters #055250 (Tract S-1391),
    located at 706 Cartwright Drive, San Augustine, Texas, consisting
    of approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map entitled ``Sabine
    National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1391'', dated September 1, 1999.
        (4) Sabine National Forest quarters #055400 (Tract S-1389),
    located at 507 Planter Drive, San Augustine, Texas, consisting of
    approximately 1.5 acres, as depicted on the map entitled ``Sabine
    National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1389'', dated September 1, 1999.
        (5) Sabine National Forest quarters #077070 (Tract S-1388),
    located at State Highway 87, Hemphill, Texas, consisting of
    approximately 1.0 acre, as depicted on the map entitled ``Sabine
    National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1388'', dated September 1, 1999.
        (6) Sabine National Forest quarters #077430 (Tract S-1390),
    located at FM Road 944, Hemphill, Texas, consisting of
    approximately 2.0 acres, as depicted on the map entitled ``Sabine
    National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1390'', dated September 1, 1999.
        (7) Old Yellowpine Work Center site, within the Sabine National
    Forest, consisting of approximately 1.0 acre, as depicted on the
    map entitled ``Old Yellowpine Work Center'', dated September 1,
    1999.
        (8) Yellowpine Work Center site, within the Sabine National
    Forest, consisting of approximately 9.0 acres, as depicted on the
    map entitled ``Yellowpine Work Center'', dated September 1, 1999.
        (9) Zavalla Work Center site, within the Angelina National
    Forest, consisting of approximately 19.0 acres, as depicted on the
    map entitled ``Zavalla Work Center'', dated September 1, 1999.
    (b) Authorized Consideration.--As consideration for a conveyance of
land under subsection (a), the recipient of the land, with the consent
of the Secretary, may convey to the Secretary other land, existing
improvements, or improvements constructed to specifications of the
Secretary.
    (c) Applicable Law.--Except as otherwise provided in this section,
any conveyance of land under subsection (a) shall be subject to the
laws and regulations applicable to the conveyance and acquisition of
land for the National Forest System.
    (d) Cash Equalization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary may accept a cash equalization payment in excess of 25
percent of the value of any parcel of land exchanged under subsection
(a).
    (e) Solicitation of Offers.--The Secretary may solicit offers for
the conveyance of land under this section on such terms and conditions
as the Secretary may prescribe. The Secretary may reject any offer made
under this section if the Secretary determines that the offer is not
adequate or not in the public interest.

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF TEXAS NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND TO NEW WAVERLY
              GULF COAST TRADES CENTER.

    (a) Conveyance Authority.--Subject to the terms and conditions
specified in this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may convey to
the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades Center (referred to in this section
as the ``Center''), all right, title, and interest of the United States
in and to a parcel of real property (including improvements thereon)
consisting of approximately 57 acres of land located within the Sam
Houston National Forest, Walker County, Texas, as depicted on the map
entitled ``New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades Center'', dated September 15,
1999. A complete legal description of the property to be conveyed shall
be available for public inspection at an appropriate office of the Sam
Houston National Forest and in the Office of the Chief of the Forest
Service.
    (b) Consideration.--
        (1) Fair market value.--As consideration for the conveyance
    authorized by this section, the Center shall pay to the Secretary
    an amount equal to the fair market value of the property, as
    determined by an appraisal acceptable to the Secretary and prepared
    in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land
    Acquisition published by the Department of Justice.
        (2) Appraisal cost.--The Center shall pay the cost of the
    appraisal of the property.
        (3) Time for payment.--The consideration determined under
    paragraph (1) shall be paid, at the option of the Center--
            (A) in full not later than 180 days after the date of
        conveyance of the property; or
            (B) in 7 equal annual installments commencing on January 1
        of the first year beginning after the conveyance and annually
        thereafter until the total amount has been paid.
        (4) Interest.--Any payment due for the conveyance of property
    under this section shall accrue interest, beginning on the date of
    the conveyance, at an annual rate of 3 percent on the unpaid
    balance.
    (c) Release.--Subject to compliance with all Federal environmental
laws prior to conveyance, the Center, upon acquisition of the property
under this section, shall agree in writing to hold the United States
harmless from any and all claims to the property, including all claims
resulting from hazardous materials conveyed on the lands.
    (d) Right of Reentry.--At any time before full payment is made for
the conveyance of the property under this section, the conveyance shall
be subject to a right of reentry in the United States if the Secretary
determines that--
        (1) the Center has not complied with the requirements of this
    section or the conditions prescribed by the Secretary in the deed
    of conveyance; or
        (2) the conveyed land is converted to a noneducational or for
    profit use.
    (e) Alternative Property Disposal Authority.--In the event that the
Center does not contract with the Secretary to acquire the property
described in this section within 18 months of the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary may dispose of the property in the manner
provided in section 2.

SEC. 4. DISPOSITION OF FUNDS.

    (a) Deposit in Sisk Act Fund.--The Secretary shall deposit the
proceeds of a sale or exchange under this Act in the fund established
under Public Law 90-171 (16 U.S.C. 484a; commonly known as the Sisk
Act).
    (b) Use of Proceeds.--Funds deposited under subsection (a) shall be
available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, for--
        (1) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of
    administrative facilities for units of the National Forest System
    in the State of Texas; or
        (2) the acquisition of lands or interests in lands in the State
    of Texas.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and
                                               President of the Senate.

Output: Makes proceeds from such conveyances available to the Secretary for: (1) acquisition, construction, or improvement of National Forest System administrative facilities in Texas;or (2) land acquisition in Texas.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Power Asset Privatization
Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that:
            (1) the Federal Power Marketing Administrations, over the
        years, have served to help bring electricity to many areas in
        the Nation;
            (2) they have done so with the investment of the American
        taxpayer;
            (3) the necessity of federally owned power generation and
        transmission facilities has passed and halting this practice is
        in the best national interest of the United States;
            (4) in fairness to the longtime consumers of Federal Power
        Marketing Administrations, any process of sale should be open
        to them;
            (5) the taxpayers, through investing in the construction
        and operation, have established equity in the facilities; and
            (6) this equity entitles the American taxpayer to expect
        the highest possible return in the sale process.

SEC. 3. SALE OF ASSETS.

    (a) Sale of Assets.--The Secretary of Energy (hereinafter referred
to as ``the Secretary'') is authorized and directed to take such steps
as necessary to sell all electric power generation facilities and
transmission facilities, that are currently owned and operated by
Federal departments and agencies under the supervision of, or
coordination with, the Federal Power Marketing Administrations. No
foreign person or corporation may purchase any such facilities; such
facilities may be sold only to a United States citizen or to a
corporation or partnership organized under the laws of a State. After
such sales are completed the Secretary shall terminate the operations
of the Federal Power Marketing Administrations. The heads of other
affected Federal departments and agencies shall assist the Secretary of
Energy in implementing the sales authorized by this section.
    (b) Price; Structure of Sale.--
            (1) Price.--The Secretary shall obtain the highest possible
        price for such facilities. In determining the highest possible
        price, the value of future tax revenues shall be included.
            (2) Retention of financial advisor.--In order to conduct
        the sales authorized by this section in such manner as will
        produce the highest possible price for the facilities to be
        sold consistent with this Act, within 30 days of enactment of
        this section, the Secretary shall, through a competitive
        bidding process, retain an experienced private sector firm to
        serve as financial advisor to the Secretary with respect to
        such sales.
            (3) Financial advisor's report.--Within 90 days of being
        retained by the Secretary, the financial advisor shall provide
        to the Secretary a report containing--
                    (A) a description of those assets described in
                subsection (a) which, in the opinion of the financial
                advisor, can be successfully transferred to private
                sector ownership or operation;
                    (B) the value of each such asset, calculated on the
                basis of the valuation method or methods which the
                financial advisor deems most appropriate to a
                particular asset;
                    (C) the appropriate alternative transactional
                methods for transferring each such asset to private
                sector ownership or operation;
                    (D) the amount of proceeds which the financial
                advisor estimates would be paid to the United States
                Government as a result of such transaction, including
                the present value of future revenue from taxes and any
                other future payments to be made to the United States
                Government; and
                    (E) an estimate of the average market rate for
                wholesale electric power sales within each region
                served by a Federal Power Marketing Administration.
    (c) Time of Sale.--Sales of facilities under this section shall be
conducted in accordance with the time of sale schedule set forth in
section 4. At least one year before the date of any sale specified in
such schedule, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the
Army and the Secretary of the Interior, and based on the
recommendations of the financial advisor, shall select the facilities
or groups of facilities to be sold and establish the terms and
conditions of the sale.
    (d) Former Employees of PMAS.--It is the sense of the Congress that
the purchaser of any such facilities should offer to employ, where
possible, former employees of the Federal Power Marketing
Administrations in connection with the operation of the facilities
following their purchase.
    (e) Proceeds.--The Secretary of Energy shall deposit sale proceeds
in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of miscellaneous
receipts.
    (f) Preparation.--The Secretary of Energy is authorized to use
funds appropriated to the Department of Energy for the Federal Power
Marketing Administrations and funds otherwise appropriated to other
Federal agencies for power generation and related activities in order
to prepare these assets for sale and conveyance. Such preparation shall
provide sufficient title to ensure the beneficial use, enjoyment, and
occupancy to the purchasers of the assets to be sold and shall include
identification of all associated laws and regulations to be amended for
the purpose of these sales. The Secretary of Energy shall undertake a
study of the effect of sales of facilities under this Act on existing
contracts for the sale of electric power generated at such facilities.
    (g) Reporting of Sales.--Not later than one year after the sale of
the assets of each Federal Power Marketing Administration in accordance
with this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall--
            (1) complete the business of, and close out, such
        administration; and
            (2) prepare and submit to Congress a report documenting the
        sales.
    (h) Treatment of Sales For Purposes of Certain Laws.--The sales of
assets under this Act shall not be considered a disposal of Federal
surplus property under the following provisions of law:
            (1) Section 203 of the Federal Property and Administrative
        Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 484).
            (2) Section 13 of the Surplus Property Act of 1944 (50
        U.S.C. App. 1622).

SEC. 4. TIME OF SALES.

    (a) Schedule.--During the next 5 years, the Secretary of Energy
shall complete the sale of the electric power generation and
transmission assets referred to in section 3 in accordance with the
following schedule:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Power Administration                 Sale Completion Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Alaska                                      Before September 30, 1996
  Southeastern                                Before September 30, 1997
  Southwestern                                Before September 30, 1998
  Western Area                                Before September 30, 1999
  Bonneville                                  Before September 30, 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Unexpended Balances.--Following the sale of the assets of each
of the Federal Power Marketing Administrations and their associated
power generation facilities, the Secretary of Energy shall return the
unexpended balances of funds appropriated for that administration to
the Treasury of the United States.

SEC. 5. RATE STABILIZATION FOR AFFECTED CONSUMERS.

    So that the affected consumers of each Federal Power Marketing
Administration are not impacted by severe rate increases, each
purchaser of electric power generation facilities providing electric
power to customers within any region shall be required, as part of the
agreement to purchase such facilities, to insure that the price at
which electric power is sold to such consumers does not increase above
the baseline price at a rate greater than 10 percent annually. For
purposes of this section, the term ``baseline price'' means the price
for the sale of electric power to a consumer that is in effect on the
date of the sale of the facility. The preceding sentence shall cease to
apply when the price at which electric power is sold to a consumer is
at least equal to the average market rate for wholesale electric power
sales within the region concerned, as determined by the Financial
Advisor.

SEC. 6. LICENSING OF PROJECTS TO PRESERVE CURRENT OPERATING CONDITIONS.

    (a) Original License.--Simultaneously with the sale of
hydroelectric generation facility under this Act, the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission shall issue an original license under part 1 of
the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a-823b) to the purchaser for the
construction, operation, and maintenance of such facility. Such license
shall expire on the date 10 years after the date of the sale facility
and shall contain standard terms and conditions for hydroelectric power
licenses issued under part 1 of such Act for facilities installed at
Federal water projects, together with such additional terms and
conditions as the Commission deems necessary, in consultation with the
department or agency which operates such water project, to further the
project purposes and insure that the project will continue operations
in the same manner and subject to the same procedures, contracts, and
other requirements as were applicable prior to the sale. The Commission
shall publish such license terms and conditions for each facility to be
sold under this Act as promptly as practicable after the date of the
enactment of this Act but not later than one year prior to the date
established for the sale of the facility.
    (b) License Required.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall have jursidiction under
part 1 of the Federal Power Act over any hydroelectric generation
facility sold under this Act.

SEC. 7. ENABLING FEDERAL STUDIES.

    Section 505 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act
of 1993 (Public Law 102-377) is hereby repealed.

SEC. 8. DEFINITION OF POWER GENERATION FACILITY.

    For purposes of this Act, the term ``power generation facility''
means a facility used for the generation of electric energy. If any
portion of a structure or other facility is used for flood control,
water supply or other purposes in addition to the generation of
electric energy, such term refers only to that portion of the structure
or facility used exclusively for the generation of electric energy,
including turbines, generators, controls, substations, and primary
lines used for transmitting electric energy therefrom to the point of
juncture with the interconnected primary transmission system. Such term
shall not include any portion of a facility used for navigation, flood
control, irrigation, water supply, or recreation.

Output:
Federal Power Asset Privatization Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to sell, at the highest possible price, all Federal electric power generation and transmission facilities supervised by, or coordinated with, the Federal Power Marketing Administrations.  Restricts such sales to domestic entities or U.S. citizens.  Requires the Secretary to terminate Federal Power Marketing Administration operations upon completion of the sales.  Directs the Secretary to retain a private sector firm through a competitive bidding process to serve as financial advisor with respect to such sales.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the purchaser of any such facilities should offer to employ former Federal Power Marketing Administration personnel.
Mandates that sale proceeds be deposited into the Treasury.
Sets forth a sales completion deadline for each Power Marketing Administration.
Mandates that the pertinent sales agreements require each purchaser providing electric power to customers within any region to insure that the price of electric power does not increase above the baseline price at a rate greater than ten percent annually.
Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue to the purchaser of a hydroelectric generation facility a ten-year original license under the Federal Power Act to insure that the project will continue operations under the same conditions as were applicable prior to the sale.  Grants FERC Federal Power Act jurisdiction over any such facility sold.
Amends the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1993 to repeal the proscription against the use of appropriated funds for studies regarding a changeover from an "at cost" to a "market rate" or other noncost-based methodology for pricing hydroelectric power.