SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Solar Fuels Innovation Act''.

SEC. 2. SOLAR FUELS BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 973 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 16313) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 973. SOLAR FUELS BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Initiative.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a research
        initiative, to be known as the Solar Fuels Basic Research
        Initiative, to expand theoretical and fundamental knowledge of
        photochemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, and materials
        science useful for the practical development of experimental
        systems to convert solar energy to chemical energy.
            ``(2) Leveraging.--The Secretary shall leverage expertise
        and resources from the Basic Energy Sciences Program and
        Biological and Environmental Research Program within the Office
        of Science, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
        Energy, as provided under subsections (b) and (c).
            ``(3) Teams.--The Secretary shall organize activities under
        the Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative to include
        multidisciplinary teams leveraging expertise from the National
        Laboratories, universities, and the private sector to the
        extent practicable. These multidisciplinary teams shall pursue
        aggressive, milestone-driven basic research goals. The
        Secretary shall provide sufficient resources for those teams to
        achieve those goals over a period of time to be determined by
        the Secretary.
            ``(4) Additional activities.--The Secretary is authorized
        to organize additional activities under this subsection through
        Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation Hubs, or
        other organizational structures.
    ``(b) Artificial Photosynthesis.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the
        Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program to
        support research needed to bridge scientific barriers and
        discover knowledge relevant to artificial photosynthetic
        systems. In carrying out activities under this subsection, the
        Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall support
        basic research to pursue distinct lines of scientific inquiry,
        including photoinduced production of hydrogen and oxygen from
        water, and the sustainable photoinduced reduction of carbon
        dioxide to fuel products including hydrocarbons, alcohols,
        carbon monoxide, and natural gas. The Assistant Secretary for
        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support
        translational research, development, and validation of physical
        concepts developed under this subsection.
            ``(2) Standard of review.--The Secretary shall review the
        program activities under this subsection to determine the
        achievement of technical milestones.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    ``(A) Authorization.--Subject to subsection (d),
                there are authorized for carrying out activities under
                this subsection for each of fiscal years 2017 through
                2020--
                            ``(i) $50,000,000 from funds within the
                        Basic Energy Sciences Program account; and
                            ``(ii) $25,000,000 from funds within the
                        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account.
                    ``(B) Prohibition.--No funds authorized under this
                subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial
                application of energy technology.
    ``(c) Biochemistry, Replication of Natural Photosynthesis, and
Related Processes.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the
        Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program to
        support research needed to replicate natural photosynthetic
        processes by use of artificial photosynthetic components and
        materials. In carrying out activities under this subsection,
        the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall
        support basic research to expand fundamental knowledge to
        replicate natural synthesis processes, including the
        photoinduced reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia, absorption of
        carbon dioxide from ambient air, molecular-based charge
        separation and storage, photoinitiated electron transfer, and
        catalysis in biological or biomimetic systems. The Associate
        Director of Biological and Environmental Research shall support
        systems biology and genomics approaches to understand genetic
        and physiological pathways connected to photosynthetic
        mechanisms. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and
        Renewable Energy shall support translational research,
        development, and validation of physical concepts developed
        under this subsection.
            ``(2) Standard of review.--The Secretary shall review the
        program activities under this subsection to determine the
        achievement of technical milestones.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    ``(A) Authorization.--Subject to subsection (d),
                there are authorized for carrying out activities under
                this subsection for each of fiscal years 2017 through
                2020--
                            ``(i) $50,000,000 from funds within the
                        Basic Energy Sciences Program and Biological
                        and Environmental Research Program accounts;
                        and
                            ``(ii) $25,000,000 from funds within the
                        Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account.
                    ``(B) Prohibition.--No funds authorized under this
                subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial
                application of energy technology.
    ``(d) Funding.--No additional funds are authorized to be
appropriated under this section. This section shall be carried out
using funds otherwise authorized by law.''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The item relating to section 973
in the table of contents of such Act is amended to read as follows:

``Sec. 973. Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 11, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Summary: Solar Fuels Innovation Act This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out the Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative to expand scientific knowledge about converting solar energy into chemical energy. Specifically, DOE must support research about: (1) replicating natural photosynthetic processes in artificial photosynthesis processes, and (2) generating a variety of fuels produced from sunlight through artificial photosynthesis. Appropriations authorized under the bill may not be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. The bill repeals a requirement for DOE to support a research and development program in catalysis science .

Solar Fuels Innovation Act


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Comprehensive Hepatitis C
Health Care Act''.

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE HEPATITIS C HEALTH CARE TESTING AND TREATMENT
              PROGRAM FOR VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 1720E the following new section:
``Sec. 1720F. Hepatitis C testing and treatment
    ``(a)(1) During the first year after the date of the enactment of
this section, the Secretary shall provide a blood test for the
Hepatitis C virus to--
            ``(A) each veteran who served in the active military,
        naval, or air service during the Vietnam era and is enrolled to
        receive care under section 1710 of this title who requests the
        test or is otherwise receiving a physical examination or any
        care or treatment from the Secretary; and
            ``(B) to any other veteran who requests the test.
    ``(2) After the end of the one-year period referred to in paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall provide a blood test for the Hepatitis C virus
to any veteran who presents one or more risk factors for that virus and
who requests the test.
    ``(b) In the case of any veteran who tests positive for the
Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall provide an appropriate treatment
protocol for that veteran. Treatment shall be provided under this
subsection without regard to whether the Hepatitis C virus is
determined to be service-connected and without regard to priority group
categorization of the veteran. No copayment may be charged for
treatment under this subsection.
    ``(c) In the case of any veteran who tests positive for the
Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall, upon request, perform a liver
biopsy on the veteran as a follow-up test.
    ``(d) In the case of any veteran who tests positive for the
Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall, upon request, provide a
Hepatitis C virus genotype test before beginning treatment of the
veteran under subsection (b).
    ``(e)(1) The Secretary shall require that each Department medical
center employ at least one full-time gastroenterologist or hepatologist
to conduct tests for the Hepatitis C virus under this section.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that
each Department medical center has at least one staff member assigned
to work, in coordination with Hepatitis C medical personnel, to
coordinate treatment options for Hepatitis C patients and provide
information for those patients. Such a staff member should preferably
be trained in psychology or psychiatry or be a social worker.
    ``(3) In order to improve treatment provided to veterans with the
Hepatitis C virus, the Secretary shall provide increased training
options to Department health care personnel.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1720E the following new item:

``1720F. Hepatitis C testing and treatment.''.

SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR HEPATITIS C PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) Program Account.--Beginning with fiscal year 2001, amounts
appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Hepatitis C
detection and treatment shall be provided, within the ``Medical Care''
account, through the ``Specific Purpose'' subaccount, rather than the
``VERA'' subaccount.
    (b) Allocation of Funds to VISNs.--In allocating funds appropriated
for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ``Medical Care'' account
to the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall allocate funds for detection and treatment of the
Hepatitis C virus based upon incidence rates of that virus among
veterans (rather than based upon the overall population of veterans) in
each such network.
    (c) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Amounts appropriated for the
Department of Veterans Affairs for Hepatitis C detection and treatment
through the ``Specific Purpose'' subaccount may not be used for any
other purpose.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL POLICY.

    (a) Standardized Nationwide Policy.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall develop and implement a standardized policy to be applied
throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system with
respect to the Hepatitis C virus. The policy shall include the testing
protocol for the Hepatitis C virus, treatment options, education and
notification efforts, and establishment of a specific Hepatitis C
diagnosis code for measurement and treatment purposes.
    (b) Outreach.--The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, take
appropriate actions to notify veterans who have not been tested for the
Hepatitis C virus of the need for such testing and the availability of
such testing from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 5. HEPATITIS C CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish at least one, and not more than three, Hepatitis C centers of
excellence. Each such center shall be established at a Department of
Veterans Affairs medical center in one of the five geographic service
areas (known as a Veterans Integrated Service Network) with the highest
case rate of Hepatitis C in fiscal year 1999.
    (b) Funding.--Funding for the centers established under subsection
(a) shall be provided from amounts available to the Central Office of
the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall be in addition to amounts
allocated for Hepatitis C pursuant to section 3.

Summary: Provides funding for Department Hepatitis C detection and treatment programs, beginning with FY 2001. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a standardized Department policy with respect to such virus. And (2) annually take appropriate outreach actions to notify untested veterans. Directs the Secretary to establish at least one and no more than three Hepatitis C centers of excellence within the Department health care network. Provides centers' funding.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Workers' Rights Principles for
United States Businesses in China Act''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish principles
on workers' rights for United States companies that do business in the
People's Republic of China and in Tibet.
    (b) Principles.--It is the sense of Congress that any United States
company doing business in the People's Republic of China or Tibet
shall, within its facilities and those of its suppliers in the People's
Republic of China or Tibet, do the following:
            (1) Prohibit the manufacture of goods or products by bonded
        labor or forced labor within prison camps or as part of reform-
        through-labor or reeducation-through-labor programs.
            (2) Provide wages that meet workers' basic needs and
        provide fair and decent working hours, including at a minimum,
        adhering to the wage and hour guidelines under the national
        labor laws and policies of the People's Republic of China.
            (3) Use production methods that do not negatively affect
        the occupational safety and health of workers.
            (4) Prohibit the use of corporal punishment, as well as any
        physical, sexual, or verbal abuse or harassment, of workers.
            (5) Refrain from seeking police or military intervention to
        prevent workers from exercising their rights.
            (6) Promote the following freedoms among their employees
        and the employees of their suppliers: freedom of association
        and assembly (including the right to form unions and to bargain
        collectively); freedom of expression; and freedom from
        arbitrary arrest or detention.
            (7) Prohibit discrimination in hiring, remuneration, or
        promotion based on age, gender, marital status, pregnancy,
        ethnicity, or region of origin.
            (8) Prohibit discrimination in hiring, remuneration, or
        promotion based on labor, political, or religious activity, on
        involvement in demonstrations, past records of arrests or
        internal exile for peaceful protest, or on membership in
        organizations committed to nonviolent social or political
        change.
            (9) Use environmentally responsible methods of production
        that have minimal adverse impact on land, air, and water
        quality.
            (10) Prohibit child labor, including at a minimum,
        complying with guidelines on minimum age for employment under
        the national labor laws of the People's Republic of China.
    (c) Promotion of Principles by Other Nations.--The Secretary of
State shall forward a copy of the principles set forth in subsection
(b) to each member nation of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development and encourage such nation to promote principles similar
to such principles.

SEC. 3. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.

    (a) Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--Each United States company conducting
        business in the People's Republic of China or Tibet shall
        register with the Secretary of State and indicate whether such
        company agrees to implement the principles set forth in section
        2(b).
            (2) Prohibition on fee.--No fee shall be required for
        purposes of registration under paragraph (1).
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Reports by United States Companies.--
            (1) In general.--Each United States company conducting
        business in the People's Republic of China or Tibet shall
        submit to the Secretary of State a report describing such
        company's adherence to the principles set forth in section 2(b)
        during the one-year period ending on the date of such report.
            (2) Form.--The report shall be submitted on a form
        furnished by the Secretary.
            (3) Submittal dates.--A United States company shall submit
        the report required by paragraph (1) not later than one year
        after the date on which the company registers under section 3
        and annually thereafter.
    (b) Review of Reports.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review each report
        submitted under subsection (a) to determine whether the United
        States company submitting such report is adhering to the
        principles set forth in section 2(b).
            (2) Additional information.--The Secretary may request
        additional information from a United States company for
        purposes of the review of its report under this subsection, and
        may use other sources of information to verify the information
        contained in such report.
    (c) Annual Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress and to the Secretariat of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development a report assessing the adherence
of United States companies subject to the reporting requirement in
subsection (a) to the principles set forth in section 2(b). Each report
shall cover the one-year period ending on the date of such report.

SEC. 5. EXPORT MARKETING SUPPORT.

    (a) Support.--A department or agency of the United States
Government may intercede with a foreign government or foreign national
regarding export marketing activity in the People's Republic of China
or Tibet on behalf of a United States company subject to the reporting
requirement in section 4(a) only if the United States company adheres
to the principles set forth in section 2(b).
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect two years
after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON ADHERENCE OF UNITED STATES COMPANIES
              TO PRINCIPLES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State
shall conduct a public hearing on the adherence of United States
companies doing business in the People's Republic of China or Tibet to
the principles set forth in section 2(b).
    (b) Hearing Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct each hearing
under subsection (a) in an appropriate forum and in a manner intended
to facilitate widespread public participation in the hearing.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Adhere.--The terms ``adhere to'', ``adhering to'', and
        ``adherence to'', in the case of the principles set forth in
        section 2(b), mean--
                    (A) agreeing to implement the principles;
                    (B) implementing the principles by taking good
                faith measures with respect to each principle; and
                    (C) reporting accurately to the Secretary of State
                on the measures taken to implement the principles.
            (2) Intercede with a foreign government or foreign
        national.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``intercede with a
                foreign government or foreign national'' includes any
                contact by an officer or employee of the United States
                with officials of any foreign government or foreign
                national involving or contemplating any effort to
                assist in selling a good, service, or technology in the
                People's Republic of China or Tibet.
                    (B) Exclusion.--The term does not include
                multilateral or bilateral government-to-government
                trade negotiations intended to resolve trade issues
                which may affect United States parent companies which
                do not adhere to the principles set forth in section
                2(b).
            (3) Organized under the laws of the united states.--The
        term ``organized under the laws of the United States'' means
        organized under the laws of the United States, any State of the
        United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
        Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
        or any other territory or possession of the United States.
            (4) United states company.--The term ``United States
        company'' means a corporation, partnership, or other business
        association organized under the laws of the United States.

Summary: Sets forth certain registration and reporting requirements with respect to US companies doing business in China or Tibet.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Cigarette ignited fires are the leading cause of fire
        deaths in the United States.
            (2) In 1999 there were 807 deaths from cigarette ignited
        fires, 2,193 civilian injuries from such fires, and
        $559,100,000 in property damage caused by such fires.
            (3) Nearly 100 children are killed each year from cigarette
        related fires.
            (4) For over 20 years former Member of Congress Joseph
        Moakley worked on behalf of burn victims, firefighters, and
        every individual who has lost a loved one in a fire. By
        securing enactment of the Cigarette Safety Act of 1984 and the
        Fire Safe Cigarette Act of 1990, Joseph Moakley completed the
        necessary technical work for a cigarette fire safety standard
        and paved the way for a national standard.
            (5) It is appropriate for the Congress to require by law
        the establishment of a cigarette fire safety standard for the
        manufacture and importation of cigarettes.
            (6) A recent study by the Consumer Product Safety
        Commission found that the cost of the loss of human life and
        personal property from not having a cigarette fire safety
        standard is $4,600,000,000 per year.
            (7) It is appropriate that the regulatory expertise of the
        Consumer Product Safety Commission be used to implement a
        cigarette fire safety standard.

SEC. 3. CIGARETTE FIRE SAFETY STANDARD.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Requirement for standard.--Not later than 18 months
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission
        shall, by rule, prescribe one or more fire safety standards for
        cigarettes that, except as provided in this Act, are
        substantively the same as the standards set forth by the State
        of New York in Part 429 of Title 18 of the Official Compilation
        of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, as
        promulgated on December 31, 2003 (in this Act referred to as
        the ``New York standard''), including the Appendix to such
        Part.
            (2) Cigarettes with unique characteristics.--In adapting
        section 4(c) of such Part 429, if the Commission determines
        that a cigarette, because of its unique or nontraditional
        characteristics, cannot be tested in accordance with the test
        method prescribed by the Commission, the manufacturer of such
        cigarette may propose a test method and performance standard
        for such cigarette. If the Commission finds the proposed method
        and standard to be equivalent to the test method and
        performance standard otherwise established by the Commission,
        the Commission may approve the method and standard and the
        manufacturer of such cigarette may employ such test method and
        performance standard to certify the cigarette pursuant to rules
        prescribed by this Act.
            (3) Commission.--In this Act, the term ``Commission'' means
        the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
    (b) Procedure.--
            (1) In general.--The rule under subsection (a), and any
        modification thereof, shall be prescribed in accordance with
        section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Modifications.--
                    (A) Modification by sponsor.--If the sponsor of the
                testing methodology used under subsection (a)(2)
                modifies the testing methodology in any material
                respect, the sponsor shall notify the Commission of the
                modification, and the Commission may incorporate the
                modification in the rule prescribed under subsection
                (a) if the Commission determines that the modification
                will enhance a fire safety standard established under
                subsection (a)(2).
                    (B) Modification by commission.--The Commission may
                modify the rule prescribed under subsection (a),
                including the test requirements specified in subsection
                (a)(2), in whole or in part, only if the Commission
                determines that compliance with such modification is
                technically feasible and will enhance a fire safety
                standard established under that subsection. Any such
                modification shall not take effect earlier than 3 years
                after the date on which the rule is first issued.
            (3) Inapplicability of certain laws.--
                    (A) In general.--No Federal law or Executive order,
                including the laws listed in subparagraph (B) but not
                including chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 of title 5, United
                States Code, commonly referred to as the Administrative
                Procedures Act, may be construed to apply to the
                promulgation of the rule required by subsection (a), or
                a modification of the rule under paragraph (2) of this
                subsection.
                    (B) Included laws.--The Federal laws referred to in
                subparagraph (A) include the following:
                            (i) The Consumer Product Safety Act (15
                        U.S.C. 2051 et seq.).
                            (ii) Chapter 6 of title 5, United States
                        Code.
                            (iii) The National Environmental Policy Act
                        of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
                            (iv) The Small Business Regulatory
                        Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law
                        104-121), and the amendments made by that Act.
    (c) Effective Date.--The Commission shall specify in the rule
prescribed under subsection (a) the effective date of the rule. The
effective date may not be later than 24 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Treatment of Standard.--
            (1) In general.--The fire safety standard promulgated under
        subsection (a) shall be treated as a consumer product safety
        standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act (15
        U.S.C. 2051 et seq.), except as provided in section 4.
            (2) Treatment of cigarettes.--A cigarette shall be treated
        as a consumer product under section 3(a)(1)(B) of the Consumer
        Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(1)(B)) for purposes of
        this Act and for purposes of sections 17 and 18 of the Consumer
        Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2066, 2067).

SEC. 4. PREEMPTION.

    (a) In General.--This Act, and any cigarette fire safety standard
established or modified pursuant to section 3, may not be construed to
preempt or otherwise affect in any way any law or regulation that
prescribes a fire safety standard for cigarettes--
            (1) set forth by the State of New York in the New York
        standard; or
            (2) promulgated by any State that is more stringent than
        the fire safety standard for cigarettes established under this
        section.
    (b) Private Remedies.--The provisions of section 25 of the Consumer
Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2074) shall apply with respect to the
fire safety standard promulgated under section 3(a) of this Act.

SEC. 5. SCOPE OF JURISDICTION OF CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Commission shall have
no jurisdiction over tobacco or tobacco products.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for fiscal year
2005, $2,000,000 for purposes of carrying out this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a)
shall remain available until expended.

Summary: Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 2004 - Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to prescribe fire safety standards for cigarettes that, except as provided in this Act, are substantively the same as specified standards promulgated by the State of New York. Directs sponsors of testing methodologies employed under this Act to notify the Commission of any modifications in such methodologies. Authorizes the Commission to modify established fire safety standards to incorporate modifications that will enhance those standards. Requires fire safety standards promulgated under this Act to be treated as consumer product safety standards, and directs that cigarettes shall be treated as consumer products, under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Precludes the preemption by this Act of the New York standard or more stringent fire safety standards for cigarettes promulgated by any State. Makes the CPSA's private remedy provisions applicable to fire safety standards promulgated under this Act. Denies the Commission any jurisdiction over tobacco or tobacco products except as provided in this Act.

A bill to provide for fire safety standards for cigarettes, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Seniors Real Property Tax Relief Act
of 1998''.

SEC. 2. ALLOWANCE OF DEDUCTION FOR STATE AND LOCAL REAL PROPERTY TAXES
              TO CERTAIN SENIORS WHO DO NOT ITEMIZE THEIR DEDUCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 62 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to definition of adjusted gross income)
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(18) Real property taxes of eligible senior taxpayers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of an eligible
                senior taxpayer, the deduction for State and local real
                property taxes (within the meaning of section 164).
                    ``(B) Limitation.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply
                only to the portion of State and local real property
                taxes which exceeds the aggregate amount distributed
                for the taxable year from the senior citizen real
                property tax account (as defined by section 222). The
                preceding sentence shall not apply to a distribution
                described in paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of section
                222(e).
                    ``(C) Eligible senior taxpayer defined.--For
                purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `eligible senior
                taxpayer' means a taxpayer--
                            ``(i) who is not married or is married
                        filing a separate return and--
                                    ``(I) who has attained age 65
                                before the close of his taxable year,
                                and
                                    ``(II) whose modified adjusted
                                gross income for such taxable year does
                                not exceed $30,000, or
                            ``(ii) who is filing a joint return or is a
                        surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a))
                        and--
                                    ``(I) with respect to whom 1 of the
                                spouses has attained age 65 before the
                                close of the taxpayer's taxable year,
                                and
                                    ``(II) whose modified adjusted
                                gross income for such taxable year does
                                not exceed $60,000.
                    ``(D) Modified adjusted gross income.--For purposes
                of subparagraph (C), the term `modified adjusted gross
                income' means the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer
                for the taxable year determined--
                            ``(i) without regard to sections 911, 931,
                        and 933, and
                            ``(ii) after the application of sections
                        86, 469, 219, 220, and 222.
                    ``(E) Inflation adjustment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of a taxable
                        year beginning after December 31, 1999, each of
                        the dollar amounts in subparagraphs (C)(i)(II)
                        and (C)(ii)(II) shall be increased by an amount
                        equal to--
                                    ``(I) such dollar amount,
                                multiplied by
                                    ``(II) the cost-of-living
                                adjustment determined under section
                                1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which
                                the taxable year begins, determined by
                                substituting `calendar year 1998' for
                                `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph
                                (B) thereof.
                            ``(ii) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted
                        under clause (i) is not a multiple of $100 such
                        amount shall be rounded to the next lowest
                        multiple of $100.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of
this Act.

SEC. 3. SENIOR CITIZEN REAL PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS.

    (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. SENIOR CITIZEN REAL PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS.

    ``(a) Deduction Allowed.--In the case of an individual, there shall
be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the
cash contributions made for such taxable year to a senior citizen real
property tax account maintained for the benefit of such individual.
    ``(b) Maximum Amount of Deduction.--The amount allowable as a
deduction under subsection (a) to any individual for any taxable year
shall not exceed $2,000.
    ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Senior citizen real property tax account.--The term
        `senior citizen real property tax account' means a trust
        created or organized in the United States exclusively for the
        purpose of paying the qualified property tax expenses of the
        account beneficiary of the trust, but only if the trust is
        designated as a senior citizen real property tax account at the
        time created or organized and the written governing instrument
        creating the trust meets the following requirements:
                    ``(A) No contribution (other than a rollover
                contribution described in subsection (e)(5)) will be
                accepted--
                            ``(i) unless it is in cash,
                            ``(ii) in excess of $2,000 for the taxable
                        year, or
                            ``(iii) after the date on which such
                        beneficiary attains age 59\1/2\.
                    ``(B) The trustee is a bank (as defined in section
                408(n)) or another person who demonstrates to the
                satisfaction of the Secretary that the manner in which
                that person will administer the trust will be
                consistent with the requirements of this section or who
                has so demonstrated with respect to any individual
                retirement plan.
                    ``(C) No part of the trust assets will be invested
                in life insurance contracts.
                    ``(D) The assets of the trust shall not be
                commingled with other property except in a common trust
                fund or common investment fund.
            ``(2) Qualified property tax expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified property tax
                expenses' means State and local, and foreign, real
                property taxes imposed on the account beneficiary
                (determined in accordance with section 164) with
                respect to the principal residence (within the meaning
                of section 121) of such beneficiary. Such term shall
                not include taxes imposed for any real property tax
                period ending before the date such beneficiary attains
                age 59\1/2\.
                    ``(B) Jointly held property.--In the case of any
                residence which is held as joint tenants, tenants by
                the entirety, or community property by individuals who
                are married to each other, if one spouse satisfies the
                age requirement of subparagraph (A), then both spouses
                shall be treated as satisfying such requirement.
            ``(3) Account beneficiary.--The term `account beneficiary'
        means the individual for whose benefit the senior citizen real
        property tax account was established.
            ``(4) Certain rules to apply.--Rules similar to the
        following rules shall apply for purposes of this section:
                    ``(A) Section 219(d)(2) (relating to no deduction
                for rollovers).
                    ``(B) Section 219(f)(3) (relating to time when
                contributions deemed made).
                    ``(C) Section 408(d)(6) (relating to transfer of
                account incident to divorce).
                    ``(D) Section 408(g) (relating to community
                property laws).
                    ``(E) Section 408(h) (relating to custodial
                accounts).
    ``(d) Tax Treatment of Accounts.--
            ``(1) In general.--A senior citizen real property tax
        account is exempt from taxation under this subtitle unless such
        account has ceased to be such an account. Notwithstanding the
        preceding sentence, any such account is subject to the taxes
        imposed by section 511 (relating to imposition of tax on
        unrelated business income of charitable, etc. organizations).
            ``(2) Account terminations.--Rules similar to the rules of
        paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 408(e) shall apply to senior
        citizen real property tax accounts, and any amount treated as
        distributed under such rules shall be treated as not used to
        pay qualified property tax expenses.
    ``(e) Tax Treatment of Distributions.--
            ``(1) In general.--If any distribution is made from a
        senior citizen real property tax account during the taxable
        year, the account beneficiary's tax imposed by this chapter for
        such taxable year shall be increased by an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) 50 percent of any such distribution which is
                made before the date the account beneficiary attains
                age 59\1/2\, and
                    ``(B) 25 percent of any such distribution which is
                made on or after such date.
        The increase in tax under the preceding sentence shall be in
        lieu of any inclusion in gross income.
            ``(2) Amounts used for qualified property tax expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to
                the extent that the aggregate distributions during the
                taxable year from the senior citizen real property tax
                accounts of the account beneficiary do not exceed the
                aggregate qualified property tax expenses of such
                beneficiary for such year.
                    ``(B) Exclusion from gross income.--Gross income
                shall not include any distribution excluded from
                paragraph (1) by reason of subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Treatment after death of account beneficiary;
        disability.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a distribution--
                    ``(A) which is made by reason of the death of the
                account beneficiary and is made (either directly or by
                the estate of such beneficiary) to any senior citizen
                real property tax account or individual retirement plan
                of any individual, or
                    ``(B) which is attributable to the account
                beneficiary's being disabled (within the meaning of
                section 72(m)(7)).
        In the case of a distribution which is made by reason of the
        death of the account beneficiary and to which paragraph (1)
        applies after the application of the preceding sentence, the
        tax on such distribution shall be determined under paragraph
        (1)(A).
            ``(4) Excess contributions returned before the due date of
        return.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If any excess contribution is
                contributed for a taxable year to a senior citizen real
                property tax account of an individual, paragraph (1)
                shall not apply to distributions from the senior
                citizen real property tax accounts of such individual
                (to the extent such distributions do not exceed the
                aggregate excess contributions to all such accounts of
                such individual for such year) if--
                            ``(i) such distribution is received by the
                        individual on or before the last day prescribed
                        by law (including extensions of time) for
                        filing such individual's return for such
                        taxable year, and
                            ``(ii) such distribution is accompanied by
                        the amount of net income attributable to such
                        excess contribution.
                Any net income described in clause (ii) shall be
                included in the gross income of the individual for the
                taxable year in which it is received.
                    ``(B) Excess contribution.--For purposes of
                subparagraph (A), the term `excess contribution' means
                any contribution (other than a rollover contribution)
                that is not deductible under this section.
            ``(5) Rollover contribution.--An amount is described in
        this paragraph as a rollover contribution if it meets the
        requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B).
                    ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to
                any amount distributed from a senior citizen real
                property tax account to the account beneficiary to the
                extent the amount received is paid into a senior
                citizen real property tax account for the benefit of
                such beneficiary not later than the 60th day after the
                day on which the beneficiary receives the payment or
                distribution.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--This paragraph shall not apply
                to any amount described in subparagraph (A) received by
                an individual from a senior citizen real property tax
                account if, at any time during the 1-year period ending
                on the day of such receipt, such individual received
                any other amount described in subparagraph (A) from a
                senior citizen real property tax account which was not
                includible in the individual's gross income because of
                the application of this paragraph.
    ``(f) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Married individuals.--The maximum deduction under
        subsection (b) shall be computed separately for each
        individual.
            ``(2) Time when contributions deemed made.--For purposes of
        this section, a taxpayer shall be deemed to have made a
        contribution to a senior citizen real property tax account on
        the last day of the preceding taxable year if the contribution
        is made on account of such taxable year and is made not later
        than the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such
        taxable year (not including extensions thereof).
    ``(g) Reports.--The Secretary may require the trustee of a senior
citizen real property tax account to make such reports regarding such
account to the Secretary and to the account beneficiary with respect to
contributions, distributions, and such other matters as the Secretary
determines appropriate. The reports required by this subsection shall
be filed at such time and in such a manner and furnished to such
individuals at such time and in such manner as may be required by the
Secretary.''.
    (b) Deduction Allowed Whether or Not Taxpayer Itemizes Other
Deductions.--Subsection (a) of section 62 of such Code, as amended by
section 2, is amended by inserting after paragraph (18) the following
new paragraph:
            ``(19) Senior citizen real property tax accounts.--The
        deduction allowed by section 222.''.
    (c) Tax on Prohibited Transactions.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 4975(e) of such
        Code (relating to prohibited transactions) is amended by
        redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (F)
        and (G), respectively, and by inserting after subparagraph (D)
        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) a senior citizen real property tax account
                described in section 222(c),''.
            (2) Special rule.--Subsection (c) of section 4975 of such
        Code is amended by adding at the end the following new
        paragraph:
            ``(6) Special rule for senior citizen real property tax
        accounts.--The individual for whose benefit a senior citizen
        real property tax account is established shall be exempt from
        the tax imposed by this section with respect to any transaction
        concerning such account (which would otherwise be taxable under
        this section) if section 222(d)(2) applies with respect to such
        transaction.''.
    (d) Failure To Provide Reports on Senior Citizen Real Property Tax
accounts.--Paragraph (2) of section 6693(a) of such Code (relating to
failure to provide reports on individual retirement accounts or
annuities) is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively, and by inserting after
subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) section 222(g) (relating to senior citizen
                real property tax accounts),''.
    (e) Tax on Excess Contributions.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (a) of section 4973 of such
        Code is amended by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
        paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by inserting after
        paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) a senior citizen real property tax account (as
        defined in section 222(c)),''.
            (2) Excess contributions defined.--Section 4973 of such
        Code is amended by adding at the end the following new
        subsection:
    ``(g) Excess Contributions to Senior Citizen Real Property Tax
Accounts.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of senior citizen real
        property tax accounts maintained for the benefit of any 1
        beneficiary, the term `excess contributions' means the amount
        by which the amount contributed for the taxable year to such
        accounts exceeds $2,000.
            ``(2) Special rules.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the
        following contributions shall not be taken into account:
                    ``(A) Any contribution which is distributed out of
                the senior citizen real property tax account in a
                distribution to which section 222(e)(4) applies.
                    ``(B) Any rollover contribution.''.
    (f) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for part VII of
subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last
item and inserting the following new items:

                              ``Sec. 222. Senior citizen real property
                                        tax accounts.
                              ``Sec. 223. Cross reference.''.
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of
this Act.

Summary: Seniors Real Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a deduction for State and local real property taxes paid by certain taxpayers aged 65 or older who do not itemize their deductions. And (2) provide for the establishment of senior citizen real property tax accounts .


SECTION 1. SUSPENSION OF DUTY ON CERTAIN MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by striking headings
9902.84.81, 9902.98.83, 9902.84.85, 9902.84.87, 9902.84.89, and
9902.84.91, and insert in numerical sequence the following new
headings:

``     9902.84.81      Shearing machines   Free            No change        No change        On or before 12/
                        used to cut                                                           31/2005
                        metallic tissue
                        certified for use
                        in production of
                        radial tires
                        designed for off-
                        the-highway use
                        with a rim
                        measuring 63.5 cm
                        or more in
                        diameter provided
                        for in subheading
                        4011.20.10 or
                        subheading
                        4011.61.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.62.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.63.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.69.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.92.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.93.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.94.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.99.4500,
                        numerically
                        controlled, or
                        parts thereof
                        (provided for in
                        subheading
                        8462.31.00 or
                        subheading
                        8466.94.85)......
       9902.84.83      Machine tools for   Free            No change        No change        On or before 12/
                        working wire of                                                       31/2005
                        iron or steel
                        certified for use
                        in production of
                        radial tires,
                        designed for off-
                        the-highway use,
                        and for use on a
                        rim measuring
                        63.5 cm or more
                        in diameter
                        provided for in
                        subheading
                        4011.20.10 or
                        subheading
                        4011.61.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.62.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.63.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.69.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.92.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.93.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.94.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.99.4500,
                        numerically
                        controlled, or
                        parts thereof
                        (provided for in
                        subheading
                        8463.00).........
       9902.84.85      Extruders to be     Free            No change        No change        On or before 12/
                        used in                                                               31/2005
                        production or
                        radial tires
                        designed for off-
                        the-highway use
                        with a rim
                        measuring 63.5 cm
                        or more in
                        diameter provided
                        for in subheading
                        4011.20.10 or
                        subheading
                        4011.61.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.62.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.63.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.69.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.92.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.93.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.94.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.99.4500,
                        numerically
                        controlled, or
                        parts thereof
                        (provided for in
                        subheading
                        8477.20.00 or
                        subheading
                        8477.90.85)......
       9902.84.87      Machinery for       Free            No change        No change        On or before 12/
                        molding,                                                              31/2005
                        retreading, or
                        otherwise forming
                        uncured,
                        unvulcanized
                        rubber to be used
                        in production of
                        radial tires
                        designed for off-
                        the-highway use,
                        with measuring
                        63.5 cm or more
                        in diameter
                        provided for in
                        subheading
                        4011.20.10 or
                        subheading
                        4011.61.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.62.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.63.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.69.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.92.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.93.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.94.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.99.4500,
                        numerically
                        controlled, or
                        parts thereof
                        (provided for in
                        subheading
                        8477.51.00 or
                        subheading
                        8477.90.85)......
       9902.84.89      Sector mold press   Free            No change        No change        On or before 12/
                        machines to be                                                        31/2005
                        used in
                        production of
                        radial tires
                        designed for off-
                        the-highway use
                        with a rim
                        measuring 63.5 cm
                        or more in
                        diameter provided
                        for in subheading
                        4011.20.10 or
                        subheading
                        4011.61.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.62.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.63.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.69.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.92.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.93.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.94.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.99.4500,
                        numerically
                        controlled, or
                        parts thereof
                        (provided for in
                        subheading
                        8477.51.00 or
                        subheading
                        7477.90.85)......
       9902.84.91      Sawing machines     Free            No change        No change        On or before 12/
                        certified for use                                                     31/2005         ''
                        in production of                                                                       .
                        radial tires
                        designed for off-
                        the-highway use
                        with a rim
                        measuring 63.5 cm
                        or more in
                        diameter provided
                        for in subheading
                        4011.20.10 or
                        subheading
                        4011.61.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.62.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.63.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.69.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.92.0000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.93.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.94.4000 or
                        subheading
                        4011.99.4500,
                        numerically
                        controlled, or
                        parts thereof
                        (provided for in
                        subheading
                        8465.91.00 or
                        subheading
                        8466.92.50)......

    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) apply to
goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on and
after the date that is 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2005, the duty on certain tire manufacturing equipment.

A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for duty free treatment on certain manufacturing equipment.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``No Qualified Teacher Left Behind Act
of 2004''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO ESEA RELATING TO TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS.

    (a) Highly Qualified Definition.--Paragraph (23) of section 9101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)(ii)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' at the
                end; and
                    (B) by striking subclause (II) and inserting the
                following:
                                    ``(II) successful completion, in
                                each of the academic subjects in which
                                the teacher teaches, of an academic
                                major or minor, a graduate degree,
                                State certification of sufficient
                                college-level coursework to satisfy
                                this subclause, or advanced
                                certification; or
                                    ``(III) passing a high objective
                                uniform State standard of evaluation
                                described in subparagraph (C)(ii) in
                                each of the academic subjects in which
                                the teacher teaches; and''; and
            (2) in clause (ii) of subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in subclause (V), by striking ``but not be
                based primarily on'' and inserting ``but not be based
                solely on'';
                    (B) by redesignating subclauses (VI) and (VII) as
                subclauses (VII) and (VIII), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after subclause (V) the following:
                                    ``(VI) takes into consideration any
                                professional development being
                                pursued;''.
    (b) Rural School Districts.--
            (1) Extension.--Subsection (a) of section 1119 of the
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6319)
        is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Rural school districts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the deadline
                described in paragraphs (2) and (3), a plan developed
                by a State educational agency or a local educational
                agency under this subsection shall ensure that all
                teachers who are described in such paragraphs, but are
                teaching in a rural school district, are highly
                qualified not later than the end of the 2008-2009
                school year.
                    ``(B) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph,
                a rural school district means a local educational
                agency that--
                            ``(i) meets the eligibility criteria
                        described in section 6211(b), including by
                        obtaining a waiver under paragraph (2) of such
                        section; and
                            ``(ii) employs a percentage of teachers who
                        are not highly qualified that is higher than
                        the corresponding percentage for the State
                        involved.''.
            (2) Additional funding.--Section 6234 of the Elementary and
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7355c) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``There are'' and inserting ``(a)
                In General.--There are''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Highly Qualified Teachers.--For the purpose of making grants
under subpart 2 to be used for teacher recruitment, retention, and
professional development activities described in section 6222(a) in
rural school districts (as that term is defined in section 1119(a)(4)),
there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year
2005 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2006
and 2007. Such authorization of appropriations is in addition to the
authorization of appropriations in subsection (a).''.
    (c) Core Academic Subjects Only.--Paragraph (1) of section 1119(a)
(20 U.S.C. 6319(a)) is amended by inserting ``, teaching in core
academic subjects,'' after ``hired after such day''.
    (d) Proportion of Inexperienced Teachers.--Subparagraph (C) of
section 1111(b)(8) (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(8)) is amended by striking
``inexperienced, unqualified, or out-of-field teachers'' and inserting
``unqualified or out-of-field teachers''.
    (e) Other Grantees.--Subpart 2 of part E of title IX of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 9537. HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

    ``No entity may receive any funds under this Act unless,
irrespective of whether the entity has applied for a grant under part A
of title I, the entity ensures that all elementary school and secondary
school teachers employed by the entity and teaching in core academic
subjects are highly qualified not later than--
            ``(1) the end of the 2005-2006 school year; or
            ``(2) in the case of a teacher in a rural school district
        (as that term is defined in section 1119(a)(4)), the end of the
        2008-2009 school year.''.

Summary: No Qualified Teacher Left Behind Act of 2004 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) with respect to teacher qualifications. Revises the definition of highly qualified teacher, in the case of middle or secondary school teachers who are new to the profession. Includes consideration of any professional development being pursued, in determining such qualifications for elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers who are not new to the profession. Provides for rural school districts: (1) an extension of a deadline for having highly qualified teachers. And (2) an authorization of additional appropriations for grants for teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development. Revises requirements for qualified teachers under ESEA title I part A (I-A) programs for disadvantaged students to: (1) apply only to teachers of core subjects. And (2) eliminate reference to the proportion of inexperienced teachers. Requires all ESEA grantees, whether under I-A or not, to meet specified qualification deadlines for all teachers of core subjects whom they employ.

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 with respect to teacher qualifications, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Opportunity for Residential
Representation Act''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) eviction prevention programs provide important and
        effective social and economic benefits;
            (2) such programs help protect low-income and at-risk
        households from the trauma and disruption of homelessness and
        save property owners from the high costs of forced eviction and
        re-occupancy; and
            (3) investing more resources in eviction prevention helps
        communities save on the high cost of homelessness by stopping
        homelessness before it starts--for example, according to 2015
        data, the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance estimates
        that a homeless individual residing in Massachusetts creates an
        additional cost burden for State-supported services (such as
        shelters, emergency room visits, and incarceration) that is
        $9,372 greater per year than for a housed individual.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING ISSUES FOR LOW-
              INCOME FAMILIES.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in
this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a
program under this section, through the Office of Community Planning
and Development, to make grants to the extent amounts for such grants
are made available pursuant to subsection (f) to eligible organizations
under subsection (d) to provide legal services and other related
supportive services under subsection (e) on behalf of eligible low-
income families under subsection (c).
    (b) Selection of Grantees.--The Secretary shall select eligible
organizations under subsection (d) to receive grants under this section
taking into consideration factors, including--
            (1) factors necessary to ensure an equitable distribution
        of grants to grantees serving urban areas (as such term is
        defined by the Secretary) and to grantees serving rural areas
        (as such term is defined by the Secretary), except that the
        Secretary shall ensure that, of any amounts made available for
        any fiscal year for grants under this section, not less than 20
        percent shall be used for grantees serving rural areas;
            (2) the number of rental units in the area served by the
        grantee that are affordable to low-income households having
        incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income and
        paying more than 30 percent of their incomes for rent;
            (3) the extent to which the population of the area served
        by the grantee uses eviction or other housing-related legal
        services or has a need for such services;
            (4) the extent to which tenants in the area served by the
        grantee are evicted;
            (5) the number of rental units in the area served by the
        grantee that are affordable to households having incomes at or
        below 80 percent of the area median income;
            (6) the extent of poverty in the area served by the
        grantee;
            (7) the number of renter households in the area served by
        the grantee that--
                    (A) have incomes at or below 80 percent of the area
                median income;
                    (B) are not provided rental assistance, such as
                rental assistance under section 8 of the United States
                Housing Act of 1937 or occupancy in a dwelling unit in
                public housing; or
                    (C) live in severely inadequate housing, as
                measured using the American Housing Survey definition
                of housing having severe physical problems; and
            (8) any other factors that the Secretary considers
        appropriate for purposes of this section, except that the
        Secretary may not consider data from a point-in-time count of
        the homeless (as defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-
        Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a))).
    (c) Eligible Low-Income Families.--Amounts from a grant under this
section may be used only to provide eligible services under subsection
(e) with respect to families (including individuals and including
victims of domestic violence) who--
            (1) reside in a rental dwelling unit; and
            (2) have an income (as such term is defined in section 3(b)
        of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)))
        that does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the
        area in which the family resides.
    (d) Eligible Organizations.--Grants under this section may be made
only to--
            (1) a nonprofit organization that provides legal services
        on behalf of persons or families whose eligibility for such
        services includes a limitation on income, including any
        organizations that receive funding from the Legal Services
        Corporation (established under the Legal Services Corporation
        Act (42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.)) to provide such services on
        behalf of such persons or families;
            (2) legal clinics sponsored by law schools or other
        organizations; and
            (3) such other institutions, organizations, and entities as
        the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (e) Eligible Services.--Amounts from a grant under this section may
be used only to provide, on behalf of eligible low-income families
under subsection (c), legal services and other related supportive
services in connection with--
            (1) an eviction of such a family;
            (2) the prevention of an eviction of such a family;
            (3) a dispute between the landlord and a tenant who is a
        member of such a family; or
            (4) enforcing the legal rights of such a family under
        Federal, State, or local laws regarding tenancy or fair
        housing.
    (f) Use of Mortgage Interest Deduction Savings for Grants.--
            (1) Determination of savings.--For each of fiscal years
        2018 through 2022, the Secretary of the Treasury shall
        determine the amount of revenues accruing to the general fund
        of the Treasury by reason of the enactment of the amendment
        made by section 4 of this Act.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
        to be appropriated for grants under this section for each of
        fiscal years 2018 through 2022 the amount determined under
        paragraph (1) for such fiscal year.

SEC. 4. REDUCTION IN LIMITATION ON MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION RELATING
              TO ACQUISITION INDEBTEDNESS FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS.

    (a) Acquisition Indebtedness.--Clause (ii) of section 163(h)(3)(B)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(ii) Limitation.--The aggregate amount
                        treated as acquisition indebtedness for any
                        period shall not exceed--
                                    ``(I) $1,000,000 in the case of a
                                joint return ($500,000 in the case of a
                                married individual filing a separate
                                return), and
                                    ``(II) the applicable amount in any
                                other case.
                            ``(iii) Applicable amount.--For purposes of
                        clause (ii)(II), the applicable amount is as
                        follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          The applicable
                  ``For taxable years--                     amount is--

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning in calendar year 2018.........................        $900,000
Beginning in calendar year 2019.........................        $800,000
Beginning in calendar year 2020.........................        $700,000
Beginning in calendar year 2021.........................        $600,000
Beginning in or after calendar year 2022................    $500,000.''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2017.

Summary: Equal Opportunity for Residential Representation Act This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Office of Community Planning and Development to carry out a program to make grants to organizations to provide legal services and other related supportive services on behalf of low-income families who reside in a rental dwelling unit and have an income that does not exceed 80 of the median income for the area in which the family resides. The following organizations may receive such grants: nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to persons or families of limited income, including organizations that receive funding from the Legal Services Corporation, legal clinics sponsored by law schools or other organizations. And such other entities as HUD considers appropriate. These grants may be used only to provide legal services and other related supportive services in connection with: (1) an eviction of such a family, (2) the prevention of such eviction, (3) a dispute between the landlord and a tenant who is a family member, or (4) enforcing the family's legal rights regarding tenancy or fair housing. Funds for such program shall be derived from revenues resulting from amendments by this bill to the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the limitation on the mortgage interest deduction for the acquisition indebtedness of certain taxpayers.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Samoa Economic Development
Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) funding for the United States territory of American
        Samoa has been based on the joint resolution entitled ``Joint
        Resolution to provide for accepting, ratifying, and confirming
        cessions of certain islands of the Samoan group to the United
        States, and for other purposes'', as amended (48 U.S.C. 1661),
        with commitments being made on a yearly basis;
            (2) American Samoa is locally self-governing with a
        constitution of its own adoption and the direct election of the
        Governor since 1977;
            (3) the territory of American Samoa has had difficulty in
        planning and implementing comprehensive and sustainable
        infrastructure based solely on annual ad hoc grants; and
            (4) the territory of American Samoa and the United States
        would benefit from a multiyear funding commitment which
        promotes economic development and self-sufficiency and requires
        compliance with financial management accounting standards, the
        establishment of semiautonomous public utility authorities
        utilizing cost-recovery principles, and the phaseout of Federal
        subsidies for Government operations.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of the Interior for the Government of American Samoa
$34,500,000, backed by the full faith and credit of the United States,
for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2005. Such amounts shall, subject
to the limits specified in the table in subsection (b), be used for--
            (1) construction of capital assets of American Samoa;
            (2) maintenance and repair of such capital assets;
            (3) the operations of the Government of American Samoa; and
            (4) reduction of unbudgeted debt incurred by the Government
        of American Samoa in fiscal years prior to 1996.
    (b) Table of Multiyear Funding.--The table referred to in this
subsection is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Deficit       Maintenance
            Fiscal year              Year #   Operations  Construction     reduction      and repair      Total
                                                                         (100% match)    (100% match)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996...............................     1        23.0           5.5           3.0             3.0          34.5
1997...............................     2        23.0           5.5           3.0             3.0          34.5
1998...............................     3        23.0           5.5           3.0             3.0          34.5
1999...............................     4        21.0           7.5           3.0             3.0          34.5
2000...............................     5        18.0          10.5           3.0             3.0          34.5
2001...............................     6        15.0          16.5                           3.0          34.5
2002...............................     7        12.0          19.5                           3.0          34.5
2003...............................     8         9.0          22.5                           3.0          34.5
2004...............................     9         6.0          25.5                           3.0          34.5
2005...............................    10         3.0          28.5                           3.0          34.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Multiyear Availability of Appropriations.--Amounts not expended
in the year appropriated shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST.

    (a) In General.--The Government of American Samoa shall establish a
trust into which the amounts appropriated pursuant to section 3 are
placed.
    (b) Trustee.--
            (1) In general.--A trustee to administer the trust
        established by this section shall be nominated by the Governor
        of American Samoa and passed by both Houses of the Legislature
        of American Samoa pursuant to local law and shall be a
        nongovernmental entity, bonded in an amount no less than 110
        percent of the maximum amount of funds which will be held in
        trust during any given fiscal year (hereafter in this Act
        referred to as the ``trustee''). The trustee shall not be the
        independent auditor required by section 7.
            (2) Replacement.--The trustee may be terminated only by
        mutual agreement, or at the end of its contract for services as
        trustee, or for good cause. Termination of a trustee for good
        cause must be recommended by the Governor of American Samoa and
        approved by both Houses of the Legislature of American Samoa.
            (3) Other terms and conditions.--The trustee shall be
        subject to such other conditions as the Government of American
        Samoa may provide under local law.
    (c) Trust Funds.--
            (1) Deposit; investment.--The trust funds shall be
        deposited in an account or accounts of a financial institution
        insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and may
        be invested by the Government of American Samoa, or the trustee
        if so designated, in only federally insured accounts or issues
        of bonds, notes or other redeemable instruments of the
        Government of the United States.
            (2) Use of interest and dividends.--Interest or dividends
        earned from investment of trust funds under paragraph (1) may
        be used for projects contained on the approved master plan of
        capital needs developed under section 5, or for the costs of
        managing the trust.
            (3) Availability and use of federal funds.--Federal funds
        made available for the purposes described in section 3(a)(1)
        may be used only on projects from the approved master plan of
capital needs.
    (d) Reports.--Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, the
trustee shall submit an annual report to the chairmen and ranking
minority members of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and
the Committee on Appropriations of the United States Senate, the
Committee on Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the
United States House of Representatives, and the Government of American
Samoa. The report shall include at a minimum the financial statements
of the account or accounts in which it holds trust funds pursuant to
this Act.

SEC. 5. USES OF TRUST FUNDS.

    (a) Capital Needs.--
            (1) Master plan of capital needs.--For fiscal year 1997 and
        all following years, no funds appropriated pursuant to this Act
        shall be released by the trustee for construction of capital
        assets without the submission by the Government of American
        Samoa to the trustee of a master plan of capital needs that
        ranks projects in order of priority for at least five years.
        The master plan shall be approved by the Governor and passed by
        both Houses of the Legislature of American Samoa pursuant to
        such laws as the Government of American Samoa may enact. The
        master plan of capital needs may be amended at any time, but
        all amendments must be approved by the Governor and passed by
        both Houses of the Legislature of American Samoa. The plan
        shall include the capital needs of all the islands of American
        Samoa.
            (2) Funds for construction of capital assets.--Funds for
        the construction of capital assets shall be paid to the
        Government of American Samoa only after approval by the
        trustee. The trustee shall approve the release of funds only
        for construction projects for a public purpose in the areas of
        communications, electrical power, water, waste water, roads,
        schools, school transportation system, air, water and surface
        transportation, ports, harbors, storage and transportation
        facilities of fuels or other forms of energy, health, and
        construction of government-owned buildings. Funding made
        available pursuant to section 3(a)(1) for construction of
        capital assets may only be used for projects listed on the
        master plan of capital needs as set forth in this section. To
        the extent an appropriation is available, the projects
        contained on the master list with the highest priority are to
        be funded.
            (3) Requirement of semiautonomous agencies.--Beginning with
        fiscal year 1997, no funds for the construction of capital
        assets shall be released by the trustee in the areas of
        communications, electrical power, public health,
        transportation, water, and wastewater until there is
        established by local law semiautonomous government agencies of
        the Government of American Samoa.
            (4) Maintenance plan and funding.--For fiscal years 1997
        and all following years, no funds appropriated pursuant to this
        Act shall be released by the trustee for the construction of
        capital assets until the Government of American Samoa, or the
        appropriate semiautonomous government agency if required,
        submits to the trustee a maintenance plan covering the
        anticipated life of the project and the project is initially
        funded. The maintenance plan shall include the estimated cost
        of maintaining and repairing the project and identify a source
        to fund the estimated maintenance and repairs for the
        anticipated life of the project. The initial funding for this
        maintenance plan shall be in the amount of 10 percent of the
        cost of the project. Federal funds made available for the
        purposes described in section 3(a)(2) may be used for one-half
        of the initial funding. Other Federal funds made available
        pursuant to this Act may not be used for this purpose. Funds
        set aside pursuant to this paragraph may be used for the
        maintenance and repair of any capital asset within the purview
        of the government or the appropriate semiautonomous agency.
    (b) Debt Reduction.--Any funding made available pursuant to section
3(a)(4) used to reduce the unbudgeted debt of the Government of
American Samoa must be matched, on a dollar for dollar basis, by funds
provided by the Government of American Samoa from revenue raised from
non-Federal sources.
    (c) Maintenance and Repair.--Any funding made available pursuant to
section 3(a)(2) used for the maintenance or repair of the capital
assets of the Government of American Samoa must be matched, on a dollar
for dollar basis, by funds provided by the Government of American Samoa
from revenue raised from non-Federal sources.
    (d) Prohibited Uses of Funds.--Neither the funds appropriated
pursuant to this Act, nor any interest or dividends earned on those
funds may be transferred to other accounts, or loaned to other accounts
or agencies; nor may these funds, interest or dividends be used as
collateral for loans made by the local government.

SEC. 6. DISBURSEMENT OF TRUST FUNDS.

    (a) Operations.--Trust funds to be used for the operations of the
Government of American Samoa shall be disbursed in equal amounts on a
monthly basis, on the first business day of each month of the fiscal
year. An extra drawdown may be made once each fiscal year in an amount
not to exceed ten percent of the amounts appropriated for the fiscal
year for the purposes of section 3(a)(3), and only for purposes caused
by extreme or national emergencies deemed unforeseeable by the trustee.
    (b) Construction.--Trust funds to be used for the construction of
capital assets shall be released by the trustee--
            (1) to the Government of American Samoa, only upon
        completion of identifiable portions of the construction work if
        the work is performed by employees of the Government of
        American Samoa, or
            (2) a bona fide contractor of the Government of American
        Samoa pursuant to the terms of a construction contract, on an
        invoice presented to the Government of American Samoa and
        approved by an appropriate official of the Government of
        American Samoa.
    (c) Debt Reduction; Maintenance Repair.--Trust funds to be used for
unbudgeted debt reduction or maintenance and repair made available
under sections 3(a)(2) and 3(a)(4) shall be released by the trustee on
submission by the Government of American Samoa of proof of payment from
non-Federal sources for either debt reduction, maintenance, or repair,
and proof acceptable to the trustee of an obligation due and owing for
the appropriate category.

SEC. 7. AUDITS.

    (a) In General.--Beginning with fiscal year 1996, the Government of
American Samoa must obtain, at its own expense, a comprehensive
financial audit meeting the requirements of chapter 75 of title 31,
United States Code, and subtitle A of title 43, Code of Federal
Regulations, and upon which an independent auditor expresses an opinion
that the financial statements of the Government of American Samoa
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Government of American Samoa, and were prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles. The audit shall include the
funds held in trust pursuant to this Act.
    (b) Submission of Audit Report to United States.--Reports of audits
required in this section shall be transmitted by the Governor of
American Samoa to the chairmen and ranking members of the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the
United States Senate, and the Committee on Resources and the Committee
on Appropriations of the United States House of Representatives within
180 days of the end of each fiscal year for which the United States
provides funding under this Act.
    (c) Failure To Obtain Audit.--In the event the Government of
American Samoa does not obtain the audit within the time required by
this section, the trustee shall not disburse additional funds pursuant
to section 3(a)(3) for the operations of the Government of American
Samoa until such time as a qualifying audit is received and the report
of that audit is forwarded as required by this section. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, one emergency disbursement may be made per year
under the provisions of section 6 of this Act, even if a qualifying
audit report is not obtained.

SEC. 8. AUTHORITY OF UNITED STATES TO AUDIT.

    The Comptroller General of the United States and the Inspector
General of the Department of the Interior shall have the authority to
conduct audits of all funds of all branches and semiautonomous
authorities of the Government of American Samoa. Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to restrict the authority of these or other Federal
agencies to audit government funds as authorized by Federal law.

SEC. 9. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES.

    The High Court of American Samoa is authorized to resolve disputes
which arise under this Act pursuant to its rules of procedure.

Summary: American Samoa Economic Development Act of 1995 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for the Government of American Samoa for FY 1996 through 2005 to be used for: (1) construction, maintenance, and repair of American Samoa's capital assets, (2) operations of the Government of American Samoa. And (3) reduction of unbudgeted debt incurred by the Government of American Samoa in fiscal years prior to 1996. Requires amounts appropriated to be placed in a trust administered by a nongovernmental entity. Prohibits the release of funds for the construction of capital assets for FY 1997 and following years until: (1) the Government of American Samoa submits to the trustee a master plan of capital needs that ranks projects in order of priority for at least five years. And (2) such Government submits to the trustee a maintenance plan covering the anticipated life of the project and the project is initially funded. Approves the release of funds only for construction projects for specified public purposes. Prohibits the release of such funds, beginning in FY 1997, in the areas of communications, electrical power, public health, transportation, water, and wastewater until semiautonomous government agencies of the Government of American Samoa are established by local law. Requires funding provided to reduce the unbudgeted debt and for maintenance or repair of capital assets to be matched by non-Federal sources. Prohibits funds appropriated pursuant to this Act from being transferred to other accounts, loaned to other accounts or agencies, or used as collateral for loans made by the local government. Sets forth conditions on the release of trust funds to be used for construction of capital assets, debt reduction, and maintenance or repair. Requires the Government of American Samoa to obtain and submit an annual audit of its financial position to specified congressional committees. Withholds funds for government operations until a qualifying audit is received and reported. Authorizes the Comptroller General and the Inspector General to conduct audits of all funds of branches and semiautonomous authorities of the Government of American Samoa.