SECTION 1. CHILD OPPORTUNITY ZONE FAMILY CENTERS.

    Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

            ``Part L--Child Opportunity Zone Family Centers

``SEC. 10995A. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This part may be cited as the `Child Opportunity Zone Family
Center Act of 2001'.

``SEC. 10995B. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this part is to encourage eligible partnerships to
establish or expand child opportunity zone family centers in public
elementary schools and secondary schools in order to provide
comprehensive support services for children and their families, and to
improve the children's educational, health, mental health, and social
outcomes.

``SEC. 10995C. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Child opportunity zone family center.--The term
        `child opportunity zone family center' means a school-based or
        school-linked community service center that provides and links
        children and their families with comprehensive information,
        support, services, and activities to improve the education,
        health, mental health, safety, and economic well-being of the
        children and their families.
            ``(2) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible
        partnership' means a partnership--
                    ``(A) that contains--
                            ``(i) at least 1 public elementary school
                        or secondary school that--
                                    ``(I) receives assistance under
                                title I and for which a measure of
                                poverty determination is made under
                                section 1113(a)(5) with respect to a
                                minimum of 40 percent of the children
                                in the school; and
                                    ``(II) demonstrates parent
                                involvement and parent support for the
                                partnership's activities;
                            ``(ii) a local educational agency;
                            ``(iii) a public agency, other than a local
                        educational agency, such as a local or State
                        department of health, mental health, or social
                        services; and
                            ``(iv) a nonprofit community-based
                        organization, providing health, mental health,
                        or social services;
                            ``(v) a local child care resource and
                        referral agency; and
                            ``(vi) a local organization representing
                        parents; and
                    ``(B) that may contain--
                            ``(i) an institution of higher education;
                        and
                            ``(ii) other public or private nonprofit
                        entities with experience in providing services
                        to disadvantaged families.

``SEC. 10995D. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award, on a competitive basis,
grants to eligible partnerships to pay for the Federal share of the
cost of establishing and expanding child opportunity zone family
centers.
    ``(b) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants under this
section for periods of 5 years.

``SEC. 10995E. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.

    ``Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this part shall
use the grant funds--
            ``(1) in accordance with the needs assessment described in
        section 10995F(b)(1), to provide or link children and their
        families with information, support, activities, or services in
        core areas such as education, child care, before- and after-
        school care and enrichment programs, health services, mental
        health services, family support, nutrition, literacy services,
        parenting skills, and drop-out prevention;
            ``(2) to provide intensive, high-quality, research-based
        programs that--
                    ``(A) provide violence prevention education for
                families and developmentally appropriate instructional
                services to children (including children below the age
                of compulsory school attendance); and
                    ``(B) provide effective strategies for nurturing
                and supporting the emotional, social, and cognitive
                growth of children; and
            ``(3) to provide training, information, and support to
        families to enable the families to participate effectively in
        their children's education, and to help their children meet
        challenging standards, including assisting families to--
                    ``(A) understand the applicable accountability
                systems, including State and local content standards,
                performance standards, and assessments, their
                children's educational performance in comparison to the
                standards, and the steps the school is taking to
                address the children's needs and to help the children
                meet the standards; and
                    ``(B) communicate effectively with personnel
                responsible for providing educational services to the
                families' children, and to participate in the
                development and implementation of school-parent
                compacts, parent involvement policies, and school
                plans.

``SEC. 10995F. APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Each eligible partnership desiring a grant under
this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
    ``(b) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to subsection
(a) shall--
            ``(1) include a needs assessment, including a description
        of how the partnership will ensure that the activities to be
        assisted under this part will be tailored to meet the specific
        needs of the children and families to be served;
            ``(2) describe arrangements that have been formalized
        between the participating public elementary school or secondary
        school, and other partnership members;
            ``(3) describe how the partnership will effectively
        coordinate with the centers under section 1118 and utilize
        Federal, State, and local sources of funding that provide
        assistance to families and their children;
            ``(4) describe the partnership's plan to--
                    ``(A) develop and carry out the activities assisted
                under this part with extensive participation of
                parents, administrators, teachers, pupil services
                personnel, social and human service agencies, and
                community organizations and leaders; and
                    ``(B) coordinate the activities assisted under this
                part with the education reform efforts of the
                participating public elementary school or secondary
                school, and the participating local educational agency;
            ``(5) describe how the partnership will ensure that
        underserved populations such as families of students with
        limited English proficiency, or families of students with
        disabilities, are effectively involved, informed, and assisted;
            ``(6) describe how the partnership will collect and analyze
        data, and will utilize specific performance measures and
        indicators to--
                    ``(A) determine the impact of activities assisted
                under this part as described in section 10995I(a); and
                    ``(B) improve the activities assisted under this
                part; and
            ``(7) describe how the partnership will protect the privacy
        of families and their children participating in the activities
        assisted under this part.

``SEC. 10995G. FEDERAL SHARE.

    ``The Federal share of the cost of establishing and expanding child
opportunity zone family centers--
            ``(1) for the first year for which an eligible partnership
        receives assistance under this part shall not exceed 90
        percent;
            ``(2) for the second such year, shall not exceed 80
        percent;
            ``(3) for the third such year, shall not exceed 70 percent;
            ``(4) for the fourth such year, shall not exceed 60
        percent; and
            ``(5) for the fifth such year, shall not exceed 50 percent.

``SEC. 10995H. FUNDING.

    ``(a) Continuation of Funding.--Each eligible partnership that
receives a grant under this part shall, after the third year for which
the partnership receives funds through the grant, be eligible to
continue to receive the funds if the Secretary determines that the
partnership has made significant progress in meeting the performance
measures used for the partnership's local evaluation under section
10995I(a).
    ``(b) Limitation on Use of Funds To Offset Other Programs.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds received
under a grant under this part may be used to pay for expenses related
to any other Federal program, including treating such funds as an
offset against such a Federal program.

``SEC. 10995I. EVALUATIONS AND REPORTS.

    ``(a) Local Evaluations.--Each partnership receiving funds under
this part shall conduct annual evaluations and submit to the Secretary
reports containing the results of the evaluations. The reports shall
include the results of the partnership's performance assessment
effectiveness in reaching and meeting the needs of families and
children served under this part, including performance measures
demonstrating--
            ``(1) improvements in areas such as student achievement,
        family participation in schools, and access to health care,
        mental health care, child care, and family support services,
        resulting from activities assisted under this part; and
            ``(2) reductions in such areas as violence among youth,
        truancy, suspension, and dropout rates, resulting from
        activities assisted under this part.
    ``(b) National Evaluations.--The Secretary shall reserve not more
than 3 percent of the amount appropriated under this part to carry out
a national evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities assisted
under this part. Such evaluation shall be completed not later than 3
years after the date of enactment of the Child Opportunity Zone Family
Center Act of 2001, and every year thereafter and shall be submitted to
Congress.
    ``(c) Exemplary Activities.--The Secretary shall broadly
disseminate information on exemplary activities developed under this
part.

``SEC. 10995J. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary
for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2005.''.

Summary: Child Opportunity Zone Family Center Act of 2001 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide for Child Opportunity Zone Family Centers . Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible partnerships for the Federal share of costs of establishing and expanding such centers.

A bill to establish and expand child opportunity zone family centers in public elementary schools and secondary schools, and for there purposes.


SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE DIPLOMATIC
              OFFENSIVE TO HELP BROKER NATIONAL RECONCILIATION EFFORTS
              IN IRAQ.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
            (1) The men and women of the United States Armed Forces
        have performed with honor and distinction in executing
        Operation Iraqi Freedom and deserve the gratitude of the
        American people.
            (2) General David H. Petraeus, Commander of the
        Multinational Force-Iraq, stated on March 8, 2007, ``There is
        no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq.''.
            (3) President George W. Bush reiterated on July 12, 2007,
        that the United States troop surge implemented in 2007 ``seeks
        to open space for Iraq's political leaders to advance the
        difficult process of national reconciliation, which is
        essential to lasting security and stability''.
            (4) Greater involvement and diplomatic engagement by Iraq's
        neighbors and key international actors can help facilitate the
        national political reconciliation so essential to sustainable
        success in Iraq.
            (5) The United States troop surge carried out in 2007 has
        not, as of yet, been matched by a comparable diplomatic surge
        designed to ensure that Iraqi national leaders carry through on
        the process of national reconciliation.
            (6) The final report of the Iraq Study Group, released in
        December 2006, declared, ``The United States must build a new
        international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region.
        In order to foster such consensus, the United States should
        embark on a robust diplomatic effort to establish an
        international support structure intended to stabilize Iraq and
        ease tensions in other countries in the region. This support
        structure should include every country that has an interest in
        averting a chaotic Iraq, including all of Iraq's neighbors.''.
            (7) On August 10, 2007, the United Nations Security Council
        voted unanimously to expand the mandate of its mission in Iraq
        to assist the national government with political
        reconciliation, bring together Iraq's neighbors to discuss
        border security and energy access, and facilitate much needed
        humanitarian assistance.
            (8) The United States Ambassador to Iraq, the Honorable
        Ryan C. Crocker, asserted on September 11, 2007, in testimony
        before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, ``With
        respect, again, to [Iraq's] neighbors and others, that is
        exactly our intent to have a more intensive, positive, more
        regulated engagement between Iraq and its neighbors. . . . The
        United Nations is now positioned to play a more active and
        involved role.''.
            (9) General Petraeus said on September 11, 2007, in
        response to a question on the need for greater civilian
        activity in Iraq, ``I agree with the chairman of the Joint
        Chiefs of Staff who has said repeatedly that certain elements
        of our government are at war, DoD, State, AID, but not all of
        the others. . . . We can use help in those areas. Some of the
        areas are quite thin, agriculture, health, and some others.''.
            (10) The United States troop surge carried out in 2007 has
        not, as of yet, been matched by a comparable civilian surge
        designed to help the Government of Iraq strengthen its
        capabilities in providing essential government services.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States Government should take the lead in
        organizing a comprehensive diplomatic offensive, consisting of
        bilateral, regional, and international initiatives, to assist
        the Government of Iraq in achieving national reconciliation and
        successfully meeting key security, political, and economic
        benchmarks;
            (2) it is in the interest of the United States and the
        people of Iraq that Iraq is not seen as a uniquely ``American''
        problem, but rather as of enduring importance to the security
        and prosperity of its neighbors, the entire Middle East region,
        and the broader international community;
            (3) the greater involvement in a constructive fashion of
        Iraq's neighbors, whether through a regional conference or
        another mechanism, can help stabilize Iraq and end the outside
        flows of weapons, explosive materials, foreign fighters, and
        funding that contribute to the current sectarian warfare in
        Iraq;
            (4) the President and the Secretary of State should invest
        their personal time and energy in these diplomatic efforts to
        ensure that they receive the highest priority within the United
        States Government and are viewed as a serious effort in the
        region and elsewhere;
            (5) the President, in order to demonstrate that a regional
        diplomacy strategy enjoys attention at the highest levels of
        the United States Government, should appoint a seasoned, high-
        level Presidential envoy to the Middle East region to
        supplement the efforts of Ambassador Crocker and focus on the
        establishment of a regional framework to help stabilize Iraq;
            (6) the United States Government should build upon
        tentative progress achieved by the International Compact for
        Iraq and the Iraq Neighbors Conference to serve as the basis
        for a more intensive and sustained effort to construct an
        effective regional mechanism;
            (7) the President should direct the United States Permanent
        Representative to the United Nations to use the voice and vote
        of the United States at the United Nations to seek the
        appointment of an international mediator in Iraq, under the
        auspices of the United Nations Security Council, to engage
        political, religious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in Iraq to
        foster national reconciliation efforts;
            (8) the United States Government should begin planning for
        a wide-ranging dialogue on the mandate governing international
        support for Iraq when the current United Nations mandate
        authorizing the United States-led coalition expires at the end
        of 2007;
            (9) the United States Government should more directly press
        Iraq's neighbors to open fully operating embassies in Baghdad
        and establish inclusive diplomatic relations with the
        Government of Iraq to help ensure the Government is viewed as
        legitimate throughout the region;
            (10) the United States Government should strongly urge the
        governments of those countries that have previously pledged
        debt forgiveness and economic assistance to the Government of
        Iraq to fully carry through on their commitments on an
        expedited basis;
            (11) a key objective of any diplomatic offensive should be
        to ameliorate the suffering and deprivation of Iraqi refugees,
        both those displaced internally and those who have fled to
        neighboring countries, through coordinated humanitarian
        assistance and the development of a regional framework to
        establish long-term solutions to the future of displaced Iraqi
        citizens;
            (12) the United States Government should reallocate
        diplomats and Department of State funds as required to ensure
        that any comprehensive diplomatic offensive to stabilize Iraq
        on an urgent basis has the needed resources to succeed; and
            (13) the United States Government should reallocate
        civilian expertise to help governmental entities in Iraq
        strengthen their ability to provide essential government
        services to the people of Iraq.

Summary: Expresses the sense of the Senate on the need for a comprehensive diplomatic offensive to help broker national reconciliation efforts in Iraq and lay the foundation for the eventual redeployment of US combat forces.

A bill to express the sense of the Senate on the need for a comprehensive diplomatic offensive to help broker national reconciliation efforts in Iraq and lay the foundation for the eventual redeployment of United States combat forces.


SECTION 1. LAND TRANSFER.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary of the
Army shall transfer the land described in subsection (b) to the
Secretary of the Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of the
Tribe, and subsection (c) to the State of North Dakota.
    (b) Standing Rock Land Transfer.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall transfer
        the covered property to the Secretary of the Interior to be
        held in trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
            (2) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following
        definitions apply:
                    (A) Covered property.--The term ``covered
                property'' means all the property--
                            (i) within the exterior boundaries of the
                        Reservation within the State of North Dakota;
                            (ii) acquired by the United States for the
                        Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project pursuant to
                        Public Law 85-915 (72 Stat. 1762);
                            (iii) located above the top of the
                        exclusive flood pool of the Oahe Dam and
                        Reservoir Project, as determined by the
                        Secretary of the Army; and
                            (iv) under the administrative control of
                        the Corps of Engineers.
                    (B) Reservation.--The term ``Reservation'' means
                the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
                    (C) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Standing
                Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota.
    (c) Transfer of Property to North Dakota.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall convey
        to the State of North Dakota all right, title, and interest of
        the United States in and to the covered property.
            (2) Definition of covered property.--In this subsection,
        the term ``covered property'' means all property--
                    (A) in Burleigh County, Emmons County, or Morton
                County in the State of North Dakota;
                    (B) acquired by the United States for the Oahe Dam
                and Reservoir Project pursuant to Public Law 85-915 (72
                Stat. 1762);
                    (C) located above the top of the exclusive flood
                pool of the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, as
                determined by the Secretary of the Army; and
                    (D) under the administrative control of the Corps
                of Engineers.
    (d) Conditions of Transfer.--
            (1) Authorized purposes.--The transfer of land under this
        section shall not interfere with any of the authorized purposes
        of the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, any project of the Pick-
        Sloan Missouri River Basin Program, or any applicable law.
            (2) Definition of pick-sloan missouri river basin
        program.--For purposes of this subsection, the term ``Pick-
        Sloan Missouri River Basin Program'' means the Pick-Sloan
        Missouri River Basin Program (authorized by section 9 of the
        Flood Control Act of 1944) (58 Stat. 891, chapter 665).
            (3) Damage to land.--The United States shall not be
        responsible for any damage to the transferred land caused by
        flooding, sloughing, erosion, or any other change to the
        transferred land as a result of the operation of the Oahe Dam
        and Reservoir Project or any project of the Pick-Sloan Missouri
        River Basin Programs.
            (4) Retained rights.--The Secretary of the Army shall
        retain the right to inundate with water or cause erosion to the
        transferred lands, as necessary for the operation of the Oahe
        Dam and Reservoir Project or any project of the Pick-Sloan
        Missouri River Basin Programs.
            (5) Retained property interests.--Notwithstanding
        subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary of the Army shall retain
        any land, structures, easements or other property interests
        necessary to carry out authorized purposes of the Oahe Dam and
        Reservoir Project or any project of the Pick-Sloan Missouri
        River Basin Programs.
            (6) Other terms and conditions.--The transfer of land under
        this section shall be subject to any other term or condition
        that the Secretary of the Army determines to be appropriate to
        ensure the continued operation of the Oahe Dam and Reservoir or
        of any project of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program.
            (7) Existing rights and interests.--Nothing in this Act
        deprives any person of any easement, leasehold, or other right
        of interest that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, the
        person may have in the land to be transferred.
    (e) Map.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Army shall prepare a
        map of the land transferred under this section.
            (2) Land.--The map shall identify--
                    (A) land reasonably expected to be required for
                project purposes during the 20-year period beginning on
                the date of enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) dams and related structure which will be
                retained by the Secretary of the Army.
            (3) Availability.--The map shall be on file in the
        appropriate offices of the Secretary.
    (f) Costs.--The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe shall be responsible for
the payment of all costs and administrative expenses associated with
the transfer authorized by subsection (b) and the State of North Dakota
shall be responsible for the payment of all costs and administrative
expenses associated with the transfer authorized by subsection (c),
including costs of survey compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and any coordination
necessary with respect to requirements related to endangered species,
cultural resources, and clean air.

Summary: This bill requires the US Army Corps of Engineers to transfer certain property within the exterior boundaries of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation within North Dakota that was acquired by the United States for the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota. The Corps of Engineers shall convey to North Dakota all right of the United States to certain property in Burleigh County, Emmons County, or Morton County in North Dakota that was acquired by the United States for such project and and that is located above the top of the exclusive flood pool of the project. The transfer of such land shall not interfere with any of the authorized purposes of such project, any project of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program, or any applicable law. The Corps of Engineers shall retain: (1) the right to inundate with water or cause erosion to the transferred lands as necessary for the operation of such projects. And (2) any land, structures, easements or other property interests necessary to carry out such projects. The Tribe and North Dakota shall be responsible for the payment of costs and administrative expenses associated with the transfers and for any coordination necessary with respect to requirements related to endangered species, cultural resources, and clean air.

A bill to transfer certain land from the Secretary of the Army, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Help Emergency Responders Operate
Act''.

SEC. 2. VOLUNTEER FIRE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Agriculture for carrying out section 10(b) (1) through (3) of the
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2106(b) (1)
through (3)), $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

SEC. 3. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR LOW-INTEREST LOANS FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE AND
              RESCUE SERVICES.

    Subtitle A of title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 616. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR LOW-INTEREST LOANS FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE
              AND RESCUE SERVICES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director may, using amounts in the account
established under subsection (i)(1), guarantee loans to volunteer fire
and rescue agencies for the purposes described in subsection (b) for
the entire principal and interest on the loan.
    ``(b) Use of Amounts.--The proceeds of a loan guaranteed under this
section to a volunteer fire and rescue agency may be used only--
            ``(1) to purchase equipment necessary for proper
        performance of the duties of the agency, including fire
        fighting apparatus and equipment, ambulances and rescue
        vehicles, protective equipment and clothing, and training
        equipment;
            ``(2) to repair, rehabilitate, or otherwise improve
        existing facilities of the agency;
            ``(3) to carry out public education programs regarding fire
        prevention, life safety, and arson;
            ``(4) for enforcement of fire codes;
            ``(5) for carrying out and improving training programs
        regarding arson investigation, hazardous materials, and anti-
        terrorism; or
            ``(6) to develop or enhance safety programs for
        firefighters and rescue personnel.
    ``(c) Loan Terms.--A loan guaranteed under this section shall--
            ``(1) be made for a term not to exceed 20 years;
            ``(2) involve a rate of interest established by the
        Director that does not exceed the rate that is 2 percentage
        points below the then prevailing interest rate for loans of a
        similar nature, as determined by the Director;
            ``(3) involve a principal obligation not exceeding
        $200,000;
            ``(4) be subject to such requirements regarding security
        for repayment as the Director considers appropriate;
            ``(5) contain terms providing for the complete amortization
        of the loan principal that require periodic payments by the
        borrower not in excess of the capacity of the borrower to make
        such payments, as the Director considers appropriate; and
            ``(6) contain such other terms with respect to insurance,
        repairs, default reserves, delinquency charges, anticipation of
        maturity, additional and secondary liens, and other matters as
        the Director considers appropriate.
    ``(d) Guarantee Fee.--At the time of issuance of a loan guaranteed
under this section, the Director may collect from the lender of the
loan a fee of 1 percent of the principal obligation of the loan.
    ``(e) Prohibition Against Assumption.--Notwithstanding the transfer
of any property acquired with the proceeds of a loan under this
section, the borrower under the loan may not be relieved of liability
with respect to the loan.
    ``(f) Selection of Borrowers.--The Director shall establish and use
criteria for selection of applicants to receive loan guarantees under
this section, which shall--
            ``(1) provide for the Director to make loan guarantees for
        as many qualified applicants as is practicable, taking into
        consideration the aggregate limitations on the amount of
        guarantees under this section and the appropriate size of a
        loan necessary to allow an applicant to effectively carry out
        the activities for which the loan guaranteed under this section
        was made; and
            ``(2) in the case of a loan to be used for the purposes
        under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b), take into
        consideration the extent to which--
                    ``(A) the equipment, apparatus, or facilities to be
                replaced, repaired, or modified are outdated or unsafe;
                or
                    ``(B) the demand for the services of the volunteer
                fire and rescue agency that is the borrower has
                increased during the 2-year period preceding the date
                of the application for the guarantee.
    ``(g) Payment of Guarantees.--The Director may take such actions as
may be necessary to provide for payment of guarantees under this
section and protection of the interests of the United States under such
guarantees.
    ``(h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) Facility.--The term `facility' means a building that
        houses equipment or personnel used directly to provide fire and
        rescue services, not including administrative support services.
            ``(2) Volunteer fire and rescue agency.--The term
        `volunteer fire and rescue agency' includes volunteer fire
        companies, ambulance services, hazardous materials units, and
        rescue squads.
    ``(i) Funding and Account.--
            ``(1) Volunteer fire and rescue services loan account.--
        There is established in the Treasury of the United States an
        account for the purpose of providing loan guarantees under this
        section. The account shall be credited with any amounts
        appropriated to the account, any guarantee fees collected under
        subsection (d), and any other collections of the Director
        pursuant to this section. Amounts in the account shall be
        available, to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, for
        fulfilling obligations under loan guarantees made under this
        section and for carrying out all operations relating to making
        and payment of such guarantees, which shall include any
        administrative expenses relating to making such guarantees.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
        to be appropriated to the account under paragraph (1)
        $35,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002 to cover
        the costs (as such term is defined in section 502 of the
        Congressional Budget Act of 1974) of loan guarantees provided
        under this section.''.

SEC. 4. COUNTERTERRORISM TRAINING.

    Subtitle A of title VI of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196 et seq.), as amended by
section 3 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following new section:

``SEC. 617. COUNTERTERRORISM TRAINING.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director
$20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002 to make grants
directly to local fire and rescue services, including volunteer fire
companies, ambulance services, hazardous materials units, and rescue
squads, for equipment, including interoperability radio equipment.''.

SEC. 5. BURN GRANT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment of Office.--The Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall establish an office in the Agency to establish
specific criteria of grant recipients and to administer grants under
this section.
    (b) Burn Prevention.--The Director may make grants, on a
competitive basis, to safety organizations that have experience in
conducting burn safety programs for the purpose of assisting those
organizations in conducting burn prevention programs or augmenting
existing burn prevention programs.
    (c) Acute Burn Care.--The Director may make grants, on a
competitive basis, to hospitals that serve as regional burn centers to
conduct acute burn care research.
    (d) After-Burn Treatment and Counseling.--The Director may make
grants, on a competitive basis, to governmental and nongovernmental
entities to provide after-burn treatment and counseling to individuals
that are burn victims.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Director for carrying out this section $10,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

SEC. 6. FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL GRANTS PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall establish a program to award grants to
volunteer, paid, and combined departments that provide fire and
emergency medical services.
    (b) Authorized Uses.--Grants awarded under this section may be
used--
            (1) to acquire personal protective equipment required for
        firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health
        Administration, and other personal protective equipment for
        firefighting personnel;
            (2) to acquire additional firefighting equipment, including
        equipment for communication and monitoring;
            (3) to establish wellness and fitness programs for
        firefighting personnel to reduce the number of injuries and
        deaths related to health and conditioning problems;
            (4) to promote professional development of fire code
        enforcement personnel;
            (5) to integrate computer technology to improve records
        management and training capabilities;
            (6) to train firefighting personnel in firefighting,
        emergency response, and arson prevention and detection;
            (7) to enforce fire codes;
            (8) to fund fire prevention programs and public education
        programs about arson prevention and detection, and juvenile
        fire setter intervention; and
            (9) to modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and
        other facilities to protect the health and safety of
        firefighting personnel.
    (c) Contents of Applications.--Applications for grants under this
section shall include--
            (1) a demonstration of financial need;
            (2) evidence of a commitment for at least an equal amount
        as the amount of the grant sought, to be provided by non-
        Federal sources;
            (3) a cost benefit analysis linking the funds to
        improvements in public safety; and
            (4) a commitment to provide information to the National
        Fire Incident Reporting System for the period for which the
        grant is received.
    (d) Audits.--Grant recipients under this section shall be subject
to audits to ensure that the funds are spent for their intended
purposes.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Director for carrying out this section $80,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

SEC. 7. ALLOCATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM.

    Section 337 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 337) is
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
            (2) by adding after subsection (e) the following new
        subsection:
    ``(f) Allocation for Interoperability Use by Public Safety
Entities.--In addition to the allocations and assignments otherwise
made pursuant to this section, within 30 days after the date of the
enactment of the Help Emergency Responders Operate Act, the Commission
shall allocate the electromagnetic spectrum between 139 megahertz and
140.5 megahertz, inclusive, and between 141.5 megahertz and 143
megahertz, inclusive, to interoperability use by public safety
services.''.

SEC. 8. SATELLITE SYSTEM.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for fiscal year 2001 for
the United States Geological Survey for the Hazard Support System,
$15,000,000 for system improvements, and $4,000,000 for operation and
maintenance.
    (b) Study.--Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall transmit to the
Congress a report on the results of a study, carried out in
consultation with the National Interagency Fire Center and State fire
services, of the best methods of disseminating data from the Hazard
Support System to State and local fire mitigation entities for real-
time fire detection.

SEC. 9. ELIGIBILITY OF FIRE FIGHTING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT UNDER
              COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Eligible Activities.--Section 105(a) of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (23), by striking the period at the end
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (23) the following new
        paragraph:
            ``(24) provision of assistance to local fire fighting,
        emergency medical, or rescue units serving low-income
        communities for--
                    ``(A) acquisition, repair, or rehabilitation of
                equipment (including any accessory, communications, or
                protective equipment) or vehicles for fire fighting,
                emergency medical, or rescue services,
                    ``(B) construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or
                improvement of facilities for local fire fighting,
                emergency medical, or rescue services, or
                    ``(C) training or planning involved in providing
                fire fighting, emergency medical, or rescue services;
                and''.
    (b) Use for Low- and Moderate-Income Areas.--Section 105(c) of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(c)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(5) An assisted activity described in subsection (a)(24) shall be
considered to benefit persons of low and moderate income if the service
provides such services to low- and moderate-income persons.''.

Summary: Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), using amounts in an account for the purpose of providing loan guarantees , to guarantee loans to volunteer fire and rescue agencies for the entire principal and interest on the loan for specified volunteer fire and rescue services, including to purchase equipment necessary for proper performance of the agency's duties, to repair, rehabilitate, or otherwise improve the agency's existing facilities, and for carrying out public education programs regarding fire prevention, life safety, and arson. Sets forth loan terms and conditions. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to the Director for FY 2001 and 2002 for making grants directly to local fire and rescue services for equipment, including interoperability radio equipment. Authorizes the Director to make grants on a competitive basis to: (1) safety organizations that have experience in conducting burn safety programs for assisting those organizations in conducting such programs or augmenting existing burn prevention programs. (2) hospitals that serve as regional burn centers to conduct acute burn research. And (3) governmental and nongovernmental entities to provide after-burn treatment and counseling to individuals that are burn victims. Creates an office in FEMA to establish specific criteria of grant recipients and to administer such grants. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director to establish a program to award grants to volunteer, paid, and combined departments that provide fire and emergency medical services. Permits such grants to be used, among other things, to: (1) acquire personal protective equipment required for firefighting personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other personal protective equipment for firefighting personnel. (2) acquire additional firefighting equipment, including equipment for communication and monitoring. (3) establish wellness and fitness programs for firefighting personnel to reduce the number of injuries and deaths related to health and conditioning problems, (4) promote professional development of fire code enforcement personnel. (5) integrate computer technology to improve records management and training capabilities. (6) fund fire prevention programs and public education programs about arson prevention and detection, and juvenile fire setter intervention. And (7) modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and other facilities to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. Provides for grant recipients to be subject to audits to ensure that the funds are spent for their intended purposes. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission, in addition to the allocations and assignments otherwise made with respect to new public safety services licenses and commercial licenses, within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to allocate the electromagnetic spectrum between 139 megahertz and 140.5 megahertz, inclusive, and between 141.5 megahertz and 143 megahertz, inclusive, to interoperability use by public safety services. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for FY 2001 for the US Geological Survey for the Hazard Support System for system improvements and for operation and maintenance. Directs such Secretary to transmit to Congress a report on the results of a study, carried out in consultation with the National Interagency Fire Center and State fire services, of the best methods of disseminating data from such System to State and local fire mitigation entities for realtime fire detection. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to include as activities eligible for assistance under the community development block grant program the provision of assistance to local firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue units serving low-income communities for: (1) acquisition, repair, or rehabilitation of equipment or vehicles for firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue services. (2) construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or improvement of facilities for local firefighting, emergency medical, or rescue services. Or (3) training or planning involved in providing fire fighting, emergency medical, or rescue services. States that such an assisted activity shall be considered to benefit persons of low and moderate income if the service provides such services to low- and moderate-income persons.

Help Emergency Responders Operate Act


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Transportation Safety Fund
Act''.

                   TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNDING

SEC. 101. MODIFICATION AND PERMANENT EXTENSION OF THE INCENTIVES TO
              REINVEST FOREIGN EARNINGS IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Repatriation Subject to 5 Percent Tax Rate.--Subsection (a)(1)
of section 965 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by
striking ``85 percent'' and inserting ``85.7 percent''.
    (b) Permanent Extension To Elect Repatriation.--Subsection (f) of
section 965 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as
follows:
    ``(f) Election.--The taxpayer may elect to apply this section to
any taxable year only if made on or before the due date (including
extensions) for filing the return of tax for such taxable year.''.
    (c) Repatriation Includes Current and Accumulated Foreign
Earnings.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 965(b) of the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--The amount of dividends taken into
        account under subsection (a) shall not exceed the sum of the
        current and accumulated earnings and profits described in
        section 959(c)(3) for the year a deduction is claimed under
        subsection (a), without diminution by reason of any
        distributions made during the election year, for all controlled
        foreign corporations of the United States shareholder.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 965(b) of such Code is amended by
                striking paragraphs (2) and (4) and by redesignating
                paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
                    (B) Section 965(c) of such Code is amended by
                striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and by redesignating
                paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (1), (2),
                and (3), respectively.
                    (C) Paragraph (3) of section 965(c) of such Code,
                as redesignated by subparagraph (B), is amended to read
                as follows:
            ``(3) Controlled groups.--All United States shareholders
        which are members of an affiliated group filing a consolidated
        return under section 1501 shall be treated as one United States
        shareholder.''.
    (d) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) The heading for section 965 of the Internal Revenue
        Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``temporary''.
            (2) The table of sections for subpart F of part III of
        subchapter N of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking
        ``Temporary dividends'' and inserting ``Dividends''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this
Act.

SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT OF EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY FUND.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the Treasury of the United
States a trust fund to be known as the ``Emergency Transportation
Safety Fund''.
    (b) Transfers to Emergency Transportation Safety Fund.--
            (1) In general.--There are hereby appropriated to the
        Emergency Transportation Safety Fund amounts equivalent to 50
        percent of the excess of--
                    (A) the taxes received in the United States
                Treasury which are attributable to eligible 965
                dividends received by corporations which are United
                States shareholders, over
                    (B) the amount of the foreign tax credit allowed
                under section 901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
                which is attributable to the non-deductible portion of
                such eligible 965 dividends.
            (2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    (A) Eligible 965 dividend.--The term ``eligible 965
                dividend'' means any amount received from a controlled
                foreign corporation for which a deduction is allowed
                under section 965 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
                as determined based on estimates made by the Secretary
                of the Treasury, or the Secretary's delegate.
                    (B) Non-deductible portion.--The term ``non-
                deductible portion'' means the excess of the amount of
                any eligible 965 dividend over the deductible portion
                (as defined in section 965(d)(3) of the Internal
                Revenue Code of 1986) of such amount.
    (c) Emergency Relief Expenditures.--Section 125(c) of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Emergency transportation safety fund.--Amounts
        deposited into the Emergency Transportation Safety Fund
        established under section 102(a) of the Emergency
        Transportation Safety Fund Act are authorized to be obligated
        to carry out, in priority order, the projects on the current
        list compiled by the Secretary under section 201(b)(1) of such
        Act that meet the eligibility requirements set forth in
        subsection (a).''.

        TITLE II--EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PRIORITY LIST

SEC. 201. EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES.

    (a) List.--The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with a
representative sample of State and local government transportation
officials, shall compile a prioritized list of emergency transportation
projects, which will guide the allocation of funding to the States from
the Emergency Transportation Safety Fund.
    (b) Criteria.--In compiling the list under subsection (a), the
Secretary of Transportation, in addition to other criteria established
by the Secretary, shall rank priorities in descending order, beginning
with--
            (1) whether the project is part of the interstate highway
        system;
            (2) whether the project is a road or bridge that is closed
        for safety reasons;
            (3) the impact of the project on interstate commerce;
            (4) the volume of traffic affected by the project; and
            (5) the overall value of the project or entity.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a
report to Congress that includes--
            (1) a prioritized list of emergency transportation projects
        to be funded through the Emergency Transportation Safety Fund;
        and
            (2) a description of the criteria used to establish the
        list referred to in paragraph (1).
    (d) Quarterly Updates.--Not less frequently than 4 times per year,
the Secretary of Transportation shall--
            (1) update the report submitted pursuant to subsection (c);
            (2) send a copy of the report to Congress; and
            (3) make a copy of the report available to the public
        through the Department of Transportation's website.

Summary: Emergency Transportation Safety Fund Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the tax rate on current and accumulated foreign earnings of US corporations reinvested in the United States and make such lower rate permanent. Establishes the Emergency Transportation Safety Fund and makes appropriations to it. Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to compile a prioritized list of emergency transportation projects, which will guide the allocation of Fund amounts to the states.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Governance Improvement Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 4002(d) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302(d)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d)(1) The board of directors of the corporation consists of--
            ``(A) the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of
        Labor, and the Secretary of Commerce;
            ``(B) a member that is a representative of employers
        offering defined benefit plans;
            ``(C) a member that is a representative of organized labor
        and employees; and
            ``(D) 2 other members.
    ``(2)(A) The members of the board of directors described under
subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1)--
                    ``(i) shall be appointed by the President by and
                with the advice and consent of the Senate--
                            ``(I) at the beginning of the second year
                        of the President's term of office, with respect
                        to such members described under subparagraphs
                        (B) and (C) of paragraph (1); and
                            ``(II) at the beginning of the fourth year
                        of the President's term of office, with respect
                        to such members described under subparagraph
                        (D) of paragraph (1); and
                    ``(ii) shall serve for a term of 4 years.
            ``(B) Not more than 2 members of the board of directors
        described under subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1)
        shall be affiliated with the same political party.
            ``(C) Each member of the board of directors described under
        subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1) shall not have a
        direct financial interest in the decisions of the corporation.
    ``(3) Each member of the board of directors described under
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall designate in writing an
official, not below the level of Assistant Secretary, to serve as the
voting representative of such member on the board. Such designation
shall be effective until revoked or until a date or event specified
therein. Any such representative may refer for board action any matter
under consideration by the designating board member.
    ``(4) The members of the board of directors described under--
            ``(A) subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), shall serve
        without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel,
        subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the
        performance of their duties as members of the board; and
            ``(B) subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1) shall,
        for each day (including traveltime) during which they are
        attending meetings or conferences of the board or otherwise
        engaged in the business of the board, be compensated at a rate
        fixed by the corporation which is not in excess of the daily
        equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade
        GS-18 of the General Schedule, and while away from their homes
        or regular places of business they may be allowed travel
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
        authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    ``(5)(A) The Secretary of Labor is the chairman of the board of
directors.
    ``(B) The President shall designate 1 of the members appointed
under paragraph (2) as the vice-chairman of the board of directors.
    ``(6) The Inspector General of the corporation shall report to the
board of directors, and not less than twice a year, shall attend a
meeting of the board of directors to provide a report on the activities
and findings of the Inspector General, including with respect to
monitoring and review of the operations of the corporation.
    ``(7) The General Counsel of the corporation shall--
            ``(A) serve as the secretary to the board of directors, and
        shall advise such board as needed; and
            ``(B) have overall responsibility for all legal matters
        affecting the corporation and provide the corporation with
        legal advice and opinions on all matters of law affecting the
        corporation, except that the authority of the General Counsel
        shall not extend to the Office of Inspector General and the
        independent legal counsel of such Office.
    ``(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Office
of Inspector General and the legal counsel of such Office is
independent of the management of the corporation and the General
Counsel of the corporation.''.
    (b) Number of Meetings; Public Availability.--Section 4002(e) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302(e))
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The board'' and inserting ``(1) The
        board'';
            (2) by striking ``the corporation.'' and inserting ``the
        corporation, but in no case less than 4 times a year with a
        quorum of not less than 5 members. Not less than 1 meeting of
        the board of directors during each year shall be a joint
        meeting with the advisory committee under subsection (h).'';
        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) The chairman of the board of directors shall make available
to the public the minutes from each meeting of the board, unless the
chairman designates a meeting or portion of a meeting as closed to the
public, based on the confidentiality of the matters to be discussed
during such meeting.''.
    (c) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) Issues considered by the committee.--Section 4002(h)(1)
        of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29
        U.S.C. 1302(h)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``, and (D)'' and inserting ``,
                (D)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``time to time.'' and inserting
                ``time to time, and (E) other issues as determined
                appropriate by the advisory committee.''.
            (2) Joint meeting.--Section 4002(h)(3) of the Employee
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302(h)(3))
        is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Not less than
        1 meeting of the advisory committee during each year shall be a
        joint meeting with the board of directors under subsection
        (e).''.

SEC. 3. AVOIDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

    Section 4002 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(29 U.S.C. 1302) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) The Director of the corporation, and each member of the board
of directors described under subparagraphs (B) through (D) of
subsection (d)(1), shall agree in writing to recuse him or herself from
participation in activities which present a potential conflict of
interest or appearance of such conflict, including by not serving on a
technical evaluation panel.''.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Formation of Committees.--It is the sense of Congress that the
board of directors of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
established under section 4002 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302), as amended by this Act, should
form committees, including an audit committee and an investment
committee, to enhance the overall effectiveness of the board of
directors.
    (b) Risk Management Position.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under section 4002 of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1302),
as amended by this Act, should establish a risk management position
that evaluates and mitigates the risk that the corporation might
experience. The individual in such position should coordinate the risk
management efforts of the corporation, explain risks and controls to
senior management and the board of directors of the corporation, and
make recommendations.

Summary: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Governance Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise requirements regarding the composition and duties of members of the board of directors of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Requires: (1) the board to meet at least four times a year with a quorum of at least five members. And (2) board minutes be made public. Requires the advisory committee to the PBGC to meet jointly with the board at least one time each year. Requires the Director and members of the board of the PBGC to agree in writing to recuse themselves from participation in activities which potentially could be a conflict of interest. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the board should form committees, including an audit committee and an investment committee, to enhance the PBGC board's overall effectiveness. And (2) the PBGC should establish a risk management position that evaluates and mitigates risk it might experience.

A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with respect to the composition of the board of directors of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Drug Card
Guaranteed Savings Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Americans who buy their own prescription drugs often
        pay twice as much for prescription drugs as consumers in
        foreign nations or as the price the Department of Veterans
        Affairs obtains by negotiating directly with the pharmaceutical
        manufacturers. In some cases, older Americans pay 10 times more
        for prescription drugs than such customers. Prescription drug
        prices have increased 3.4 percent during the first quarter of
        2004, nearly three times the rate of inflation.
            (2) The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
        Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law No: 108-173) established
        a program for the endorsement of medicare drug discount card
        programs in order to provide for reduced prices for drugs for
        medicare beneficiaries and provide a subsidy for low-income
        medicare beneficiaries.
            (3) There are currently more than 70 endorsed medicare drug
        discount card programs. Medicare drug discount card programs
        can change the drugs that they offer and the size of the
        discounts every seven days. Medicare beneficiaries are allowed
        to change their current medicare drug discount card program
        only once, during an annual enrollment period between November
        15 and December 31, 2004.
            (4) Enrollment in medicare drug discount card programs has
        been less than projected due to the complexity of the programs,
        the limited number of drugs covered under most programs, the
        changing prescription drug needs of beneficiaries, and
        beneficiaries' concern that the programs do not guarantee real
        savings on prescription drug purchases. As of July 19, 2004,
        fewer than 14 percent of low-income medicare beneficiaries who
        qualify for the $600 subsidy under the law have enrolled in a
        medicare drug discount card program.
            (5) Currently, medicare discount drug card sponsors are
        required to pass on to enrollees only an undefined ``share'' of
        the rebates they secure from drug manufacturers and card
        sponsors can use the remaining savings for administrative costs
        and profit. The law does not require the sponsors to reveal to
        enrollees the size of the rebates secured from drug
        manufacturers or to disclose what portion of those rebates are
        kept by the sponsors and not passed on to enrollees.
            (6) There is a need for a Federal national medicare
        prescription drug discount card program that offers guaranteed
        discounts on all prescription drugs and that aggregates the
        buying power of all medicare beneficiaries in order to
        negotiate significant reductions in price.

SEC. 2. OFFERING OF FEDERAL NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARD
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Offering of Program.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 1860D-31 of
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-141) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
                (A);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of
                subparagraph (B) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new
                subparagraph:
                    ``(C) to provide for the offering of a Federal
                national prescription drug discount card program that
                is available for discount card eligible individuals
                throughout the United States (including the
                territories) and that meets the requirements under
                subsection (l)(1) in addition to the requirements
                otherwise applicable to an endorsed discount card
                program.''.
            (2) Exclusive program in 2005.--Subsection (c)(1)(C) of
        such section is amended--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``clauses (ii) and
                (iii)'' and inserting ``clauses (ii) through (iv)'';
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(iv) Limitation to enrollment in federal
                        national prescription drug discount card
                        program in 2005.--Notwithstanding any other
                        provision of this section, for periods
                        beginning with January 1, 2005, the only
                        discount card program in which an individual
                        may be enrolled under this section shall be the
                        Federal national prescription drug discount
                        card program described in subsection (l).
                        Individuals enrolled in another program as of
                        December 31, 2004, who do not affirmatively
                        disenroll from all discount card programs under
                        this section are deemed to be enrolled in such
                        Federal national prescription drug discount
                        card program.''.
    (b) Additional Program Requirements.--Such section is further
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Provisions Relating to Federal National Prescription Drug
Discount Card Program.--
            ``(1) Additional requirements.--The Federal national
        prescription drug discount card program described in subsection
        (a)(1)(C) shall also meet the following requirements:
                    ``(A) Discounted prices.--Through direct
                negotiations with prescription drug manufacturers, the
                discounted prices offered under the program shall be
                less than prices otherwise available in the retail
                market. Through such negotiations, the Secretary shall
                obtain discounted prices that are at least as low as
                the manufacturer's average foreign price (as defined in
                paragraph (3)) for the drug involved.
                    ``(B) Passing through all savings.--The full amount
                of discounted savings are passed through to enrollees.
                    ``(C) Fee for card.--The annual fee for enrollment
                in the program shall be $30 (except as provided under
                subparagraphs (E) through (G) of subsection (c)(1)),
                which fees shall be available to the Secretary for
                administrative expenses in offering such program.
                    ``(D) National availability.--The program shall be
                made available to individuals residing anyplace in the
                United States.
                    ``(E) Handling fee for pharmacists.--The program
                shall be designed to provide for a reasonable handling
                fee for pharmacists in connection with the provision of
                drugs obtained under the program and shall be
                approximately equal to the average handling fee for
                pharmacists of other large insurance plans that
                administer drug benefits.
            ``(2) Oversight.--The oversight authority of the Secretary
        under subsection (i)(2) with respect to such Federal national
        prescription drug discount card program shall be exercised by
        the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human
        Services.
            ``(3) Average foreign price defined.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection,
                the term `average foreign price' means, with respect to
                a covered discount card drug, the average price that
                the manufacturer of the drug realizes on the sale of
                drugs with the same active ingredient or ingredients
                that are consumed in Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
                Japan, and the United Kingdom, taking into account--
                            ``(i) any rebate, contract term or
                        condition, or other arrangement (whether with
                        the purchaser or other persons) that has the
                        effect of reducing the amount realized by the
                        manufacturer on the sale of the drugs;
                            ``(ii) adjustments for any differences in
                        dosage, formulation, or other relevant
                        characteristics of the drugs; and
                            ``(iii) any other contract or side
                        agreement that has the effect of adjusting the
                        effective price of the drug, including
                        agreements to purchase non-drug products.
                    ``(B) Exempt transactions.--The Secretary may, by
                regulation, exempt from the calculation of the average
                foreign price of a drug those prices realized by a
                manufacturer in transactions that are entered into for
                charitable purposes, for research purposes, or under
                other unusual circumstances, if the Secretary
                determines that the exemption is in the public interest
                and is consistent with the purposes of this section.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (h)(1)(A), by adding after and below
        clause (v) the following new sentence:
                ``Such term also includes the Secretary with respect to
                the offering of the Federal national prescription drug
                discount card program described in subsection
                (a)(1)(C).'';
            (2) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by adding at the end the
        following: ``The Secretary shall establish a separate procedure
        for the qualification of the Federal national prescription drug
        discount card program described in subsection (a)(1)(C).''; and
            (3) in subsection (k)(6), by inserting before the period at
        the end the following: ``, except in the case of the Federal
        national prescription drug discount card program described in
        subsection (a)(1)(C)''.
    (d) Implementation.--
            (1) Availability of funds.--Notwithstanding any other
        provision of law, funds provided under section 1015 of the
        Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
        of 2003 (Public Law 108-173) shall be available to the
        Secretary of Health and Human Services for reasonable
        administrative costs in offering the Federal national
        prescription drug discount card program described in section
        1860D-31(a)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act, as added by
        subsection (a).
            (2) Timely implementation.--The Secretary shall take such
        steps as may be required to provide for the offering of such
        program during the annual open enrollment period occurring in
        November, 2004.

Summary: Medicare Drug Card Guaranteed Savings Act - Amends part D of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for the offering of a Federal national prescription drug discount card program. Charges a $30 fee for the card under the program. Provides for direct negotiations by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with prescription drug manufacturers to obtain discount prices that are to be less than prices otherwise available in the retail market. Provides that: (1) for periods beginning with January 1, 2005, the only discount card program in which an individual may be enrolled shall be the Federal national prescription drug discount card program. And (2) individuals enrolled in another program as of December 31, 2004, who do not affirmatively disenroll from all discount card programs are deemed to be enrolled in such Federal national prescription drug discount card program.

To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the offering of a Federal national prescription drug discount card program.


SECTION 1. HOMEBUYER CREDIT ALLOWED FOR ANY PURCHASE OF PRINCIPAL
              RESIDENCE.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 36 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``who is a first-time
homebuyer of a principal residence'' and inserting ``who purchases a
principal residence''.
    (b) Application to Only 1 Sale.--Subsection (b) of section 36 of
such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Application to only 1 sale.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsection (a) shall not apply
                to more than 1 sale or exchange of a principal
                residence by the individual.
                    ``(B) Special rule for joint returns.--In the case
                of a joint return with respect to the sale or exchange
                of a principal residence, if a credit was allowable
                under subsection (a) to a spouse for a prior sale or
                exchange of a principal residence, paragraph (1) shall
                be applied by reducing the $8,000 in subparagraph (A)
                thereof and the $4,000 in subparagraph (B) thereof by
                the credit so allowable (one-half of such credit in the
                case of a joint return).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Subsection (c) of section 36 of such Code is amended by
        striking paragraph (1) (defining first-time homebuyer) and by
        redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs
        (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively.
            (2) The heading for section 36 of such Code is amended by
        striking ``First-time''.
            (3) The item in the table of sections for subpart C of part
        IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code relating to
        section 36 is amended to read as follows:

``Sec. Homebuyer credit.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to residences purchased after the date of the enactment of this
Act.

SEC. 2. 1-YEAR EXTENSION OF HOMEBUYER CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (h) of section 36 of the Internal
Revenue Code is amended by striking ``December 1, 2009'' and inserting
``December 1, 2010''.
    (b) Extension of Waiver of Recapture.--Subparagraph (D) of section
36(f)(4) of such Code is amended--
            (1) by striking ``December 1, 2009'' and inserting
        ``December 1, 2010'', and
            (2) in the heading by striking ``for purchases in 2009''
        and inserting ``certain purchases''.
    (c) Election To Treat Purchase in Prior Year.--Subsection (g) of
such Code is amended to read as follows:
    ``(g) Election To Treat Purchase in Prior Year.--For purposes of
this section (other than subsections (c) and (f)(4)(D)), a taxpayer may
elect to treat a purchase of a principal residence--
            ``(1) after December 31, 2008, and before January 1, 2010,
        as made on December 31, 2008, and
            ``(2) after December 31, 2009, and before December 1, 2010,
        as made on December 31, 2009.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. DEDUCTION FOR LOSS FROM SALE OF PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE.

    (a) In General.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter I of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized
deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as
section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new
section:

``SEC. 224. LOSS FROM SALE OF PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE.

    ``(a) Allowance of Deduction.--In the case of an individual, there
shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year any loss
recognized on the sale or exchange of property during the taxable year
if, during the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale or
exchange, such property has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the
taxpayer's principal residence for periods aggregating 2 years or more.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Aggregate limitation.--The aggregate amount allowed
        as a deduction under subsection (a) for all taxable years shall
        not exceed $6,000 ($12,000 in the case of a joint return).
            ``(2) Annual limitation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The amount allowed to a taxpayer
                as a deduction under subsection (a) for a taxable year
                shall not exceed $2,000 ($4,000 in the case of a joint
                return).
                    ``(B) Carryforward.--If the deduction allowable
                under subsection (a) for any taxable year exceeds the
                limitation imposed by subparagraph (A) for the taxable
                year, the excess shall be carried to each of the 2
                succeeding taxable years and added to the deduction
                allowable under subsection (a) for such succeeding
                year.
            ``(3) Exclusion of loss allocated to nonqualified use.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsection (a) shall not apply
                to so much of the loss from the sale or exchange of
                property as is allocated to periods of nonqualified
                use.
                    ``(B) Allocation.--For purposes of subparagraph
                (A), loss shall be allocated to periods of nonqualified
                use based on the ratio which--
                            ``(i) the aggregate periods of nonqualified
                        use during the period such property was owned
                        by the taxpayer, bears to
                            ``(ii) the period such property was owned
                        by the taxpayer.
                    ``(C) Period of nonqualified use; coordination with
                recognition of gain attributable to depreciation.--For
                purposes of this paragraph, rules similar to the rules
                of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 121(b)(5) shall
                apply.
            ``(4) Application to only 1 sale.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsection (a) shall not apply
                to more than 1 sale or exchange of a principal
                residence by the taxpayer.
                    ``(B) Special rule for joint returns.--In the case
                of a joint return with respect to the sale or exchange
                of a principal residence, if a deduction was allowable
                under subsection (a) to a spouse for a prior sale or
                exchange of a principal residence, paragraphs (1) and
                (2)(A) shall be applied by reducing the dollar amounts
                therein by the deduction so allowable (one-half of such
                deduction in the case of a joint return).
    ``(c) Applicable Rules.--For purposes of this section, rules
similar to the rules of subsection (d) of section 121 shall apply,
except that paragraph (6) thereof shall be applied by substituting
`loss' for `gain'.
    ``(d) Election To Have Section Not Apply.--This section shall not
apply to any sale or exchange with respect to which the taxpayer elects
not to have this section apply.
    ``(e) Termination.--The section shall not apply to the sale or
exchange of a principal residence after December 31, 2010.''.
    (b) Deduction Allowed in Computing Adjusted Gross Income.--
Subsection (a) of section 62 of such Code is amended by inserting
before the last sentence the following new paragraph:
            ``(22) Loss from sale of principal residence.--The
        deduction allowed by section 224.''.
    (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections for part VII of
subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the item
relating to section 224 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 224. Loss from sale of principal residence.
``Sec. 225. Cross reference.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to the first-time homebuyer tax credit to: (1) extend such credit to all purchasers of a principal residence. (2) limit the credit to one sale or exchange of a principal residence. And (3) extend such credit through November 30, 2010. Allows individual taxpayers a tax deduction through 2010 for losses from the sale or exchange of a principal residence.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and expand the first-time homebuyers credit and to provide a loss deduction on the sale of a principal residence.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fluke Fairness Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Summer flounder is an important economic fish stock for
        commercial and recreational fishermen across the Northeast and
        Mid-Atlantic United States.
            (2) The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
        Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) was reauthorized in
        2006 and instituted annual catch limits and accountability
        measures for important fish stocks.
            (3) That reauthorization prompted fishery managers to look
        at alternate management schemes to rebuild depleted stocks like
        summer flounder.
            (4) Summer flounder occur in both State and Federal waters
        and are managed through a joint fishery management plan between
        the Council and the Commission.
            (5) The Council and the Commission decided that each
        State's recreational and commercial harvest limits for summer
        flounder would be based upon landings in previous years.
            (6) These historical landings were based on flawed data
        sets that no longer provide fairness or flexibility for
        fisheries managers to allocate resources based on the best
        science.
            (7) This allocation mechanism resulted in an uneven split
        among the States along the East Coast which is problematic.
            (8) The Fishery Management Plan for summer flounder does
        not account for regional changes in the location of the fluke
        stock even though the stock has moved further to the north and
        changes in effort by anglers along the East Coast.
            (9) The States have been locked in a management system
        based on data that occurred over a decade ago and the summer
        flounder stock is not being managed using the best available
        science and modern fishery management techniques.
            (10) It is in the interest of the Federal Government to
        establish a new fishery management plan for summer flounder
        that is based on current geographic, scientific, and economic
        realities.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Atlantic
        States Marine Fisheries Commission.
            (2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Mid-Atlantic
        Fishery Management Council established under section 302(a) of
        the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
        (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)).
            (3) National standards.--The term ``National Standards''
        means the national standards for fishery conservation and
        management set out in section 301(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens
        Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851(a)).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Commerce.
            (5) Summer flounder.--The term ``summer flounder'' means
        the species Paralichthys dentatus.

SEC. 4. SUMMER FLOUNDER MANAGEMENT REFORM.

    (a) Fishery Management Plan Modification.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Council shall submit
to the Secretary, and the Secretary may approve, a modified fishery
management plan for the commercial and recreational management of
summer flounder under title III of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 et seq.) or an
amendment to such plan that--
            (1) shall be based on the best scientific information
        available;
            (2) reflects changes in the distribution, abundance, and
        location of summer flounder in establishing distribution of the
        commercial and recreational catch quotas;
            (3) considers regional, coastwide, or other management
        measures for summer flounder that comply with the National
        Standards; and
            (4) prohibits the allocation of commercial or recreational
        catch quotas for summer flounder on a State-by-State basis
        using historical landings data that does not reflect the status
        of the summer flounder stock, based on the most recent
        scientific information.
    (b) Consultation With the Commission.--In preparing the modified
fishery management plan or an amendment to such a plan as described in
subsection (a), the Council shall consult with the Commission to ensure
consistent management throughout the range of the summer flounder.
    (c) Failure To Submit Plan.--If the Council fails to submit a
modified fishery management plan or an amendment to such a plan as
described in subsection (a) that may be approved by the Secretary, the
Secretary shall prepare and approve such a modified plan or amendment.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the approval under section
4 of a modified fishery management plan for the commercial and
recreational management of summer flounder or an amendment to such
plan, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress a report on the implementation of such modified plan or
amendment that includes an assessment of whether such implementation
complies with the National Standards.

Summary: Fluke Fairness Act of 2013 - Directs the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to submit for approval by the Secretary of Commerce a modified fishery management plan for the commercial and recreational management of summer flounder, or an amendment to such plan, that: (1) is based on the best scientific information available. (2) reflects changes in the distribution, abundance, and location of summer flounder in establishing distribution of the commercial and recreational catch quotas. (3) considers regional, coastwide, or other management measures that comply with national standards under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. And (4) prohibits the allocation of catch quotas on a state-by-state basis using historical landings data that does not reflect the status of the summer flounder stock, based on the most recent scientific information. Requires the Council, in preparing such modifications or amendments, to consult with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Directs the Secretary to prepare and approve a plan if the Council fails to submit such modifications or amendments. Requires a Comptroller General (GAO) report that assesses whether the subsequent implementation of the approved plan complies with national standards.

Fluke Fairness Act of 2013


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Telecommuting and Air
Quality Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR DESIGN OF PILOT PROGRAM REGARDING
              TELECOMMUTING AS MEANS OF IMPROVING AIR QUALITY.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Grant for design of pilot program.--The Secretary of
        Transportation (in this section referred to as the
        ``Secretary'') shall make a grant to a nonprofit private entity
        that is knowledgeable on matters relating to air quality for
        the purpose of developing a design for the proposed pilot
        program described in subsection (b). The grant shall be made to
        the National Environmental Policy Institute (a nonprofit
        private entity incorporated under the laws of and located in
        the District of Columbia), if such Institute submits an
        application for the grant.
            (2) Administration of program.--The Secretary shall carry
        out this section (including subsection (c)(1)(C)) in
        collaboration with the Administrator of the Environmental
        Protection Agency and the Secretary of Energy.
    (b) Proposed Ozone Precursor Credit-Trading Pilot Program.--
            (1) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
                    (A) The term ``participating employers'' means
                employers that voluntarily authorize and engage in
                telecommuting.
                    (B) The term ``telecommuting'' means the use of
                telecommunications to perform work functions under
                circumstances in which the use of telecommunications
                reduces or eliminates the need to commute.
                    (C) The term ``regulated entities'' means entities
                that are regulated under the Clean Air Act with respect
                to emissions of one or more ozone precursors.
                    (D) The term ``ozone precursors'' means air
                pollutants that are precursors of ground level ozone.
                    (E) The term ``VMTs'' means vehicle-miles-traveled.
            (2) Description of program.--For purposes of subsection
        (a)(1) and other provisions of this section, the proposed pilot
        program described in this subsection is a pilot program under
        which the following would occur:
                    (A) Methods would be evaluated and developed for
                calculating reductions in emissions of ozone precursors
                that can be achieved as a result of reduced VMTs by
                telecommuting employees of participating employers.
                    (B) The estimated reductions in such emissions for
                the periods of time involved would be deemed to be
                items that may be transferred by such employers to
                other persons, and for such purpose the employers would
                be issued certificates indicating the amount of the
                reductions achieved for the periods (referred to in
                this section as ``emission credits'') .
                    (C) A commercial trading and exchange forum would
                be made available to the public for trading and
                exchanging emission credits.
                    (D) Through the commercial trading and exchange
                forum, or through direct trades and exchanges with
                persons who hold the credits, regulated entities would
                obtain emission credits.
                    (E) Regulated entities would present emission
                credits to the Federal Government or to the State
                involved (as applicable under the Clean Air Act) and
                the amounts of reductions in emissions of ozone
                precursors represented by the credits would for
                purposes of the Clean Air Act be deemed to assist in
                achieving compliance.
                    (F) The Federal Government would explore means to
                facilitate the transfer of emission credits between
                participating employers and regulated and other
                entities.
    (c) Sites for Operation of Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the design
        developed under subsection (a) includes recommendations for
        carrying out the proposed pilot program described in subsection
        (b) in each of the following geographic areas:
                    (A) The greater metropolitan region of the District
                of Columbia (including areas in the States of Maryland
                and Virginia).
                    (B) The greater metropolitan region of Los Angeles,
                in the State of California.
                    (C) Three additional areas to be selected by the
                Secretary, after consultation with the grantee under
                subsection (a).
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall require that, in
        carrying out paragraph (1) with respect to a geographic area,
        the grantee under subsection (a) consult with local governments
        and business organizations in the geographic area.
    (d) Study and Report.--The Secretary shall require that, in
developing the design under subsection (a), the grantee under such
subsection study and report to the Congress and to the Secretary the
potential significance of the proposed pilot program described in
subsection (b) as an incentive for expanding telecommuting and reducing
VMTs in the geographic areas for which the design is developed, and the
extent to which the program would have positive effects on--
            (1) national, State, and local transportation and
        infrastructure policies;
            (2) energy conservation and consumption;
            (3) national, State, and local air quality; and
            (4) individual, family, and community quality of life.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of making the
grant under subsection (a), there is authorized to be appropriated
$250,000 for fiscal year 2000. Amounts appropriated under the preceding
sentence are available until expended.

Summary: National Telecommuting and Air Quality Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make a grant to a nonprofit private entity for the purpose of developing a design for a proposed ozone precursor credit-trading pilot program in which: (1) methods would be evaluated and developed for calculating reductions in emissions of ozone precursors that can be achieved as a result of reduced vehicle-miles-traveled (VMTs) by telecommuting employees. (2) regulated entities would present emission credits to the Federal Government or to the State and the amounts of reductions in emissions of air pollutants represented by such credits would be for purposes of compliance with the Clean Air Act. And (3) the Federal Government would explore means to facilitate the transfer of emission credits between participating employers and regulated and other entities. Sets forth recommended sites for the operation of such pilot program, including: (1) the greater metropolitan region of the District of Columbia, (2) the greater metropolitan region of Los Angeles, California. And (3) three additional areas to be selected by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to require the grantee to study and report to Congress and to the Secretary on the potential significance of the proposed pilot program as an incentive for expanding telecommuting and reducing VMTs in the geographic areas, and the extent to which it would have positive effects on national, State, and local air quality and energy conservation and consumption. Authorizes appropriations.