SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Microenterprise and Asset
Development Act''.

SEC. 2. DISREGARD OF INCOME AND RESOURCES DESIGNATED FOR EDUCATION,
              TRAINING, AND EMPLOYABILITY.

    (a) Disregard as Resource.--Section 402(a)(7)(B) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(7)(B)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' before ``(iv)''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, or (v) in the case of a family
        receiving aid under the State plan (and a family not receiving
        such aid but which received such aid in at least 1 of the
        preceding 4 months or became ineligible for such aid during the
        preceding 12 months because of excessive earnings), any amount
        not to exceed $10,000 in a qualified asset account (as defined
        in section 406(i)) of such family'' before ``; and''.
    (b) Disregard as Income.--
            (1) In general.--Section 402(a)(8)(A) of such Act (42
        U.S.C. 602(a)(8)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vii);
                and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (viii) the following
                new clause:
                            ``(ix) shall disregard any interest or
                        income earned on a qualified asset account (as
                        defined in section 406(i)); and''.
            (2) Nonrecurring lump sum exempt from lump sum rule.--
        Section 402(a)(17) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(17)) is
        amended by adding at the end the following: ``; and that this
        paragraph shall not apply to earned or unearned income received
        in a month on a nonrecurring basis to the extent that such
        income is placed in a qualified asset account (as defined in
        section 406(i)) the total amounts in which, after such
        placement, does not exceed $10,000;''.
            (3) Treatment as income.--Section 402(a)(7) of such Act (42
        U.S.C. 602(a)(7)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
                (B);
                    (B) by striking the semicolon at the end of
                subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new
                subparagraph:
                    ``(D) shall treat as income any distributions from
                a qualified asset account (as defined in section
                406(i)(1)) which do not meet the definition of a
                qualified distribution under section 406(i)(2);''.
    (c) Qualified Asset Accounts.--Section 406 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
606) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i)(1) The term `qualified asset account' means a mechanism
approved by the State (such as individual retirement accounts, escrow
accounts, or savings bonds) that allows savings of a family receiving
aid to families with dependent children to be used for qualified
distributions.
    ``(2) The term `qualified distributions' means distributions for
expenses directly related to 1 or more of the following purposes:
            ``(A) The attendance of a member of the family at any
        education or training program.
            ``(B) The improvement of the employability (including self-
        employment) of a member of the family (such as through the
        purchase of an automobile).
            ``(C) The purchase of a home for the family.
            ``(D) A change of the family residence.''.
    (d) Study of Use of Qualified Asset Accounts; Report.--The
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study of the use
of qualified asset accounts established pursuant to the amendments made
by this section, and shall report on such study and any recommendations
for modifications of such amendments to the Committee on Finance of the
Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives not later than January 1, 1996.
    (e) Report on AFDC Asset Limit on Automobiles.--Within 3 months
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall submit to the Congress a report on--
            (1) the need to revise the limitation, established in
        regulations pursuant to section 402(a)(7)(B)(i) of the Social
        Security Act, on the value of a family automobile required to
        be disregarded by a State in determining the eligibility of the
        family for aid to families with dependent children under the
        State plan approved under part A of title IV of such Act; and
            (2) the extent to which such a revision would increase the
        employability of recipients of such aid.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 1993.

SEC. 3. DISREGARD OF INCOME AND RESOURCES RELATED TO SELF-EMPLOYMENT.

    (a) State Plan Requirements.--Section 402(a) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (44);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (45) and
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (45) the following:
            ``(46) provide that the State agency--
                    ``(A)(i) shall not include as a resource of the
                family of which a child referred to in paragraph (7)(A)
                is a member, for purposes of paragraph (7)(B), the
                first $10,000 of the net worth (assets reduced by
                liabilities with respect thereto) of all
                microenterprises (as defined in section 406(j)(1))
                owned, in whole or in part, by the child or by a
                relative or other individual referred to in paragraph
                (7)(A), for a period not to exceed 2 years; and
                    ``(ii) shall take into consideration as earned
                income of the family of which the child is a member,
                only the net profits (as defined in section 406(j)(2))
                of such microenterprises, for a period not to exceed 2
                years; and
                    ``(B) shall ensure that caseworkers are able to
                properly advise recipients of aid under the State plan
                of the option of microenterprise as a legitimate route
                towards self-sufficiency, and that caseworkers
                encourage recipients of such aid who are interested in
                starting a microenterprise to participate in a program
                designed to assist them in such effort.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 406 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 606), as
amended by section 2(c) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
    ``(j)(1) The term `microenterprise' means a commercial enterprise
which has 5 or fewer employees, 1 or more of whom owns the enterprise.
    ``(2) The term `net profits' means, with respect to a
microenterprise, the gross receipts of the business, minus--
            ``(A) payments of principal or interest on a loan to the
        microenterprise;
            ``(B) transportation expenses;
            ``(C) inventory costs;
            ``(D) expenditures to purchase capital equipment;
            ``(E) cash retained by the microenterprise for future use
        by the business;
            ``(F) taxes paid by reason of the business;
            ``(G) if the business is covered under a policy of
        insurance against loss--
                    ``(i) the premiums paid for such insurance; and
                    ``(ii) the losses incurred by the business that are
                not reimbursed by the insurer solely by reason of the
                existence of a deductible with respect to the insurance
                policy;
            ``(H) the reasonable costs of obtaining 1 motor vehicle
        necessary for the conduct of the business; and
            ``(I) the other expenses of the business.''.
    (c) Inclusion of Microenterprise Training and Activities in the
JOBS Program.--
            (1) In general.--Section 482(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
        682(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(C) The services and activities referred to in subparagraph (A)--
            ``(i) in the case that at least 3 percent of the adult
        recipients of aid under the State plan approved under part A
        (as of the close of the immediately preceding fiscal year)
        elect to participate in microenterprise activities, shall
        include programs described in paragraph (4); or
            ``(ii) in the case that not more than 3 percent of the
        adult recipients of such aid elect to participate in
        microenterprise activities, may include programs described in
        paragraph (4).''.
            (2) Microenterprise programs.--Section 482(d) of such Act
        (42 U.S.C. 682(d)) is amended by adding at the end the
        following:
    ``(4) The programs described in this paragraph are programs of
public and private organizations, agencies, and other entities
(including nonprofit and for-profit entities) to enable such entities
to facilitate economic development by--
            ``(A) providing technical assistance, advice, and business
        support services (including assistance, advice, and support
        relating to business planning, financing, marketing, and other
        microenterprise development activities) to owners of
        microenterprises and persons developing microenterprises; and
            ``(B) providing general support (such as peer support and
        self-esteem programs) to owners of microenterprises and persons
        developing microenterprises.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to payments under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act
for calendar quarters beginning on or after October 1, 1993.

Summary: Microenterprise and Asset Development Act - Amends part A (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to exclude from AFDC eligibility determinations certain income and resources that are to be used for education, training, and employability purposes. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress on a revision of the AFDC limit on automobiles in order to increase the employability of AFDC recipients. Provides for State agency exclusion from AFDC eligibility determinations of certain resources related to microenterprise initiatives by AFDC recipients towards self-sufficiency. Requires State agencies to ensure that caseworkers advise AFDC recipients of the option for microenterprises. Provides for the inclusion of microenterprise training and activities in the JOBS program under SSA title IV part F .


SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
        (1) Route 66 corridor.--The term ``Route 66 corridor'' means
    structures and other cultural resources described in paragraph (3),
    including--
            (A) lands owned by the Federal Government and lands owned
        by a State or local government within the immediate vicinity of
        those portions of the highway formerly designated as United
        States Route 66; and
            (B) private land within that immediate vicinity that is
        owned by persons or entities that are willing to participate in
        the programs authorized by this Act.
        (2) Cultural resource programs.--The term ``Cultural Resource
    Programs'' means the programs established and administered by the
    National Park Service for the benefit of and in support of
    preservation of the Route 66 corridor, either directly or
    indirectly.
        (3) Preservation of the route 66 corridor.--The term
    ``preservation of the Route 66 corridor'' means the preservation or
    restoration of structures or other cultural resources of
    businesses, sites of interest, and other contributing resources
    that--
            (A) are located within the land described in para-
        graph (1);
            (B) existed during the route's period of outstanding
        historic significance (principally between 1926 and 1970), as
        defined by the study prepared by the National Park Service and
        entitled ``Special Resource Study of Route 66'', dated July
        1995; and
            (C) remain in existence as of the date of the enactment of
        this Act.
        (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
    the Interior, acting through the Cultural Resource Programs at the
    National Park Service.
        (5) State.--The term ``State'' means a State in which a portion
    of the Route 66 corridor is located.

SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the entities
described in subsection (c), shall facilitate the development of
guidelines and a program of technical assistance and grants that will
set priorities for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor.
    (b) Designation of Officials.--The Secretary shall designate
officials of the National Park Service stationed at locations
convenient to the States to perform the functions of the Cultural
Resource Programs under this Act.
    (c) General Functions.--The Secretary shall--
        (1) support efforts of State and local public and private
    persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian tribes,
    State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in the States for
    the preservation of the Route 66 corridor by providing technical
    assistance, participating in cost-sharing programs, and making
    grants;
        (2) act as a clearinghouse for communication among Federal,
    State, and local agencies, nonprofit Route 66 preservation
    entities, Indian tribes, State historic preservation offices, and
    private persons and entities interested in the preservation of the
    Route 66 corridor; and
        (3) assist the States in determining the appropriate form of
    and establishing and supporting a non-Federal entity or entities to
    perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs after those
    programs are terminated.
    (d) Authorities.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary may--
        (1) enter into cooperative agreements, including (but not
    limited to) cooperative agreements for study, planning,
    preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration related to the Route
    66 corridor;
        (2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and
    services as appropriate;
        (3) provide cost-share grants for projects for the preservation
    of the Route 66 corridor (but not to exceed 50 percent of total
    project costs) and information about existing cost-share
    opportunities;
        (4) provide technical assistance in historic preservation and
    interpretation of the Route 66 corridor; and
        (5) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other
    persons and entities regarding the Route 66 corridor.
    (e) Preservation Assistance.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide assistance in the
    preservation of the Route 66 corridor in a manner that is
    compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the Route 66 corridor.
        (2) Planning.--The Secretary shall not prepare or require
    preparation of an overall management plan for the Route 66
    corridor, but shall cooperate with the States and local public and
    private persons and entities, State historic preservation offices,
    nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, and Indian tribes in
    developing local preservation plans to guide efforts to protect the
    most important or representative resources of the Route 66
    corridor.

SEC. 3. RESOURCE TREATMENT.

    (a) Technical Assistance Program.--
        (1) Program required.--The Secretary shall develop a program of
    technical assistance in the preservation of the Route 66 corridor
    and interpretation of the Route 66 corridor.
        (2) Program guidelines.--As part of the technical assistance
    program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish
    guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs for the
    Route 66 corridor. The Secretary shall base the guidelines on the
    Secretary's standards for historic preservation.
    (b) Program for Coordination of Activities.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate a program of
    historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and the
    collection of oral and video histories of events that occurred
    along the Route 66 corridor.
        (2) Design.--The program under paragraph (1) shall be designed
    for continuing use and implementation by other organizations after
    the Cultural Resource Programs are terminated.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the period
of fiscal years 2000 through 2009 to carry out the purposes of this
Act.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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

Summary: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) facilitate the development of guidelines and a program of technical assistance and grants that will set priorities for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor. (2) designate National Park Service (NPS) officials to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs support cultural resources related to the corridor. (3) support efforts of State and local public and private persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian tribes, State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in the States to preserve the corridor by providing technical assistance, participating in cost-sharing programs, and making grants. (4) act as a clearinghouse for communication among such parties and Federal, State, and local agencies. And (5) assist the States in determining the appropriate form of, and establishing and supporting, a non-Federal entity or entities to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs after those programs are terminated. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into cooperative agreements. (2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and services as appropriate. (3) provide cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of projects for the preservation of the corridor and information about existing cost-share opportunities and technical assistance in the corridor's historic preservation and interpretation. And (4) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other persons and entities regarding the corridor. Requires the Secretary: (1) to provide assistance in the preservation of the corridor that is compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the highway. (2) not to prepare or require an overall management plan, but to cooperate with public and private entities in developing local preservation plans to guide efforts to protect the most important or representative resources of the corridor. (3) to develop a technical assistance program in the preservation and interpretation of the corridor, including guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs. And (4) to coordinate a program of historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and collection of oral and video histories of events that occurred along the corridor designed for continuing use after the Cultural Resource Programs are terminated. Authorizes appropriation.

To preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``International Clean Development
Technology Fund Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to promote and to leverage private
financing for the development and international deployment of
technologies that will contribute to sustainable economic growth and
the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at
a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with
the climate system.

SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL CLEAN DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the
United States a fund to be known as the International Clean Development
Technology Fund (in this Act referred to as the ``Fund'').
    (b) Deposits to Fund.--The Fund shall consist of--
            (1) amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of
        appropriations under section 8; and
            (2) any amounts as are or may be appropriated, transferred,
        or credited to such Fund under any other provisions of law.
    (c) Expenditures From Fund.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available
to the International Clean Development Technology Deployment Board
established under section 4 for the purposes described under section 5,
and shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL CLEAN DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall establish an International
Clean Development Technology Board (in this Act referred to as the
``Board'').
    (b) Composition.--The Board shall be composed of--
            (1) the Secretary of State, who shall act as the chair of
        the Board;
            (2) the Secretary of the Treasury;
            (3) the Secretary of Energy;
            (4) the Secretary of Commerce;
            (5) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
        Agency;
            (6) the Administrator of the United States Agency for
        International Development;
            (7) the United States Trade Representative; and
            (8) other officials as determined appropriate by the
        President.
    (c) Administration of International Clean Development Technology
Fund.--The Board shall administer the International Clean Development
Technology Fund ensuring that--
            (1) funds are deployed in a manner that best promotes the
        participation of, and investments by, the private sector;
            (2) funds are allocated in a manner consistent with
        commitments by the United States under international climate
        change agreements;
            (3) funds achieve the greatest greenhouse gas emissions
        mitigations with the lowest possible cost, consistent with
        paragraphs (1) and (2); and
            (4) assistance is targeted at reducing or eliminating the
        increased costs associated with deploying clean technologies in
        place of traditional technologies.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Assistance.--The Board, acting through the Secretary of State,
may use the Fund to provide assistance under this section to qualified
entities to support the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Form of Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Assistance under this section shall be
        provided--
                    (A) as direct assistance in the form of grants,
                concessional loans, cooperative agreements, contracts,
                insurance, or loan guarantees to or with qualified
                entities;
                    (B) as indirect assistance to such entities
                through--
                            (i) funding for international clean
                        technology funds supported by multilateral
                        institutions;
                            (ii) support from development and export
                        promotion assistance programs of the United
                        States Government; or
                            (iii) support from international technology
                        programs of the Department of Energy; or
                    (C) in such other forms as the Board may determine
                appropriate.
            (2) Oversight by secretary of the treasury of assistance
        for multilateral trust funds.--In the case of assistance
        provided under paragraph (1)(B)(i) for a clean technology fund
        or similar fund that is a multilateral trust fund based at the
        World Bank, the Secretary of the Treasury shall use the voice,
        vote, and influence of the United States to promote--
                    (A) the use of the assistance in accordance with
                the purposes of this Act; and
                    (B) a requirement that no single country be
                eligible to receive more than 15 percent of the funds
                awarded by such a fund in any three year period.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Assistance provided under this Act may be used
for one or more of the following purposes:
            (1) Funding for capacity building programs, including--
                    (A) developing and implementing methodologies and
                programs for measuring and quantifying greenhouse gas
                emissions and verifying emissions mitigations;
                    (B) assessing technology and policy options for
                greenhouse gas emissions mitigations; and
                    (C) providing other forms of technical assistance
                to facilitate the qualification for, and receipt of,
                program funding under this Act.
            (2) Funding for technology programs to mitigate greenhouse
        gas emissions in eligible countries.
    (d) Qualified Entities.--A qualified entity referred to in this
section is--
            (1) the national government of an eligible country;
            (2) a regional or local governmental unit of an eligible
        country; or
            (3) a nongovernmental organization or a private entity
        located or operating in an eligible country.
    (e) Selection of Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Board shall be responsible for
        selecting qualified entities to receive assistance under this
        section.
            (2) Notice and wait requirement.--Assistance may not be
        provided under this section until 30 days after the Board
        notifies the appropriate congressional committees of the
        proposed assistance, including--
                    (A) in the case of a capacity building program--
                            (i) a description of the capacity building
                        program to be funded through such assistance;
                            (ii) the terms and conditions of such
                        assistance; and
                            (iii) a description of how the capacity
                        building program will contribute to the
                        purposes of this Act; or
                    (B) in the case of a technology program--
                            (i) a description of the technology program
                        to be funded through such assistance;
                            (ii) the terms and conditions of such
                        assistance;
                            (iii) an estimate of the additional amount
                        of greenhouse gas emissions mitigations
                        expected due to the use of such assistance; and
                            (iv) a description of how the technology
                        program will contribute to the purposes of this
                        Act.
    (f) Participation by Governmental Entities.--In providing
assistance under this Act to a national government or to a regional or
local governmental unit, the Board should require as a condition of the
assistance that such governmental entity make appropriate financial
contributions to the budget of the project being funded, and that the
project be part of an overall national, regional, or local strategy for
the deployment of clean technology.

SEC. 6. ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.

    (a) Determination by the President.--The Board shall determine
whether a country is eligible for technology program assistance under
this Act based on the criteria in subsection (b).
    (b) Criteria.--A country shall be considered to be eligible for
purposes of this Act if--
            (1) the country is eligible to receive official development
        assistance according to the guidelines of the Development
        Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-
        operation and Development; and
            (2)(A) the country has made a binding commitment, pursuant
        to an international agreement to which the United States is a
        party, to undertake actions to produce measurable, reportable,
        and verifiable greenhouse gas emissions mitigations; or
            (B) the Board determines and certifies to the appropriate
        congressional committees that the country has in force binding
        national policies and measures capable of producing measurable,
        reportable, and verifiable greenhouse gas emissions
        mitigations.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report outlining the criteria to be used to
determine whether a country is eligible for assistance under this Act
pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(B).

SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Board shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on assistance
provided under this Act.
    (b) Content.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall
include a description of assistance provided during the reporting
period, including--
            (1) the aggregate amount of assistance provided for
        capacity building initiatives and technology deployment
        initiatives; and
            (2) a description of each initiative funded through such
        assistance, including the amount of assistance provided, the
        terms and conditions of such assistance, and the anticipated
        reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved as a
        result of technology deployment initiatives.
    (c) Performance Evaluations of Supported Multilateral Trust
Funds.--The reports submitted under subsection (a) shall provide for
the independent evaluation, not less frequently than once every three
years, of the performance of each international clean technology fund
provided assistance pursuant to section 5(b)(1)(B)(i).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated a total of $2,000,000,000
for fiscal years 2009 through 2011 to carry out this Act.

SEC. 9. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
        Finance, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the
        Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on
        Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Ways
        and Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee
        on Natural Resources, the Committee on Financial Services, and
        the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
        Representatives.

SEC. 10. CONSTRUCTION; AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or affect
authorities of the Secretary of State under--
            (1) title V of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
        Fiscal Year 1979 (Public Law 95-426; 22 U.S.C. 2656a et seq.);
        or
            (2) section 622(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
        (22 U.S.C. 2382(c)).

Summary: International Clean Development Technology Fund Act of 2008 - Establishes in the Treasury the International Clean Development Technology Fund to provide assistance to qualified entities for: (1) capacity building programs such as greenhouse gas emissions measuring and related technology and policy assessments, and (2) greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in eligible countries.

A bill to promote the international deployment of clean technology, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Forest Good Neighbor Act of
2017''.

SEC. 2. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is
amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 19 (16 U.S.C. 2113) as section
        18; and
            (2) by inserting after section 18 (as so redesignated) the
        following:

``SEC. 19. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Authorized restoration services.--The term
        `authorized restoration services' means similar and
        complementary forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration
        services carried out--
                    ``(A) on National Forest System land, except--
                            ``(i) a component of the National
                        Wilderness Preservation System;
                            ``(ii) Federal land on which the removal of
                        vegetation is prohibited or restricted by a law
                        of Congress or a Presidential proclamation
                        (including the applicable implementation plan);
                        or
                            ``(iii) a wilderness study area; and
                    ``(B) by the Secretary or a Governor pursuant to a
                good neighbor agreement.
            ``(2) Forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration
        services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `forest, rangeland, and
                watershed restoration services' means--
                            ``(i) an activity to treat insect- or
                        disease-infected trees;
                            ``(ii) an activity to reduce hazardous
                        fuels; and
                            ``(iii) any other activity to restore or
                        improve forest, rangeland, and watershed
                        health, including fish and wildlife habitat.
                    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `forest, rangeland, and
                watershed restoration services' does not include--
                            ``(i) the construction, reconstruction,
                        repair, or restoration of a paved or permanent
                        road or parking area; or
                            ``(ii) the construction, alteration,
                        repair, or replacement of a public building or
                        work.
            ``(3) Good neighbor agreement.--The term `good neighbor
        agreement' means a cooperative agreement or contract (including
        a sole source contract) entered into between the Secretary and
        a Governor to carry out authorized restoration services under
        this section.
            ``(4) Governor.--The term `Governor' means the Governor or
        any other appropriate executive official of a State.
            ``(5) Road.--The term `road' has the meaning given the term
        in section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as
        in effect on the date of enactment of the National Forest Good
        Neighbor Act of 2017).
            ``(6) State.--The term `State' means--
                    ``(A) a State; and
                    ``(B) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    ``(b) Good Neighbor Agreements.--
            ``(1) Authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a
                good neighbor agreement with a Governor to carry out
                authorized restoration services in accordance with this
                section.
                    ``(B) Public availability.--The Secretary shall
                make each good neighbor agreement available to the
                public.
            ``(2) Timber sales.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsections (d) and (g) of
                section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of
                1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a) shall not apply to authorized
                restoration services.
                    ``(B) Approval of silviculture prescriptions and
                marking guides.--The Secretary shall provide or approve
                all silviculture prescriptions and marking guides to be
                applied on National Forest System land described in
                subsection (a)(1)(A) in any timber sale project
                conducted under this section.
            ``(3) Retention of responsibilities.--Any decision required
        to be made by the Secretary under the National Environmental
        Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to any
        authorized restoration services shall not be delegated to a
        Governor.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 2A(c)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
        Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101a(c)(1)) is amended by striking
        ``section 19(b)'' and inserting ``section 18(b)''.
            (2) Section 7(e) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
        of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c(e)) is amended in the first sentence
        by striking ``section 19(b)'' and inserting ``section 18(b)''.
            (3) Section 13A(b) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
        Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a(b)) is amended by striking
        ``section 19(a)'' and inserting ``section 18(a)''.

Summary: National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017 This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into good neighbor agreements with states to carry out specified similar and complementary forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services on certain National Forest System (NFS) lands. The bill makes requirements under the National Forest Management Act of 1976 regarding the advertisement of timber sales on NFS lands and the designation and supervision of the harvesting of trees, portions of trees, or forest products on NFS lands inapplicable to the restoration services authorized by this bill. USDA shall provide or approve all silviculture prescriptions and marking guides to be applied on NSF land in any timber sales project conducted pursuant to this bill. Any decision required to be made by USDA under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 concerning any such services shall not be delegated to any state.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bond Transparency Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. MARKUP DISCLOSURE IN RISKLESS PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS IN
              MUNICIPAL SECURITIES.

    Section 15B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-
4) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Markup Disclosure in Riskless Principal Transactions.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `riskless
        principal transaction' means--
                    ``(A) a transaction in which a broker, dealer, or
                municipal securities dealer receives a customer order
                to buy or sell any municipal securities and, after
                receiving the customer order, buys the municipal
                securities from, or sells the municipal securities to,
                another person, while acting as principal for its own
                account, to complete the customer order; and
                    ``(B) any other transaction the Commission
                identifies by rule as a riskless principal transaction.
            ``(2) Disclosure required.--A broker, dealer, or municipal
        securities dealer that effects a riskless principal transaction
        shall disclose to the customer, in writing, at or before the
        time of completion of the transaction, the amount of the
        difference between--
                    ``(A) the customer's purchase price and the
                broker's, dealer's or municipal securities dealer's
                purchase price; or
                    ``(B) the customer's sale price and the broker's,
                dealer's, or municipal securities dealer's sale
                price.''.

SEC. 3. MARKUP DISCLOSURE IN RISKLESS PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS IN
              CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES.

    Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(p) Markup Disclosure in Riskless Principal Transactions in
Corporate Debt Securities.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `specified debt security'--
                            ``(i) means any security that--
                                    ``(I) evidences a liability of the
                                issuer (including any such security
                                that is convertible into stock or
                                similar security), including bonds,
                                debentures, notes, or any similar
                                instruments, and any fractional or
                                participation interests in any of the
                                foregoing; and
                                    ``(II) constitutes--
                                            ``(aa) United States
                                        dollar-denominated securities
                                        issued by the United States or
                                        a foreign private issuer; or
                                            ``(bb) any other security
                                        the Commission identifies by
                                        rule as a specified debt
                                        security for the purposes of
                                        this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) does not include a municipal
                        security, as defined in section 3(a)(29) of
                        this Act; and
                    ``(B) the term `riskless principal transaction'
                means--
                            ``(i) a transaction in which a broker or
                        dealer receives a customer order to buy or sell
                        any specified debt securities and, after
                        receiving the customer order, buys the
                        specified debt securities from, or sells the
                        specified debt securities to, another person,
                        while acting as principal for its own account,
                        to complete the customer order; and
                            ``(ii) any other transaction the Commission
                        identifies by rule as a riskless principal
                        transaction.
            ``(2) Disclosure required.--A broker or dealer that effects
        a riskless principal transaction shall disclose to the
        customer, in writing, at or before the time of completion of
        the transaction, the amount of the difference between--
                    ``(A) the customer's purchase price and the
                broker's or dealer's purchase price; or
                    ``(B) the customer's sale price and the broker's or
                dealer's sale price.''.

Summary: Bond Transparency Act of 2014 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to define a quot, riskless principal transactionquot. As any transaction the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) identifies as one, but primarily one in which a broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer acts on a customer order to buy or sell either municipal securities or corporate debt securities while also acting as principal for its own account in order to complete the transaction. Requires a broker or dealer, at or before completion of the transaction, to make a markup disclosure in writing to the customer of the difference between either: (1) the customer's purchase price and the broker or dealer's purchase price. Or (2) the customer's sale price and the broker or dealer's sale price. Subjects riskless principal transactions in corporate debt securities to the same markup disclosure requirements as those for riskless principal transactions in municipal securities.

Bond Transparency Act of 2014


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Monuments Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) public land in the United States is managed and
        administered for the use and enjoyment of present and future
        generations;
            (2) the National Park System (including National Parks,
        National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas) is managed
        for the benefit and inspiration of all the people of the United
        States;
            (3) the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered for
        the benefit of present and future generations of people in the
        United States, with priority consideration for compatible
        wildlife-dependent general public uses of the National Wildlife
        Refuge System;
            (4) the National Forest System is dedicated to the long-
        term benefit of present and future generations;
            (5) the reopening and temporary operation and management of
        public land, the National Park System, the National Wildlife
        Refuge System, and the National Forest System using funds from
        States and political subdivisions of States during periods in
        which the Federal Government is unable to operate and manage
        the areas at normal levels due to a lapse in appropriations is
        consistent with the values and purposes for which those areas
        were established;
            (6) any restriction of public access to national monuments,
        the National Park System, or the National Wildlife Refuge
        System during a lapse in appropriations, when such restriction
        is not necessary to comply with budgetary constraints and when
        an agency has not taken steps to mitigate restrictions on
        public access, shall be considered a direct violation of the
        purpose for which these lands and monuments were established
        and entrusted to Federal agencies for management; and
            (7) Federal agencies that serve as the management agency of
        national monuments, the National Park System, or the National
        Wildlife Refuge System have been entrusted with such properties
        to maintain and prioritize public access, including during a
        lapse in appropriations.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Covered unit.--The term ``covered unit'' means--
                    (A) public lands;
                    (B) units of the National Park System;
                    (C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
                    (D) federally owned open air monuments and
                memorials;
                    (E) units of the National Forest System; and
                    (F) federally owned roads and off ramps on land
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
            (2) Public land.--The term ``public lands'' has the meaning
        given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and
        Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--
                    (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to
                land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the
                Interior; or
                    (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to
                land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
                Agriculture.
            (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means
        the several States, the District of Columbia, federally
        recognized Indian tribes, and territories and possessions of
        the United States, and political subdivisions of thereof.

SEC. 4. AGREEMENT TO OPERATE AND MANAGE COVERED UNIT DURING GOVERNMENT
              SHUTDOWN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after an eligible entity
offers to enter into an agreement under this section, the Secretary
shall enter into an agreement with that eligible entity under which the
eligible entity shall assume, in whole or in part, activities to resume
or continue operations and public access to any covered unit during any
period when those activities would not otherwise be carried out because
there is--
            (1) a lapse in available Federal funds for all or part of
        the covered unit as a result of a failure to enact a regular
        appropriations bill or continuing resolution; or
            (2) insufficient Federal funds to operate all or part of
        the covered unit as a result of a failure of the Federal
        Government to make sufficient funds available for this purpose.
    (b) Conditions.--Agreements entered into under this section--
            (1) shall only apply to a covered unit within the
        boundaries of the eligible entity that is a party to the
        agreement;
            (2) may apply to all or part of a covered unit;
            (3) shall be for a term of not more than 5 years, unless
        the 5-year term would expire during a period when the agreement
        is being actively implemented, in which case the agreement
        shall expire at the conclusion of the lapse of funding (and
        related reimbursement) which precipitated the implementation;
        and
            (4) shall be in effect only during any period in which the
        Secretary is unable to operate and manage covered units at
        normal levels, as determined in accordance with the terms of
        agreement entered into under subsection (a).
    (c) Copies of Agreements.--A copy of each agreement entered into
under this section shall be--
            (1) kept by the Secretary, the eligible entity, and any
        other appropriate agency; and
            (2) available for inspection by Congress.
    (d) Reimbursement.--To the extent that funds are made available,
through Acts of appropriation or otherwise, for activities carried out
by an eligible entity under an agreement entered into under this
section, the Secretary shall reimburse the eligible entity for costs
expended by the eligible entity to carry out those activities.

SEC. 5. EXCEPTION.

    Notwithstanding section 4, the Secretary may restrict access to any
covered unit for reasons of national security.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    For any instance in which the Secretary does not enter into an
agreement after an offer under section 4, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report
stating--
            (1) that an offer was made;
            (2) what eligible entity made the offer;
            (3) what the offer entailed; and
            (4) why the Secretary did not enter into an agreement
        pursuant to that offer.

Summary: Monuments Protection Act Directs the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to enter into an agreement with a state, the District of Columbia, a federally recognized Indian tribe, a US territory or possession, or a political subdivision of such an entity that offers to assume activities to resume or continue operations and public access to any covered unit during any period when those activities would not otherwise be carried out because: (1) there is a lapse in available federal funds as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution, or (2) there are insufficient federal funds to operate such unit as a result of a failure of the federal government to make sufficient funds available. Defines a quot, covered unitquot. To mean: public lands, units of the National Park System, units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, federally owned open air monuments and memorials, units of the National Forest System, and federally owned roads and off ramps on all such lands. Requires Interior and USDA to reimburse such an entity once funds are made available for activities carried out by such entity.

Monuments Protection Act


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Transit in Parks Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSIT IN PARKS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 5315 the following:
``Sec.  5316. Transit in parks
    ``(a) Establishment of Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
        enactment of the Transit in Parks Act, the Secretary of the
        Interior and the Secretary of Transportation shall enter into a
        memorandum of understanding to establish a transit in parks
        program in accordance with the provisions of this section.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to
        encourage and promote the development of transportation systems
        described in section 5301(a) within units of the National Park
        System to improve visitor mobility and enjoyment, reduce
        pollution and congestion, and enhance resource protection
        through the use of transit.
    ``(b) Administration of Program.--The program shall be administered
by the Secretary of the Interior, in conjunction with the Secretary of
Transportation.
    ``(c) Contents of Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
        program shall provide for the following:
                    ``(A) Development of transportation plans and
                programs for units of the National Park System by the
                Secretary of the Interior instead of a metropolitan
                planning organization in accordance with sections
                5303(a) and 5303(b).
                    ``(B) Development of a long-range transportation
                plan for such units by the Secretary of the Interior
                instead of a metropolitan planning organization in
                accordance with section 5303(f).
                    ``(C) The making of contracts and grants by the
                Secretary of Transportation to the Secretary of the
                Interior for planning, engineering, design, and
                evaluation of mass transportation projects in such
                units, and for technical studies, in accordance with
                section 5303(g).
                    ``(D) Development and updating of a transportation
                improvement program for such units, and the selection
                and carrying out of projects in such units, by the
                Secretary of the Interior instead of a metropolitan
                planning organization in accordance with section 5304;
                except that any transportation improvement program
                developed under section 204(a) of title 23 for such
                unit shall be treated as meeting the requirement of
                this subparagraph until the Secretary of the Interior
                provides otherwise and the approval required by section
                5304(a) shall only be the approval of the Secretary of
                the Interior.
                    ``(E) The making of grants by the Secretary of
                Transportation to the Secretary of the Interior for
                capital projects by financing the planning and
                improvement costs of equipment, facilities, and
                associated capital maintenance in mass transportation
                for such units in accordance with subsections (a), (b),
                (c), and (d) of section 5307; except that the Secretary
                of the Interior shall serve as the designated recipient
                for the purposes of subsection (a)(2) of such section.
                    ``(F) The making of grants by the Secretary of
                Transportation to the Secretary of the Interior for
                capital investment as described in subsection (a) of
                section 5309 in accordance with subsections (a), (d),
                and (e) of such section, (other than subsections
                (e)(1)(C) and (e)(4), relating to local financial
                commitment).
                    ``(G) Projects for bicycle access in accordance
                with the first sentence of section 5319.
                    ``(H) The making of contracts and grants by the
                Secretary of Transportation to the Secretary of the
                Interior for crime prevention and security in
                accordance with section 5321.
                    ``(I) The making of contracts and grants by the
                Secretary of Transportation to the Secretary of the
                Interior for human resources programs in accordance
                with section 5322.
                    ``(J) Grants under the program may be used to pay
                the operating cost of equipment and facilities used in
                mass transportation for such units.
                    ``(K) Projects for which grants may be made under
                the program may include turnkey system projects under
                section 5326.
                    ``(L) Labor protection in accordance with section
                5333.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--The memorandum of understanding entered
        into under subsection (a) shall limit or modify the
        applicability of the provisions referred to in paragraph (1) to
        the program to the extent necessary to carry out the objectives
        of this section and to be compatible with the laws and
        regulations governing units of the National Park System.
    ``(b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of any project
or activity carried out under this section shall be 100 percent.
    ``(c) Mass Transportation Defined.--In this section and for
purposes of the program carried out under this section, the term `mass
transportation' means transportation by a conveyance that provides
regular and continuing general or special transportation to the public,
but does not include school bus or charter transportation.
    ``(d) Limitation on Applicability.--Except as otherwise provided in
this section, the other provisions of this chapter (other than sections
5302 and 5338) shall not apply to this section and the program carried
out under this section.
    ``(e) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
as superseding, amending, modifying or repealing any provision of law
applicable to units of the National Park System.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The analysis for such chapter is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5315 the
following:

``5316. Transit in parks.''.

SEC. 3. FUNDING.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5338 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Transit in Parks.--There shall be available from the Mass
Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund $90,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2004 through 2010 to carry out section 5316.''.
    (b) Contract Authority.--Section 5338(g)(1) of such title is
amended by striking ``or (f)(2)(A)'' and inserting ``(f)(2)(A), or
(j)''.
    (c) Period of Availability.--Section 5338(i) of such title is
amended--
            (1) by striking the 1st comma; and
            (2) by striking the 2nd comma and inserting ``and
        subsection (j)''.

Summary: Transit in Parks Act - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Transportation to establish and administer a transit in parks program to encourage and promote the development of mass transportation systems in the National Park System for improving visitor mobility and enjoyment, reducing pollution and congestion, and protecting park resources. Sets forth requirements for such program, including the development of transportation plans for units of the National Park System and the making of grants and contracts for the planning, engineering, design, and evaluation of mass transportation projects in such units and for capital projects and investment.

To amend title 49, United States Code, relating to improving transportation in the national parks.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

     This Act may be cited as the ``Distributed Power Hybrid Energy
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

     The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Renewable energy resources have the potential to help
        diversify our Nation's energy portfolio with few adverse
        environmental effects. By their very nature, renewable
        resources are distributed. Our ability to cost effectively take
        advantage of our renewable, indigenous resources can be greatly
        advanced through systems that minimize the intermittency of
        these resources through distributed power hybrid systems.
            (2) Distributed power sources configured as distributed
        power hybrid systems can maximize benefits to the energy
        consumer. The primary benefits of distributed power hybrid
        systems are that they can--
                    (A) shelter consumers from temporary energy price
                volatility created by supply and demand mismatches;
                    (B) increase the reliability of energy supply,
                thereby avoiding significant costs associated with
                power outages;
                    (C) provide a cost-effective means to minimize the
                impact of intermittent resources, thereby expanding the
                Nation's energy supply reserve;
                    (D) decrease environmental impacts of energy
                supply; and
                    (E) be tailored to address significant local
                differences in power and economic development needs and
                resource availability that exist throughout the United
                States.
            (3) Realizing these benefits will require a concerted and
        integrated effort that focuses on removing market barriers to
        the adoption of distributed power hybrid systems by--
                    (A) providing tools that enable States and regions
                to assess their indigenous renewable energy resources;
                    (B) developing the technological foundation that
                enables designing, testing, certifying, and operating
                distributed power hybrid systems; and
                    (C) providing the policy framework that reduces
                such barriers, including making net metering available
                on a broader scale to enable consumers to reap the full
                value of these systems, thereby lowering their overall
                energy bill.
            (4) While many of the individual distributed power hybrid
        systems components are either available or under development in
        existing private and public sector programs, the capabilities
        to integrate these components into workable distributed power
        hybrid systems that maximize benefits to consumers in a safe
        manner are deficient and not coherently being addressed.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

     For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``distributed power hybrid system'' means a
        system using 2 or more distributed power sources, operated
        together with associated supporting equipment, including
        storage equipment, and software necessary to provide electric
        power to the grid or on site; and
            (2) the term ``distributed power source'' means an
        independent electric energy source of usually 10 megawatts or
        less located close to a residential, commercial, or industrial
        load center, including--
                    (A) reciprocating engines;
                    (B) turbines;
                    (C) microturbines;
                    (D) fuel cells;
                    (E) solar electric systems;
                    (F) wind energy systems;
                    (G) biomass power systems;
                    (H) geothermal power systems; or
                    (I) electrical components of cogeneration systems.

SEC. 4. STRATEGY.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall develop and
transmit to the Congress a distributed power hybrid systems strategy
showing--
            (1) opportunities and priorities that might best be met
        with distributed power hybrid systems configurations;
            (2) what barriers exist to the use of distributed power
        hybrid systems;
            (3) what technology gaps need to be closed; and
            (4) what system integration tools are needed to plan,
        design, build, and operate distributed power hybrid systems for
        maximum benefits.
    (b) Elements.--The strategy may provide for development of--
            (1) system integration tools for planning, designing,
        building, and operating economical, safe, and clean distributed
        power hybrid systems, including databases, computer models,
        software, and sensors, controls, and other integrating
        hardware;
            (2) tests of distributed power hybrid systems, including
        field tests with industry and cost-shared demonstrations of
        distributed power hybrid systems power parks and microgrids, to
        validate integrated performance and to give consumers,
        policymakers, and industry the confidence that distributed
        power hybrid systems work reliably, safely, and cleanly;
            (3) special design tools that can characterize the benefits
        and values of distributed power hybrid systems for consumers
        and enable virtual prototyping of distributed power hybrid
        systems to reduce testing needs and the time required to get
        the systems into the marketplace;
            (4) data to characterize grid operations, including
        interconnection requirements; and
            (5) precise resource assessment tools to map local
        resources for distributed power hybrid systems.
    (c) Implementation and Integration.--The Secretary of Energy shall
implement the strategy transmitted under subsection (a), and activities
pursuant to the strategy shall be integrated with other activities of
the Department's Office of Distributed Energy Resources.

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

     Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to the
Congress a report on the use of, and experience with, distributed power
hybrid systems in the United States, and the research and development
issues remaining to ensure the successful application of distributed
power hybrid systems.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

     There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy
for carrying out this Act--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

Summary: Distributed Power Hybrid Energy Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) develop and transmit to Congress a distributed power hybrid systems strategy. And (2) implement and integrate such strategy with other activities of the Department of Energy Office of Distributed Energy Resources.

To direct the Secretary of Energy to develop and implement a strategy for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of distributed power hybrid energy systems, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``CJ's Home Protection Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) nearly 20,000,000 Americans live in manufactured homes,
        which often provide a more accessible and affordable way for
        many families to buy their own homes;
            (2) manufactured housing plays a vital role in providing
        housing for low- and moderate-income families in the United
        States;
            (3) NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of
        radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information
        directly from a nearby National Weather Service (NWS) office,
        and broadcasts NWS warnings, watches, forecasts, and other all-
        hazard information 24 hours a day;
            (4) the operators of manufactured housing communities
        should be encouraged to provide a safe place of shelter for
        community residents or a plan for the evacuation of community
        residents to a safe place of shelter within a reasonable
        distance of the community for use by community residents in
        times of severe weather, including tornados and high winds, and
        local municipalities should be encouraged to require approval
        of these plans;
            (5) the operators of manufactured housing communities
        should be encouraged to provide a written reminder semiannually
        to all owners of manufactured homes in the manufactured housing
        community to replace the batteries in their weather radios; and
            (6) weather radio manufacturers should include, in the
        packaging of weather radios, a written reminder to replace the
        batteries twice each year and written instructions on how to do
        so.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL MANUFACTURED HOME INSTALLATION STANDARDS.

    Section 605 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and
Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5404) is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Weather Radios.--
            ``(1) Provision of installation instructions.--A
        manufacturer shall provide with each manufactured home (other
        than a manufactured home affixed to a permanent foundation),
        instructions for the installation of a weather radio required
        under this section.
            ``(2) Model installation standards.--The Federal
        manufactured home installation standards established by the
        Secretary under this section shall require that each
        manufactured home (other than a manufactured home affixed to a
        permanent foundation) shall be installed with a weather radio
        inside the manufactured home that--
                    ``(A) is capable of broadcasting emergency
                information relating to local weather conditions;
                    ``(B) is equipped with a tone alarm;
                    ``(C) is equipped with Specific Alert Message
                Encoding, or SAME technology; and
                    ``(D) complies with Consumer Electronics
                Association (CEA) Standard 2009-A (or current revision
                thereof) Performance Specification for Public Alert
                Receivers.
            ``(3) Responsibility of manufactured home installers.--It
        shall be the duty of manufactured home installers to ensure
        that manufactured homes (other than manufactured homes affixed
        to a permanent foundation) are supplied and installed with a
        weather radio required under this subsection.
            ``(4) Definition of affixed to a permanent foundation.--For
        purposes of this subsection, the term `affixed to a permanent
        foundation' has the meaning given that term in the Department
        of Housing and Urban Development's publication entitled
        `Permanent Foundations Guide For Manufactured Housing' dated
        September 1996.
            ``(5) Liability protections.--
                    ``(A) Immunity for manufacturers.--Manufacturers of
                manufactured homes shall be immune from common law
                civil liability for any aspect of the installation,
                furnishing, function, operation, performance,
                capabilities, or utilization of the weather radio
                mandated by the Federal manufactured home installation
                standards promulgated in accordance with this
                subsection, including any instructions related thereto.
                    ``(B) Immunity for installers.--Manufactured home
                installers shall be immune from common law civil
                liability for any aspect of the installation,
                furnishing, function, operation, performance,
                capabilities, or utilization of the weather radio
                mandated by the Federal manufactured home installation
                standards promulgated in accordance with this
                subsection, including any instructions related thereto.
                    ``(C) Immunity for retailers.--Retailers of
                manufactured homes shall be immune from common law
                civil liability for any aspect of the installation,
                furnishing, function, operation, performance,
                capabilities, or utilization of the weather radio
                mandated by the Federal manufactured home installation
                standards promulgated in accordance with this
                subsection, including any instructions related thereto.
                    ``(D) Immunity for operators of housing
                communities.--Any reminder, assistance, or instructions
                provided by the operator of a manufactured housing
                community concerning the function of a weather radio
                contained in a manufactured home shall not subject the
                operator, an owner or employee of the manufactured home
                community, or the manufacturer of the manufactured home
                to liability for the functionality of that weather
                radio.
            ``(6) Exemption for modular homes.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The installation standards
                required to be established under paragraph (2) shall
                not apply to modular homes.
                    ``(B) Definition of modular home.--For purposes of
                this paragraph, the term `modular home' has the meaning
                given such term in the law of the State in which the
                modular home is located.''.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT.

    Not later than the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the consensus committee established
pursuant to section 604(a)(3) of the National Manufactured Housing
Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(a)(3))
shall develop and submit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development a proposed Federal manufactured home installation standards
required under section 605(d) of such Act (as added by the amendment
made by section 3 of this Act). Notwithstanding section 604(a)(5)(B) of
such Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue a
final order promulgating the standard required by such section 605(i)
not later than the expiration of the 90-day period beginning upon
receipt by the Secretary of the proposed standard developed and
submitted by the consensus committee.

SEC. 5. STUDY.

    The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a
study regarding conditioning the applicability of the requirement under
the amendment made by section 3 of this Act (relating to the
installation of weather radios in manufactured homes) on the geographic
location at which a manufactured home is placed, but only to the extent
that such requirement applies to new manufactured homes and new site-
built homes. In conducting such study and making determinations under
to the study, the Secretary shall take into consideration severe
weather conditions, such as high winds and flooding, and wind zones and
other severe weather data available from the National Weather Service.
Not later than the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the
study and submit a report regarding the results of the study to the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and to
the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

Summary: CJ's Home Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to revise federal standards for manufactured homes to require each such home to be installed with a weather radio: (1) capable of broadcasting emergency information relating to local weather conditions. (2) equipped with a tone alarm and Specific Alert Message Encoding, or SAME technology. And (3) compliant with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Standard 2009-A Performance Specification for Public Alert Receivers . Shields from common law civil liability: (1) manufacturers, installers, or retailers of manufactured homes for any aspect of the installation, furnishing, function, operation, performance, capabilities, or utilization of such a weather radio. And (2) the operator, owner, or employee of a manufactured home community, or the home manufacturer, with respect to the functionality of such a radio owing to any reminder, assistance, or instructions the community operator provides. Exempts modular homes from such installation standards. Requires the consensus committee established under such Act to develop and submit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development a proposed standard for installed weather radios. Requires the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on conditioning the applicability of the weather radio installation requirement on the geographic location at which a manufactured home is placed.

A bill to amend the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to require that weather radios be installed in all manufactured homes manufactured or sold in the United States.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Unfunded Mandates Information and
Transparency Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) before acting on proposed Federal mandates, Congress
        should carefully consider their effects on consumers, workers,
        and small businesses;
            (2) Congress has often acted without adequate information
        concerning the costs of Federal mandates, instead focusing only
        on their benefits;
            (3) the implementation of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
        of 1995 has resulted in increased awareness of
        intergovernmental mandates without impacting existing
        environmental, public health, or safety laws or regulations;
            (4) the implementation of this Act will enhance public
        awareness of prospective Federal mandates on the private
        sector, State, local, and tribal governments without adversely
        affecting the environment, public health, or safety laws or
        regulations;
            (5) the costs of private sector mandates are often borne in
        part by consumers, in the form of higher prices and reduced
        availability of goods and services;
            (6) the costs of private sector mandates are often borne in
        part by workers, in the form of lower wages, reduced benefits,
        and fewer job opportunities; and
            (7) the costs of private sector mandates are often borne in
        part by small businesses, in the form of hiring disincentives
        and stunted economic growth.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is--
            (1) to improve the quality of Congress' deliberation with
        respect to proposed mandates on the private sector, by--
                    (A) providing Congress and the public with more
                complete information about the effects of such
                mandates; and
                    (B) ensuring that Congress acts on such mandates
                only after focused deliberation on their effects; and
            (2) to enhance the ability of Congress and the public to
        distinguish between Federal mandates that harm consumers,
        workers, small businesses, State, local, and tribal governments
        and mandates that help those groups.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO POLICIES INVOLVING
              CHANGES IN CONDITIONS OF GRANT AID.

    Section 423(c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended
by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2), by striking the period
and inserting ``; and'' at the end of paragraph (3), and by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) an assessment of the authorized level of funding to
        determine if the prospective costs of carrying out changes to a
        condition of Federal assistance being imposed on participating
        State, local, or tribal governments, and how these costs
        compare with the funds being authorized or, for
        reauthorizations, of the additional costs of changes in those
        conditions and how they compare with the changes in funding
        being authorized; and in cases where a bill or joint resolution
        provides such sums as are necessary, the assessment shall
        contain an estimate of that amount.''.

SEC. 5. EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF LEGISLATIVE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO
              INCLUDE INDIRECT COSTS.

    (a) Indirect Costs.--Section 423(c) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 (as amended by section 4) is further amended--
            (1) in its side heading, by inserting ``and Other Costs''
        after ``Mandates'' ; and
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3), by
        striking the period and inserting ``; and'' at the end of
        paragraph (4), and by adding at the end the following new
        paragraph:
            ``(5) an identification and description of any reasonably
        foreseeable indirect costs to State, local, or tribal
        governments, or by the private sector, incurred as a result of
        implementing the Federal mandate in the bill or joint
        resolution.''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 421 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (13) as
paragraphs (11) through (14), respectively and by adding after
paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
            ``(10) Reasonably foreseeable indirect costs.--The term
        `reasonably foreseeable indirect costs' means costs to the
        affected entities resulting from implementation of a Federal
        mandate other than their own direct costs to carry out any such
        mandate. Such costs include lost income and secondary monetary
        costs resulting from the Federal mandate.''.

SEC. 6. EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF REGULATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO
              INCLUDE INDIRECT COSTS.

    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 is
amended by striking ``the expenditure by'' and inserting ``direct or
reasonably foreseeable indirect costs to''.

SEC. 7. APPLICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE REGULATIONS
              IMPOSED BY INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCIES.

    Paragraph (1) of section 421 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 is amended by striking ``, but does not include independent
regulatory agencies''.

SEC. 8. CLARIFICATION TO ENSURE REGULATORY AGENCY REPORTING
              REQUIREMENTS APPLIES TO ALL RESPECTIVE REGULATORY
              ACTIONS.

    Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 is amended
by inserting ``expressly'' after ``otherwise''.

SEC. 9. CLOSE LEGAL LOOPHOLE ALLOWING FOR DISREGARDING OF REPORTING
              REQUIREMENTS BY REGULATORY AGENCIES.

    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 is
amended by--
            (1) striking ``Unless'' and all that follows through
        ``private sector,'' the first place it appears and inserting
        the following: ``Unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law,
        before promulgating any general notice of proposed rulemaking
        or final rule that includes a Federal mandate that may result
        in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect costs to State,
        local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the
        private sector,''; and
            (2) striking ``and before promulgating'' and all that
        follows through ``containing--'' and inserting the following:
        ``or within six months after promulgating any final rule that
        was not preceded by a general notice of proposed rulemaking
        that includes a Federal mandate that may result in direct or
        reasonably foreseeable indirect costs by State, local, and
        tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector,
        of such amount or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any
        one year; the agency shall prepare a written statement
        containing--''.

Summary: Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2008 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require reports on federal mandates to include: (1) an assessment of the prospective costs of carrying out changes to a condition of federal assistance being imposed on participating state, local, or tribal governments and how these costs compare with the funds being authorized. (2) for reauthorizations, an assessment of the additional costs of changes in those conditions compared with the changes in funding being authorized. (3) in cases where a bill or joint resolution provides necessary sums, an estimate of that amount. And (4) an identification and description of any reasonably foreseeable indirect costs to such governments or the private sector from implementing the federal mandate. Repeals a provision excluding independent regulatory agencies from reporting requirements. Makes requirements under this Act applicable to general notice of any final rule that includes such a mandate.

To amend the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 to ensure that actions taken by regulatory agencies are subject to that Act, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Emergency Responders
Volunteer Efforts Act of 2009'' or the ``SERVE Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR BONA FIDE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF VOLUNTEER
              EMERGENCY RESPONSE ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits)
is amended by inserting after section 36A the following new section:

``SEC. 36B. BONA FIDE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE
              ORGANIZATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--In the case of an individual who at any time
during the taxable year is a bona fide volunteer member of a qualified
volunteer emergency response organization, there shall be allowed as a
credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle the amount of $1,000.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Bona fide volunteer member of a qualified volunteer
        emergency response organization.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An individual shall be treated
                as a bona fide volunteer of a qualified volunteer
                emergency response organization for purposes of this
                section if--
                            ``(i) the only compensation received by
                        such individual for performing qualified
                        services is in the form of--
                                    ``(I) reimbursement for (or a
                                reasonable allowance for) reasonable
                                expenses incurred in the performance of
                                such services, or
                                    ``(II) reasonable benefits
                                (including length of service awards),
                                and nominal fees for such services,
                                customarily paid by eligible employers
                                in connection with the performance of
                                such services by volunteers, and
                            ``(ii) the aggregate amount of such
                        compensation for the taxable year for providing
                        qualified services does not exceed an amount
                        equal to the annual limitation.
                    ``(B) Annual limitation.--For purposes of
                subparagraph (A), the annual limitation is an amount
                equal to the product of--
                            ``(i) the minimum wage in effect under
                        section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act
                        of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) on the first day
                        of the calendar year beginning in the taxable
                        year, multiplied by
                            ``(ii) 2,080 hours.
                    ``(C) Service limitation.--An individual shall be
                treated as a bona fide volunteer described in
                subparagraph (A) for a taxable year only if such
                individual has served as a volunteer performing
                qualified services for more than 6 months in such
                taxable year and provided more than 40 hours of such
                service.
                    ``(D) Training and certification requirements.--An
                individual shall not be treated as a bona fide
                volunteer described in subparagraph (A) for any period
                for which the individual fails to meet all applicable
                training and certification requirements of the
                qualified volunteer emergency response organization for
                which such individual volunteers.
                    ``(E) Coordination with exclusion.--Amounts
                excluded from gross income under section 139B shall not
                be taken into account for purposes of subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Qualified services.--For purposes of this paragraph,
        the term `qualified services' means fire fighting and
        prevention services, emergency medical services, and ambulance
        services.
            ``(3) Qualified volunteer emergency response
        organization.--The term `qualified volunteer emergency response
        organization' has the meaning given such term by section
        139B(c)(3).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United
        States Code, is amended by inserting ``36B,'' after ``section
        36A,''.
            (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of
        subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
        is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36A
        the following new item:

``Sec. 36B. Bona fide volunteer members of volunteer emergency response
                            organizations.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of
this Act.

Summary: Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts Act of 2009 or the SERVE Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $1,000 refundable tax credit for individuals who are bona fide volunteer members of a qualified volunteer emergency response organization who provide firefighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, and ambulance services.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a $1,000 refundable credit for individuals who are bona fide volunteer members of volunteer firefighting and emergency medical service organizations.