SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Full Employment Opportunity and
Infrastructure Improvement Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SERVICE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501
et seq.) (in this Act referred to as ``the Act'') is amended by adding
at the end the following new title:

   ``TITLE VIII--PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SERVICE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM

``SEC. 801. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            ``(1) restoring the competitiveness and enhancing the
        productivity of the United States will require that all workers
        possess basic job and educational skills; and
            ``(2) an investment in human capital will have a
        substantial impact on increasing productivity in the United
        States.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this title are to establish a
public works and public service job training program designed--
            ``(1) to provide on-the-job training opportunities for
        hard-to-employ individuals; and
            ``(2) to improve infrastructure and public sector service
        delivery.

``SEC. 802. ALLOTMENT AND ALLOCATION.

    ``(a) Allotment to States.--Of the amount appropriated under
section 3(g) for each fiscal year and available to carry out this
title, the Secretary shall allot such amount to the States for
allocation to service delivery areas within each State.
    ``(b) Allocation to Service Delivery Areas.--Of the amount allotted
to a State under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Governor shall
allocate such amount to service delivery areas in such State in
accordance with the criteria contained in subparagraphs (A) through (C)
of section 202(b)(1).
    ``(c) Reallotment.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the end of
        each program year, the Secretary shall, in accordance with the
        requirements of this subsection, reallot to eligible States
        amounts appropriated for such program year that are available
        for reallotment under paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Amount.--The amount available for reallotment is
        equal to the amount by which the unobligated balance of the
        State allotment under subsection (a) for all States at the end
        of the program year prior to the program year for which the
        determination under this subsection is made exceeds 20 percent
        of such allotment for that prior program year.
            ``(3) Eligible states defined.--For purposes of this
        subsection, the term `eligible States' means States that
        demonstrate progress toward achieving the objectives of this
        title and that require additional funds in order to accomplish
        such objectives, as determined by the Secretary.

``SEC. 803. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--A service delivery area shall use amounts
allocated under section 802 to establish a public works and public
service job training program under which eligible individuals
participate in job projects in accordance with this title.
    ``(b) Conduct of Program.--In carrying out the program established
under subsection (a), the service delivery area shall--
            ``(1) prepare a plan for the establishment and conduct of
        job projects pursuant to criteria prescribed by the Secretary;
            ``(2) submit such plan to the Secretary for review and
        approval;
            ``(3) provide for an objective assessment of the skill
        levels and service needs of each participant to determine the
        appropriate job project for each such participant;
            ``(4) provide participants with limited English speaking
        ability such instruction as the service delivery area considers
        appropriate;
            ``(5) use objective measures to monitor the success or
        failure of the participant in the job project and maintain
        records on each participant;
            ``(6) conduct outreach activities to attract eligible
        individuals;
            ``(7) provide pre-employment skills and work responsibility
        training;
            ``(8) provide each participant with--
                    ``(A) information about and referrals to pre-
                college and adult continuing education and related
                training programs;
                    ``(B) appropriate social services, including
                information relating to educational programs; and
                    ``(C) information about programs and services
                provided by the State apprenticeship council;
            ``(9) establish a job counseling and job placement service
        to assist each participant in obtaining employment upon
        completion of the job project, including the training-related
        placement of minorities in nontraditional employment and
        apprenticeships; and
            ``(10) prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary
        on the activities of the service delivery area with respect to
        the program.
    ``(c) Job Project Requirements.--Each job project shall meet the
following requirements:
            ``(1) Each job project shall be capable of completion
        within 24 months.
            ``(2) Each job project shall provide for on-the-job
        training and employment of eligible individuals, including the
        training of minorities in nontraditional employment.
            ``(3) A participant who has not received a high school
        diploma or its equivalent shall, in order to continue
        employment in the project, maintain satisfactory progress
        toward receiving a high school diploma or its equivalent.
    ``(d) Personnel.--A service delivery area shall--
            ``(1) employ an administrator and support personnel
        sufficient to carry out the program established under
        subsection (a); and
            ``(2) select a project manager for each job project
        assisted under this title, in accordance with criteria
        established by the Secretary.
    ``(e) Progress Reports.--The administrator shall prepare and submit
to the private industry council of the service delivery area monthly
progress reports on the job projects.
    ``(f) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 10 percent of amounts
allocated under section 802 to a service delivery area for a fiscal
year may be used for administrative expenses in carrying out the
program established under subsection (a).
    ``(g) Criteria Relating to Profit or Loss of Employers.--The
Secretary shall develop criteria to be used by each private industry
council to evaluate the projected profit or loss of an employer with
respect to a job project carried out by such employer.
    ``(h) Job Project Defined.--For purposes of this title, the term
`job project' means--
            ``(1) the construction, renovation, repair, or other
        improvement, and maintenance of a public building or other
        public facility (including a surface transportation, aviation,
        water resources, solid waste management, or drinking water
        facility) with commercial, industrial, public, service, or
        other value, or
            ``(2) work in such fields as environmental quality, health
        care, education, public safety, crime prevention and control,
        prison rehabilitation, transportation, recreation, maintenance
        of parks, streets, and other public facilities, solid waste
        removal, pollution control, housing and neighborhood
        improvements, rural development, conservation, beautification,
        and other fields of human betterment and community improvement,
that will be carried out by a public agency or a private nonprofit
organization and would not otherwise be conducted with existing funds.

``SEC. 804. ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to the limitations in subsection (b), an
individual shall be eligible to participate in a job project under this
title if such individual--
            ``(1)(A) has a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
            ``(B) is enrolled in a program which leads to a high school
        diploma or its equivalent and is making substantial progress
        toward such diploma or equivalent;
            ``(2) is at least 18 years of age;
            ``(3) has resided in the service delivery area for at least
        60 consecutive days prior to applying for employment under the
        job project; and
            ``(4)(A) has been unemployed for at least 35 consecutive
        days prior to applying for such employment;
            ``(B) sought employment during such 35-day period; and
            ``(C) provides assurances that he or she will continue to
        seek employment during the last 6 months of the job project.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Maximum income.--An individual whose income from all
        sources for the year preceding the year in which the
        determination of employment under the job project is made is
        equal to or greater than 150 percent of the official poverty
        line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and
        revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the
        Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))
        shall not be eligible to participate in a job project under
        this title.
            ``(2) Retirement benefits.--An individual eligible for
        retirement benefits under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
        301 et seq.), under any retirement system for Federal
        Government employees, under the railroad retirement system,
        under the military retirement system, or under any private
        pension program shall not be eligible to participate in a job
        project under this title.

``SEC. 805. WAGES AND BENEFITS AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

    ``(a) Wages and Benefits.--Notwithstanding section 141(k), each
participant in a job project under this title shall receive the
following:
            ``(1) Wages in an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) the wages described in section 143(d) with
                respect to laborers and mechanics described in such
                section; or
                    ``(B) in cases where subparagraph (A) does not
                apply, wages equal to the higher of--
                            ``(i) the minimum wage established under
                        section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act
                        of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)); or
                            ``(ii) the minimum wage established under
                        the applicable State minimum wage law.
            ``(2) Benefits and employment conditions comparable to the
        benefits and conditions provided to other employees employed in
        similar occupations by a comparable employer, as determined by
        the private industry council.
    ``(b) Supportive Services.--Each service delivery area shall make
available to each participant in a job project under this title
appropriate supportive services to enable a participant to work.

``SEC. 806. WAIVER AUTHORITY.

    ``The service delivery area may waive the education requirement
under section 803(c)(3) with respect to a participant in a job project.

``SEC. 807. LINKAGES.

    ``In carrying out the program under this title, each service
delivery area shall establish appropriate linkages with other
appropriate programs, including programs under titles II and III and
any other provision of this Act, to avoid duplication and enhance the
delivery of services.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 3 of the Act (29
U.S.C. 1502) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
    ``(g) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out title VIII.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the Act is
amended by adding at the end the following new items:

   ``TITLE VIII--PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SERVICE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM

``Sec. 801. Findings and purposes.
``Sec. 802. Allotment and allocation.
``Sec. 803. Use of funds.
``Sec. 804. Eligible individuals.
``Sec. 805. Wages and benefits and supportive services.
``Sec. 806. Waiver authority.
``Sec. 807. Linkages.''.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT THAT STATE APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BE
              MEMBER OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL.

    Paragraph (3) of section 102(a) of the Act (29 U.S.C. 1512(a)(3))
is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(F) The State apprenticeship council.''.

Summary: Full Employment Opportunity and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 1994 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to establish a public works and public service job training program. Sets forth provisions for allotment to States, allocation to service delivery areas, program conduct and project requirements, individual eligibility, wages, benefits, and supportive services, waiver of education requirements, and linkages to other programs. Requires that private industry councils include representatives of the State apprenticeship council.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. PET INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
              STALKING.

    (a) Interstate Stalking.--Section 2261A of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
                and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
                            ``(iv) the pet of that person; or''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A)--
                    (A) by inserting after ``to a person'' the
                following: ``or a pet''; and
                    (B) by striking ``or (iii)'' and inserting ``(iii),
                or (iv)''.
    (b) Interstate Violation of Protection Order.--Section 2262 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``another
                person'' the following: ``or the pet of that person'';
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting after
                ``proximity to, another person'' the following ``or the
                pet of that person''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting after ``in any other
        case,'' the following: ``including any case in which the
        offense is committed against a pet,''.
    (c) Restitution To Include Veterinary Services.--Section 2264 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended in subsection (b)(3)--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G);
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
                    ``(F) veterinary services relating to physical care
                for the victim's pet; and''.
    (d) Pet Defined.--Section 2266 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
            ``(11) Pet.--The term `pet' means a domesticated animal,
        such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other
        animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial
        purposes.''.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL PET SHELTER AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting in consultation with
the Office of the Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice,
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, shall award grants under this section to
eligible entities to carry out programs to provide the assistance
described in subsection (c) with respect to victims of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the pets of
such victims.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
        this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
        the Secretary may reasonably require, including--
                    (A) a description of the activities for which a
                grant under this section is sought;
                    (B) such assurances as the Secretary determines to
                be necessary to ensure compliance by the entity with
                the requirements of this section; and
                    (C) a certification that the entity, before
                engaging with any individual domestic violence victim,
                will disclose to the victim any mandatory duty of the
                entity to report instances of abuse and neglect
                (including instances of abuse and neglect of pets).
            (2) Additional requirements.--In addition to the
        requirements of paragraph (1), each application submitted by an
        eligible entity under that paragraph shall--
                    (A) not include proposals for any activities that
                may compromise the safety of a domestic violence
                victim, including--
                            (i) background checks of domestic violence
                        victims; or
                            (ii) clinical evaluations to determine the
                        eligibility of such a victim for support
                        services;
                    (B) not include proposals that would require
                mandatory services for victims or that a victim obtain
                a protective order in order to receive proposed
                services; and
                    (C) reflect the eligible entity's understanding of
                the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence,
                sexual assault, or stalking.
            (3) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
        shall be construed to require--
                    (A) domestic violence victims to participate in the
                criminal justice system in order to receive services;
                or
                    (B) eligible entities receiving a grant under this
                section to breach client confidentiality.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section may only be
used for programs that provide--
            (1) emergency and transitional shelter and housing
        assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, including
        assistance with respect to any construction or operating
        expenses of newly developed or existing emergency and
        transitional pet shelter and housing (regardless of whether
        such shelter and housing is co-located at a victim service
        provider or within the community);
            (2) short-term shelter and housing assistance for domestic
        violence victims with pets, including assistance with respect
        to expenses incurred for the temporary shelter, housing,
        boarding, or fostering of the pets of domestic violence victims
        and other expenses that are incidental to securing the safety
        of such a pet during the sheltering, housing, or relocation of
        such victims;
            (3) support services designed to enable a domestic violence
        victim who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating
        violence, sexual assault, or stalking to--
                    (A) locate and secure--
                            (i) safe housing with the victim's pet; or
                            (ii) safe accommodations for the victim's
                        pet; or
                    (B) provide the victim with pet-related services,
                such as pet transportation, pet care services, and
                other assistance; or
            (4) for the training of relevant stakeholders on--
                    (A) the link between domestic violence, dating
                violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the abuse and
                neglect of pets;
                    (B) the needs of domestic violence victims;
                    (C) best practices for providing support services
                to such victims;
                    (D) best practices for providing such victims with
                referrals to victims' services; and
                    (E) the importance of confidentiality.
    (d) Grant Conditions.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section shall, as a condition of such receipt, agree--
            (1) to be bound by the nondisclosure of confidential
        information requirements of section 40002(b)(2) of the Violence
        Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(2)); and
            (2) that the entity shall not condition the receipt of
        support, housing, or other benefits provided pursuant to this
        section on the participation of domestic violence victims in
        any or all of the support services offered to such victims
        through a program carried out by the entity using grant funds.
    (e) Duration of Assistance Provided to Victims.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance
        provided with respect to a pet of a domestic violence victim
        using grant funds awarded under this section shall be provided
        for a period of not more than 24 months.
            (2) Extension.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
        under this section may extend the 24-month period referred to
        in paragraph (1) for a period of not more than 6 months in the
        case of a domestic violence victim who--
                    (A) has made a good faith effort to acquire
                permanent housing for the victim's pet during that 24-
                month period; and
                    (B) has been unable to acquire such permanent
                housing within that period.
    (f) Report to the Secretary.--Not later than 1 year after the date
on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section and
each year thereafter, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a report
that contains, with respect to assistance provided by the entity to
domestic violence victims with pets using grant funds received under
this section, information on--
            (1) the number of domestic violence victims with pets
        provided such assistance; and
            (2) the purpose, amount, type of, and duration of such
        assistance.
    (g) Report to Congress.--
            (1) Reporting requirement.--Not later than November 1 of
        each even-numbered fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to
        the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
        and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
        the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the
        information contained in the reports submitted under subsection
        (f).
            (2) Availability of report.--The Secretary shall transmit a
        copy of the report submitted under paragraph (1) to--
                    (A) the Office on Violence Against Women of the
                Department of Justice;
                    (B) the Office of Community Planning and
                Development of the Department of Housing and Urban
                Development; and
                    (C) the Administration for Children and Families of
                the Department of Health and Human Services.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
        carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017
        through 2021.
            (2) Limitation.--Of the amount made available under
        paragraph (1) in any fiscal year, not more than 5 percent may
        be used for evaluation, monitoring, salaries, and
        administrative expenses.
    (i) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Domestic violence victim defined.--The term ``domestic
        violence victim'' means a victim of domestic violence, dating
        violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) a unit of local government;
                    (C) an Indian tribe; or
                    (D) any other organization that has a documented
                history of effective work concerning domestic violence,
                dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (as
                determined by the Secretary), including--
                            (i) a domestic violence and sexual assault
                        victim service provider;
                            (ii) a domestic violence and sexual assault
                        coalition;
                            (iii) a community-based and culturally
                        specific organization;
                            (iv) any other nonprofit, nongovernmental
                        organization; and
                            (v) any organization that works directly
                        with pets and collaborates with any
                        organization referred to in clauses (i) through
                        (iv), including--
                                    (I) an animal shelter; and
                                    (II) an animal welfare
                                organization.
            (3) Pet.--The term ``pet'' means a domesticated animal,
        such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other
        animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial
        purposes.
            (4) Other terms.--Except as otherwise provided in this
        subsection, terms used in this section shall have the meaning
        given such terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against
        Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)).

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that States should encourage the
inclusion of protections against violent or threatening acts against
the pet of a person in domestic violence protection orders.

Summary: Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to broaden the definition of stalking to include conduct that causes a person to experience a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to his or her pet. Additionally, an interstate violation of a protection order includes interstate travel with the intent to violate a protection order against a pet that is included within the scope of the protection order. The bill specifies the applicable criminal penalty8212. A prison term of up to five years, a fine, or both8212. For a person who commits an interstate violation of a protection order against a pet. With respect to a defendant who commits a domestic violence offense or an interstate violation of a protection order, mandatory restitution in the quot, full amount of victim's lossesquot. Includes costs incurred for veterinary services related to the pet. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to award grants for shelter and housing assistance and support services for domestic violence victims with pets. Finally, it expresses the sense of Congress that states should include, in domestic violence protection orders, protections against violence or threats against a person's pet.

Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act
of 2014''.

SEC. 2. TAX CREDIT FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:

``SEC. 45S. CREDIT FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM EXPENSES.

    ``(a) Tax Credit.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 38, in the case
        of an employer, the apprenticeship program credit determined
        under this section for any taxable year with respect to each
        qualified individual in a qualified apprenticeship program is
        an amount equal to the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the amount of any wages (as defined in
                section 51(c)(1)) paid or incurred by the employer with
                respect to such qualified individual during the taxable
                year, or
                    ``(B) $5,000.
            ``(2) Established apprenticeship programs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The apprenticeship program
                credit determined under this section for the taxable
                year shall only be applicable to the number of
                qualified individuals in a qualified apprenticeship
                program which are in excess of the apprenticeship
                participation average for such employer (as determined
                under subparagraph (B)).
                    ``(B) Apprenticeship participation average.--For
                purposes of subparagraph (A), the apprenticeship
                participation average shall be equal to the average of
                the total number of qualified individuals in the
                qualified apprenticeship program of the employer for--
                            ``(i) the 3 preceding taxable years, or
                            ``(ii) the number of taxable years in which
                        the qualified apprenticeship program was in
                        existence, whichever is less.
            ``(3) Denial of double benefit.--No deduction or any other
        credit shall be allowed under this chapter for any amount taken
        into account in determining the credit under this section.
            ``(4) Election not to claim credit.--This section shall not
        apply to a taxpayer for any taxable year if such taxpayer
        elects to have this section not apply for such taxable year.
            ``(5) Limitation.--The apprenticeship program credit under
        this section shall not be allowed for more than 3 taxable years
        with respect to any qualified individual.
    ``(b) Qualified Individual.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term
        `qualified individual' means, with respect to any taxable year,
        an individual who is an apprentice and--
                    ``(A) is participating in a qualified
                apprenticeship program with an employer that is subject
                to the terms of a valid apprenticeship agreement (as
                defined in section 29.7 of title 29 of the Code of
                Federal Regulations),
                    ``(B) has been employed under a qualified
                apprenticeship program for a period of not less than 7
                months that ends within the taxable year,
                    ``(C) is not a highly compensated employee (as
                defined in section 414(q)), and
                    ``(D) is not a seasonal worker (as defined in
                section 45R(d)(5)(B)).
            ``(2) Training received by members of the armed forces.--An
        employer shall consider and may accept, in the case of a
        qualified individual participating in a qualified
        apprenticeship program, any relevant training or instruction
        received by such individual while serving in the Armed Forces
        of the United States, for the purpose of satisfying the
        applicable training and instruction requirements under such
        qualified apprenticeship program.
            ``(3) Ineligibility of certain individuals.--For purposes
        of this subsection, paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 51(i)
        shall apply.
    ``(c) Qualified Apprenticeship Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term
        `qualified apprenticeship program' means an apprenticeship
        program (as defined in section 29.2 of title 29 of the Code of
        Federal Regulations), whether or not such program is
        administered by the employer, which--
                    ``(A) provides qualified individuals with on-the-
                job training and instruction for a qualified occupation
                with the employer,
                    ``(B) is registered with the Office of
                Apprenticeship of the Employment and Training
                Administration of the Department of Labor or a State
                apprenticeship agency recognized by such Office of
                Apprenticeship,
                    ``(C) maintains records relating to the qualified
                individual, in such manner as the Secretary, after
                consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may
                prescribe, and
                    ``(D) satisfies such other requirements as the
                Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of
                Labor, may prescribe.
            ``(2) Qualified occupation.--For purposes of paragraph
        (1)(A), the term `qualified occupation' means a skilled trade
        occupation in a high-demand mechanical, technical, healthcare,
        or technology field (or such other occupational field as the
        Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may
        prescribe) that satisfies the criteria for an apprenticeable
        occupation under section 29.4 of title 29 of the Code of
        Federal Regulations.
    ``(d) Apprenticeship Agreement.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term
        `apprenticeship agreement' means an agreement between a
        qualified individual and an employer that satisfies the
        criteria under section 29.7 of title 29 of the Code of Federal
        Regulations.
            ``(2) Credit for training received under apprenticeship
        agreement.--If a qualified individual has received training or
        instruction through a qualified apprenticeship program with an
        employer which is subsequently unable to satisfy its
        obligations under the apprenticeship agreement, such individual
        may transfer any completed training or instruction for purposes
        of satisfying any applicable training and instruction
        requirements under a separate apprenticeship agreement with a
        different employer.
    ``(e) Application of Certain Rules.--For purposes of this section,
all persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of
section 52, or subsection (m) or (o) of section 414, shall be treated
as a single person.
    ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section,
including regulations to provide for application of paragraphs (1) and
(2) of subsection (a) with respect to qualified individuals in a
qualified apprenticeship program who are employed by more than 1
employer.''.
    (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``plus'' at
the end of paragraph (35), by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (36) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
            ``(37) the apprenticeship program expenses credit
        determined under section 45S(a).''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``Sec. 45S. Credit for apprenticeship program expenses.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Rule for employment credits.--Section 280C(a) of the
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting
        ``45S(a),'' after ``45P(a),''.
            (2) Exclusion for determination of credit for increasing
        research activities.--Clause (iii) of section 41(b)(2)(D) of
        such Code is amended by inserting ``the apprenticeship program
        credit under section 45S(a) or'' after ``in determining''.
    (e) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall submit a report to the Committees on Finance
and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committees on Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce of the
House of Representatives that contains an evaluation of the activities
authorized under this Act, including--
            (1) the extent to which qualified individuals completed
        qualified apprenticeship programs;
            (2) whether qualified individuals remained employed by an
        employer that received an apprenticeship program credit under
        section 45S of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the length
        of such employment following expiration of the apprenticeship
        period;
            (3) whether qualified individuals who completed a qualified
        apprenticeship program remained employed in the same occupation
        or field; and
            (4) recommendations for legislative and administrative
        actions to improve the effectiveness of the apprenticeship
        program credit under section 45S of the Internal Revenue Code
        of 1986.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply to
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

SEC. 3. ENCOURAGING MENTORS TO TRAIN THE FUTURE.

    (a) Early Distributions From Qualified Retirement Plans.--Section
72(t)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (vii);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of clause
                (viii) and inserting ``, or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(ix) made to an employee who is serving
                        as a mentor.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(H) Distributions to mentors.--For purposes of
                this paragraph, the term `mentor' means an individual
                who--
                            ``(i) has attained 55 years of age,
                            ``(ii) is not separated from their
                        employment with a company, corporation, or
                        institution of higher education,
                            ``(iii) in accordance with such
                        requirements and standards as the Secretary
                        determines to be necessary, has substantially
                        reduced their hours of employment with their
                        employer, with the individual to be engaged in
                        mentoring activities described in clause (iv)
                        for not less than 20 percent of the hours of
                        employment after such reduction, and
                            ``(iv) is responsible for the training and
                        education of employees or students in an area
                        of expertise for which the individual has a
                        professional credential, certificate, or
                        degree.''.
    (b) Distributions During Working Retirement.--Paragraph (36) of
section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read
as follows:
            ``(36) Distributions during working retirement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A trust forming part of a
                pension plan shall not be treated as failing to
                constitute a qualified trust under this section solely
                because the plan provides that a distribution may be
                made from such trust to an employee who--
                            ``(i) has attained age 62 and who is not
                        separated from employment at the time of such
                        distribution, or
                            ``(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), is
                        serving as a mentor (as such term is defined in
                        section 72(t)(2)(H)).
                    ``(B) Limitation on distributions to mentors.--For
                purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), the amount of the
                distribution made to an employee who is serving as a
                mentor shall not be greater than the amount equal to
                the product obtained by multiplying--
                            ``(i) the amount of the distribution that
                        would have been payable to the employee if such
                        employee had separated from employment instead
                        of reducing their hours of employment with
                        their employer and engaging in mentoring
                        activities, in accordance with clauses (iii)
                        and (iv) of section 72(t)(2)(H), by
                            ``(ii) the percentage equal to the quotient
                        obtained by dividing--
                                    ``(I) the sum of--
                                            ``(aa) the number of hours
                                        per pay period by which the
                                        employee's hours of employment
                                        are reduced, and
                                            ``(bb) the number of hours
                                        of employment that such
                                        employee is engaging in
                                        mentoring activities, by
                                    ``(II) the total number of hours
                                per pay period worked by the employee
                                before such reduction in hours of
                                employment.''.
    (c) ERISA.--Subparagraph (A) of section 3(2) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(2)) is amended
by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: ``, or
solely because such distribution is made to an employee who is serving
as a mentor (as such term is defined in section 72(t)(2)(H) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986).''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to distributions made in taxable years beginning after December
31, 2014.

Summary: Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business-related tax credit for up to $5,000 for the training of a qualified individual in a qualified apprenticeship program. Defines a qualified individual as an individual who: (1) is an apprentice participating in anbsp, qualified apprenticeship program, (2)nbsp. Has been employed in such a program for a period of at least seven months that ends within the taxable year, and (3) is not a highly compensated employee or a seasonal worker. Defines a qualified apprenticeship program as a program that: (1) provides qualified individuals with on-the-job training and instruction for a qualified occupation. (2) is registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor. And (3) maintains records relating to the qualified individual. Allows a premature distribution, without penalty, fromnbsp. A tax-qualified retirement plan to an employee who is serving as a mentor. Defines a quot, mentorquot, as a working individual who: (1) has attained age 55. (2) works reduced hours and engages in mentoring activities for at least 20 of such hours. And (3) is responsible for the training and education of employees or students in an area of expertise for which such individual has a professional credential, certificate, or degree.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Affordable Vocational and
Collegiate Education (SAVE) Act.''

SEC. 2. DEDUCTION FOR PAYMENTS TO QUALIFIED STATE TUITION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized
deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 222 as
section 223 and by inserting after section 221 the following new
section:

``SEC. 222. PAYMENTS TO QUALIFIED STATE TUITION PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Allowance of Deduction.--In the case of an individual, there
shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the amount paid by
the taxpayer during the taxable year to any qualified State tuition
program (as defined in section 529) for the benefit of any designated
beneficiary (as defined in such section).
    ``(b) Dollar Limitation.--The deduction allowed by subsection (a)
for the taxable year shall not exceed $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a
joint return).''
    (b) Deduction Allowed in Computing Adjusted Gross Income.--Section
62(a) of such Code is amended by inserting after paragraph (17) the
following new paragraph:
            ``(18) Payments to qualified state tuition programs.--The
        deduction allowed by section 222.''
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for part VII of
subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the item
relating to section 222 and inserting:

                              ``Sec. 222. Payments to qualified State
                                        tuition programs.
                              ``Sec. 223. Cross reference.''
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001.

SEC. 3. EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME OF EDUCATION DISTRIBUTIONS FROM
              QUALIFIED STATE TUITION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 529(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (relating to distributions) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Distributions for qualified higher education
                expenses.--For purposes of this paragraph--
                            ``(i) In-kind distributions.--No amount
                        shall be includible in gross income under
                        subparagraph (A) by reason of a distribution
                        which consists of providing a benefit to the
                        distributee which, if paid for by the
                        distributee, would constitute payment of a
                        qualified higher education expense.
                            ``(ii) Cash distributions.--In the case of
                        distributions not described in clause (i), if--
                                    ``(I) such distributions do not
                                exceed the qualified higher education
                                expenses (reduced by expenses described
                                in clause (i)), no amount shall be
                                includible in gross income, and
                                    ``(II) in any other case, the
                                amount otherwise includible in gross
                                income shall be reduced by an amount
                                which bears the same ratio to such
                                amount as such expenses bear to such
                                distributions.
                            ``(iii) Treatment as distributions.--Any
                        benefit furnished to a designated beneficiary
                        under a qualified State tuition program shall
                        be treated as a distribution to the beneficiary
                        for purposes of this paragraph.
                            ``(iv) Coordination with hope and lifetime
                        learning credits.--The total amount of
                        qualified higher education expenses with
                        respect to an individual for the taxable year
                        shall be reduced--
                                    ``(I) as provided in section
                                25A(g)(2), and
                                    ``(II) by the amount of such
                                expenses which were taken into account
                                in determining the credit allowed to
                                the taxpayer or any other person under
                                section 25A.
                            ``(v) Coordination with education
                        individual retirement accounts.--If, with
                        respect to an individual for any taxable year--
                                    ``(I) the aggregate distributions
                                to which clauses (i) and (ii) and
                                section 530(d)(2)(A) apply, exceed
                                    ``(II) the total amount of
                                qualified higher education expenses
                                otherwise taken into account under
                                clauses (i) and (ii) (after the
                                application of clause (iv)) for such
                                year,
                        the taxpayer shall allocate such expenses among
                        such distributions for purposes of determining
                        the amount of the exclusion under clauses (i)
                        and (ii) and section 530(d)(2)(A).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 135(d)(2)(B) of such Code is amended by
        striking ``the exclusion under section 530(d)(2)'' and
        inserting ``the exclusions under sections 529(c)(3)(B)(i) and
        530(d)(2)''.
            (2) Section 221(e)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by
        inserting ``529,'' after ``135,''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001.

Summary: Securing Affordable Vocational and Collegiate Education (SAVE) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a limited deduction for amounts paid to any qualified State tuition program. And (2) provide that distributions from such programs used to pay qualified higher education expenses shall not be included in gross income.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid to any qualified State tuition program and to provide that distributions from such programs which are used to pay educational expenses shall not be includible in gross income.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Child Care Lending Pilot Act of
2003''.

SEC. 2. CHILD CARE BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM.

    (a) Loans Authorized.--Section 502 of the Small Business Investment
Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 696) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Administration'' and
                inserting the following:
    ``(a) Authorization.--The Administration'';
                    (B) by striking ``and such loans'' and inserting
                ``. Such loans'';
                    (C) by striking ``: Provided, however, That the
                foregoing powers shall be subject to the following
                restrictions and limitations:'' and inserting a period;
                and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Restrictions and Limitations.--The authority under subsection
(a) shall be subject to the following restrictions and limitations:'';
and
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting after ``Use of proceeds.--'' the
                following:
                    ``(A) In general.--''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Loans to small, non-profit child care
                businesses.--The proceeds of any loan described in
                subsection (a) may be used by the borrower to assist,
                in addition to other eligible small business concerns,
                small, non-profit child care businesses, provided
                that--
                            ``(i) the loan will be used for a sound
                        business purpose that has been approved by the
                        Administration; and
                            ``(ii) each such business receiving
                        financial assistance meets all of the same
                        eligibility requirements applicable to for-
                        profit businesses under this title, except for
                        status as a for-profit business.''.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) Small business administration.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the
                date of enactment of this Act, and every 6 months
                thereafter until September 30, 2006, the Administrator
                of the Small Business Administration shall submit a
                report on the implementation of the program under
                subsection (a) to--
                            (i) the Committee on Small Business and
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
                            (ii) the Committee on Small Business of the
                        House of Representatives.
                    (B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A)
                shall contain--
                            (i) the date on which the program is
                        implemented;
                            (ii) the date on which the rules are issued
                        pursuant to subsection (c); and
                            (iii) the number and dollar amount of loans
                        under the program applied for, approved, and
                        disbursed during the previous 6 months.
            (2) General accounting office.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than March 31, 2006, the
                Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a
                report on the child care small business loans
                authorized by section 502(b)(1)(B) of the Small
                Business Investment Act of 1958, as added by this Act,
                to--
                            (i) the Committee on Small Business and
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
                            (ii) the Committee on Small Business of the
                        House of Representatives.
                    (B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A)
                shall contain information gathered during the first 2
                years of the loan program, including--
                            (i) an evaluation of the timeliness of the
                        implementation of the loan program;
                            (ii) a description of the effectiveness and
                        ease with which Certified Development
                        Companies, lenders, and small businesses have
                        participated in the loan program;
                            (iii) a description and assessment of how
                        the loan program was marketed;
                            (iv) the number of child care small
                        businesses, categorized by status as a for-
                        profit or non-profit business and a new
                        business or an expanded business, that--
                                    (I) applied for loans under the
                                program;
                                    (II) were approved for loans under
                                the program; and
                                    (III) received loan disbursements
                                under the program.
                            (v) of the businesses under clause
                        (iv)(III)--
                                    (I) the number of such businesses
                                in each State;
                                    (II) the total amount loaned to
                                such businesses under the program; and
                                    (III) the average loan amount and
                                term.
    (c) Rulemaking Authority.--Not later than 120 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration shall issue final rules to carry out the loan program
authorized by section 502(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Investment Act
of 1958, as added by this Act.
    (d) Sunset Provision.--The amendments made by this section shall
remain in effect until September 30, 2006, and shall apply to all loans
authorized by section 502(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Investment Act
of 1958, as added by this Act, that are made during the period
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on September
30, 2006.

Summary: Child Care Lending Pilot Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to allow the proceeds of loans made through the Small Business Administration (SBA) to local development companies for plant acquisition, construction, or expansion to be used to assist small, nonprofit child care businesses, provided that: (1) the loan will be used for a sound business purpose approved by the SBA. And (2) each business receiving the assistance meets eligibility requirements applicable to for-profit businesses.

A bill to create a 3-year pilot program that makes small, non-profit child care businesses eligible for SBA 504 loans.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Infrastructure Accelerator
Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish a regional infrastructure
accelerator program that--
            (1) facilitates and mobilizes investment in, and the long-
        term financing of, economically viable covered infrastructure
        projects of regional or national significance by providing
        funding for these projects, including through private sector
        financing, to accelerate the delivery of high-quality, critical
        infrastructure facilities through a self-sustaining regional
        infrastructure accelerator that mitigates risk with technical
        expertise and best practices; and
            (2) encourages regional infrastructure accelerators to
        provide assistance and communicate best practices and financing
        and funding opportunities to State, local, and regional public
        entities, to provide assistance with applications for Federal
        funding opportunities, to promote innovative financing best
        practices, and to reduce costs and risks to taxpayers.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.

    Using amounts appropriated under section 10(1), the Secretary shall
establish a regional infrastructure accelerator (RIA) program to
provide initial and subsequent grants to RIAs in accordance with the
requirements of this Act.

SEC. 4. STRUCTURE OF REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACCELERATORS.

    (a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act,
an RIA shall have a board of directors.
    (b) Board of Directors.--
            (1) Composition.--The board of directors of an RIA shall
        include at least 1 representative of a State, local, or
        regional public entity in the area served by the RIA.
            (2) Appointment.--The members of the board of directors of
        an RIA shall be initially appointed by the person or entity
        that submitted an application on behalf of the RIA under
        section 5(a). Subsequent appointments to the board shall be
        made in accordance with such bylaws as may be adopted by the
        board.
            (3) Duties.--The duties of the board of directors of an RIA
        shall include--
                    (A) developing a final regional infrastructure
                accelerator plan for the RIA, based on the proposed
                plan submitted on behalf of the RIA under section 5(b);
                    (B) selecting State, local, and regional public
                entities to receive subgrants from the RIA under
                section 6; and
                    (C) submitting a report to the Secretary under
                subsection 5(d).
            (4) Requirements to approve plan.--In carrying out its
        duties under paragraph (3)(A), the board of directors of an RIA
        shall consider public stakeholder input from--
                    (A) a public project sponsor with experience in
                infrastructure financing;
                    (B) an entity with the ability to finance covered
                infrastructure projects in the area served by the RIA,
                including private sector equity investors, public
                pension funds, endowments, and other financial
                investment funds;
                    (C) a construction or real estate development
                entity with the capacity to develop covered
                infrastructure projects in the area served by the RIA;
                    (D) a representative of an organized labor
                association or an association of workers representing
                labor and workplace standards;
                    (E) a legal expert with experience in contract
                development and the execution of public-private
                partnerships; and
                    (F) a representative of each Federal department or
                agency with jurisdiction over covered infrastructure
                projects being considered by the RIA.

SEC. 5. INITIAL GRANTS.

    (a) Application.--An RIA desiring a grant under this section shall
submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably
require.
    (b) Proposed Plan.--An application submitted by an RIA under
subsection (a) shall include a proposed plan that describes how the RIA
will promote investment in covered infrastructure projects--
            (1) by providing guidance and feedback to State, local, and
        regional public entities on infrastructure priorities,
        financing strategies, and other matters relating to such
        projects;
            (2) by evaluating and promoting innovative methods for
        financing such projects;
            (3) by establishing connections between sources of
        financing for such projects and appropriate State, local, and
        regional public entities;
            (4) by establishing standards to measure the life-cycle
        costs of investments in such projects;
            (5) by enhancing the capacity of State and local
        governments to evaluate and structure such projects that
        involve the investment of private capital; and
            (6) by providing technical assistance and information on
        best practices with respect to such projects, including--
                    (A) identifying and selecting qualified advisors,
                such as infrastructure financial analysts and contract
                negotiators;
                    (B) incorporating resiliency risk analyses into the
                planning and design of such projects;
                    (C) preparing and reviewing requests for
                qualifications and proposals from private sector
                partners; and
                    (D) applying standardized analyses and processes
                that provide quantitative data on infrastructure
                investments, including a value-for-money analysis.
    (c) Selection.--For fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Secretary shall select, from among applications
received under subsection (a), 5 RIAs from geographically diverse
regions to receive a grant under this section.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An RIA that receives a grant under this section
shall use the amounts of the grant--
            (1) to assess regional approaches for advancing innovative
        investment in covered infrastructure projects;
            (2) to develop strategies for--
                    (A) transparency in the analysis of covered
                infrastructure projects to ensure protection of the
                public interest;
                    (B) the bundling of smaller-scale and rural
                projects into larger covered infrastructure projects to
                facilitate transactions and investments; and
                    (C) reducing transaction costs associated with
                investments in covered infrastructure projects;
            (3) to facilitate the creation of a catalog of covered
        infrastructure projects available for investment;
            (4) to analyze and apply procurement methods for covered
        infrastructure projects, including--
                    (A) assessing strategies for management of risks
                associated with covered infrastructure projects;
                    (B) measuring the speed of completion and quality
                of covered infrastructure projects; and
                    (C) assessing the use of contracting strategies for
                covered infrastructure projects in which teams provide
                design, construction, financing, and maintenance
                solutions to achieve performance outcomes; and
            (5) to complete the report of the RIA described in
        subsection (e).
    (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which an RIA
receives a grant under this section, the RIA shall submit to the
Secretary a report that includes, at a minimum--
            (1) an update on the implementation of the plan of the RIA
        described in subsection (a), as finalized by the board of
        directors of the RIA;
            (2) a description of the infrastructure needs of the region
        to be served by the RIA;
            (3) a proposal of covered infrastructure projects to be
        accomplished by the RIA through a subsequent grant, as awarded
        under section 6; and
            (4) the procurement strategies the RIA intends to use for
        such covered infrastructure projects.
    (f) Selection for Subsequent Grant.--Not later than 60 days after
the date of receipt of the final report submitted by an RIA under
subsection (e), the Secretary shall--
            (1) review the reports submitted under subsection (e); and
            (2) for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter,
        select not fewer than 4 RIAs for which funds are appropriated
        under section 10 to receive a subsequent grant under section 6.

SEC. 6. SUBSEQUENT GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Using amounts appropriated under section 10(2),
the Secretary shall award a subsequent grant to an RIA selected under
section 4(f).
    (b) Subgrants.--An RIA shall use the amounts of a subsequent grant
received under this section--
            (1) to make subgrants to one or more State, local, or
        regional public entities for the purposes described in
        subsection (d); and
            (2) for such other purposes as the RIA, after notifying the
        Secretary, determines appropriate.
    (c) Application.--A State, local, or regional public entity
desiring a subgrant from an RIA under this section may submit to the
RIA an application for a subgrant at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the RIA may reasonably require.
    (d) Use of Funds.--The amounts of a subgrant received by a State,
local, or regional public entity from an RIA under this section may be
used for payment of the following costs associated with a covered
infrastructure project:
            (1) Project planning, feasibility studies, economic
        assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and public benefit studies.
            (2) Value-for-money analyses.
            (3) Design and engineering.
            (4) Financial planning (including the identification of
        funding and financing options).
            (5) Permitting, environmental review, and regulatory
        processes.
            (6) Assessment of the impacts of potential projects on the
        area, including the effect on communities and environment.
            (7) The workforce and wages and benefits, as well as
        assessment of infrastructure vulnerability and resilience to
        the impacts of climate change and other risks.
            (8) Public outreach and community engagement.
    (e) Amount.--A subgrant made by an RIA under this section may not
be in an amount that is greater than $300,000 or 75 percent of the
projected cost of activities described in subsection (d) associated
with the covered infrastructure project concerned, whichever is less.
The recipient of the subgrant shall provide funding for the remaining
balance of such costs.
    (f) Limitation.--Funds made available under this section may not be
used to pay for work already completed on a covered infrastructure
project.

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Prevailing Rate of Wage.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall take such action as
        may be necessary to ensure that all laborers and mechanics
        employed by contractors or subcontractors on construction work
        performed on projects assisted with a grant under this Act
        shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on
        the same type of work on similar construction in the immediate
        locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance
        with sections 3141, 3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States
        Code.
            (2) Consultation.--In carrying out the duties of paragraph
        (1), the Secretary of Labor shall consult with the relevant
        agency of the State in which a project assisted with a grant
        under this Act is to be performed. After giving due regard to
        the information thus obtained, the Secretary of Labor shall
        make a predetermination of the minimum wages to be paid
        laborers and mechanics in accordance with the provisions of
        paragraph (1) which shall be set out in each project
        advertisement for bids and in each bid proposal form and shall
        be made a part of the contract covering the project.
            (3) Exceptions.--The provisions of this paragraph shall not
        be applicable to employment pursuant to apprenticeship and
        skill training programs which have been certified by the
        Secretary as promoting equal employment opportunity in
        connection with a construction program.
    (b) Environmental Compliance.--The Secretary shall take such action
as may be necessary to ensure that projects assisted with a grant under
this Act are conducted in accordance with the environmental review and
permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

SEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the
Secretary first makes a grant under this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the Program.
    (b) Contents.--The report shall include--
            (1) an overview of the Program; and
            (2) the findings of the Secretary on the effectiveness of
        regional collaboration on infrastructure investment,
        infrastructure finance, and the use of procurement methods (as
        described in section 5(d)(4)).

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) Covered infrastructure project.--The term ``covered
        infrastructure project'' means a project that is located in a
        State, that is sponsored by a State, local, or regional public
        entity, and that involves the construction, consolidation,
        alteration, or repair of any of the following:
                    (A) Intercity passenger or freight rail lines.
                    (B) Intercity passenger rail facilities or
                equipment.
                    (C) Intercity freight rail facilities or equipment.
                    (D) Intercity passenger bus facilities or
                equipment.
                    (E) Public transportation facilities or equipment.
                    (F) Highway facilities, including bridges and
                tunnels.
                    (G) Airports.
                    (H) Air traffic control systems.
                    (I) Port or marine terminal facilities, including
                approaches to marine terminal facilities or inland port
                facilities.
                    (J) Port or marine equipment, including fixed
                equipment to serve approaches to marine terminals or
                inland ports.
                    (K) Ports of entry or border crossing
                infrastructure.
                    (L) Transmission or distribution pipelines.
                    (M) Inland waterways.
                    (N) Intermodal facilities or equipment related to
                two or more of the sectors described in subparagraphs
                (A) through (M).
                    (O) Water treatment and solid waste disposal
                facilities, including drinking water facilities.
                    (P) Storm water management systems.
                    (Q) Dams and levees.
                    (R) Facilities or equipment for energy
                transmission, distribution, or storage.
            (2) Life-cycle costs.--The term ``life-cycle costs'' means,
        with respect to an infrastructure facility, the budgetary
        impacts of the design, development, construction, and
        operations and maintenance of the infrastructure facility.
            (3) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the regional
        infrastructure accelerator program established under section 3.
            (4) Regional infrastructure accelerator; ria.--The term
        ``regional infrastructure accelerator'' or ``RIA'' means a
        multi-jurisdictional organization organized and dedicated to
        providing technical assistance, financing options, and
        resources for covered infrastructure projects within the
        jurisdictions represented in such organization.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of the Treasury.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
        States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any
        territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program--
            (1) for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter--
                    (A) $11,500,000 for making initial grants to RIAs
                under section 5; and
                    (B) $500,000 for covering the administrative costs
                of the Program; and
            (2) for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter,
        $13,000,000 for making subsequent grants to RIAs under section
        6.

Summary: Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to establish a regional infrastructure accelerator (RIA) program to provide initial and subsequent grants to RIAs to facilitate investment in, and long-term financing of, economically viable covered infrastructure projects. An quot, RIAquot. Is defined as a multi-jurisdictional organization dedicated to providing technical assistance, financing options, and resources for covered infrastructure projects within the represented jurisdictions. A quot, covered infrastructure projectquot. Is defined as a project sponsored by a state, local, or regional public entity that involves the construction, consolidation, alteration, or repair of rail, bus, or public transportation facilities or equipment, highway facilities , airports, port or marine facilities and equipment, pipelines, inland waterways, intermodal facilities and equipment, water treatment and solid waste disposal facilities, storm water management systems, dams and levees, and facilities or equipment for energy transmission, distribution, or storage. From applications received, Treasury shall select five RIAs from geographically diverse regions to receive initial grants. An RIA shall use such a grant to: assess regional approaches for advancing innovative investment in covered infrastructure projects. Develop strategies for transparency in the analysis of such projects to ensure protection of the public interest, for the bundling of smaller scale and rural projects into larger covered infrastructure projects to facilitate transactions and investments, and for reducing transaction costs associated with investments in such projects. Facilitate the creation of a catalog of covered infrastructure projects available for investment. And analyze and apply project procurement methods for covered infrastructure projects. Treasury shall review final reports submitted by RIAs and select four of them to receive subsequent grants. A selected RIA shall use such subsequent grant to make subgrants to public entities for costs associated with a covered infrastructure project.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Broadband Deployment and Competition
Enhancement Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) In 2001, some broadband service providers are
        pervasively regulated, and some offering functionally
        equivalent services are not significantly regulated.
            (2) Common carrier regulation is being extended
        inappropriately to new broadband services being deployed by
        incumbent local exchange carriers, while no regulation is
        applied to new broadband services being deployed by local cable
        television companies.
            (3) There should be deregulatory parity in the provision of
        broadband services.
            (4) Broadband services and broadband service providers
        should be subject to little or no regulation, as there are no
        monopoly providers of such services and regulation of a nascent
        service inhibits the development of a competitive market.
            (5) Facilities used to provide broadband services, such as
        packet switching, are widely available in the market place and
        should therefore not be considered a network element, which
        common carriers must make available to other providers. Access
        should continue for essential facilities.
            (6) It is important for the economic development of the
        United States that all areas of the country receive the
        benefits of access to high speed Internet and the deployment of
        broadband services.
            (7) Common carrier regulation will not induce the
        deployment of broadband services, but will retard it.
            (8) Both Federal and State regulatory agencies have
        followed a regulatory scheme with respect to broadband
        services, and this pattern must be reversed.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To accelerate the deployment of broadband services to
        all parts of the United States.
            (2) To achieve deregulatory parity among providers of
        broadband services.
            (3) To reduce regulation of broadband services by the
        Federal Government and the States.

SEC. 3. DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Part II of title II of the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:

``SEC. 262. DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND SERVICES.

    ``(a) Opt-In.--This section applies to an incumbent local exchange
carrier only if the local exchange carrier provides written notice to
the Commission of its decision to comply with the provisions of this
section.
    ``(b) Next Generation Broadband Deployment.--
            ``(1) In general.--An incumbent local exchange carrier
        shall not be subject to the requirements of section 251(c) with
        respect to any optical fiber facility, or any technology of
        like functionality, in the local exchange carrier's network
        that is used to provide service to residential customers; and
                    ``(A) that is or was--
                            ``(i) deployed where no outside telephone
                        distribution plant previously existed; or
                            ``(ii) deployed from any structure or
                        premise to a customer premises; and
                    ``(B) if the facility is capable of providing
                advanced service.
            ``(2) Rights of way.--Any provider of facilities referred
        to in paragraph (1) shall have the duty to coordinate and
        cooperate with other local exchange carriers to provide access
        to rights of way consistent with section 251(b)(4).
            ``(3) Access to existing copper loop.--Nothing in this
        subsection shall preclude the Commission or a State from
        requiring that an incumbent local exchange carrier provide an
existing copper loop to another local exchange carrier upon request.
    ``(c) Competition Enhancement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 2(b), or any
        other provision of law, an incumbent local exchange carrier
        shall not be subject to the requirements of--
                    ``(A) section 251(c), except as provided in
                paragraph (2) of this subsection, with respect to its
                packet switching capability, or any successor
                technology; or
                    ``(B) section 251(c) with respect to the resale of
                advanced service or high-speed Internet access service.
            ``(2) Collocation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An incumbent local exchange
                carrier has the duty to provide collocation at its
                central offices in accordance with the rules of the
                Commission established in accordance with section
                251(c)(6) for equipment to be used in the provision of
                advanced service.
                    ``(B) Remote terminal.--Neither the Commission nor
                a State may require collocation for equipment for the
                provision of advanced service inside a remote terminal
                where no space for collocation of such equipment is
                available. Collocation of advanced service equipment in
                the remote terminal shall not include collocation
                inside or within any equipment, components, or
                facilities located inside the remote terminal.
    ``(d) Build-Out Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), an
        incumbent local exchange carrier or affiliate shall be capable
        of providing advanced service to all of its local exchange
        service customers in a State not later than 5 years after the
        date of enactment of the Broadband Deployment and Competition
        Enhancement Act of 2001, thereafter within 30 days of a bona
        fide request by any such local exchange service customer.
            ``(2) Means of addressing requirement.--An incumbent local
        exchange carrier or affiliate may use any technology, service,
        or combination of services to meet the requirement in paragraph
        (1).
            ``(3) Exemption.--An incumbent local exchange carrier or
        affiliate is exempt from the requirement in paragraph (1) if
        the provision of advanced service to a customer is not both
        technically and economically feasible.
    ``(e) Pricing Flexibility for Retail Advanced Service.--
            ``(1) Inapplicability of governmental regulation.--The
        rates, terms, and conditions of retail advanced service offered
        by an incumbent local exchange carrier or its affiliates to
        subscribers are not subject to Federal, State, or local
        regulation.
            ``(2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
        construed to affect the obligations of a Bell operating company
        under section 272(c).
    ``(f) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Failure to build-out.--If an incumbent local exchange
        carrier cannot comply with subsection (d)(1) as of the date
        specified in that subsection, subsections (c) and (e) shall no
        longer apply to such carrier as of that date.
            ``(2) Noncompliance with loop provisioning and collocation
        rules.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
                (3), subsections (c) and (e) shall cease to apply to an
                incumbent local exchange carrier as of the date on
                which a State makes a final and nonappealable
                determination, based on clear and convincing evidence
                and in response to a complaint filed by another local
                exchange carrier, that--
                            ``(i) the incumbent local exchange carrier
                        has willfully and materially failed to comply
                        with the rules of the Commission with respect
                        to collocation or loop provisioning; and
                            ``(ii) such failure has caused material
                        harm to the complaining carrier's ability to
                        compete.
                    ``(B) Burden of proof.--The burden of proof in a
                complaint under subparagraph (A) shall be on the
                complainant.
            ``(3) Reinstatement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An incumbent local exchange
                carrier to which subsections (c) and (e) have ceased to
                apply because of a determination by a State under
                paragraph (2) may petition the State for a
                reinstatement of the application of subsections (c) and
                (e) to such carrier.
                    ``(B) Determination.--If a State that makes a
                determination described in paragraph (2) subsequently
                makes a final determination that the carrier concerned
                has complied fully with the rule with which the carrier
was found, under paragraph (2), not to have complied, the application
of subsections (c) and (e) to the carrier shall be reinstated as of the
date of that subsequent final determination.
                    ``(C) Failure of state to act within 90 days.--For
                purposes of subparagraph (B), a State that fails to
                make a determination on a petition filed under
                subparagraph (A) within 90 days of the date of the
                filing of the petition shall be deemed to have made a
                determination that the carrier concerned is in full
                compliance with the rules of the Commission with
                respect to collocation or loop provisioning.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Incumbent local exchange carrier.--The term
        `incumbent local exchange carrier' has the meaning given that
        term in section 251(h).
            ``(2) Customer premises.--The term `customer premises'
        means a customer's physical property and any adjacent
        easements.
            ``(3) Packet switching capability.--The term `packet
        switching capability' has the meaning given that term in
        section 51.319(c)(4) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulation,
        as that section is in effect as of June 1, 2001.
            ``(4) Remote terminal.--The term `remote terminal' means a
        point in a local exchange carrier's network, not including a
        central office, where the electronic capability to provide
        advanced service is deployed.
            ``(5) Advanced service.--The terms `advanced service' and
        `high-speed Internet access service' mean any service or
        combination of services that consists of, or includes, the
        offering of a capability to transmit information using a packet
        switched or successor technology downstream from a provider to
        a consumer at a generally rated speed of 364 or kilobits per
        second or higher.''.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENT.

    Section 251(c)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
251(c)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``An
incumbent local exchange carrier shall not be required to convert to a
network element or combination of network elements any special access
circuit being provided on June 1, 2001.''.

SEC. 5. REGULATORY PARITY.

    (a) Identification of Disparate Regulatory Treatment of Advanced
Service.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall identify in its
regulations any requirements or obligations that result in different or
disparate treatment among various types of providers of advanced
service and high-speed Internet access service or among different
technologies used to provide such service.
    (b) Termination of Applicability.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall modify its
regulations in order to eliminate each difference and disparity in
treatment identified under subsection (a) unless the Commission
determines that such difference or disparity in treatment should
continue to apply in the public interest.
    (c) Biennial Review.--In every biennial review conducted pursuant
to section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. Sec. 161),
the Commission shall--
            (1) make a determination as to whether or not a difference
        or disparity in treatment, if any, that continues to apply
        under subsection (b), or under this subsection after subsequent
        review under this subsection, should continue to apply in the
        public interest; and
            (2) if the Commission determines that such difference or
        disparity in treatment should not continue to apply in the
        public interest, modify its regulations in order to eliminate
        such difference or disparity in treatment.
    (d) Advanced Service Defined.--In this section, the terms
``advanced service'' and ``high-speed Internet access service'' have
the meanings given those terms in section 262(h)(4) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as added by section 2 of this Act.

Summary: Broadband Deployment and Competition Enhancement Act of 2001 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit subjecting an incumbent local exchange carrier (carrier) to common carrier regulation with respect to any optical fiber facility, or any technology of a similar facility, in the carrier's network that is used to provide service to residential customers and that is or was deployed where no outside telephone distribution plant previously existed, or from any structure or premise to a customer premise, if the facility is capable of providing advance service. Prohibits subjecting such a carrier to such regulation with respect to packet switching or successor technology or the resale of advanced service or high-speed Internet access service. Requires such carrier to provide: (1) collocation in its central offices with respect to equipment used in the provision of advanced service. And (2) advanced service to all of its customers in a State within five years after the enactment of this Act, making carriers that do not so comply subject to common carrier regulation thereafter. Prohibits requiring such a carrier to convert to a network element or combination of network elements any special access circuit being provided on June 1, 2001. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to identify in its regulations any requirements or obligations that result in different or disparate treatment among various types of providers of advanced service and high-speed Internet access service, or among different technologies used to provide such service.

A bill to facilitate the deployment of broadband telecommunications services, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Medical School
Accountability Fairness Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    To establish consistent eligibility requirements for graduate
medical schools operating outside of the United States and Canada in
order to increase accountability and protect American students and
taxpayer dollars.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Three for-profit schools in the Caribbean receive more
        than two-thirds of all Federal funding under title IV of the
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) that goes
        to students enrolled at foreign graduate medical schools,
        despite those three schools being exempt from meeting the same
        eligibility requirements as the majority of graduate medical
        schools located outside of the United States and Canada.
            (2) The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and
        Accreditation and the Department of Education recommend that
        all foreign graduate medical schools should be required to meet
        the same eligibility requirements to participate in Federal
        funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) and see no rationale for excluding certain
        schools.
            (3) The attrition rate at United States medical schools
        averaged 3 percent for the class beginning in 2009 while rates
        at for-profit Caribbean schools have reached 26 percent or
        higher.
            (4) In 2013, residency match rates for foreign trained
        graduates averaged 53 percent compared to 94 percent for
        graduates of medical schools in the United States.
            (5) On average, students at for-profit medical schools
        operating outside of the United States and Canada amass more
        student debt than those at medical schools in the United
        States.

SEC. 4. REPEAL GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS.

    Section 102(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and
        inserting the following:
                            ``(i) in the case of a graduate medical
                        school located outside the United States--
                                    ``(I) at least 60 percent of those
                                enrolled in, and at least 60 percent of
                                the graduates of, the graduate medical
                                school outside the United States were
                                not persons described in section
                                484(a)(5) in the year preceding the
                                year for which a student is seeking a
                                loan under part D of title IV; and
                                    ``(II) at least 75 percent of the
                                individuals who were students or
                                graduates of the graduate medical
                                school outside the United States or
                                Canada (both nationals of the United
                                States and others) taking the
                                examinations administered by the
                                Educational Commission for Foreign
                                Medical Graduates received a passing
                                score in the year preceding the year
                                for which a student is seeking a loan
                                under part D of title IV;''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by adding at the end the
        following:
                                    ``(V) Expiration of authority.--The
                                authority of a graduate medical school
                                described in subclause (I) to qualify
                                for participation in the loan programs
                                under part D of title IV pursuant to
                                this clause shall expire beginning on
                                the first July 1 following the date of
                                enactment of the Foreign Medical School
                                Accountability Fairness Act of 2013.''.

SEC. 5. LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.

    If a graduate medical school loses eligibility to participate in
the loan programs under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) due to the enactment of the
amendments made by section 4, then a student enrolled at such graduate
medical school on or before the date of enactment of this Act may,
notwithstanding such loss of eligibility, continue to be eligible to
receive a loan under such part D while attending such graduate medical
school in which the student was enrolled upon the date of enactment of
this Act, subject to the student continuing to meet all applicable
requirements for satisfactory academic progress, until the earliest
of--
            (1) withdrawal by the student from the graduate medical
        school;
            (2) completion of the program of study by the student at
        the graduate medical school; or
            (3) the fourth June 30 after such loss of eligibility.

Summary: Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2013 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the exemption of certain foreign medical schools from the prohibition on foreign medical schools participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program, unless: at least 60 of those enrolled in, and at least 60 of the graduates of, the foreign medical school during the preceding year were not citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States or were not in the United States with the intention of becoming citizens or permanent residents. And at least 75 of students or graduates of the medical school located outside the United States or Canada who took the examinations administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates in the preceding year received a passing score. Preserves the Direct Loan eligibility of students who were enrolled at schools excepted from that prohibition on or before the date of this Act's enactment.