SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Los Angeles Homeless Veterans
Leasing Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN LEASES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
              VETERANS AFFAIRS WEST LOS ANGELES CAMPUS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out
leases described in subsection (b) at the Department of Veterans
Affairs West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California.
    (b) Leases Described.--Leases described in this subsection are the
following:
            (1) An enhanced-use lease of real property under subchapter
        V of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, for purposes
        of providing supportive housing, as that term is defined in
        section 8161(3) of such title.
            (2) A lease of real property for a term not to exceed 50
        years to a third party to provide services that principally
        benefit veterans and their families and that are limited to one
        or more of the following purposes:
                    (A) The promotion of health and wellness, including
                nutrition and spiritual wellness.
                    (B) Education.
                    (C) Vocational training, skills building, or other
                training related to employment.
                    (D) Peer activities, socialization, or physical
                recreation.
                    (E) Assistance with legal issues and Federal
                benefits.
                    (F) Volunteerism.
                    (G) Family support services, including child care.
                    (H) Transportation.
                    (I) Services in support of one or more of the
                purposes specified in subparagraphs (A) through (H).
            (3) A lease of real property for a term not to exceed 10
        years to an institution of the State of California that has had
        a medical affiliation with the Department at the campus
        specified in subsection (a) for more than 20 years, if--
                    (A) the lease is consistent with the master plan
                described in subsection (e);
                    (B) the provision of services to veterans is the
                predominant focus of the activities of the institution
                at the campus during the term of the lease; and
                    (C) the institution expressly agrees to provide,
                during the term of the lease and to an extent and in a
                manner that the Secretary considers appropriate,
                services and support that--
                            (i) principally benefit veterans and their
                        families, including veterans that are severely
                        disabled, women, aging, or homeless; and
                            (ii) may consist of activities relating to
                        the medical, clinical, therapeutic, dietary,
                        rehabilitative, legal, mental, spiritual,
                        physical, recreational, research, and
                        counseling needs of veterans and their families
                        or any of the purposes specified in any of
                        subparagraphs (A) through (I) of paragraph (2).
    (c) Limitation on Land-Sharing Agreements.--The Secretary may not
carry out any land-sharing agreement pursuant to section 8153 of title
38, United States Code, at the campus specified in subsection (a)
unless such agreement--
            (1) provides additional health care resources to the
        campus; and
            (2) benefits veterans and their families other than from
        the generation of revenue for the Department of Veterans
        Affairs.
    (d) Prohibition on Sale of Property.--Notwithstanding section 8164
of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary may not sell or
otherwise convey to a third party fee simple title to any real property
or improvements to real property made at the campus specified in
subsection (a).
    (e) Consistency With Master Plan.--The Secretary shall ensure that
each lease carried out under this section is consistent with the new
master plan under development as of the date of the enactment of this
Act that will detail how the campus specified in subsection (a) will be
used to benefit all veterans.
    (f) Compliance With Certain Laws.--
            (1) Laws relating to leases and land use.--If the Inspector
        General of the Department of Veterans Affairs determines, as
        part of an audit report or evaluation conducted by the
        Inspector General, that the Department is not in compliance
        with all Federal laws relating to leases and land use at the
        campus specified in subsection (a), or that significant
        mismanagement has occurred with respect to leases or land use
        at the campus, the Secretary may not enter into any lease or
        land-sharing agreement at the campus, or renew any such lease
        or land-sharing agreement that is not in compliance with such
        laws, until the Secretary certifies to the Committee on
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Veterans'
        Affairs of the House of Representatives, and each Member of the
        Senate and the House of Representatives who represents the area
        in which the campus is located that all recommendations
        included in the audit report or evaluation have been
        implemented.
            (2) Compliance of particular leases.--No lease may be
        entered into or renewed under this section unless the lease
        complies with chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, and
        all Federal laws relating to environmental and historic
        preservation.
    (g) Notification and Reports.--
            (1) Congressional notification.--With respect to each lease
        or land-sharing agreement intended to be entered into or
        renewed at the campus specified in subsection (a), the
        Secretary shall notify the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of
        the Senate, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
        Representatives, and each Member of the Senate and the House of
        Representatives who represents the area in which the campus is
        located of the intent of the Secretary to enter into or renew
        the lease or land-sharing agreement not later than 45 days
        before entering into or renewing the lease or land-sharing
        agreement.
            (2) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date
        of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than
        annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, and each
        Member of the Senate and the House of Representatives who
        represents the area in which the campus specified in subsection
        (a) is located an annual report evaluating all leases and land-
        sharing agreements carried out at the campus.
            (3) Inspector general report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than each of two years
                and five years after the date of the enactment of this
                Act, and as determined necessary by the Inspector
                General of the Department of Veterans Affairs
                thereafter, the Inspector General shall submit to the
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
                Representatives, and each Member of the Senate and the
                House of Representatives who represents the area in
                which the campus specified in subsection (a) is located
                a report on all leases carried out at the campus and
                the management by the Department of the use of land at
                the campus, including an assessment of the efforts of
                the Department to implement the master plan described
                in subsection (e) with respect to the campus.
                    (B) Consideration of annual report.--In preparing
                each report required by subparagraph (A), the Inspector
                General shall take into account the most recent report
                submitted to Congress by the Secretary under paragraph
                (2).
    (h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as a limitation on the authority of the Secretary to enter
into other agreements regarding the campus specified in subsection (a)
that are authorized by law and not inconsistent with this section.
    (i) Principally Benefit Veterans and Their Families Defined.--In
this section the term ``principally benefit veterans and their
families'', with respect to services provided by a person under a lease
of property, land-sharing agreement, or revocable license agreement--
            (1) means services--
                    (A) provided exclusively to veterans and their
                families; or
                    (B) that are designed for the particular needs of
                veterans and their families, as opposed to the general
                public, and any benefit of those services to the
                general public is ancillary to the intended benefit to
                veterans and their families; and
            (2) excludes services in which the only benefit to veterans
        and their families is the generation of revenue for the
        Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (j) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Prohibition on disposal of property.--Section 224(a) of
        the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related
        Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161; 121
        Stat. 2272) is amended by striking ``The Secretary of Veterans
        Affairs'' and inserting ``Except as authorized under section 2
        of the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015, the
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs''.
            (2) Enhanced-use leases.--Section 8162(c) of title 38,
        United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, other than an
        enhanced-use lease under section 2 of the Los Angeles Homeless
        Veterans Leasing Act of 2015,'' before ``shall be considered''.

Summary: Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out certain leases at the VA's West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California, for: (1) supportive housing. (2) health, education, family support, vocational training, and other services that principally benefit veterans and their families. And (3) a lease of real property to a California institution that has had a long-term medical affiliation with the VA at such Campus.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Individual Social Security
Retirement Account Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. REDUCTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

    (a) Tax on Employees.--Subsection (a) of section 3101 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to OASDI tax on employees) is
amended by striking the table and inserting the following:

``In cases of wages
                                                               The rate
  received during:
                                                              shall be:
                1993 or 1994.........................       6.2 percent
                1995 or thereafter...................    5.2 percent.''
    (b) Tax on Employers.--Subsection (a) of section 3111 of such Code
(relating to OASDI tax on employers) is amended by striking the table
and inserting the following:

``In cases of wages
                                                               The rate
  paid during:
                                                              shall be:
                1993 or 1994.........................       6.2 percent
                1995 or thereafter...................    5.2 percent.''
    (c) Tax on Self-Employed.--Subsection (a) of section 1401 of such
Code of (relating to OASDI tax on self-employment income) is amended by
striking the table and inserting the following:

              ``In the case of a taxable year:

          Beginning after:           And before:            Percent:

      December 31, 1992......  January 1, 1995........  12.4
      December 31, 1994......  .......................  10.4.''

    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to remuneration paid after December 31, 1994, and
with respect to earnings from self-employment attributable to taxable
years beginning after such date.

SEC. 3. INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS FUNDED BY SOCIAL
              SECURITY PAYROLL DEDUCTION PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Social Security Act is amended--
            (1) by inserting before section 201 the following:

                    ``Part A--Insurance Benefits'';

        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new part:

                ``Part B--Individual Retirement Program

               ``social security payroll deduction plans

    ``Sec. 251. (a) In General.--Each person who is a covered employer
for any calendar year shall have in effect throughout such calendar
year a social security payroll deduction plan for such person's
eligible employees.
    ``(b) Requirements.--For purposes of this part, the term `social
security payroll deduction plan' means a written plan of a covered
employer if--
            ``(1) under such plan, the prescribed social security
        employee contribution is deducted from each eligible employee's
        wages and paid to an individual social security retirement
        account of such employee designated in accordance with section
        252,
            ``(2) under such plan, the covered employer pays the amount
        so deducted to the designated individual social security
        retirement account within 10 business days after the payment of
        the wages from which the amount was deducted,
            ``(3) under such plan, the covered employer pays to the
        individual social security retirement account, together with
        the contribution paid pursuant to paragraph (2), the prescribed
        social security employer contribution with respect to the
        eligible employee, and
            ``(4) the employer receives no compensation for the cost of
        administering such plan.
    ``(c) Amount Deducted May Be Accumulated by Employer in Certain
Cases.--If, under the terms of an individual social security retirement
account selected under section 252, contributions below a specified
amount will not be accepted, the requirements of subsection (b)(2)
shall be treated as met if amounts deducted from the wages of an
eligible employee are accumulated by the covered employer and paid to
such plan not later than 10 business days after the first day on which
the accumulated amount exceeds such specified amount.

    ``designation of individual social security retirement accounts

    ``Sec. 252. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
the individual social security retirement account to which
contributions with respect to any eligible employee are required to be
paid under section 251 shall be such an account designated by such
employee to such employer not later than 10 business days after the
date on which such employee becomes an eligible employee of such
employer. Any such designation shall be made in such form and manner as
may be prescribed in regulations of the Secretary.
    ``(b) Designation in Absence of Timely Designation by Employee.--In
any case in which no timely designation of the individual social
security retirement account is made, the covered employer shall
designate such account in accordance with regulations of the Secretary.
    ``(c) Subsequent Designation of Other Accounts.--The Secretary
shall provide by regulation for subsequent designation of other
individual social security retirement accounts of an eligible employee
in lieu of or in addition to accounts previously designated under this
section.

                      ``self-employed individuals

    ``Sec. 253. (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the close
of any taxable year for which there is imposed a tax under section
1401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 on the self-employment
income of an individual, such individual shall pay to an individual
social security retirement account designated by such individual the
prescribed social security self-employment contribution with respect to
such individual for such taxable year.
    ``(b) Designation of Account.--The designation of an individual
social security retirement account for payment of prescribed social
security self-employment contributions shall be made in such form and
manner as may be prescribed in regulations of the Secretary.

                             ``definitions

    ``Sec. 254. For purposes of this part--
            ``(1) Individual social security retirement account.--The
        term `individual social security retirement account' means any
        individual retirement account (as defined in section 408(a) of
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) which is administered or
        issued by a bank (as defined in section 408(n) of such Code)
        and which meets the requirements of section 408A of such Code.
            ``(2) Covered employer.--The term `covered employer' means,
        for any calendar year, any person on whom an excise tax is
        imposed under section 3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
        with respect to having an individual in his employ to whom
        wages were paid by such person during such calendar year.
            ``(3) Eligible employee.--The term `eligible employee'
        means, in connection with any person who is a covered employer
        for any calendar year, any individual with respect to whose
        employment by such employer during such calendar year there is
        imposed an excise tax under section 3111 of the Internal
        Revenue Code of 1986.
            ``(4) Prescribed social security employee contribution.--
        The term `prescribed social security employee contribution'
        means, with respect to any eligible employee of a covered
        employer, an amount equal to 1 percent of the wages received by
        such employee with respect to employment by such employer.
            ``(5) Prescribed social security employer contribution.--
        The term `prescribed social security employer contribution'
        means, with respect to a covered employer of any eligible
        employee, 1 percent of the wages paid by such employer to such
        employee with respect to employment of such employee.
            ``(6) Prescribed social security self- employment
        contribution.--The term `prescribed social security self-
        employment contribution' means, with respect to the self-
        employment income of an individual for any taxable year, 2
        percent of the amount of such self-employment income for such
        taxable year.
            ``(7) Business day.--The term `business day' means any day
        other than a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday in the area
        involved.

                              ``penalties

    ``Sec. 255. (a) Failure To Establish Social Security Payroll
Deduction Plan.--Any covered employer who fails to meet the
requirements of section 251 for any calendar year shall be subject to a
civil penalty of not to exceed the greater of--
            ``(1) $50,000, or
            ``(2) $1,000 for each eligible employee of such employer as
        of the beginning of such calendar year.
    ``(b) Failure To Make Deductions Required Under Plan.--Any covered
employer who fails to timely deduct in full the amount from the wages
of an eligible employee required under an applicable social security
payroll deduction plan shall be subject to a civil penalty of not to
exceed $50 for each such failure.
    ``(c) Failure To Pay Deducted Wages to Individual Social Security
Retirement Account.--If an amount deducted from the wages of an
eligible employee under a social security payroll deduction plan is not
timely paid in full to the designated individual social security
retirement account in accordance with section 251--
            ``(1) the covered employer failing to make such payment
        shall be subject to a civil penalty of not to exceed 20 percent
        of the unpaid amount, and
            ``(2) shall be liable to the eligible employee for interest
        on the unpaid amount at a rate equal to 133 percent of the
        Federal short-term rate under section 1274(d)(1) of the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986, calculated from the last day by
        which such amount was required to be so paid to the date on
        which such amount is paid into the designated individual social
        security retirement account.
    ``(d) Failure To Pay Prescribed Social Security Self-Employment
Contributions to Individual Social Security Retirement Account.--Any
individual failing to timely pay in full a prescribed social security
self-employment contribution to a designated individual social security
retirement account as required under section 253 shall be subject to a
civil penalty of not to exceed 20 percent of the unpaid amount, plus
interest on the unpaid amount at a rate equal to 133 percent of the
Federal short-term rate under section 1274(d)(1) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, calculated from the last day by which such amount
was required to be so paid to the date on which such amount is paid
into the designated individual social security retirement account.
    ``(e) Rules for Application of Section.--
            ``(1) Penalties assessed by secretary.--Any civil penalty
        assessed by this section shall be imposed by the Secretary and
        collected in a civil action.
            ``(2) Compromises.--The Secretary may compromise the amount
        of any civil penalty imposed by this section.
            ``(3) Authority to waive penalty in certain cases.--The
        Secretary may waive the application of this section with
        respect to any failure if the Secretary determines that such
        failure is due to reasonable cause and not to intentional
        disregard of rules and regulations.''.
    (b) Amounts Deducted To Be Shown on W-2 Statements.--Subsection (a)
of section 6051 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to
receipts for employees) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (8),
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and
        inserting ``, and'', and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new
        paragraph:
            ``(10) the total amount deducted from the employee's wages
        under a social security payroll deduction plan established
        under part B of title II of the Social Security Act.''
    (c) Exemption From ERISA Requirements.--Subsection (b) of section 4
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.
1003(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (4);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) such plan is a social security payroll deduction plan
        established under part B of title II of the Social Security
        Act.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
        shall apply with respect to wages paid in calendar years
        beginning on or after January 1, 1995.
            (2) Transitional rule.--Notwithstanding section 252(a) of
        the Social Security Act (as added by this Act), the initial
        designations of individual social security retirement accounts
        with respect to eligible employees employed by covered
        employers as of January 1, 1995, pursuant to such section may
        be made at any time not later than January 15, 1995.

SEC. 4. TAX TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT
              ACCOUNTS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart A of part I of subchapter D of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to pension, profit-
sharing, stock bonus plans, etc.) is amended by inserting after section
408 the following new section:

``SEC. 408A. INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

    ``(a) General Rule.--Except as provided in this section, an
individual social security retirement account shall be treated for
purposes of this title in the same manner as an individual retirement
plan.
    ``(b) Individual Social Security Retirement Account.--For purposes
of this section, the term `individual social security retirement
account' means an account established and administered in accordance
with part B of title II of the Social Security Act (relating to
individual retirement program).
    ``(c) Contribution Rules.--
            ``(1) No deduction allowed.--No deduction shall be allowed
        under section 219 for a contribution to an individual social
        security retirement account.
            ``(2) Contribution limit.--No amount, other than a
        prescribed contribution under part B of title II of the Social
        Security Act, may be accepted as a contribution to an
        individual social security retirement account.
    ``(d) Treatment of Rollovers.--Section 408(d)(3)(A)(i) shall apply
to any amount distributed from an individual social security retirement
account only to the extent such amount is paid into another such
account for the benefit of the individual for whom the account from
which such amount is transferred was maintained.''
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subpart A
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 408 the
following new item:

                              ``Sec. 408A. Individual social security
                                        retirement accounts.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1994.

Summary: Individual Social Security Retirement Account Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the social security taxes on employees, employers, and the self-employed for 1995 and thereafter. Amends title II of the Social Security Act to require employers to have in effect a social security payroll deduction plan for employees. Requires such plan to provide for employers to deduct the prescribed social security employee contribution for transfer, together with the prescribed social security employer contribution, to an individual social security retirement account of the employee. Provides for self-employed individuals to pay into such accounts the prescribed social security self-employment contribution. Sets forth penalties for failure to establish and maintain such accounts. Requires amounts deducted from employee wages to be shown on wage receipts for employees. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exempt social security payroll deduction plans from provisions governing employee benefit plans. Provides for the tax treatment of individual social security retirement accounts in a manner similar to individual retirement accounts.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Commission Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known
as the National Commission on the Long-Term Solvency of the Medicare
Program (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 members
appointed as follows:
            (1) Five members shall be appointed by the President from
        among officers or employees of the executive branch, private
        citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than 3 members
        selected by the President shall be members of the same
        political party.
            (2) Five members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader
        of the Senate from among members of the Senate, private
        citizens of the United States, or both. Not more than 3 of the
        members selected by the Majority Leader shall be members of the
        same political party.
            (3) Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
        House of Representatives from among members of the House of
        Representatives, private citizens of the United States, or
        both. Not more than 3 of the members selected by the Speaker
        shall be members of the same political party.
            (4) Date.--The appointments of the members of the
        Commission shall be made no later than November 30, 1995.
    (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed
for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment.
    (d) Initial Meeting.--No later than 30 days after the date on which
all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall
hold its first meeting.
    (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairman.
    (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
    (g) Chairman.--The Commission shall select a Chairman from among
its members.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Analyses and Recommendations.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) review relevant analyses of the current and
                long-term financial condition of the medicare trust
                funds;
                    (B) identify problems that may threaten the long-
                term solvency of such trust funds;
                    (C) analyze potential solutions to such problems
                that will both assure the financial integrity of the
                medicare program under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and the provision of appropriate
health benefits; and
                    (D) provide appropriate recommendations to the
                Secretary of Health and Human Services, the President,
                and the Congress.
            (2) Definition of medicare trust funds.--For purposes of
        this subsection, the term ``medicare trust funds'' means the
        Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under section
        1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the
        Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established
        under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t).
    (b) Report.--The Commission shall submit its report to the
President and the Congress not later than December 31, 1996.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the
Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of such
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
    (c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--
            (1) Officers and employees of the federal government.--All
        members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the
        Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition
        to that received for their services as officers or employees of
        the United States.
            (2) Private citizens of the united states.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), all
                members of the Commission who are not officers or
                employees of the Federal Government shall serve without
                compensation for their work on the Commission.
                    (B) Travel expenses.--The members of the Commission
                who are not officers or employees of the Federal
                Government shall be allowed travel expenses, including
                per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
                for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter
                57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from
                their homes or regular places of business in the
                performance of services for the Commission, to the
                extent funds are available therefore.
    (b) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Chairman of the Commission may,
        without regard to the civil service laws and regulations,
        appoint and terminate an executive director and such other
        additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
        Commission to perform its duties. At the request of the
        Chairman, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
        provide the Commission with any necessary administrative and
        support services. The employment of an executive director shall
        be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
            (2) Compensation.--The Chairman of the Commission may fix
        the compensation of the executive director and other personnel
        without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
        III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to
        classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates,
        except that the rate of pay for the executive director and
        other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of
        the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (c) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government
employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and
such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service
status or privilege.
    (d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The
Chairman of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the
Commission submits its report under section 2(b).

SEC. 7. FUNDING FOR THE COMMISSION.

    Any expenses of the Commission shall be paid from such funds as may
be otherwise available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Summary: Medicare Commission Act of 1995 - Establishes the National Commission on the Long-Term Solvency of the Medicare Program to provide analyses of and recommendations with respect to the current and long-term financial condition of the Medicare trust funds for a report to the President, the Congress, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Medicare Commission Act of 1995


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Oversight Workforce Improvement Act
of 2014''.

SEC. 2. INVESTIGATIONS, AUDITS, INSPECTIONS, EVALUATIONS, AND REVIEWS
              CONDUCTED BY INSPECTORS GENERAL.

    Section 3518(c) of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraph
        (3)'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), this subchapter shall
        not apply to the collection of information during the conduct
        of any evaluation, or other review conducted by the Federal
        Accountability and Spending Transparency Board, or during the
        conduct of any audit, investigation, inspection, evaluation, or
        any other review conducted by the Council of the Inspectors
        General on Integrity and Efficiency or any Office of Inspector
        General, including any Office of Special Inspector General.''.

SEC. 3. EXEMPTION FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER FOIA.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``agency'' shall have
the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States
Code.
    (b) Exemption.--Information relating to the information security
program or practices of an agency shall be exempt from disclosure under
section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code, if disclosure could
reasonably be expected to lead to or result in unauthorized access,
use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of such
information system or the information such information system controls,
processes, stores, or transmits.
    (c) Non-Exempt Information.--Each agency that withholds information
subject to the exemption in subsection (b) shall act in accordance with
the obligation of the Federal agency to reasonably segregate and
disclose non-exempt information under section 552(b) of title 5, United
States Code.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ACT OF 1978 AND THE
              INSPECTOR GENERAL REFORM ACT OF 2008.

    (a) Incorporation of Provisions From the Inspector General Reform
Act of 2008 Into the Inspector General Act of 1978.--
            (1) Classification and pay.--
                    (A) Amendment.--Section 8G of the Inspector General
                Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the
                end the following:
    ``(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Inspector
General of each designated Federal entity shall, for pay and all other
purposes be classified at a grade, level or rank designation, as the
case may be, at or above those of a majority of the senior level
executives of the designated Federal entity (such as General Counsel,
Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Capital
Officer, or Chief Acquisition Officer). The pay of an Inspector General
of a designated Federal entity shall not be less than the average total
compensation (including bonuses) of the senior level executives of the
designated Federal entity calculated on an annual basis.''.
                    (B) Conforming repeal.--Section 4(b) of the
                Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
                409; 5 U.S.C. App. note) is repealed.
            (2) Pay retention.--
                    (A) Amendment.--The Inspector General Act of 1978
                (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding after section 8M
                the following:

``SEC. 8N. PAY RETENTION.

    ``(a) In General.--The provisions of section 3392 of title 5,
United States Code, other than the term `performance awards' and
`awarding of ranks' in subsection (c)(1) of such section, shall apply
to career appointees of the Senior Executive Service who are appointed
to the position of Inspector General.
    ``(b) Nonreduction in Pay.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, career Federal employees serving on an appointment made pursuant
to statutory authority found other than in section 3392 of title 5,
United States Code, shall not suffer a reduction in pay, not including
any bonus or performance award, as a result of being appointed to the
position of Inspector General.''.
                    (B) Conforming repeal.--Section 4(c) of the
                Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
                409; 5 U.S.C. App. note) is repealed.
            (3) Allegations of wrongdoing against special counsel or
        deputy special counsel.--
                    (A) Amendments.--Section 11(d) of the Inspector
                General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (2)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (C), by
                                inserting ``or their designee'' before
                                the period; and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (D), by
                                inserting ``or their designee'' before
                                the period; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) Allegations of wrongdoing against special counsel or
        deputy special counsel.--
                    ``(A) Special counsel defined.--In this paragraph,
                the term `Special Counsel' means the Special Counsel
                appointed under section 1211(b) of title 5, United
                States Code.
                    ``(B) Authority of integrity committee.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An allegation of
                        wrongdoing against the Special Counsel or
                        Deputy Special Counsel may be received,
                        reviewed and referred for investigation by the
                        Integrity Committee to the same extent and in
                        the same manner as in the case of an allegation
                        against an Inspector General (or a member of
                        the staff of an Office of Inspector General),
                        subject to the requirement that the Special
                        Counsel recuse himself or herself from the
                        consideration of any allegation brought under
                        this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Coordination with existing provision
                        of law.--This paragraph does not eliminate
                        access to the Merit Systems Protection Board
                        for review under section 7701 of title 5,
                        United States Code. To the extent that an
                        allegation brought under this subsection
                        involves section 2302(b)(8) of that title, a
                        failure to obtain corrective action within 120
                        days after the date on which the allegation is
                        received by the Integrity Committee shall, for
                        purposes of section 1221 of such title, be
                        considered to satisfy section 1214(a)(3)(B) of
                        such title.
                    ``(C) Regulations.--The Integrity Committee may
                prescribe any rules or regulations necessary to carry
                out this paragraph, subject to such consultation or
                other requirements as might otherwise apply.''.
                    (B) Conforming repeal.--Section 7(b) of the
                Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
                409; 5 U.S.C. 1211 note) is repealed.
    (b) Agency Applicability.--
            (1) Amendments.--The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5
        U.S.C. App.) is further amended--
                    (A) in section 8M--
                            (i) in subsection (a)(1)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Each agency'' and
                                inserting `` Each Federal agency and
                                designated Federal entity''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``that agency''
                                and inserting ``the Federal agency or
                                designated Federal entity'' each place
                                it appears; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b)--
                                    (I) in paragraph (1), in the matter
                                preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
                                ``agency'' and inserting ``Federal
                                agency and designated Federal entity'';
                                and
                                    (II) in paragraph (2)--
                                            (aa) in subparagraph (A),
                                        by striking ``agency'' and
                                        inserting ``Federal agency and
                                        designated Federal entity'';
                                        and
                                            (bb) in subparagraph (B),
                                        by striking ``agency'' and
                                        inserting ``Federal agency and
                                        designated Federal entity'';
                                        and
                    (B) in section 11(c)(3)(A)(ii), by striking
                ``department, agency, or entity of the executive branch
                which'' and inserting ``Federal agency or designated
                Federal entity that''.
            (2) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date
        of enactment of this Act, the head and the Inspector General of
        each Federal agency (as defined in section 12 of the Inspector
        General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)) and each designated
        Federal entity (as defined in section 8G of the Inspector
        General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)) shall implement the
        amendments made by this subsection.
    (c) Corrections.--
            (1) Executive order number.--Section 7(c)(2) of the
        Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-409; 31
        U.S.C. 501 note) is amended by striking ``12933'' and inserting
        ``12993''.
            (2) Punctuation and cross-references.--The Inspector
        General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
                    (A) in section 4(b)(2)--
                            (i) by striking ``8F(a)(2)'' and inserting
                        ``8G(a)(2)'' each place it appears; and
                            (ii) by striking ``8F(a)(1)'' and inserting
                        ``8G(a)(1)'';
                    (B) in section 6(a)(4), by striking ``information,
                as well as any tangible thing)'' and inserting
                ``information), as well as any tangible thing''; and
                    (C) in section 8G(g)(3), by striking ``8C'' and
                inserting ``8D''.
            (3) Spelling.--The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
        App.) is amended--
                    (A) in section 3(a), by striking ``subpena'' and
                inserting ``subpoena'';
                    (B) in section 6(a)(4)--
                            (i) by striking ``subpena'' and inserting
                        ``subpoena''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``subpenas'' and inserting
                        ``subpoenas'';
                    (C) in section 8D(a)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking
                        ``subpenas'' and inserting ``subpoenas''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
                        ``subpena'' and inserting ``subpoena'', each
                        place it appears;
                    (D) in section 8E(a)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking
                        ``subpenas'' and inserting ``subpoenas''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
                        ``subpena'' and inserting ``subpoena'' each
                        place it appears; and
                    (E) in section 8G(d), by striking ``subpena'' and
                inserting ``subpoena''.
    (d) Repeal.--Section 744 of the Financial Services and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8; 123 Stat. 693)
is repealed.

SEC. 5. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.

    Section 11(b)(1)(B) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C.
App.) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(B) The Inspectors General of the Intelligence
                Community and the Central Intelligence Agency.''.

Summary: Oversight Workforce Improvement Act of 2014 - Exempts from requirements relating to the authority of federal agencies to collect information for investigations: (1) information collected during any evaluation by the Federal Accountability and Spending Transparency Board. And (2) information collected during any audit, investigation, evaluation, or other review conducted by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency or any Office of the Inspector General, including any office of Special Inspector General. Exempts from document disclosure requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) information relating to the information security program or practices of a federal agency if disclosure could reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of such information program or the information such program controls, processes, stores, or transmits. Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to: (1) establish classification and pay standards for the Inspectors General of each federal agency. (2) set forth procedures for considering allegations of wrongdoing against the Special Counsel and Deputy Special Counsel. And (3) include within the membership of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency the Inspectors General of the Intelligence Community and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) .


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Nazi Benefits Termination Act of
2001''.

SEC. 2. DENIAL OF FEDERAL PUBLIC BENEFITS TO NAZI PERSECUTORS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an
individual who is determined under this Act to have been a participant
in Nazi persecution is not eligible for any Federal public benefit.
    (b) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Federal public benefit.--The term ``Federal public
        benefit'' has the meaning given such term by section 401(c)(1)
        of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
        Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611(c)(1)), but shall not
        include any benefit described in section 401(b)(1) of such Act
        (8 U.S.C. 1611(b)(1)) (and, for purposes of applying such
        section 401(b)(1), the term ``alien'' shall be considered to
        mean any individual).
            (2) Participant in nazi persecution.--The term
        ``participant in Nazi persecution'' means an individual who--
                    (A) if an alien (as such term is defined in section
                101(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
                U.S.C. 1101(a)(3))), has committed one or more of the
                acts described in section 212(a)(3)(E) of the
                Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
                1182(a)(3)(E)); or
                    (B) if a citizen of the United States--
                            (i) has procured citizenship illegally or
                        by concealment of a material fact or willful
                        misrepresentation; and
                            (ii) has committed one or more of the acts
                        described in section 212(a)(3)(E) of the
                        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
                        1182(a)(3)(E)).
            (3) Respondent.--The term ``respondent'' means an
        individual whom the Attorney General is providing an
        opportunity for a hearing on the record under section 3(a).

SEC. 3. DETERMINATIONS.

    (a) Hearing by Immigration Judge.--If the Attorney General has
reason to believe that an individual who has applied for or is
receiving a Federal public benefit may have been a participant in Nazi
persecution, the Attorney General may provide an opportunity for a
hearing on the record with respect to the matter. The Attorney General
may delegate the conduct of the hearing to an immigration judge (as
defined in section 101(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101(b)(4))).
    (b) Procedures.--
            (1) Right of respondents to appear.--
                    (A) Citizens, permanent resident aliens, and
                persons present in the united states.--At a hearing
                under this section, each respondent may appear in
                person if the respondent is a United States citizen, a
                permanent resident alien, or present within the United
                States when the proceeding under this section is
                initiated.
                    (B) Others.--A respondent who is not a citizen, a
                permanent resident alien, or present within the United
                States when the proceeding under this section is
                initiated may appear by video conference.
                    (C) Rule of interpretation.--This Act shall not be
                construed to permit the return to the United States of
                an individual who is inadmissible under section
                212(a)(3)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
                U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(E)).
            (2) Other rights of respondents.--At a hearing under this
        section, each respondent may be represented by counsel at no
        expense to the Federal Government, present evidence, cross-
        examine witnesses, and obtain the issuance of subpoenas for the
        attendance of witnesses and presentation of evidence.
            (3) Rules of evidence.--Unless otherwise provided in this
        Act, rules regarding the presentation of evidence at the
        hearing shall apply in the same manner in which such rules
        would apply at a removal proceeding before an immigration judge
        under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
        U.S.C. 1229a).
    (c) Findings, Conclusions, and Order.--
            (1) Findings and conclusions.--Not later than 60 days after
        the date of the end of a hearing conducted under this section,
        the immigration judge shall make findings of fact and
        conclusions of law with respect to whether the respondent has
        been a participant in Nazi persecution.
            (2) Order.--
                    (A) Finding that respondent has been a participant
                in nazi persecution.--If the immigration judge finds,
                by a preponderance of the evidence, that the respondent
                has been a participant in Nazi persecution, the
                immigration judge shall promptly issue an order
                declaring the respondent to be ineligible for any
                Federal public benefit, and prohibiting any person from
                providing such a benefit, directly or indirectly, to
                the respondent, and shall transmit a copy of the order
                to any governmental entity or person known to be so
                providing such a benefit.
                    (B) Finding that respondent has not been a
                participant in nazi persecution.--If the immigration
                judge finds that there is insufficient evidence for a
                finding under subparagraph (A) that a respondent has
                been a participant in Nazi persecution, the immigration
                judge shall issue an order dismissing the proceeding.
                    (C) Effective date; limitation of liability.--
                            (i) Effective date.--An order issued
                        pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be
                        effective on the date of issuance.
                            (ii) Limitation of liability.--
                        Notwithstanding clause (i), a person or entity
                        shall not be found to have provided a benefit
                        to an individual in violation of this Act until
                        the person or entity has received actual notice
                        of the issuance of an order under subparagraph
                        (A) with respect to the individual and has had
                        a reasonable opportunity to comply with the
                        order.
    (d) Review by Attorney General; Service of Final Order.--
            (1) Review by attorney general.--The Attorney General may,
        in his discretion, review any finding or conclusion made, or
        order issued, under subsection (c), and shall complete the
        review not later than 30 days after the date that the finding
        or conclusion is so made, or order is so issued. Otherwise, the
        finding, conclusion, or order shall be final.
            (2) Service of final order.--The Attorney General shall
        cause the findings of fact and conclusions of law made with
        respect to any final order issued under this section, together
        with a copy of the order, to be served on the respondent
        involved.
    (e) Judicial Review.--Any party aggrieved by a final order issued
under this section may obtain a review of the order by the United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, by filing a petition
for such review not later than 30 days after the date that the final
order is issued.

SEC. 4. JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL
              CIRCUIT OVER APPEALS UNDER THIS ACT.

    Section 1295(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (13);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) and
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(15) of an appeal from a final order issued under the
        Nazi Benefits Termination Act of 2001.''.

Summary: Nazi Benefits Termination Act of 2001 - Denies Federal public benefits to individuals who have been participants in Nazi persecution. Authorizes the Attorney General, if an individual who has applied for or is receiving a Federal public benefit may have been such a participant, to provide an opportunity for a hearing on the record with respect to the matter. Requires an immigration judge who finds that the respondent has been a participant in Nazi persecution to: (1) promptly issue an order declaring the respondent to be ineligible for any Federal public benefit and prohibiting any person from providing such a benefit to the respondent. And (2) transmit a copy of the order to any governmental entity or person known to be providing such a benefit. Authorizes the Attorney General to review any finding or conclusion made or order issued and to complete such review within 30 days . Provides for the appeal of findings or orders by an aggrieved party to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

To deny Federal public benefits to individuals who were participants in Nazi persecution.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Multilingual Education and
Technological Advancement Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of Education may award grants, on a
competitive basis, to local educational agencies to provide financial
assistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining computer
software for multilingual education.
    (b) Preference.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall give preference to local educational agencies that
serve an elementary or secondary school in which--
            (1) a majority of the students are from families with
        incomes below the poverty line, as defined by the Office of
        Management and Budget and in effect under section 673(2) of the
        Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)); or
            (2) there is a high concentration of students with low
        levels of English proficiency.
    (c) Eligible Schools.--A grant under this section may be used to
provide financial assistance only to an elementary or secondary school
that meets the criteria of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b).
    (d) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual
        study of the effectiveness of the grant program under this
        section.
            (2) Report.--By the end of each fiscal year for which
        appropriations to carry out this Act are available, the
        Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report that includes
        the following:
                    (A) Findings on the effectiveness of this grant
                program, including the effectiveness of the computer
                software.
                    (B) Recommendations for improving this grant
                program.
    (e) Application.--To seek a grant under subsection (a), a local
educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for grants under this section $80,000,000
for fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR COMPUTERS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of Education may award grants, on a
competitive basis, to local educational agencies to provide financial
assistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining computers.
    (b) Mandatory Grants.--The Secretary shall award a grant under
subsection (a) to any local educational agency that--
            (1) submits an application under subsection (c); and
            (2) serves elementary or secondary schools in which,
        cumulatively, a majority of the students are from families with
        incomes below the poverty line, as defined by the Office of
        Management and Budget and in effect under section 673(2) of the
        Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).
    (c) Eligible Schools.--A grant under this section may be used to
provide financial assistance only to an elementary or secondary school
in which--
            (1) a majority of students are from families with incomes
        below the poverty line, as defined by the Office of Management
        and Budget and in effect under section 673(2) of the Community
        Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)); or
            (2) there are fewer computers than the greater of--
                    (A) 6 computers; or
                    (B) a number of computers for that type school
                established by the Secretary by a regulation under this
                paragraph.
    (d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, a local
educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for grants under this section
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

SEC. 4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION
              PROGRAM GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Secretaries may make grants to eligible partnerships to pay the Federal
share of the cost of establishing and carrying out--
            (1) information technology training programs for former
        participants in information technology training programs who
        have not received information technology certification,
        minorities, women, older individuals, veterans, Native
        Americans, and dislocated workers; and
            (2) multilingual education programs.
    (b) Partnerships.--To be an eligible partnership under subsection
(a), a partnership shall consist of--
            (1) an institution of higher education; and
            (2) a private organization, such as a certified commercial
        information technology training provider or an information
        technology trade or professional association.
    (c) Application.--To seek a grant under subsection (a), an eligible
partnership shall submit an application to the Secretaries at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretaries may require.
    (d) Federal Share.--
            (1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost described in
        subsection (a) shall be 50 percent.
            (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost
        shall be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated by the
        Secretaries, and may include plant, equipment, or services.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretaries to carry out this section $100,000,000
for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each
subsequent fiscal year.

SEC. 5. BONUS GRANTS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Secretary of Education may make grants to local educational agencies to
assist such agencies in awarding bonuses to teachers who achieve
information technology certification.
    (b) Limitation on Amount.--The amount of a grant to a local
educational agency under subsection (a) shall not exceed the product
determined by multiplying $5,000 by the number of teachers described
pursuant to subsection (c)(2) in the application for the grant.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--To seek a grant under this section, a
        local educational agency shall submit an application to the
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
        information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--The application shall include information
        describing the number of teachers employed by the local
        educational agency who--
                    (A) have achieved information technology
                certification, including such certification for
                integrating information technology into the classroom
                or a curriculum; and
                    (B) have not previously received a bonus under this
                section.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Education to carry out this section
$120,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

SEC. 6. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHER TRAINING.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of Education may award grants, on a
competitive basis, to institutions of higher education to provide
scholarships to any eligible student.
    (b) Eligible Students.--For purposes of this section, the term
``eligible student'' means a student who--
            (1) is preparing to enter the teaching workforce; and
            (2) meets the criteria established under subsection (c).
    (c) Criteria.--For purposes of subsection (b)(2), the Secretary
shall establish criteria that require a student to obtain both
technological and multilingual education.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $100,000,000
for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
4 succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Certified commercial information technology training
        provider.--The term ``certified commercial information
        technology training provider'' means a private sector provider
        of educational products and services utilized for training in
        information technology that is certified by 1 or more software
        publishers or hardware manufacturers (the products of which are
        the subject of the training) with respect to--
                    (A) the curriculum that is used for the training;
                or
                    (B) the technical knowledge of the instructors of
                such provider.
            (2) Dislocated worker.--The term ``dislocated worker'' has
        the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Workforce
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801).
            (3) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has
        the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
            (4) Information technology certification.--The term
        ``information technology certification'' means certification in
        information technology, in accordance with such standards as--
                    (A)(i) the Computing Technology Industry
                Association or the Information Technology Training
                Association may issue, after consultation with chief
                education officers of States, State boards, entities
                that certify or license teachers, and other entities
                affected by the standards; or
                    (ii) a State board or entity that certifies or
                licenses teachers may issue, after consultation with
                chief education officers of States, and other entities
                affected by the standards; and
                    (B) the Secretaries may approve.
            (5) Information technology training program.--The term
        ``information technology training program'' means a program for
        the training of--
                    (A) computer programmers, systems analysts, and
                computer scientists or engineers (as such occupations
                are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics); and
                    (B) persons for such other occupations as are
                determined to be appropriate by the Secretaries, after
                consultation with a working group broadly solicited by
                the Secretaries and open to all interested information
                technology entities and trade and professional
                associations.
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
        term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1002).
            (7) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
        8801).
            (8) Native american.--The term ``Native American'' means an
        Indian or a Native Hawaiian, as defined in section 166(b) of
        the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2911(b)).
            (9) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has
        the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
            (10) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the
        Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, acting
        jointly.
            (11) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
        the term in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
        (29 U.S.C. 2801).

Summary: Multilingual Education and Technological Advancement Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide financial assistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining: (1) computer software for multilingual education, with preference given to schools with a majority of students from poor families or a high concentration of students with low levels of English proficiency. And (2) computers, with grant awards mandatory for schools where a majority of students meet poverty criteria or where there are a specified low number of computers for students. Authorizes the Secretary, jointly with the Secretary of Labor, to make matching grants for: (1) information technology training programs for former participants in such programs who have not received information technology certification, minorities, women, older individuals, veterans, Native Americans, and dislocated workers. And (2) multilingual education programs. Requires a partnership, to be eligible for such a grant, to consist of: (1) an institution of higher education. And (2) a private organization, such as a certified commercial information technology training provider or an information technology trade or professional association. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to LEAs to assist them in awarding bonuses to teachers who achieve information technology certification. Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to institutions of higher education to provide scholarships to students who: (1) are preparing to enter the teaching profession. And (2) meet criteria established by the Secretary that requires them to obtain both technological and multilingual education.

To provide grants to local educational agencies to provide financial assistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining computer software for multilingual education, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Tackling Excessive Standardized
Testing Act of 2015'' or the ``TEST Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. ESEA AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Academic Assessments.--Section 1111(b)(3)(C) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)(C)) is
amended--
            (1) in clause (v)(I), by striking ``clause vii'' and
        inserting ``clause (vii) and as otherwise provided under clause
        (xvi)'';
            (2) in clause (vii), by inserting ``except as otherwise
        provided under clause (xvi),'' before ``beginning'';
            (3) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (xiv);
            (4) by striking the period at the end of clause (xv); and
            (5) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(xvi) beginning with the first full
                        school year after the date of enactment of the
                        TEST Act of 2015, in lieu of the requirements
                        of clause (vii)--
                                    ``(I) authorize any public
                                elementary school or public secondary
                                school to administer the academic
                                assessments in mathematics required
                                under clause (vii) in each of grades 4,
                                6, and 8;
                                    ``(II) authorize any public
                                elementary school or public secondary
                                school to administer the academic
                                assessments in reading or language arts
                                required under clause (vii) in each of
                                grades 3, 5, and 7;
                                    ``(III) authorize a public
                                elementary schools or public secondary
                                school at the 15th percentile or above
                                for mathematics in the State (based on
                                the achievement of students for the
                                preceding school year in each of grades
                                4, 6, and 8 on the academics
                                assessments in mathematics required
                                under clause (vii)), to, for the school
                                year following the administration of
                                such assessments, administer the
                                academic assessments in mathematics
                                required under clause (vii) in each of
                                grades 4 and 8;
                                    ``(IV) authorize a public
                                elementary school or public secondary
                                school at the 15th percentile or above
                                for reading or language arts in the
                                State (based on the achievement of
                                students for the preceding school year
                                in each of grades 3, 5, and 7 on the
                                academics assessments in reading or
                                language arts required under clause
                                (vii)), to, for the school year
                                following the administration of such
                                assessments, administer the academic
                                assessments in reading or language arts
                                required under clause (vii) in each of
                                grades 3 and 7;
                                    ``(V) authorize a public elementary
                                school or public secondary school whose
                                students do not meet the academic
                                achievement requirements of subclause
                                (III) of this clause, but which has
                                demonstrated such level of progress
                                with respect to the achievement of
                                students on academic assessments in
                                mathematics required under clause
                                (vii), as determined appropriate by the
                                Secretary to be authorized to
                                administer assessments in mathematics
                                in accordance with subclause (III) of
                                this clause, to administer such
                                assessments in mathematics in
                                accordance with such subclause (III);
                                and
                                    ``(VI) authorize a public
                                elementary school or public secondary
                                school whose students do not meet the
                                academic achievement requirements of
                                subclause (IV) of this clause, but
                                which has demonstrated such level of
                                progress with respect to the
                                achievement of students on academic
                                assessments in reading or language arts
                                required under clause (vii), as
                                determined appropriate by the Secretary
                                to be authorized to administer
                                assessments in reading or language arts
                                in accordance with subclause (IV) of
                                this clause, to administer such
                                assessments in reading or language arts
                                in accordance with such subclause
                                (IV).''.
    (b) Limited English Proficient Students.--Section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6311(b)(2)(C)(v)) is amended in the matter following item (dd), by
inserting before the semicolon the following: ``and that the
achievement of a student with limited English proficiency shall not be
considered for purposes of such definition for the first 12 months that
the student is enrolled in a public elementary school or public
secondary school''.
    (c) Application to Waivers.--Section 9401 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7861) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph
                (9)(C);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
                (10) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) the requirement under section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) that
        a student with limited English proficiency be excluded from the
        definition of adequate yearly progress for the first 12 months
        that the student is enrolled in a public elementary school or
        public secondary school.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Options for Certain Academic Assessments.--A waiver awarded
under this section shall not prohibit a State educational agency from
administering academic assessments in accordance with clause (xvi) of
section 1111(b)(3)(C) in lieu of the requirements of clause (vii) of
section 1111(b)(3)(C).''.

Summary: Tackling Excessive Standardized Testing Act of 2015 or the TEST Act of 2015 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to lower the frequency with which students must take the tests used to determine whether they are making adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward state academic achievement standards in mathematics and reading or language arts. Under current law, students must take such tests in both subjects in each of grades 3 through 8. The bill maintains testing in grades 3 through 8 but authorizes a public school tonbsp, limit testing: (1)nbsp, in mathematics, to even-numberednbsp. Grades or, if the school is at the 15th percentile or above for mathematics in the state or its students are making appropriate progress toward state mathematics achievement standards,nbsp, to grades 4 and 8 only, and (2)nbsp. In reading or language arts, to odd-numbered grades or, if the school is at the 15th percentile or above for reading or language arts or its students are making appropriate progress toward state reading or language arts achievement standards,nbsp. To grades 3 and 7 only. Limited English proficient students who are in their first 12 months of enrollment in a public school are excluded from the determination as to whether students are making AYP toward state academic achievement standards.

TEST Act of 2015


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reliable Farm Safety Net Act''.

SEC. 2. CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR FUTURE CROP YEARS.

    The Federal Crop Insurance Act is amended by inserting after
section 518 (7 U.S.C. 1518) the following:

``SEC. 519. PERMANENT AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY AGRICULTURAL
              ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Definition of Federally Declared Disaster Area.--In this
section, the term `federally declared disaster area' means--
            ``(1) a county covered by--
                    ``(A) a Presidential declaration of major disaster
                issued under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
                5170); or
                    ``(B) a declaration by the Secretary of a disaster
                area under subpart A of part 1945 of title 7, Code of
                Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and
            ``(2) each county contiguous to a county described in
        paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Crop Disaster Assistance.--
            ``(1) Authority to provide emergency assistance.--The
        Secretary shall use the funds of the Commodity Credit
        Corporation to make emergency financial assistance available to
        producers on a farm that incur qualifying crop losses for an
        insurable crop due to damaging weather or related condition, as
        determined by the Secretary, that results in the designation of
        the county in which the farm or ranch is located as a federally
        declared disaster area.
            ``(2) Administration.--Except as provided in paragraphs (3)
        and (4), the Secretary shall make assistance available under
        this subsection in the same manner as provided under section
        815 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
        Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001
        (Public Law 106-387; 114 Stat. 1549A-55), including using the
        same loss thresholds for the quantity and quality losses as
        were used in administering that section.
            ``(3) Payment rate.--The Secretary shall make assistance
        available to producers on a farm for a crop under this
        subsection at a rate equal to 65 percent of the established
        price for the crop for any deficiency in production of 35
        percent or more for the crop.
            ``(4) Ineligibility for assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
                subparagraph (B), the producers on a farm shall not be
                eligible for assistance under this subsection with
                respect to losses to an insurable commodity or
                noninsurable commodity if the producers on the farm--
                            ``(i) in the case of an insurable
                        commodity, did not obtain a policy or plan of
                        insurance for the insurable commodity under
                        this Act for the crop incurring the losses;
                            ``(ii) in the case of a noninsurable
                        commodity, did not file the required paperwork,
                        and pay the administrative fee by the
                        applicable State filing deadline, for the
                        noninsurable commodity under section 196 of the
                        Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
                        of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) for the crop incurring
                        the losses;
                            ``(iii) had adjusted gross incomes, as
                        defined by section 1001D of the Food Security
                        Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308-3a), of greater than
                        $2,500,000 in 2003; or
                            ``(iv) were not in compliance with highly
                        erodible land conservation and wetland
                        conservation provisions.
                    ``(B) Contract waiver.--The Secretary may waive
                subparagraph (A) with respect to the producers on a
                farm if the producers enter into a contract with the
                Secretary under which the producers agree--
                            ``(i) in the case of an insurable
                        commodity, to obtain a policy or plan of
                        insurance under this Act providing additional
                        coverage for the insurable commodity for each
                        of the next 2 crops, at a level of coverage
                        equal to or greater than 60 percent; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of a noninsurable
                        commodity, to file the required paperwork and
                        pay the administrative fee by the applicable
                        State filing deadline, for the noninsurable
                        commodity for each of the next 2 crops under
                        section 196 of the Federal Agriculture
                        Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C.
                        7333).
                    ``(C) Effect of violation.--In the event of the
                violation of a contract under subparagraph (B) by a
                producer, the producer shall reimburse the Secretary
                for the full amount of the assistance provided to the
                producer under this subsection.
    ``(c) Livestock Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Emergency financial assistance.--The Secretary shall
        use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit
        Corporation to make and administer payments for livestock
        losses of eligible applicants due to a disaster, as determined
        by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Eligible applicants.--In carrying out the program
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide
        assistance to any applicant that--
                    ``(A)(i) conducts a livestock operation that is
                located in a federally declared disaster area,
                including any applicant conducting a livestock
                operation with eligible livestock (within the meaning
                of the livestock assistance program under section
                101(b) of division B of Public Law 108-324 (118 Stat.
                1234)); or
                    ``(ii) produces an animal described in section
                10806(a)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
                Act of 2002 (21 U.S.C. 321d(a)(1)); and
                    ``(B) meets all other eligibility requirements
                established by the Secretary for the program.
            ``(3) Administration.--The Secretary shall make assistance
        available under this subsection in the same manner as provided
        under section 806 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
        and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations
        Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-387; 114 Stat. 1549A-51).
            ``(4) Mitigation.--In determining the eligibility for or
        amount of payments for which a producer is eligible under the
        livestock assistance program, the Secretary shall not penalize
        a producer that takes actions (recognizing disaster conditions)
        that reduce the average number of livestock the producer owned
        for grazing during the production year for which assistance is
        being provided.
    ``(d) Livestock Indemnity Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use such sums as are
        necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry
        out a livestock indemnity program for livestock losses of
        eligible applicants in federally declared disaster areas, as
        determined by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Administration.--The Secretary shall make assistance
        available under this subsection in the same manner as provided
        under section 3012(b) of the Emergency Agricultural Disaster
        Assistance Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-234; 120 Stat. 476).
            ``(3) Limitation on assistance.--A producer may apply for
        assistance under this subsection or subsection (c), but not
        both.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such amounts as are necessary to reimburse the Commodity
Credit Corporation for funds expended by the Secretary under this
section.
    ``(f) Effective Date.--This section applies to the 2007 and
subsequent crop years.''.

Summary: Reliable Farm Safety Net Act - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish permanent authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to provide disaster relief to qualifying agricultural producers who incur crop or livestock losses as a result of damaging weather or related condition in federally declared disaster areas.

A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish permanent authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to quickly provide disaster relief to agricultural producers that incur crop or livestock losses as a result of damaging weather or related condition in federally declared disaster areas, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.;
        Public Law 96-8) is the cornerstone of relations between the
        United States and Taiwan, which is also governed by the three
        joint communiques and the Six Assurances.
            (2) The Taiwan Relations Act has governed United States
        arms sales to Taiwan since 1979, when the United States
        extended diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of
        China.
            (3) The Taiwan Relations Act specifies that it is United
        States policy, among other things, to consider any nonpeaceful
        means to determine Taiwan's future ``a threat'' to the peace
        and security of the Western Pacific and of ``grave concern'' to
        the United States, ``to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive
        character'', and ``to maintain the capacity of the United
        States to resist any resort to force or other forms of
        coercion'' jeopardizing the security or social or economic
        system of Taiwan's people.
            (4) Section 3(a) of the Taiwan Relations Act states that
        ``the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense
        articles and defense services in such quantity as may be
        necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-
        defense capability''.
            (5) Section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act stipulates
        that both the President and the Congress shall determine the
        nature and quantity of such defense articles and services
        ``based solely'' upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan.
            (6) Taiwan in March 2009 issued its first Quadrennial
        Defense Review, a robust, defense-oriented strategy that aims
        to shape the regional security environment and deter conflict
        while transforming the military into a leaner, more efficient
        fighting force with sustainable capabilities, thereby helping
        to demonstrate that Taiwan has the resolve and commitment to
        successfully strengthen its own defenses.
            (7) According to the Congressional Research Service, the
        executive branch has yet to send any arms transfer
        notifications to Congress for Taiwan during calendar year 2009,
        including notifications for Blackhawk helicopters, diesel
        submarine design, and additional Patriot PAC-3 systems, nor has
        it yet transferred the OSPREY class minehunter coastal ships
        ORIOLE (MHC-55) and FALCON (MHC-59), even though Congress
        authorized the sale of these ships in calendar 2008 in the
        Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
        229).
            (8) Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has reiterated his
        administration's desire to acquire United States built F-16 C/
        Ds and other weapons on many public occasions, including in an
        April 22 address to the United States by teleconference to mark
        the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and a
        statement issued during a May 26 transit stop in the United
        States on his way to Central America for a diplomatic visit.
            (9) Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou also stated on October
        2, 2009, that ``Although there are pragmatic improvements in
        cross-strait ties, this doesn't mean we can let our guard
        down.''.
            (10) As highlighted in the March 2009 Department of Defense
        annual report to Congress on China's military, ``China's armed
        forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities . . .
        [that] could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a
        settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing's terms while
        simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible
        U.S. support for the island in case of conflict.''.

SEC. 2. MANDATORY CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS.

    (a) Briefings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act and at least annually thereafter, the Secretary
of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall provide
detailed briefings to Congress on--
            (1) any discussions conducted between any executive branch
        agency and the Government of Taiwan during the covered period;
        and
            (2) any potential transfer of defense articles or defense
        services to the Government of Taiwan.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means,
        with respect to--
                    (A) the initial briefing required under subsection
                (a), the period beginning on the date of the enactment
                of this Act and ending on the date of such initial
                briefing; and
                    (B) subsequent briefings required under such
                subsection, the period beginning on the day after the
                date of the most recent briefing and ending on the date
                of any such subsequent briefing.
            (2) Executive branch agency.--The term ``executive branch
        agency'' has the meaning given the term ``agency'' in section
        551(1) of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Defense article.--The term ``defense article'' has the
        meaning given the term in section 47 of the Arms Export Control
        Act (22 U.S.C. 2794).
            (4) Defense service.--The term ``defense service'' has the
        meaning given the term in section 47 of the Arms Export Control
        Act (22 U.S.C. 2794).

Summary: Directs the Secretary of State to provide briefings to Congress at least once a year regarding: (1) discussions conducted between any executive branch agency and the government of Taiwan. And (2) potential defense article or defense service transfers to the government of Taiwan.

To require the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to provide detailed briefings to Congress on any recent discussions conducted between United States Government and the Government of Taiwan and any potential transfer of defense articles or defense services to the Government of Taiwan, and for other purposes.