Input:
PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendment to Chapter 12 of Title 5.--Chapter 12 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by adding immediately after section 1206
the following:
``Sec. 1207. Establishment of alternative dispute resolution program
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) The Merit Systems Protection Board is authorized to
        establish a 3-year program to provide employees and agencies
        with alternative dispute resolution processes to apply to
        workplace disputes and disagreements involving removals,
        suspensions for more than 14 days, and other adverse actions
        under section 7512.
            ``(2) The Board shall test and evaluate a variety of
        alternative dispute resolution techniques, which may include--
                    ``(A) settlement judges or attorneys;
                    ``(B) mediation through use of shared neutrals;
                    ``(C) mediation by Merit Systems Protection Board
                staff or others as appointed by the Chairman;
                    ``(D) administrative arbitration; and
                    ``(E) certified alternative dispute resolution
                counselors (agency personnel specifically trained in
                Board law and alternative dispute resolution
                techniques).
    ``(b) Early Intervention Alternative Dispute Resolution.--
            ``(1) Invoking resolution process.--The Board's early
        intervention alternative dispute resolution process may be
        invoked after an agency has issued a notice letter of a
        proposed action to an employee but before a final decision has
        been made under section 7513.
            ``(2) Early intervention.--Any agency or employee may seek
        early intervention alternative dispute resolution from the
        Board by filing a request with the Board. If the Board
        determines that alternative dispute resolution is appropriate,
        the parties shall participate.
            ``(3) Mandatory resolution.--The Chairman of the Merit
        Systems Protection Board is authorized to designate up to 3
        agencies with a substantial volume of Board appeals for
        participation in a mandatory early intervention alternative
        dispute resolution program. Under this alternative dispute
        resolution process, all matters appealable under section 7512
        shall be subject to early intervention alternative dispute
        resolution unless the Board determines that the matter is not
        appropriate for the program or a statute or collective
        bargaining agreement precludes inclusion of the matter in the
        alternative dispute resolution program.
    ``(c) Alternative Dispute Resolution After an Appeal or Petition
for Review Is Filed.--
            ``(1) Appeal or petition for review.--Once an appeal or
        petition for review is filed with the Board, any employee or
        agency may request that a case be selected for alternative
        dispute resolution. The request shall be filed with the
        administrative judge assigned to the appeal or with the Clerk
        of the Board if the matter is before the Board on petition for
        review at the same time that the appeal or petition for review
        is filed.
            ``(2) Selection of cases.--The Board shall have sole
        authority to select cases for alternative dispute resolution
        after an appeal or petition for review is filed. The Board may
        also select cases for alternative dispute resolution as it
        determines appropriate.
    ``(d) Implementation.--
            ``(1) Program duties.--In carrying out the program under
        this section, the Board shall--
                    ``(A) develop and prescribe standards for selecting
                and handling cases in which alternative dispute
                resolution is to be used;
                    ``(B) take such actions as may be necessary,
                including waiver of all statutory, regulatory, or Board
                imposed adjudicatory time frames; and
                    ``(C) establish a time target within which it
                intends to complete the alternative dispute resolution
                process.
            ``(2) Extension.--A party may request an extension of the
        alternative dispute resolution period, or the Board may extend
        the time period as it finds appropriate.
            ``(3) Recruitment.--The Chairman of the Merit Systems
        Protection Board may recruit and hire temporary staff or
        contractors to carry out this section.
            ``(4) Regulations.--The Board is authorized to prescribe
        such regulations as may be necessary to implement the
        alternative dispute resolution program.
    ``(e) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Criteria.--The Board's Office of Policy and
        Evaluation shall establish criteria for evaluating the
        alternative dispute resolution program and prepare a report
        containing findings and recommendations as to whether mandatory
        alternative dispute resolution is desirable, effective, and
        appropriate for cases decided by Federal administrative
        agencies under proceedings governed by chapters 5 and 7.
            ``(2) Report content.--The report shall include--
                    ``(A) the number of cases subject to the
                alternative dispute resolution program, the agencies
                involved, the results, and the resources expended;
                    ``(B) a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness
                of the program, including whether it is cost-effective;
                    ``(C) a survey of the satisfaction of participants;
                and
                    ``(D) a recommendation regarding the desirability
                of extending the alternative dispute resolution program
                beyond the prescribed expiration date and any
                recommended changes.
            ``(3) Report date.--The report shall be submitted to the
        President and the Congress 180 days following the close of the
        alternative dispute resolution program.''.
    (b) Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--For the purpose of carrying out the
        alternative dispute resolution program established by the
        amendment made by subsection (a), there are authorized to be
        appropriated the following sums: $1,000,000 for fiscal year
        2000; $1,000,000 adjusted by the most recent percentage change
        in the employment cost index (ECI) for fiscal year 2001; and
        $1,000,000 adjusted by the most recent percentage change in the
        ECI for fiscal year 2002.
            (2) No reductions.--The authorization of appropriations by
        paragraph (1) shall not have the effect of reducing any funds
        appropriated for the Board for the purpose of carrying out its
        statutory mission under section 1204.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect no later than the close of the 60th day after the date of
enactment of appropriations authorized by subsection (b)(1) for fiscal
year 2000 and shall remain in effect for 3 years from the effective
date.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter I
of chapter 12 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding
after the item relating to section 1206 the following new item:

``1207. Establishment of alternative dispute resolution program.''.

SEC. 3. POLICY AND FINDINGS.

    (a) Policy.--Chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended
to establish an MSPB Administrative Judge Pay Schedule and to provide
MSPB administrative judges with pay that is comparable to that of
immigration judges (IJs) and administrative law judges (ALJs).
    (b) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) MSPB administrative judges perform work at the same
        level of importance and complexity as immigration judges and
        administrative law judges. Federal employees deserve to have
        their cases heard by judges with the same pay and status as the
        judges who hear private sector benefits and employment law
        cases. Veterans in the Federal workforce deserve to have their
        cases heard by judges with the same pay and status as the
        judges who hear cases involving illegal aliens.
            (2) MSPB administrative judges are leaving the Board for
        positions with other adjudicatory agencies. During the past 4
        years, the Board has lost 20 percent of its most experienced
        judges to other adjudicatory agencies. MSPB administrative
        judges should not have to leave the agency to achieve the pay
        and status they deserve when they are adjudicating cases with
        the same importance and complexity as cases heard by IJs and
        ALJs.

SEC. 4. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES AND
              COMPENSATION.

    (a) Amendment to Chapter 53 of Title 5.--Chapter 53 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by adding immediately after section
5372a the following:
``Sec. 5372b. Merit Systems Protection Board administrative judges
    ``(a) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `administrative judge (AJ)' means an
        employee of the Merit Systems Protection Board appointed to an
        administrative judge position and paid under the MSPB
        Administrative Judge Schedule established by subsection (b);
        and
            ``(2) the term `administrative judge (GS)' means an
        employee of the Merit Systems Protection Board appointed to an
        administrative judge position and paid under the General
        Schedule described in section 5332 of this title.
    ``(b) In General.--There is established the MSPB Administrative
Judge Pay Schedule which shall have 4 levels of pay, designated as AJ-
1, -2, -3, and -4. Each administrative judge (AJ) shall be paid at one
of those levels in accordance with subsection (c).
    ``(c) Rates of Pay.--
            ``(1) Basic pay.--The rates of basic pay for the levels of
        the MSPB Administrative Judge Pay Schedule established by the
        subsection (b) shall be as follows:
                    ``(A) AJ-1: 70 percent of the next to highest rate
                of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service.
                    ``(B) AJ-2: 80 percent of the next to highest rate
                of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service.
                    ``(C) AJ-3: 90 percent of the next to highest rate
                of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service.
                    ``(D) AJ-4: 92 percent of the next to highest rate
                of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service.
            ``(2) Locality pay.--Locality pay as provided by section
        5304 shall be applied to the basic pay for administrative
        judges (AJ) paid under the MSPB Administrative Judge Pay
        Schedule.
    ``(d) Appointment and Advancement.--
            ``(1) Initial appointment.--Except as provided in paragraph
        (3), initial appointment of an administrative judge (AJ) shall
        be at the AJ-1 pay level. Subject to subsection (d)(2), an
        administrative judge (AJ) shall be advanced to AJ-2 upon
        completion of 104 weeks of service, to AJ-3 upon completion of
        104 weeks of service at the next lower level, and to AJ-4 upon
        completion of 52 weeks of service at the next lower level.
            ``(2) Advancement.--Advancement to the AJ-2, -3, and -4
        levels as provided by paragraph (1) shall not be effected if
        the Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board determines
        that the work of an administrative judge (AJ) at the next lower
        level is not of an acceptable level of competence. An
        administrative judge (AJ) may appeal an adverse acceptable
        level of competence determination to the Merit Systems
        Protection Board under the same conditions by which an
        administrative judge (GS) may appeal the denial of a periodic
        step increase in pay under section 5335(c).
            ``(3) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the
        Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board may provide for
        initial appointment of an administrative judge (AJ) at a level
        higher than AJ-1 under such circumstances as the Chairman may
        determine appropriate.
            ``(4) Conversion.--An administrative judge (GS), who
        occupies a level below grade 15 of the General Schedule, may,
        when entitled by tenure and performance to be advanced to grade
        15 of the General Schedule, be converted to the MSPB
        Administrative Judge Pay Schedule and appointed at the AJ-1
        level.''.
    (b) Transition Provisions.--
            (1) Conversion to mspb administrative judge pay schedule.--
        Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an administrative judge (GS)
        who is serving as of the effective date of this section and who
        occupies the grade 15 level of the General Schedule shall be
        converted to the MSPB Administrative Judge Pay Schedule and
        appointed as an administrative judge (AJ). Each administrative
        judge (AJ) so converted shall be placed in the appropriate pay
        level prescribed under section 5372(c) of title 5, United
        States Code, as added by subsection (a), based on the amount of
        time the administrative judge (AJ) has served as an
        administrative judge (GS).
            (2) Limitation on conversion.--Conversion of an
        administrative judge (GS) to administrative judge (AJ) under
paragraph (1) shall not be effected if the Chairman of the Merit
Systems Protection Board determines that the work of an administrative
judge (GS) at the grade 15 level of the General Schedule is not of an
acceptable level of competence. An administrative judge (AJ) may appeal
an adverse acceptable level of competence determination to the Merit
Systems Protection Board under the same conditions by which an
administrative judge (GS) may appeal the denial of a periodic step
increase in pay under section 5335(c).
            (3) Limitation on pay increases.--Notwithstanding the rates
        of basic pay prescribed under section 5372(c) of title 5,
        United States Code, as added by subsection (a), the Chairman of
        the Merit Systems Protection Board may, on the effective date
        of this section and each year for a period of 7 years
        thereafter, limit the pay increase for each administrative
        judge (AJ) to an adjustment equal to--
                    (A) the percentage pay adjustment received by
                members of the Senior Executive Service under section
                5382(c) of this title, if any;
                    (B) locality pay under section 5304; and
                    (C) an additional $3,000.
        The Senior Executive Service percentage pay adjustment, if any,
        shall be included in basic pay. Annual adjustments in pay after
        the effective date of this section will be made on the first
        day of the first pay period of each calendar year. The
        limitation on pay increases under this subsection may continue
        during the time period prescribed by this subsection until such
        time as the pay of each administrative judge (AJ) reaches the
        appropriate rate of basic pay under section 5372b(c) of title
        5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). The Chairman
        may waive any limitation on pay under this subsection in the
        case of an administrative judge (AJ) serving as a chief
        administrative judge.
            (4) Pay in relation to grade 15 of the general schedule.--
        In no case shall an administrative judge (AJ) who is converted
        in accordance with paragraph (1), or whose pay increase in any
        year is limited under paragraph (3), be paid after the
        effective date of this section at a rate that is less than the
        adminstrative judge's (AJ) rate of pay would have been had the
        administrative judge (AJ) remained as an administrative judge
        (GS) occupying the grade 15 level of the General Schedule.
            (5) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    (A) the term ``administrative judge (AJ)'' means an
                employee of the Merit Systems Protection Board
                appointed to an administrative judge position and paid
                under the MSPB Administrative Judge schedule
                established by the amendment made by subsection (a);
                and
                    (B) the term ``administrative judge (GS)'' means an
                employee of the Merit Systems Protection Board
                appointed to an administrative judge position and paid
                under the General Schedule described in section 5332 of
                this title.
    (c) Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
        such sums as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out this
        section.
            (2) No reduction.--The authorization of appropriations by
        paragraph (1) shall not have the effect of reducing any funds
        appropriated for the Board for the purpose of carrying out its
        statutory mission under section 1204 of title 5, United States
        Code.
    (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the first
day of the first pay period of the calendar year immediately following
the date of enactment of appropriations authorized by subsection
(c)(1).
    (e) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter VII
of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding
after the item relating to section 5372a the following new item:

``5372b. Merit Systems Protection Board administrative judges.''.

Output:
Amends Federal civil service law to authorize the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to establish a three-year program to provide Federal employees and agencies with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes to apply to workplace disputes and disagreements involving removals, suspensions for more than 14 days, and other adverse actions under Federal civil service law.  Directs the MSPB to test and evaluate a variety of ADR techniques.  Authorizes the MSPB to implement its early intervention ADR, allowing any agency or employee to request such early intervention, and authorizing the MSPB Chairman to designate up to three agencies with a substantial number of MSPB appeals for participation in a mandatory early intervention ADR program.
Allows any employee or agency to request ADR once an appeal or petition for review of a case is filed with the MSPB.  Outlines MSPB procedures for such cases.  Direct the MSPB's Office of Policy and Evaluation to establish criteria for evaluating the ADR program and to prepare a report as to whether mandatory ADR is desirable, effective, and appropriate for cases decided by Federal administrative agencies.
Authorizes appropriations for the ADR program.
Establishes the MSPB Administrative Judge Pay Schedule, with pay levels comparable to that of immigration judges and administrative law judges.  Provides, with respect to such Schedule, for initial appointment and advancement, and transition provisions for current judges.  Authorizes appropriations to carry out such Schedule.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Television Violence Reduction
Through Parental Empowerment Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) To the fullest extent possible, parents should be
        empowered with the technology to choose to block the display on
        their televisions of programs they consider too violent for
        their children.
            (2) Violence now touches the lives of American children
        more than adults. From 1982 through 1984, teenagers were the
        victims of 1,800,000 violent crimes, twice the annual rate of
        the adult population over age 20. According to the American
        Academy of Pediatrics, one of every 8 deaths among children age
        10-14 years old in 1990 was caused by a shooting. Among
        teenagers and young adults, that figure rose to one of every
        four deaths.
            (3) Children watch an extensive amount of television. It is
        estimated that a child watches approximately 22,000 hours of
        television before finishing high school, almost twice the
        amount of time spent in the classroom.
            (4) The amount of violence on television has reached
        epidemic levels. The American Psychological Association
        estimates that the average child witnesses 8,000 murders and
        100,000 acts of violence before finishing elementary school.
            (5) Three Surgeon Generals, the National Institute of
        Mental Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the American
        Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and
        the American Psychological Association have concurred for
        nearly 20 years as to the deleterious effects of television
        violence on children.
            (6) Despite periodic television industry efforts to reduce
        the amount of television violence, reductions in the level of
        televised violence have never been long lasting.
            (7) Parents who are working are unable to constantly
        monitor the television viewing habits of their children.
        Advanced television technologies such as channel compression
        and digitization will allow the expansion of channel capacity
        to levels even more unmanageable for parents who want to
        protect their children from televised violence.
            (8) The major broadcast networks and a large number of
        cable channels have agreed to place parental advisories on
        programs they consider to be too violent for children. These
        parental advisories are of limited use to parents if they are
        not watching television with their children.
            (9) The technology currently exists to equip television
        sets at a nominal cost to permit parents to block the display
        of television programs they consider too violent for children.
        However, this technology will only be effective (A) if all
        television programmers send any adopted rating or warning
        system electronically with the program signal, and (B) parents
        are able to block the display not only of individual programs
        but to block out automatically and simultaneously all programs
        with such rating.
            (10) Congress calls upon the broadcast networks,
        independent television stations, cable programmers, and
        satellite programmers to protect the parental right to guide
        the television viewing habits of children by sending any
        adopted rating or warning system electronically with the
        program signal.

SEC. 3. EQUIP TELEVISIONS TO BLOCK PROGRAMS.

    Section 303 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 303) is
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
    ``(v) Require that (1) apparatus designed to receive television
signals be equipped with circuitry designed to enable viewers to block
the display of channels, programs, and time slots; and (2) such
apparatus enable viewers to block display of all programs with a common
rating. The requirements of this subsection shall apply when such
apparatus is manufactured in the United States or imported for use in
the United States, and its television picture screen is 13 inches or
greater in size, measured diagonally.''.

SEC. 4. SHIPPING OR IMPORTING.

    (a) Regulations.--Section 330 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 330) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by adding after subsection (b) the following new
        section:
    ``(c) No person shall ship in interstate commerce, manufacture,
assemble, or import from any foreign country into the United States,
any apparatus described in section 303(v) of this Act except in
accordance with rules prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the
authority granted by that section. Such rules shall provide performance
standards for such blocking technology. Such rules shall further
require that all such apparatus be able to receive the rating signals
which have been transmitted by way of line 21 of the vertical blanking
interval and which conform to the signal and blocking specifications
established by the Commission. As new video technology is developed,
the Commission shall take such action as the Commission determines
appropriate to ensure that blocking service continues to be available
to consumers. This subsection shall not apply to carriers transporting
such apparatus without trading it.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 330(d) of such Act, as
redesignated by this Act, is amended by striking ``section 303(s), and
section 303(u)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``and sections 303(s),
303(u), and 303(v)''.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by sections 3 and 4 of this Act shall take
effect one year after enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. RULES.

    The Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate rules to
implement the amendments made by this Act within 180 days after the
date of its enactment.

Output:
Television Violence Reduction Through Parental Empowerment Act of 1993 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require that any television with a screen of at least 13 inches which is manufactured, or imported for use, in the United States be equipped with circuitry designed to enable viewers to block the display of channels, programs, time slots, and all programs with a common rating.
Prohibits shipping in interstate commerce, manufacturing, assembling, or importing any such television except pursuant to rules prescribed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Requires such rules to provide performance and display standards for such blocking technology.
Directs the FCC, as new video technology is developed, to ensure that blocking service continues to be available to consumers.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Leaking Underground Storage Tank
Trust Fund Amendments Act of 1997''.

TITLE I--DISTRIBUTIONS FROM LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK TRUST FUND

SEC. 101. LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

    (a) Trust Fund Distribution.--Section 9004 of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6991c) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
    ``(f) Trust Fund Distribution to States.--
            ``(1) In general.--(A) The Administrator shall distribute
        to States at least 85 percent of the funds appropriated to the
        Environmental Protection Agency from the Leaking Underground
        Storage Tank Trust Fund (in this subsection referred to as the
        `Trust Fund') each fiscal year for the reasonable costs under
        cooperative agreements entered into with the Administrator for
        the following:
                    ``(i) States' actions under section 9003(h)(7)(A).
                    ``(ii) Necessary administrative expenses directly
                related to corrective action and compensation programs
                under subsection (c)(1).
                    ``(iii) Enforcement of a State or local program
                approved under this section or enforcement of this
                subtitle or similar State or local provisions by a
                State or local government.
                    ``(iv) State and local corrective actions pursuant
                to regulations promulgated under section 9003(c)(4).
                    ``(v) Corrective action and compensation programs
                under subsection (c)(1) for releases from underground
                storage tanks regulated under this subtitle in any
                instance, as determined by the State, in which the
                financial resources of an owner or operator, excluding
                resources provided by programs under subsection (c)(1),
                are not adequate to pay for the cost of a corrective
                action without significantly impairing the ability of
                the owner or operator to continue in business.
            ``(B) Funds provided by the Administrator under
        subparagraph (A) may not be used by States for purposes of
        providing financial assistance to an owner or operator in
        meeting the requirements respecting underground storage tanks
        contained in section 280.21 of title 40 of the Code of Federal
        Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this
        subsection) or similar requirements in State programs approved
        under this section or similar State or local provisions.
            ``(2) Allocation.--
                    ``(A) Process.--In the case of a State that the
                Administrator has entered into a cooperative agreement
                with under section 9003(h)(7)(A), the Administrator
                shall distribute funds from the Trust Fund to the State
                using the allocation process developed by the
                Administrator for such cooperative agreements.
                    ``(B) Revisions to process.--The Administrator may
                revise such allocation process only after--
                            ``(i) consulting with State agencies
                        responsible for overseeing corrective action
                        for releases from underground storage tanks and
                        with representatives of owners and operators;
                        and
                            ``(ii) taking into consideration, at a
                        minimum, the total revenue received from each
                        State into the Trust Fund, the number of
                        confirmed releases from leaking underground
                        storage tanks in each State, the number of
                        notified petroleum storage tanks in each State,
                        and the percent of the population of each State
                        using groundwater for any beneficial purpose.
            ``(3) Recipients.--Distributions from the Trust Fund under
        this subsection shall be made directly to the State agency
        entering into a cooperative agreement or enforcing the State
        program.
            ``(4) Cost recovery prohibition.--Funds provided to States
        from the Trust Fund to owners or operators for programs under
        subsection (c)(1) for releases from underground storage tanks
        are not subject to cost recovery by the Administrator under
        section 9003(h)(6).''.
    (b) Technical Amendments.--Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal
Act (42 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.) is amended as follows:
            (1) Section 9001(3)(A) (42 U.S.C. 6991(3)(A)) is amended by
        striking out ``sustances'' and inserting in lieu thereof
        ``substances''.
            (2) Section 9003(f)(1) (42 U.S.C. 6991b(f)(1)) is amended
        by striking out ``subsection (c) and (d)'' and inserting in
        lieu thereof ``subsections (c) and (d)''.
            (3) Section 9004(a) (42 U.S.C. 6991c(a)) is amended by
        striking out ``in 9001(2)(A)'' and inserting in lieu thereof
        ``in section 9001(2)(A)''.
            (4) Section 9005 (42 U.S.C. 6991d) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking out ``study
                taking'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``study,
                taking'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking out
                ``relevent'' and inserting in lieu thereof
                ``relevant''; and
                    (C) in subsection (b)(4), by striking out
                ``Evironmental'' and inserting in lieu thereof
                ``Environmental''.

               TITLE II--EXTENSION OF TRUST FUND PURPOSES

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF TRUST FUND PURPOSES.

    Paragraph (1) of section 9508(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 (relating to expenditures) is amended by striking ``to carry out
section 9003(h)'' and all that follows and inserting ``to carry out--
                    ``(A) section 9003(h) of the Solid Waste Disposal
                Act (as in effect on the date of the enactment of the
                Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986),
                and
                    ``(B) section 9004(f) of the Solid Waste Disposal
                Act (as in effect on the date of the enactment of the
                Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Amendments
                Act of 1997).''

            Passed the House of Representatives April 23, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
     Title I:  Distributions from Leaking Underground Storage Tank
          Trust Fund
     Title II:  Extension of Trust Fund Purposes
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Amendments Act of 1997 -
Title I:  Distributions from Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund
 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to distribute to States at least 85 percent of the funds appropriated to EPA from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund each fiscal year for the reasonable costs under cooperative agreements of:  (1) State actions under the EPA program for petroleum release responses; (2) necessary administrative expenses directly related to corrective action and compensation programs under State financial responsibility requirements; (3) other costs of such programs in any instance, as determined by the State, in which an owner's or operator's financial resources (excluding resources provided by such programs) are inadequate to pay the costs of a corrective action without significantly impairing the ability to continue in business; (4) enforcement of an approved State or local underground storage tank (UST) program or similar provisions; and (5) State and local corrective actions pursuant to regulations regarding corrective action in response to UST releases.  Prohibits use of such funds to provide financial assistance to an owner or operator in meeting regulatory requirements for upgrading of existing UST systems.
Sets forth requirements for allocation of funds to States.
Makes inapplicable to Trust Fund amounts provided to owners or operators under programs described in (2), above, provisions for recovery of petroleum release corrective or enforcement action costs.
Title II:  Extension of Trust Fund Purposes
 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize use of amounts in the Trust Fund for making expenditures to carry out this Act.


Input:
short title

    Sec. 101. This title may be cited as the ``United States
Information Agency Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995''.

                    authorization of appropriations

    Sec. 102. In addition to amounts otherwise available for such
purposes, there are authorized to be appropriated for the United States
Information Agency to carry out international information activities,
and educational and cultural exchange programs under the United States
Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, as amended, the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended,
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1977, the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act,
as amended, the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act, the Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended, the Center for Cultural and Technical
Interchange Between North and South Act, the National Endowment for
Democracy Act, as amended, and for other purposes authorized by law.
    (a) For the fiscal year 1994:
            (1) ``Salaries and Expenses,'' $773,024,000;
            (2) ``Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs,''
        $242,922,000;
            (3) ``Broadcasting to Cuba,'' $28,351,000;
            (4) ``Office of the Inspector General,'' $4,390,000;
            (5) ``East-West Center,'' $26,000,000;
            (6) ``National Endowment for Democracy,'' $50,000,000;
            (7) ``Radio Construction,'' $228,720,000;
            (8) ``Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program,'' $300,000;
            (9) ``Israeli Arab Scholarship Program,'' $397,000.
    (b) For the fiscal year 1995:
            (1) ``Salaries and Expenses,'' $800,286,000;
            (2) ``Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs,''
        $249,238,000;
            (3) ``Broadcasting to Cuba,'' $28,382,000;
            (4) ``Office of the Inspector General,'' $4,396,000;
            (5) ``East-West Center,'' $26,676,000;
            (6) ``National Endowment for Democracy,'' $50,780,000;
            (7) ``Radio Construction,'' $106,271,000;
            (8) ``Eisenhower Fellowship Exchange Programs,'' $308,000;
        and
            (9) ``Israeli Arab Scholarship Program,'' $407,000.

                 changes in administrative authorities

    Sec. 103. Section 801 of the United States Information and
Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1471), is amended by
replacing the period at the end of subsection ``(6)'' with a semicolon,
and adding a new subsection ``(7)'' as follows:
            ``(7) notwithstanding any other provision of law, to carry
        out projects involving security construction and related
        improvements for Agency facilities not collocated with
        Department of State facilities abroad.''.
    Sec. 104. Section 804(6) of the United States Information and
Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1474(6)), is amended to
read as follows:
            ``(6) contract with individuals for personal service
        abroad: Provided, That such individuals shall not be regarded
        as employees of the United States Government for the purpose of
        any law administered by the Office of Personnel Management.''.
    Sec. 105. Section 206(b) of the Foreign Relations Authorization
Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993, Public Law 102-138 (22 U.S.C. 1475g
note), is hereby repealed.
    Sec. 106. Subsection (a) of section 501 of the United States
Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461(a)),
is hereby amended by deleting the second sentence in said subsection
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``Subject to subsection
(b) any such information shall not be disseminated within the United
States, its territories or possessions, but, on request, shall be made
available following its release as information abroad, to
representatives of United States press associations, newspapers,
magazines, radio and television systems and stations, research students
and scholars, and Members of Congress.''.
    Section 208 of Public Law 99-93 (22 U.S.C. 1461-1a), is amended by
adding the following sentence at the end of such section: ``Nothing
herein shall preclude the United States Information Agency from
reasonably keeping the United States public informed of its operations,
policies or programs.''.
    Sec. 107. Section 802(b)(3) of the United States Information and
Educational Exchange Act of 1948, as amended, (22 U.S.C. 1472(b)(3)) is
amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: ``However,
notwithstanding this or any other provision in this section, the United
States Information Agency is authorized to enter into contracts not to
exceed seven years for circuit capacity to distribute radio and
television programs.''.
    Sec. 108. Subsection (f) of section 701 of the United States
Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C.
1476(f)(4)), is amended as follows:
            (1) in subsection (f)(1) by striking ``, for the second
        fiscal year of any two-year authorization cycle may be
        appropriated for such second fiscal year'' and inserting in its
        place ``for a given fiscal year may be appropriated for such
        year''; and
            (2) by striking subsection ``(f)(4)''.
    Sec. 109. Section 902 of the United States Information and
Educational Exchange Act of 1948, section 1431 and the following of
title 22, United States Code, is amended by inserting on line one after
the word ``any'' the following language: ``international organization
of which the United States is a member, or''.
    Sec. 110. The Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, is
amended by adding the following new section after section 216A (8
U.S.C. 1186b):

   ``conditional permanent resident status for certain united states
                      information agency employees

    ``Sec. 216B. (a) Conditional Basis for Admission.--Conditional
immigrant visas may be issued to employees of the United States
Information Agency beginning fiscal year 1994 in a number not to exceed
one hundred per fiscal year. Upon enactment, one hundred and fifty
additional visas shall be available to present United States
Information Agency employees. Such employees shall be identified by the
Director of the United States Information Agency, and, if otherwise
admissible, shall be admitted conditionally for a period not to exceed
four years. Spouses and dependent children of such employees may also
be admitted as conditional permanent residents but shall not be subject
to numerical limitation.
    ``(b) Removal of Conditional Basis.--Persons admitted under this
provision shall be eligible for removal of the conditional basis of
their admission for permanent resident status after three years, upon
certification by the Director of the United States Information Agency
to the Attorney General; the Attorney General shall remove the
conditional basis of his or her admission, if the alien is otherwise
admissible, effective as of the date of such certification.
    ``(c) Termination of the Status.--At any time during such four year
period, the Director of the United States Information Agency may
certify to the Attorney General that such conditional status with
respect to any alien should be terminated. Upon receipt of such notice,
the Attorney General shall terminate such status and the alien and any
other family members admitted with such alien shall be subject to
deportation proceedings. The conditional status of any such alien,
admitted under this provision who has not had the conditional basis of
his or her admission removed by a date four years after such admission,
shall be deemed to have been terminated.''.
    Section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(27)), is amended by adding a new subsection ``(L)'', as
follows:
                    ``(L) an immigrant who is employed by the United
                States Information Agency for service in the United
                States, and his or her accompanying spouse and
                children, under conditions set forth in section 216B of
                this Act.''.
    Section 804(1) of the United States Information and Educational
Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1474(1)), as amended, is amended by
inserting the words ``or as an immigrant under section 101(a)(27)(L) of
that Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(L))'' immediately after the words ``as
nonimmigrants under section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15))''.

Output:
United States Information Agency Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 - Authorizes appropriations for the U.S.  Information Agency (USIA) for FY 1994 and 1995.
Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to authorize the USIA Director to:  (1) carry out projects involving security construction and related improvements for USIA facilities not collocated with Department of State facilities abroad; and (2) contract with individuals for personal services abroad (currently, employ aliens by contract for such services).
Repeals a specified provision of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 which sets limitations on reductions of USIA employees abroad.
Provides that nothing shall preclude USIA from keeping the U.S. public informed of its operations, policies, or programs.
Authorizes USIA to enter into contracts of up to seven years for circuit capacity to distribute radio and television programs.
Permits USIA to receive funds from international organizations of which the United States is a member.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the issuance of up to 100 conditional immigrant visas per fiscal year to USIA employees.  Makes 150 visas available to current employees upon enactment of this Act.  Sets forth conditions for the removal of conditional status and for termination of such status.  Confers special immigrant status on such individuals.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Jobs Now Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO UNITS OF GENERAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

    Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 172 the
following:

``SEC. 173. PILOT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--Notwithstanding section 181(e), from the
amounts appropriated under subsection (h), the Secretary shall carry
out a 2-year pilot program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to
units of general local government or community-based organizations to
retain, employ, or train employees providing a public service for a
unit of general local government.
    ``(b) Unit of General Local Government Defined.--For purposes of
this section, the term `unit of general local government' means any
general purpose political subdivision of a State, or the United States
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, the freely associated states of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic
of Palau, that has the power to levy taxes and spend funds, as well as
general corporate and police powers.
    ``(c) Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) Required uses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), a
                unit of general local government or community-based
                organization shall use not less than 50 percent of the
                grant funds received under this section to--
                            ``(i) in the case of a unit, retain
                        employees of such unit who are providing a
                        public service for the unit and who would
                        otherwise be laid off as a consequence of
                        budget cuts; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of an organization,
                        retain employees of the organization who are
                        providing a public service for the unit in
                        which the organization is located and who would
                        otherwise be laid off as a consequence of
                        budget cuts.
                    ``(B) Exception.--In a case in which 50 percent of
                a grant amount received under this section would exceed
                the amount needed for a unit or organization to retain
                the employees described in subparagraph (A), the unit
                or organization may use only the amount needed to
                retain such employees for such purpose.
            ``(2) Authorized uses.--After using grant funds received
        under this section in accordance with paragraph (1), a unit of
        general local government or community-based organization may
        use any remaining grant funds provided under this section to--
                    ``(A) in the case of a unit of general local
                government--
                            ``(i) employ individuals in new positions
                        providing a public service for the unit; or
                            ``(ii) train individuals for new public
                        service positions for the unit; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a community-based
                organization--
                            ``(i) employ individuals in new positions
                        that would provide a public service for the
                        unit in which the organization is located or
                        services in the private sector; or
                            ``(ii) train individuals for any such
                        positions.
    ``(d) Priority for Certain Individuals.--The Secretary shall
encourage each unit of general local government and each community-
based organization receiving a grant under this section to use such
grant funds to retain, employ, or train--
            ``(1) veterans;
            ``(2) individuals with disabilities;
            ``(3) individuals who are receiving unemployment benefits;
        or
            ``(4) dislocated workers.
    ``(e) Priority for Certain Units and Organizations.--
            ``(1) Units.--In awarding grants to units of general local
        government under this section, the Secretary shall give
        priority to units of general local government with high
        unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates as compared to
        other units of general local government applying to receive a
        grant under this section.
            ``(2) Organizations.--In awarding grants to units of
        general local government under this section, the Secretary
        shall give priority to community-based organizations located in
        units of general local government with high unemployment,
        foreclosure, and poverty rates as compared to other units of
        general local government applying to receive a grant under this
        section.
    ``(f) Application.--Each unit of general local government or
community-based organization desiring to receive a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
    ``(g) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the first appropriation
of funds under subsection (h), the Secretary shall submit to Congress,
a report on--
            ``(1) the number and percentage of individuals hired or
        trained, and the number and percentage of employees of units
        retained, as a result of a grant under this section; and
            ``(2) best practices in carrying out a grant program to
        hire, train, or retain employees of units of general local
        government.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $1,000,000,000 to carry out this section for fiscal years
2018 and 2019.''.

Output: Jobs Now Act of 2017  This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Department of Labor to carry out a two-year pilot program to award competitive grants to general local government units or community-based organizations to retain, employ, or train employees who provide a local government unit with a public service. The bill prescribes required and authorized uses of grant fund and priorities for awarding and using grant funds, including:  encouraging grantees to use funds to retain, employ, or train veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals who receive unemployment benefits, or dislocated workers; and   giving priority in awarding grants to local government units and their community-based organizations with high unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates.


Input:
SECTION 1. COORDINATION OF COLLECTION OF DOMESTIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT
              TAXES WITH COLLECTION OF INCOME TAXES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 25 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(relating to general provisions relating to employment taxes) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 3510. COORDINATION OF COLLECTION OF DOMESTIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT
              TAXES WITH COLLECTION OF INCOME TAXES.

    ``(a) General Rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this section--
            ``(1) returns with respect to domestic service employment
        taxes shall be made on a calendar year basis,
            ``(2) any such return for any calendar year shall be filed
        on or before the 15th day of the fourth month following the
        close of the employer's taxable year which begins in such
        calendar year, and
            ``(3) no requirement to make deposits (or to pay
        installments under section 6157) shall apply with respect to
        such taxes.
    ``(b) Domestic Service Employment Taxes Subject to Estimated Tax
Provisions.--
            ``(1) In general.--Solely for purposes of section 6654,
        domestic service employment taxes imposed with respect to any
        calendar year shall be treated as a tax imposed by chapter 2
        for the taxable year of the employer which begins in such
        calendar year.
            ``(2) Annualization.--Under regulations prescribed by the
        Secretary, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the
        application of section 6654(d)(2) in respect of the amount
        treated as tax under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Transitional rule.--For purposes of applying section
        6654 to a taxable year beginning in 1993, the amount referred
        to in clause (ii) of section 6654(d)(1)(B) shall be increased
        by 90 percent of the amount treated as tax under paragraph (1)
        for such taxable year.
    ``(c) Domestic Service Employment Taxes.--For purposes of this
section, the term `domestic service employment taxes' means--
            ``(1) any taxes imposed by chapter 21 or 23 on remuneration
        paid for domestic service in a private home of the employer,
        and
            ``(2) any amount withheld from such remuneration pursuant
        to an agreement under section 3402(p).
For purposes of this subsection, the term `domestic service in a
private home of the employer' does not include service described in
section 3121(g)(5).
    ``(d) Exception Where Employer Liable for Other Employment Taxes.--
To the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, this
section shall not apply to any employer for any calendar year if such
employer is liable for any tax under this subtitle with respect to
remuneration for services other than domestic service in a private home
of the employer.
    ``(e) General Regulatory Authority.--The Secretary shall prescribe
such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
purposes of this section. Such regulations may treat domestic service
employment taxes as taxes imposed by chapter 1 for purposes of
coordinating the assessment and collection of such employment taxes
with the assessment and collection of domestic employers' income taxes.
    ``(f) Authority To Enter Into Agreements To Collect State
Unemployment Taxes.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is hereby authorized to
        enter into an agreement with any State to collect, as the agent
        of such State, such State's unemployment taxes imposed on
        remuneration paid for domestic service in a private home of the
        employer. Any taxes to be collected by the Secretary pursuant
        to such an agreement shall be treated as domestic service
        employment taxes for purposes of this section.
            ``(2) Transfers to state account.--Any amount collected
        under an agreement referred to in paragraph (1) shall be
        transferred by the Secretary to the account of the State in the
        Unemployment Trust Fund.
            ``(3) Subtitle f made applicable.--For purposes of subtitle
        F, any amount required to be collected under an agreement under
        paragraph (1) shall be treated as a tax imposed by chapter 23.
            ``(4) State.--For purposes of this subsection, the term
        `State' has the meaning given such term by section
        3306(j)(1).''
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 25 of
such Code is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:

                              ``Sec. 3510. Coordination of collection
                                        of domestic service employment
                                        taxes with collection of income
                                        taxes.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to remuneration paid in calendar years beginning after December
31, 1993.
    (d) Expanded Information to Employers.--The Secretary of the
Treasury or his delegate shall prepare and make available information
on the Federal tax obligations of employers with respect to employees
performing domestic service in a private home of the employer. Such
information shall also include a statement that such employers may have
obligations with respect to such employees under State laws relating to
unemployment insurance and workers compensation.

SEC. 2. THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

    (a) Amendments of Internal Revenue Code.--
            (1) Treatment as wages.--Subparagraph (B) of section
        3121(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining
        wages) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(B) cash remuneration paid by an employer in any calendar
        year to an employee for domestic service in a private home of
        the employer (other than service described in subsection
        (g)(5)), if the cash remuneration paid in such year by the
        employer to the employee for such service is less than the
        applicable dollar threshold (as defined in subsection (y)) for
        such year;''.
            (2) Applicable dollar threshold.--Section 3121 of such Code
        is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(y) Applicable Dollar Threshold for Domestic Employees.--For
purposes of subsection (a)(7)(B), the term `applicable dollar
threshold' means $800. In the case of calendar years after 1994, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall adjust such $800 amount at
the same time and in the same manner as under section 215(a)(1)(B)(ii)
of the Social Security Act with respect to the amounts referred to in
section 215(a)(1)(B)(i) of such Act, except that, for purposes of this
subparagraph, 1992 shall be substituted for the calendar year referred
to in section 215(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of such Act. If the amount
determined under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of $50, such
amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.''
            (3) Employment of domestic employees 16 and under excluded
        from coverage.--Section 3121(b) of such Code (defining
        employment) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph
                (19),
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
                (20) and inserting ``; or'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new
                paragraph:
            ``(21) domestic service in a private home of the employer
        performed in any year by an individual 16 and under during any
        portion of such year.''
            (4) Conforming amendments.--The second sentence of section
        3102(a) of such Code is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``calendar quarter'' each place it
                appears and inserting ``calendar year'', and
                    (B) by striking ``$50'' and inserting ``the
                applicable dollar threshold (as defined in section
                3121(y)) for such year''.
    (b) Amendment of Social Security Act.--
            (1) In general.--Subparagraph (B) of section 209(a)(6) of
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 409(a)(6)(B)) is amended to
        read as follows:
            ``(B) Cash remuneration paid by an employer in any calendar
        year to an employee for domestic service in a private home of
        the employer (other than service described in section
        210(f)(5)), if the cash remuneration paid in such year by the
        employer to the employee for such service is less than the
        applicable dollar threshold (as defined in section 3121(y) of
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for such year;''.
            (2) Employment of domestic employees 16 and under excluded
        from coverage.--Section 210(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 410(a))
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph
                (19),
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
                (20) and inserting ``; or'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new
                paragraph:
            ``(21) domestic service in a private home of the employer
        performed in any year by an individual 16 and under during any
        portion of such year.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to remuneration paid in calendar years beginning after December
31, 1993.

Output:
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II of the Social Security Act (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) to set forth rules for filing returns with respect to domestic service employment taxes and requires such returns to be made on a calendar year basis.
Subjects such taxes to estimated tax provisions.
Makes filing requirements inapplicable to any employer liable for tax concerning remuneration for services other than domestic service in a private home.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into agreements with States to collect the State unemployment tax imposed on remuneration for domestic service and transfers such amounts to a State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund.  Treats such taxes as domestic service employment taxes.
Requires the Secretary to inform domestic service employers in private homes of their tax obligations.
Adjusts the threshold (from $50 a calendar quarter to $800 a year) for paying and withholding social security taxes on wages paid for domestic service in a private home.  Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to adjust such threshold amount in the same manner as adjustments to certain social security insurance amounts.
Excludes domestic service in a private home by an individual 16 years and under from amendments made by this Act.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Modified Line Item Veto/Expedited
Rescissions Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN PROPOSED RESCISSIONS.

    (a) In General.--Part B of title X of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 681 et seq.) is amended by
redesignating sections 1013 through 1017 as sections 1014 through 1018,
respectively, and inserting after section 1012 the following new
section:

       ``expedited consideration of certain proposed rescissions

    ``Sec. 1013. (a) Proposed Rescission of Budget Authority.--In
addition to the method of rescinding budget authority specified in
section 1012, the President may propose, at the time and in the manner
provided in subsection (b), the rescission of any budget authority
provided in an appropriations Act. Funds made available for obligation
under this procedure may not be proposed for rescission again under
this section or section 1012.
    ``(b) Transmittal of Special Message.--
            ``(1) Not later than 3 days after the date of enactment of
        an appropriation Act, the President may transmit to Congress a
        special message proposing to rescind amounts of budget
        authority provided in that Act and include with that special
        message a draft bill that, if enacted, would only rescind that
        budget authority. That bill shall clearly identify the amount
        of budget authority that is proposed to be rescinded for each
        program, project, or activity to which that budget authority
        relates.
            ``(2) In the case of an appropriation Act that includes
        accounts within the jurisdiction of more than one subcommittee
        of the Committee on Appropriations, the President in proposing
        to rescind budget authority under this section shall send a
        separate special message and accompanying draft bill for
        accounts within the jurisdiction of each such subcommittee.
            ``(3) Each special message shall specify, with respect to
        the budget authority proposed to be rescinded, the matters
        referred to in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 1012(a).
    ``(c) Limitation on Amounts Subject to Rescission.--
            ``(1) The amount of budget authority which the President
        may propose to rescind in a special message under this section
        for a particular program, project, or activity for a fiscal
        year may not exceed 25 percent of the amount appropriated for
        that program, project, or activity in that Act.
            ``(2) The limitation contained in paragraph (1) shall only
        apply to amounts specifically authorized to be appropriated for
        a particular program, project, or activity.
    ``(d) Procedures for Expedited Consideration.--
            ``(1)(A) Before the close of the second legislative day of
        the House of Representatives after the date of receipt of a
        special message transmitted to Congress under subsection (b),
        the majority leader or minority leader of the House of
        Representatives shall introduce (by request) the draft bill
        accompanying that special message. If the bill is not
        introduced as provided in the preceding sentence, then, on the
        third legislative day of the House of Representatives after the
        date of receipt of that special message, any Member of that
        House may introduce the bill.
            ``(B) The bill shall be referred to the Committee on
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives. The committee
        shall report the bill without substantive revision and with or
        without recommendation. The bill shall be reported not later
        than the seventh legislative day of that House after the date
        of receipt of that special message. If the Committee on
        Appropriations fails to report the bill within that period,
        that committee shall be automatically discharged from
        consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the
        appropriate calendar.
            ``(C) During consideration under this paragraph, any Member
        of the House of Representatives may move to strike any proposed
        rescission or rescissions of budget authority if supported by
        49 other Members.
            ``(D) A vote on final passage of the bill shall be taken in
        the House of Representatives on or before the close of the 10th
        legislative day of that House after the date of the
        introduction of the bill in that House. If the bill is passed,
        the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall cause the bill
        to be engrossed, certified, and transmitted to the Senate
        within one calendar day of the day on which the bill is passed.
            ``(2)(A) A motion in the House of Representatives to
        proceed to the consideration of a bill under this section shall
        be highly privileged and not debatable. An amendment to the
        motion shall not be in order, nor shall it be in order to move
        to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or
        disagreed to.
            ``(B) Debate in the House of Representatives on a bill
        under this section shall not exceed 4 hours, which shall be
        divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the
        bill. A motion further to limit debate shall not be debatable.
        It shall not be in order to move to recommit a bill under this
        section or to move to reconsider the vote by which the bill is
        agreed to or disagreed to.
            ``(C) Appeals from decisions of the Chair relating to the
        application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the
        procedure relating to a bill under this section shall be
        decided without debate.
            ``(D) Except to the extent specifically provided in the
        preceding provisions of this subsection, consideration of a
        bill under this section shall be governed by the Rules of the
        House of Representatives.
            ``(3)(A) A bill transmitted to the Senate pursuant to
        paragraph (1)(D) shall be referred to its Committee on
        Appropriations. The committee shall report the bill without
        substantive revision and with or without recommendation. The
        bill shall be reported not later than the seventh legislative
        day of the Senate after it receives the bill. A committee
        failing to report the bill within such period shall be
        automatically discharged from consideration of the bill, and
        the bill shall be placed upon the appropriate calendar.
            ``(B) During consideration under this paragraph, any Member
        of the Senate may move to strike any proposed rescission or
        rescissions of budget authority if supported by 14 other
        Members.
            ``(C) A vote on final passage of a bill transmitted to the
        Senate shall be taken on or before the close of the 10th
        legislative day of the Senate after the date on which the bill
        is transmitted. If the bill is passed in the Senate without
        amendment, the Secretary of the Senate shall cause the
        engrossed bill to be returned to the House of Representatives.
            ``(D) If the bill is amended in the Senate solely as
        provided by subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Senate shall
        cause an engrossed amendment (in the nature of a substitute) to
        be returned to the House of Representatives. Any Member of the
        House may offer a privileged motion that the House concur in
        that Senate amendment. That motion is not subject to a demand
        for division of the question and the previous question is
        considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without
        intervening motion.
            ``(4)(A) A motion in the Senate to proceed to the
        consideration of a bill under this section shall be privileged
        and not debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in
        order, nor shall it be in order to move to reconsider the vote
        by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
            ``(B) Debate in the Senate on a bill under this section,
        and all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith,
        shall not exceed 10 hours. The time shall be equally divided
        between, and controlled by, the majority leader and the
        minority leader or their designees.
            ``(C) Debate in the Senate on any debatable motion or
        appeal in connection with a bill under this section shall be
        limited to not more than 1 hour, to be equally divided between,
        and controlled by, the mover and the manager of the bill,
        except that in the event the manager of the bill is in favor of
        any such motion or appeal, the time in opposition thereto,
        shall be controlled by the minority leader or his designee.
        Such leaders, or either of them, may, from time under their
        control on the passage of a bill, allot additional time to any
        Senator during the consideration of any debatable motion or
        appeal.
            ``(D) A motion in the Senate to further limit debate on a
        bill under this section is not debatable. A motion to recommit
        a bill under this section is not in order.
    ``(e) Amendments and Divisions Prohibited.--Except as provided by
paragraph (1)(C) or (3)(B) of subsection (d), no amendment to a bill
considered under this section shall be in order in either the House of
Representatives or the Senate. It shall not be in order to demand a
division of the question in the House of Representatives (or in a
Committee of the Whole) or in the Senate. No motion to suspend the
application of this subsection shall be in order in either House, nor
shall it be in order in either House to suspend the application of this
subsection by unanimous consent.
    ``(f) Requirement To Make Available for Obligation.--Any amount of
budget authority proposed to be rescinded in a special message
transmitted to Congress under subsection (b) shall be made available
for obligation on the day after the date on which either House defeats
the bill transmitted with that special message.
    ``(g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `appropriation Act' means any general or
        special appropriation Act, and any Act or joint resolution
        making supplemental, deficiency, or continuing appropriations;
        and
            ``(2) the term `legislative day' means, with respect to
        either House of Congress, any day during which that House is in
        session.''.
    (b) Exercise of Rulemaking Powers.--Section 904 of such Act (2
U.S.C. 621 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and 1017'' in subsection (a) and
        inserting ``1013, and 1018''; and
            (2) by striking ``section 1017'' in subsection (d) and
        inserting ``sections 1013 and 1018''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 1011 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 682(5)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``1013'' and
                inserting ``1014''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``1016'' and inserting
                        ``1017''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``1017(b)(1)'' and
                        inserting ``1018(b)(1)''.
            (2) Section 1015 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 685) (as
        redesignated by section 2(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``1012 or 1013'' each place it
                appears and inserting ``1012, 1013, or 1014'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``1012'' and
                inserting ``1012 or 1013'';
                    (C) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``1013'' and
                inserting ``1014''; and
                    (D) in subsection (e)(2)--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of
                        subparagraph (A);
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
                        subparagraph (C);
                            (iii) by striking ``1013'' in subparagraph
                        (C) (as so redesignated) and inserting
                        ``1014''; and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
                        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) he has transmitted a special message under
                section 1013 with respect to a proposed rescission;
                and''.
            (3) Section 1016 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 686) (as
        redesignated by section 2(a)) is amended by striking ``1012 or
        1013'' each place it appears and inserting ``1012, 1013, or
        1014''.
    (d) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections for subpart B of
title X of such Act is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 1013
        through 1017 as items relating to sections 1014 through 1018;
        and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 1012
        the following new item:

``Sec. 1013. Expedited consideration of certain proposed
                            rescissions.''.

Output:
Modified Line Item Veto/Expedited Rescissions Act of 1993 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to allow the President to transmit to both Houses of the Congress, for expedited consideration, a special message proposing to rescind all or part of any item of budget authority provided in an appropriation bill.
Requires that such special message be transmitted not later than three days after the President approves the appropriation bill and be accompanied by draft bill or joint resolution that would, if enacted, rescind the budget authority proposed to be rescinded.  Limits the amount subject to rescission to 25 percent of the amount appropriated.
Sets forth House and Senate procedures for the expedited consideration of such a proposal.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Individuals Return to
Employment Act'' or the ``HIRE Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT GRANTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Labor is authorized to
award competitive grants for the hiring of unemployed individuals to
perform work to benefit communities, under terms and conditions set
forth in this section.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--Grants under this section may be awarded to
any of the following entities in the areas described in subsection (c):
            (1) Units of local government.
            (2) Workforce investment boards, established pursuant to
        section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
        2832).
            (3) Non-profit organizations described in section 501(c)(3)
        of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)).
    (c) Targeted Communities.--Grants under this section may be awarded
to eligible entities located in or primarily serving in one of the
following areas, if the unemployment rate in such area is higher than 7
percent during the 3-month period preceding the award of the grant:
            (1) A renewal community with respect to which a designation
        was in effect under section 1400E(a) of the Internal Revenue
        Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1400E(a)) on December 31, 2009.
            (2) An empowerment zone designated under section 1391 of
        such Code.
            (3) A historically underutilized business zone designated
        under section 3(p)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
        632(p)(1)).
    (d) Individuals Eligible for Employment.--Grants awarded under this
section shall be used to hire unemployed individuals residing in the
areas described in subsection (c), including individuals age 16 and
older, with priority going to individuals who have been unemployed for
more than a year.
    (e) Limitations.--
            (1) Union consultation.--No individual whose employment is
        funded under a grant authorized under this Act may work for an
        employer at which a collective bargaining agreement is in
        effect covering the same or similar work, unless--
                    (A) the consent of the labor organization at such
                employer is obtained; and
                    (B) negotiations have taken place between such
                labor organization and the employer as to the terms and
                conditions of such employment.
            (2) Nondisplacement.--An individual whose employment is
        funded under this Act may not displace other employees whose
        employment is not funded under this Act. A grant recipient
        under this Act may not hire an employee or employees with funds
        under this Act for any employment which the grant recipient
        would otherwise hire an employee who has been furloughed.
    (f) Effect on Unemployment Compensation.--The amount of any
unemployment compensation payable to an individual employed under a
grant established by this Act is a pro rata portion of the unemployment
compensation which would otherwise be payable to the employee if such
employee were totally unemployed.
    (g) Consultation Requirement.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this Act shall consult with community leaders, including
small business owners, labor organizations, and local residents to
assess the needs of the community to determine the qualifying
activities for which individuals will be hired.
    (h) Qualifying Activities.--Individuals hired using grant funds
awarded under this section shall be employed for a minimum of 20 hours
per week only in activities that benefit the community in the areas
described in subsection (c), including activities such as public works,
beautification, historic restoration, tutoring, and adult education. In
addition, where an eligible entity determines appropriate, a portion of
the grant funds may be used to ensure the safety of employees hired
under the grant and provide necessary job training.
    (i) Federal Share.--Funds awarded under this section shall
supplement, not supplant, funds of the eligible entity that are used
for such purposes.
    (j) Application.--Eligible entities seeking a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such form, and containing such information and assurances as the
Secretary may require.
    (k) Required Deadline for Hiring.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall--
            (1) determine the number of individuals that may be hired
        for a 3-year period using both grant funds and local funds
        available for such purpose; and
            (2) hire such individuals within 60 days after receiving a
        grant.
    (l) Regulations.--The Secretary of Labor may promulgate regulations
necessary to implement the grant program authorized by this Act,
including any necessary regulations necessary to apply wage and labor
protections to individuals employed under a grant.
    (m) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this section.

Output:
Helping Individuals Return to Employment Act or HIRE Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to eligible entities to hire unemployed individuals age 16 and older to perform a minimum of 20 hours per week of work to benefit certain communities, including activities such as public works, beautification, historic restoration, tutoring, and adult education.

Restricts such grants to eligible entities located in or primarily serving in a community designated either as a renewal community, an empowerment zone, or a historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone), if the unemployment rate in the area is higher than 7% during the 3-month period preceding award of the grant.

Requires that priority in the award of grants be given to individuals who have been unemployed for more than a year.

Prescribes certain grant limitations.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction
Act of 2008''.

                     TITLE I--CRIMINAL PROHIBITION

SEC. 101. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.

    Congress finds and declares that operating or embarking in a
submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and
on an international voyage is a serious international problem,
facilitates transnational crime, including drug trafficking, and
terrorism, and presents a specific threat to the safety of maritime
navigation and the security of the United States.

SEC. 102. OPERATION OF SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL OR SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL
              WITHOUT NATIONALITY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 111 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``2285. OPERATION OF SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL OR SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL
            WITHOUT NATIONALITY.

    ``(a) Offense.--Whoever knowingly operates, or attempts or
conspires to operate, by any means, or embarks in any submersible
vessel or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and that
is navigating or has navigated into, through, or from waters beyond the
outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral
limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, with
the intent to evade detection, shall be fined under this title,
imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.
    ``(b) Evidence of Intent To Evade Detection.--For purposes of
subsection (a), the presence of any of the indicia described in
paragraph (1)(A), (E), (F), or (G), or in paragraph (4), (5), or (6),
of section 70507(b) of title 46 may be considered, in the totality of
the circumstances, to be prima facie evidence of intent to evade
detection.
    ``(c) Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.--There is extraterritorial
Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section, including an
attempt or conspiracy to commit such an offense.
    ``(d) Claim of Nationality or Registry.--A claim of nationality or
registry under this section includes only--
        ``(1) possession on board the vessel and production of
    documents evidencing the vessel's nationality as provided in
    article 5 of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas;
        ``(2) flying its nation's ensign or flag; or
        ``(3) a verbal claim of nationality or registry by the master
    or individual in charge of the vessel.
    ``(e) Affirmative Defenses.--
        ``(1) In general.--It is an affirmative defense to a
    prosecution for a violation of subsection (a), which the defendant
    has the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence, that
    the submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel involved was, at
    the time of the offense--
            ``(A) a vessel of the United States or lawfully registered
        in a foreign nation as claimed by the master or individual in
        charge of the vessel when requested to make a claim by an
        officer of the United States authorized to enforce applicable
        provisions of United States law;
            ``(B) classed by and designed in accordance with the rules
        of a classification society;
            ``(C) lawfully operated in government-regulated or licensed
        activity, including commerce, research, or exploration; or
            ``(D) equipped with and using an operable automatic
        identification system, vessel monitoring system, or long range
        identification and tracking system.
        ``(2) Production of documents.--The affirmative defenses
    provided by this subsection are proved conclusively by the
    production of--
            ``(A) government documents evidencing the vessel's
        nationality at the time of the offense, as provided in article
        5 of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas;
            ``(B) a certificate of classification issued by the
        vessel's classification society upon completion of relevant
        classification surveys and valid at the time of the offense; or
            ``(C) government documents evidencing licensure,
        regulation, or registration for commerce, research, or
        exploration.
    ``(f) Federal Activities Excepted.--Nothing in this section applies
to lawfully authorized activities carried out by or at the direction of
the United States Government.
    ``(g) Applicability of Other Provisions.--Sections 70504 and 70505
of title 46 apply to offenses under this section in the same manner as
they apply to offenses under section 70503 of such title.
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section, the terms `submersible
vessel', `semi-submersible vessel', `vessel of the United States', and
`vessel without nationality' have the meaning given those terms in
section 70502 of title 46.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 111 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 2284 the following:

``2285. Operation of submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel
          without nationality''.

SEC. 103. SENTENCING GUIDELINES.

    (a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of
title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the
United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate sentencing
guidelines (including policy statements) or amend existing sentencing
guidelines (including policy statements) to provide adequate penalties
for persons convicted of knowingly operating by any means or embarking
in any submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel in violation of
section 2285 of title 18, United States Code.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out this section, the United States
Sentencing Commission shall--
        (1) ensure that the sentencing guidelines and policy statements
    reflect the serious nature of the offense described in section 2285
    of title 18, United States Code, and the need for deterrence to
    prevent such offenses;
        (2) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances
    that might justify exceptions, including--
            (A) the use of a submersible vessel or semi-submersible
        vessel described in section 2285 of title 18, United States
        Code, to facilitate other felonies;
            (B) the repeated use of a submersible vessel or semi-
        submersible vessel described in section 2285 of title 18,
        United States Code, to facilitate other felonies, including
        whether such use is part of an ongoing criminal organization or
        enterprise;
            (C) whether the use of such a vessel involves a pattern of
        continued and flagrant violations of section 2285 of title 18,
        United States Code;
            (D) whether the persons operating or embarking in a
        submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel willfully caused,
        attempted to cause, or permitted the destruction or damage of
        such vessel or failed to heave to when directed by law
        enforcement officers; and
            (E) circumstances for which the sentencing guidelines (and
        policy statements) provide sentencing enhancements;
        (3) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant
    directives, other sentencing guidelines and policy statements, and
    statutory provisions;
        (4) make any necessary and conforming changes to the sentencing
    guidelines and policy statements; and
        (5) ensure that the sentencing guidelines and policy statements
    adequately meet the purposes of sentencing set forth in section
    3553(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code.

                      TITLE II--CIVIL PROHIBITION

SEC. 201. OPERATION OF SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL OR SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL
              WITHOUT NATIONALITY.

    (a) Finding and declaration.--Section 70501 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``that''; and
        (2) by striking ``States.'' and inserting ``States and (2)
    operating or embarking in a submersible vessel or semi-submersible
    vessel without nationality and on an international voyage is a
    serious international problem, facilitates transnational crime,
    including drug trafficking, and terrorism, and presents a specific
    threat to the safety of maritime navigation and the security of the
    United States.''.

SEC. 202. OPERATION PROHIBITED.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 705 of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:

``70508. Operation of submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel
            without nationality

    ``(a) In General.--An individual may not operate by any means or
embark in any submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel that is
without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into,
through, or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea
of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial
sea with an adjacent country, with the intent to evade detection.
    ``(b) Evidence of Intent To Evade Detection.--In any civil
enforcement proceeding for a violation of subsection (a), the presence
of any of the indicia described in paragraph (1)(A), (E), (F), or (G),
or in paragraph (4), (5), or (6), of section 70507(b) may be
considered, in the totality of the circumstances, to be prima facie
evidence of intent to evade detection.
    ``(c) Defenses.--
        ``(1) In general.--It is a defense in any civil enforcement
    proceeding for a violation of subsection (a) that the submersible
    vessel or semi-submersible vessel involved was, at the time of the
    violation--
            ``(A) a vessel of the United States or lawfully registered
        in a foreign nation as claimed by the master or individual in
        charge of the vessel when requested to make a claim by an
        officer of the United States authorized to enforce applicable
        provisions of United States law;
            ``(B) classed by and designed in accordance with the rules
        of a classification society;
            ``(C) lawfully operated in government-regulated or licensed
        activity, including commerce, research, or exploration; or
            ``(D) equipped with and using an operable automatic
        identification system, vessel monitoring system, or long range
        identification and tracking system.
        ``(2) Production of documents.--The defenses provided by this
    subsection are proved conclusively by the production of--
            ``(A) government documents evidencing the vessel's
        nationality at the time of the offense, as provided in article
        5 of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas;
            ``(B) a certificate of classification issued by the
        vessel's classification society upon completion of relevant
        classification surveys and valid at the time of the offense; or
            ``(C) government documents evidencing licensure,
        regulation, or registration for research or exploration.
    ``(d) Civil Penalty.--A person violating this section shall be
liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than
$1,000,000.''
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
        (1) The chapter analysis for chapter 705 of title 46, United
    States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
    section 70507 the following:

``70508. Operation of submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel
          without nationality''.
        (2) Section 70504(b) of title 46, United States Code, is
    amended by inserting ``or 70508'' after ``70503''.
        (3) Section 70505 of title 46, United States Code, is amended
    by striking ``this title'' and inserting ``this title, or against
    whom a civil enforcement proceeding is brought under section
    70508,''.

SEC. 203. SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL AND SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL DEFINED.

    Section 70502 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end thereof the following:
    ``(f) Semi-submersible Vessel; Submersible Vessel.--In this
chapter:
        ``(1) Semi-submersible vessel.--The term `semi-submersible
    vessel' means any watercraft constructed or adapted to be capable
    of operating with most of its hull and bulk under the surface of
    the water, including both manned and unmanned watercraft.
        ``(2) Submersible vessel.--The term `submersible vessel' means
    a vessel that is capable of operating completely below the surface
    of the water, including both manned and unmanned watercraft.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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

Output:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 - Title I: Criminal Prohibition - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for knowingly operating, attempting or conspiring to operate, or embarking in any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality in, through, or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, with the intent to avoid detection. Grants extraterritorial federal jurisdiction over an offense under this Act.

Specifies that a claim of nationality or registry under this Act includes only: (1) possession on board the vessel and production of documents evidencing the vessel's nationality as provided in the 1958 Convention on the High Seas; (2) flying its nation's ensign or flag; or (3) a verbal claim of nationality or registry by the person in charge of the vessel.

Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this Act that a vessel operated at the time of a violation was: (1) a vessel of the Untied States or lawfully registered in a foreign nation; (2) classed by and designated in accordance with the rules of a classification society; (3) lawfully operated in a government regulated or licensed activity; or (4) equipped with and using an operable automatic identification system, vessel monitoring system, or a long range identification and tracking system. Specifies the documents required to conclusively prove an affirmative defense.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend sentencing guidelines to provide adequate penalties for violating the criminal prohibition imposed by this Act.

Title II: Civil Prohibition - Imposes a civil penalty of up to $1 million for a violation of this Act. Allows the same defenses to a civil enforcement proceeding as for a criminal prosecution under this Act.

Defines a "semi-submersible vessel" as any manned or unmanned watercraft constructed or adapted to operate with most of its hull and bulk under the surface of the water. Defines a "submersible vessel" as a manned or unmanned vessel capable of operating completely below the surface of the water.