SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE This Act may be cited as the ``Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Act of 1999''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) the Lake Pontchartrain Basin forms one of the largest natural estuaries in the continental United States; (2) the Basin drains an area of almost 5,000 square miles from 16 Louisiana parishes and 4 Mississippi counties; (3) the ecology of the Basin provides the diverse essential habitat that supports countless species of fish, birds, mammals, and plants; (4) the extensive wetland of the Basin provides the primary nursery for much of the seafood harvested in the Gulf Coast; (5) conditions resulting from urbanization, increasing population growth and development, sewage and septic tank discharges, animal waste, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, stormwater runoff, sediments from construction, and sewage from fishing camps and residences should be addressed to improve the environment and ecology of the Basin; (6) a major source of pollution in the Basin is raw or partially treated human waste from-- (A) communities with poor sewer systems or without sewer systems; and (B) septic tank systems that are not operating properly; (8) stormwater discharges that combine with effluent from sanitary discharges from broken lines are channeled directly into Lake Pontchartrain or adjacent bodies of water; (7) a number of local government agencies are working on restoration efforts that have a direct impact on water quality in the Basin, including the Department of Environmental Quality of Louisiana, the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, Jefferson Parish, and other governmental agencies; (8) a number of non-regulating organizations, such as the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and the University of New Orleans, are playing substantial, essential roles in restoration efforts; (9) the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, the University of New Orleans, and the Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes, Louisiana, have entered into a memorandum of understanding to better facilitate the restoration and preservation of water quality and habitats throughout the Basin; and (10) the programs and activities of the various Federal agencies involved with administration of laws, programs, and assets that affect the water quality of the Basin, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and other agencies, lack coordination and sufficient resources to measure and remediate water quality problems in the Basin. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to coordinate the restoration efforts of Federal, State, and local agencies and organizations in the restoration of the Basin; (2) to establish the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program in the office of the Environmental Protection Agency; and (3) to authorize and provide resources for restoration projects in the Basin. SEC. 3. LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN. Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 121. LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Basin.--The term `Basin' means the Lake Pontchartrain Basin located in the State of Louisiana. ``(2) Council.--The term `Council' means the Lake Pontchartrain Executive Council established under subsection (b)(3)(A). ``(3) Management plan--The term `management plan' means the watershed management plan developed under subsection (b)(3)(B). ``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program established under subsection (b)(1). ``(b) Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program.-- ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish within the Environmental Protection Agency the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program. ``(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program shall be-- ``(A) to coordinate efforts among and provide resources to the various Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and nonregulatory organizations to reduce pollution in the Basin; and ``(B) to restore the Basin to ecological health. ``(3) Administration.-- ``(A) Lake pontchartrain executive council.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish the Lake Pontchartrain Executive Council, to be composed of-- ``(i) the Administrator; ``(ii) the Governor of the State of Louisiana; ``(iii) the Chairman of the Regional Planning Commission; ``(iv) the Chancellor of the University of New Orleans; and ``(v) the Executive Director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. ``(B) Management plan.-- ``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator, in cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities, shall assist the Council in developing a comprehensive, multiuse, watershed management plan for the restoration and protection of the Basin. ``(ii) Assistance.--Assistance provided by the Administrator under subparagraph (A) shall include grants for and technical assistance in-- ``(I) developing an annual work plan endorsed by the Council; ``(II) supporting Basin-wide environmental monitoring and research to provide technical and scientific information necessary to support management decisions; ``(III) developing a comprehensive research plan to address the technical needs of the program; and ``(IV) recommending restoration projects for implementation by the State of Louisiana, parishes, and nongovernmental entities. ``(c) Restoration Projects.--In accordance with the management plan, the Administrator shall provide funding and oversight to carry out voluntary restoration projects for the Basin that-- ``(1) address human waste problems in the Basin by providing a cost-sharing construction and education program that offers incentives to parishes and local communities to improve sewage treatment facilities and procedures (including the continuation of funding for the inflow and infiltration projects of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, Louisiana); ``(2) provide critical assistance to agricultural operators designed to address and curb agricultural runoff into the Basin; ``(3) provide for the rerouting of discharges from selected pumping stations through adjacent wetland, using existing canals and small water control structures, in order to use natural wetland to filter pollutants from urban stormwater; ``(4) improve Basin water quality-- ``(A) by eliminating discharges of raw or partially treated sewage from fishing camps and residences; ``(B) where there are approved municipal or community sewage systems, by providing tie-ins from those systems for fishing camps and residences; and ``(C) by establishing new sanitation and sewage systems where needed; ``(5) reverse the trend of decreasing acreage of coastal wetland in the Basin by creating new sustainable wetland habitat; and ``(6) retain the integrity of natural structural elements in the coastal landscape, such as ridges and barrier islands, in order to reduce storm surge impacts to essential habitats and human infrastructure. ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary, to remain available until expended-- ``(1) to continue to provide priority funding for the New Orleans Inflow and Infiltration Project sponsored by the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; and ``(2) to carry out subsections (b) and (c).''.

Summary: Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program within EPA. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish the Lake Pontchartrain Executive Council; (2) assist the Council in developing a comprehensive, multi-use watershed management plan for the restoration and protection of the Basin; and (3) provide funding and oversight for voluntary restoration projects for the Basin. Authorizes appropriations to: (1) continue to provide priority funding for the New Orleans Inflow and Infiltration Project sponsored by the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; and (2) carry out this Act.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Prosperous and Secure Neighbor Alliance Act of 2007''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) An alarming increase in illicit drugs and drug-related violence in Mexico and on the United States-Mexico border has made life gradually more difficult for Americans living in border communities. (2) The precarious security situation on the United States- Mexico border has also had a broader negative impact in the United States with illicit drugs continuing to get into the hands of our Nation's children. (3) United States Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte named Mexico in the Annual Threat Assessment of the Director of National Intelligence for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (February 2, 2006) as a country of concern regarding the capacity of drug trafficking organizations to undermine already weak state authority. (4) As a neighbor and as the second largest trading partner of the United States, Mexico deserves the support of the United States in taking steps to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico. (b) Statement of Policy.--It is, therefore, the policy of the United States to increase United States foreign assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico, both of which are crucial to more effectively combat illicit drugs and drug-related violence and other criminal activities in Mexico and the United States. SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``CHAPTER 13--ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE SECURITY AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN MEXICO ``SEC. 499H. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. ``(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Director of Foreign Assistance, shall provide assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico by-- ``(1) professionalizing Mexican law enforcement personnel to prepare such law enforcement personnel to more effectively combat illicit drugs and drug-related violence and other criminal activities, including by providing funding to coordinate United States and Mexican efforts to find missing United States citizens and to carry out DNA testing and forensic examinations; ``(2) providing technology to assist Mexican law enforcement personnel to more effectively combat illicit drugs and drug-related violence; ``(3) strengthening the Mexican judicial branch through the training of judges and prosecutors; ``(4) supporting anti-corruption programs in Mexico, including the vetting of Mexican law enforcement personnel who are working with United States Government personnel; and ``(5) reducing poverty through targeted funding to enhance social development in Mexico, including micro-lending and trade capacity building. ``(b) Terms and Conditions.--Assistance under this chapter may be provided on such terms and conditions as the President may determine. ``SEC. 499I. EVALUATION. ``The President shall conduct an annual evaluation of the results of the specific programs, projects, and activities carried out under this chapter during the preceding year in order to ensure transparency and accountability, including transparency and accountability of recipients of assistance provided under this chapter. ``SEC. 499J. REPORT. ``The President shall prepare and transmit to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and other appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the specific programs, projects, and activities carried out under this chapter during the preceding year, including the evaluation conducted under section 499I. ``SEC. 499K. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry out this chapter $170,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. ``(b) Additional Authorities.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)-- ``(1) are authorized to remain available until expended; and ``(2) are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes. ``(c) Funding Limitation.--Not more than 5 percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) for a fiscal year may be used for administrative expenses. ``(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) for a fiscal year-- ``(1) $40,000,000 should be made available to carry out section 499H(a)(1); ``(2) $50,000,000 should be made available to carry out section 499H(a)(2); ``(3) $20,000,000 should be made available to carry out section 499H(a)(3); ``(4) $10,000,000 should be made available to carry out section 499H(a)(4); and ``(5) $50,000,000 should be made available to carry out section 499H(a)(5).''. SEC. 4. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that contains a description and analysis of the most effective strategies to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the United States, specifically (but not limited to) strategies that reduce the demand for illicit drugs produced in or transported through Mexico.

Summary: Prosperous and Secure Neighbor Alliance Act of 2007 - States that it is U.S. policy to increase U.S. foreign assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico, both of which are crucial to combat illicit drugs and drug-related violence and other criminal activities in Mexico and the United States. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President to provide assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico by: (1) professionalizing Mexican law enforcement personnel; (2) providing technology to assist Mexican law enforcement personnel; (3) strengthening the Mexican judicial branch; (4) supporting anti-corruption programs in Mexico; and (5) reducing poverty through targeted funding to enhance social development in Mexico.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993''. SEC. 2. CIVIL RIGHTS. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that-- (1) bias-motivated crimes of violence constitute crimes in violation of the victim's right to be free from discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability; (2) State and Federal criminal laws do not adequately protect against the bias element of bias-motivated crimes of violence, which separates these crimes from acts of random violence, nor do those laws adequately provide victims of bias- motivated crimes of violence the opportunity to vindicate their interests; (3) existing bias and discrimination in the criminal justice system often deprive victims of bias-motivated crimes of violence of equal protection of the laws and the redress to which they are entitled; (4) bias-motivated crimes of violence have a substantial adverse effect on interstate commerce, by deterring potential victims from traveling interstate, from engaging in employment in interstate business, and from transacting with business, and in places involved, in interstate commerce; (5) bias-motivated crimes of violence have a substantial adverse effect on interstate commerce, by diminishing national productivity, increasing medical and other costs, and decreasing the supply of and the demand for interstate products; (6) a Federal civil rights claim, as created in this section, is necessary to guarantee equal protection of the laws and to reduce the substantial adverse effects of bias-motivated crimes of violence on interstate commerce; and (7) victims of bias-motivated crimes of violence have a right to equal protection of the laws, including a system of justice that is unaffected by bias or discrimination and that, at every relevant stage, treats such crimes as seriously as other violent crimes. (b) Right.--All individuals within the United States, and the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, shall have the right to be free from bias-motivated crimes of violence. (c) Claim.--Any person, including a person who acts under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any State, who deprives an individual of the right secured by subsection (b) shall be liable to the individual injured, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, for compensatory damages of not less than $100,000, punitive damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or any combination thereof. (d) Limitation, Procedure, and Rule of Construction.-- (1) Limitation.--Nothing in this section entitles an individual to a claim under subsection (c) for random acts of violence unrelated to bias or for acts that cannot be demonstrated, by a preponderance of the evidence, to be bias- motivated crimes of violence. (2) No prior criminal action.--Nothing in this section requires a prior criminal complaint, prosecution, or conviction to establish the necessary elements of a claim under subsection (c). (3) Concurrent jurisdiction.--The Federal and State courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction over actions brought pursuant to this section. (4) Rule of construction.--Neither section 1367 of title 28 of the United States Code nor subsection (c) of this section shall be construed, by reason of a claim arising under such subsection, to confer on the courts of the United States supplemental jurisdiction of any State law claim seeking the establishment of a divorce, alimony, equitable distribution of marital property, or child custody decree. (e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section-- (1) the term ``bias-motivated'' means committed because of, on the basis of, and due to (at least in part) an animus based on, actual or perceived race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability of the victim; (2) the term ``crime of violence'' means-- (A) an act or series of acts that would constitute State or Federal offense of a kind described in section 16 of title 18, United States Code, and punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding one year, but excludes an offense against property that presents no serious risk of physical or mental disability injury to an individual; or (B) one or more actions that would constitute such offense but for the relationship between the person who takes such actions and the individual against whom such actions are taken; whether or not such offense or such actions result in criminal charges, prosecution, or conviction and whether or not such actions were taken within the United States or the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; (3) the term ``disability'' has the meaning given it in section 3(2) of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102(2)); and (4) the term ``special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States'' has the meaning given such term in section 7 of title 18, United States Code. (f) Limitation on Removal.--Section 1445 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) A civil action in any State court arising under section 2 of the Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993 may not be removed to any district court of the United States.''. (g) Authority To Award Attorney's Fee.--Section 722(b) of the Revised Statutes of the United States (42 U.S.C. 1988(b)) is amended by inserting ``section 2 of the Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993,'' after ``Public Law 92-318,''.

Summary: Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993 - States that all U.S. individuals shall have the right to be free from bias-motivated crimes of violence (crimes arising from differences in race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability). Creates a Federal civil rights claim against anyone who deprives an individual of such right, with compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive or declaratory relief. Provides limitations, procedures, and rules of construction, including the limitation that random acts of violence, as opposed to bias-motivated acts, shall not be a basis for such a claim.


SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE MICROENTERPRISE FOR SELF-RELIANCE ACT OF 2000. (a) Purposes.--Section 103 of the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-309) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``microentrepreneurs'' and inserting ``microenterprise households''; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end; (3) in paragraph (5)-- (A) by striking ``microfinance policy'' and inserting ``microenterprise policy''; (B) by striking ``the poorest of the poor'' and inserting ``the very poor''; and (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (4) by adding at the end the following: ``(6) to ensure that in the implementation of this title at least 50 percent of all microenterprise assistance under this title, and the amendments made under this title, shall be targeted to the very poor.''. (b) Definitions.--Section 104 of such Act is amended-- (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``for microentrepreneurs'' and inserting ``to microentrepreneurs and their households''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(5) Very poor.--The term `very poor' means individuals-- ``(A) living in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line established by the national government of the country in which those individuals live; or ``(B) living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day.''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE MICRO- AND SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CREDITS PROGRAM UNDER THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. (a) Findings and Policy.--Section 108(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151f(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``the development of the enterprises of the poor'' and inserting ``the access to financial services and the development of microenterprises''. (b) Program.--Section 108(b) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2151f(b)) is amended to read as follows: ``(b) Program.--To carry out the policy set forth in subsection (a), the President is authorized to provide assistance to increase the availability of financial services to microenterprise households lacking full access to credit, including through-- ``(1) loans and guarantees to microfinance institutions for the purpose of expanding the availability of savings and credit to poor and low-income households; ``(2) training programs for microfinance institutions in order to enable them to better meet the financial services needs of their clients; and ``(3) training programs for clients in order to enable them to make better use of credit, increase their financial literacy, and to better manage their enterprises to improve their quality of life.''. (c) Eligibility Criteria.--Section 108(c) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2151f(c)) is amended-- (1) in the first sentence of the matter preceding paragraph (1)-- (A) by striking ``credit institutions'' and inserting ``microfinance institutions''; and (B) by striking ``micro- and small enterprises'' and inserting ``microenterprise households''; and (2) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``credit'' each place it appears and inserting ``financial services''. (d) Additional Requirement.--Section 108(d) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2151f(d)) is amended by striking ``micro- and small enterprise programs'' and inserting ``programs for microenterprise households''. (e) Availability of Funds.--Section 108(f)(1) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2151f(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2004''. (f) Conforming Amendment.--Section 108 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2151f) is amended in the heading to read as follows: ``SEC. 108. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CREDITS.''. SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UNDER THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. (a) Findings and Policy.--Section 131(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152a(a)) is amended to read as follows: ``(a) Findings and Policy.--Congress finds and declares that-- ``(1) access to financial services and the development of microenterprise are vital factors in the stable growth of developing countries and in the development of free, open, and equitable international economic systems; ``(2) it is therefore in the best interest of the United States to facilitate access to financial services and assist the development of microenterprise in developing countries; ``(3) access to financial services and the development of microenterprises can be supported by programs providing credit, savings, training, technical assistance, business development services, and other financial and non-financial services; and ``(4) given the relatively high percentage of populations living in rural areas of developing countries, and the combined high incidence of poverty in rural areas and growing income inequality between rural and urban markets, microenterprise programs should target both rural and urban poor.''. (b) Authorization.--Section 131(b) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2152a(b)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking ``entrepreneurs'' and inserting ``clients''; and (2) in paragraph (4)(D)-- (A) in clause (i), by striking ``very small loans'' and inserting ``financial services to poor entrepreneurs''; and (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``microfinance'' and inserting ``microenterprise''. (c) Monitoring System.--Section 131(c) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2152a(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: ``(4) adopts the widespread use of proven and effective poverty assessment tools to successfully identify the very poor and ensure that they receive needed microenterprise loans, savings, and assistance.''. (d) Development and Application of Poverty Measurement Methods.-- Section 131 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2152a) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: ``(d) Development and Certification of Poverty Measurement Methods; Application of Methods.-- ``(1) Development and certification.--(A) The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with microenterprise institutions and other appropriate organizations, shall develop no fewer than two low-cost methods for partner institutions to use to assess the poverty levels of their current or prospective clients. The United States Agency for International Development shall develop poverty indicators that correlate with the circumstances of the very poor. ``(B) The Administrator shall field-test the methods developed under subparagraph (A). As part of the testing, institutions and programs may use the methods on a voluntary basis to demonstrate their ability to reach the very poor. ``(C) Not later than October 1, 2004, the Administrator shall, from among the low-cost poverty measurement methods developed under subparagraph (A), certify no fewer than two such methods as approved methods for measuring the poverty levels of current or prospective clients of microenterprise institutions for purposes of assistance under this section. ``(2) Application.--The Administrator shall require that, with reasonable exceptions, all organizations applying for microenterprise assistance under this Act use one of the certified methods, beginning no later than October 1, 2005, to determine and report the poverty levels of current or prospective clients.''. (e) Level of Assistance.--Section 131(e) of such Act, as redesignated by subsection (d), is amended by inserting ``and $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 and $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2004'' after ``fiscal years 2001 and 2002''. (f) Definitions.--Section 131(f) of such Act, as redesignated by subsection (d), is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(5) Very poor.--The term `very poor' means those individuals-- ``(A) living in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line established by the national government of the country in which those individuals live; or ``(B) living on less than the equivalent of $1 per day.''. SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS. (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2005, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall submit to Congress a report that documents the process of developing and applying poverty assessment procedures with its partners. (b) Reports for Fiscal Year 2006 and Beyond.--Beginning with fiscal year 2006, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall annually submit to Congress on a timely basis a report that addresses the United States Agency for International Development's compliance with the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 by documenting-- (1) the percentage of its resources that were allocated to the very poor (as defined in paragraph (5) of section 131(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152a(f)(5))) based on the data collected from its partners using the certified methods; and (2) the absolute number of the very poor reached. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

Summary: Amends the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 to make as one of its purposes that in implementation of this Act at least 50 percent of all microenterprise assistance be targeted to the very poor, that is, those persons living either in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line or on less than the equivalent of one dollar per day. (Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise congressional findings and policy with respect to the micro- and small enterprise development credits program to declare that it is in the best interests of the United States to assist the access to financial services and the development of microenterprises in developing countries, and to engage the U.S. private sector in such process. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to increase the availability of financial services (not just credit) to microenterprise households lacking full access to credit, including through: (1) loans and guarantees to microfinance institutions for the purpose of expanding the availability of savings and credit to poor and low-income households; (2) training programs to enable microfinance institutions to better meet the financial services needs of their clients; and (3) training programs to enable clients to make better use of credit, increase their financial literacy, and to better manage their enterprises. Revises program eligibility criteria to require the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering such program to establish criteria for determining which microfinance institutions are eligible to carry out program activities with respect to microenterprise households assisted under this Act. Limits the use of such assistance to support programs for microenterprise households. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2004. (Sec. 3) Revises congressional findings and policy with respect to the microenterprise development grant assistance program to declare that: (1) access to financial services and the development of microenterprise are vital factors in the stable growth of developing countries, and therefore it is in the best interest of the United States to facilitate access to financial services and assist the development of microenterprise in developing countries; (2) access to such services and the development of microenterprises can be supported by programs providing credit, savings, training, technical assistance, business development services, and other financial and non-financial services; and (3) microenterprise programs should target both rural and urban poor given the high percentage of population living, and incidence of poverty, in such areas. Urges the President to continue support for central mechanisms and missions that, among other things, support the development of nonprofit global microfinance networks, including credit union systems, that are able to deliver financial services to poor entrepreneurs through a significant grassroots infrastructure based on market principles, and act as wholesale intermediaries providing a range of services to microenterprise retail institutions. Declares that, in order to maximize the sustainable development impact of microenterprise development grant assistance, the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering such assistance shall establish a monitoring system that, among other things, adopts the widespread use of proven and effective poverty assessment tools to successfully identify the very poor and ensure that they receive needed microenterprise loans, savings, and assistance. Requires the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) to develop and certify no fewer than two low-cost methods for partner institutions to use to assess the poverty levels of their current or prospective clients for purposes of the provision of microenterprise development grant assistance. Directs the Administrator to require all organizations applying for microenterprise assistance under this Act to use one of the certified methods to determine and report the poverty levels of such clients and to demonstrate their ability to reach the very poor. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2004. (Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress a report that documents the process of developing and applying poverty assessment procedures with its partners. Directs the Administrator to submit annually to Congress a report that addresses AID's compliance with the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 by documenting: (1) the percentage of its resources that were allocated to the very poor based on data collected from its partners using the certified methods; and (2) the absolute number of the very poor reached.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Lock-Box Act of 2005''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) fiscal pressures will mount as an aging population increases the Government's obligations to provide retirement income and health services; (2) Social Security surpluses should be reserved for strengthening and preserving the Social Security Trust Funds; and (3) preserving Social Security surpluses would restore confidence in the long-term financial integrity of Social Security. (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to prevent the Social Security Trust Funds from being used for any purpose other than providing retirement security. SEC. 3. PROTECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS. (a) Protection of Social Security.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``lock-box for social security ``Sec. 316. (a) Lock-Box for Social Security.-- ``(1) Concurrent resolutions on the budget.-- ``(A) In general.--It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any concurrent resolution on the budget, or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that would set forth totals for any fiscal year with respect to the Social Security Trust Funds that are less than the totals of the Social Security Trust Funds for that fiscal year as calculated in accordance with a current services baseline. ``(B) Exception.--(i) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the extent that a violation of such subparagraph would result from an assumption in the resolution, amendment, or conference report, as applicable, of an increase in outlays or a decrease in revenues and disbursements relative to the baseline underlying that resolution for social security reform legislation for any such fiscal year. ``(ii) If a concurrent resolution on the budget, or an amendment thereto or conference report thereon, would be in violation of subparagraph (A) because of an assumption of an increase in outlays or a decrease in revenue relative to the baseline underlying that resolution for social security reform legislation for any such fiscal year, then that resolution shall include a statement identifying any such increase in outlays or decrease in revenues and disbursements. ``(2) Spending and tax legislation.-- ``(A) In general.--It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report if-- ``(i) the enactment of that bill or resolution, as reported; ``(ii) the adoption and enactment of that amendment; or ``(iii) the enactment of that bill or resolution in the form recommended in that conference report, would cause the totals for any fiscal year covered by the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget with respect to the Social Security Trust Funds to be less than the totals of the Social Security Trust Funds for that fiscal year as calculated in accordance with the current services baseline. ``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to social security reform legislation. ``(b) Enforcement.--For purposes of enforcing any point of order under subsection (a), the totals of the Social Security Trust Funds for a fiscal year shall be the levels set forth in the later of the report accompanying the concurrent resolution on the budget (or, in the absence of such a report, placed in the Congressional Record prior to the consideration of such resolution) or in the joint explanatory statement of managers accompanying such resolution. ``(c) Additional Content of Reports Accompanying Budget Resolutions and of Joint Explanatory Statements.--The report accompanying any concurrent resolution on the budget and the joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on each such resolution shall include the levels of the totals in the budget for each fiscal year set forth in such resolution and of the revenues and disbursements in the Social Security Trust Funds. ``(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the term `social security reform legislation' means a bill or a joint resolution to save social security that includes a provision stating the following: `For purposes of section 316(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this Act constitutes social security reform legislation.'. ``(e) Waiver and Appeal.--Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section. ``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall cease to have any force or effect upon the enactment of social security reform legislation.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item for section 315 the following: ``Sec. 316. Lock-box for social security.''. SEC. 4. PRESIDENT'S BUDGET. (a) Protection of Social Security.--If the budget of the United States Government submitted by the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, recommends totals for any fiscal year with respect to the Social Security Trust Funds that are less than the totals of the Social Security Trust Funds for that fiscal year as calculated in accordance with current services baseline, then it shall include a detailed proposal for social security reform legislation. (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall cease to have any force or effect upon the enactment of social security reform legislation as defined by section 316(d) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Summary: Social Security Lock-Box Act of 2005 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide a point of order against consideration of any: (1) budget resolution that sets forth totals for any fiscal year with respect to the Social Security Trust Funds that are less than the totals of the Social Security Trust Funds for that fiscal year as calculated in accordance with a current services baseline; or (2) spending or tax legislation that would cause any totals to be less than the Funds totals for the covered fiscal year. Makes the point of order described in (2) above inapplicable to Social Security reform legislation. Requires any Federal budget submitted by the President that recommends totals for any fiscal year with respect to the Funds that are less than the totals of the Funds for that fiscal year to include a detailed proposal for Social Security reform legislation. Makes this Act inapplicable upon the enactment of such legislation. Defines "Social Security reform legislation" as a bill or joint resolution to save Social Security that specifies that it constitutes reform legislation.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Trust Fund Integrity Act of 1997''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1)(A) the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 split the Federal budgeting process into two budget categories, one for receipts and mandatory spending and the other for discretionary spending; and (B) each budget category has its own rules, procedures, and incentives; (2) the taxes deposited into the Highway Trust Fund are in the mandatory category, but most spending from the Highway Trust Fund is in the discretionary category; (3) since the Highway Trust Fund is split between the two budget categories, the link between Highway Trust Fund taxes and transportation spending is severed; and (4) to reestablish the link between the taxes and spending of the Highway Trust Fund, all the components of the Highway Trust Fund should be part of the same budget category and subject to the same budget rules and procedures. SEC. 3. DEFINITION. (a) Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.-- Section 250(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(22) Revenue constrained fund.--The term `revenue constrained fund'-- ``(A) means the budget authority, outlays, and receipts of the-- ``(i) the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund as established by section 9503 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; ``(B) shall not be-- ``(i) considered to be part of any category (as defined in section 250(c)(4) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)(4))) of discretionary appropriations; or ``(ii) subject to sequestration under section 251(a) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 901(a)); and ``(C) shall not be-- ``(i) considered to be part of direct spending (as defined in section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)(8))); or ``(ii) subject to sequestration under section 252(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 902(b)).''. (b) Congressional Budget Act of 1974.--Section 3 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ``(11) Revenue constrained fund.--The term `revenue constrained fund' has the meaning given that term in section 250(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)).''. SEC. 4. BUDGETARY TREATMENT. (a) In General.--Part A of title IV of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``revenue constrained funds ``Sec. 408. It shall not be in order in either the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, conference report, or other measure if the effect of the measure would have the effect of increasing any specific new budget authority for a fiscal year for a revenue constrained fund above the amount made available by section 251B(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.''. (b) Point of Order.--Subsections (c) and (d) of section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 are each amended by inserting after ``306,'' the following: ``408,''. (c) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents for the Congressional Budget Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end of title IV the following: ``Sec. 408. Revenue constrained funds.''. SEC. 5. SEQUESTER. (a) In General.--Part C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 251A the following: ``SEC. 251B. SEQUESTRATION WITH RESPECT TO REVENUE CONSTRAINED FUNDS. ``(a) Budget Authority Limits.--Amounts available from a revenue constrained fund shall be reduced by the amount necessary to eliminate any amount by which budget authority in the budget year from the revenue constrained fund exceed the amount deposited in the revenue constrained fund in the previous fiscal year. ``(b) Amount Available.-- ``(1) Initial estimate.-- ``(A) In general.--On October 1 of each year OMB shall estimate the total amount of revenues deposited into each revenue constrained fund during the previous fiscal year. ``(B) Initial amount available.--An amount equal to 40 percent of the total amount of revenues is estimated to be deposited in a revenue constrained fund under subparagraph (A) shall be available for obligation in the budget year on the date of the estimate under subparagraph (A). ``(2) Final estimate.-- ``(A) In general.--On December 15 of each year OMB shall determine the total amount of revenues deposited into each revenue constrained fund during the previous fiscal year. ``(B) Amount available.--An amount equal to the total amount of revenues determined to be deposited in a revenue constrained fund under subparagraph (A)-- ``(i) shall be the total amount available for obligation in the budget year on the date of the determination under subparagraph (A); and ``(ii) shall replace the amount made available under paragraph (1). ``(c) Look-Back.--If-- ``(1) an appropriation for the fiscal year in progress is enacted that causes a budgetary excess in a revenue constrained fund as described in subsection (a) for that year; or ``(2) errors in the determination made pursuant to subsection (b)(2) cause a budgetary excess in a revenue constrained fund for the fiscal year in progress; the level set forth in subsection (b)(2) for the next fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of that excess.''. (b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents for the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is amended by adding after the item for section 251A the following: ``Sec. 251B. Sequestration with respect to revenue constrained funds.''. SEC. 5. BUDGETARY IMPACT. (a) Findings and Purpose.-- (1) Findings.--The Congress finds that-- (A) the United States has substantial surface transportation and infrastructure needs; and (B) this Act will result in additional spending from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund to help address these substantial needs. (2) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to clarify that any budgetary offset necessary because of the additional spending provided by this Act should not come from surface transportation programs. (b) Sequestration.--The budgetary impact of the amendments made by this Act shall not be considered for purposes of sequestration under sections 251 or 252 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901, 902). (c) Discretionary Spending Limitations.--OMB shall reduce discretionary spending limits for budget authority and outlays in accordance with the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for each applicable fiscal year set forth in section 601(a)(2)-- (1) for budget authority, by an amount equal to the total amount of discretionary budget authority provided from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997; and (2) for outlays, by an amount equal to an estimate of the amount of discretionary outlays that would be expended from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund assuming that the total amount of new budget authority and obligation authority from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund equaled the amounts of new budget authority and obligation authority provided from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997. SEC. 6. STUDY TO ENSURE THAT THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND IS DEFICIT NEUTRAL. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following: (1) It is the policy of the United States Government that the Highway Trust Fund should not contribute to or reduce the Federal Government's annual budget deficit. (2) Under current budgetary scorekeeping conventions used by both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget, increases in Highway Trust Fund revenue generated by tax increases are partially offset by a reduction in other Federal revenues that is equal to 25 percent of the increase in Highway Trust Fund revenue. (3) This 25 percent offset is a scorekeeping convention that applies to all excise taxes, and is not uniquely applied to Highway Trust Fund taxes. (4) An up-to-date examination of how this offset should be applied to Highway Trust Fund taxes is needed. (b) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall submit a report to Congress on ensuring the deficit neutrality of the Highway Trust Fund. (2) Contents.--In the report, the Secretary shall-- (A) determine the extent to which each of the taxes deposited into the Highway Trust Fund is a deductible expense from other Federal taxes; (B) provide an estimate of the amount of Highway Trust Fund taxes that were deducted from Federal income taxes or other taxes; (C) provide an estimate of the annual revenue loss because Highway Trust Fund taxes are deductible from other Federal taxes; (D) determine the appropriate scorekeeping convention that should apply to Highway Trust Fund taxes, or if needed, separately to each of the taxes now deposited into the Highway Trust Fund; and (E) provide the Congress with policy options that would ensure that changes to the Highway Trust Fund taxes do not contribute to the deficit.

Summary: Highway Trust Fund Integrity Act of 1997 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to define "revenue constrained fund" (fund) as the budget authority, outlays, and receipts of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. States that such fund shall not be: (1) considered part of any discretionary funding category or part of direct spending; or (2) subject to sequestration. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit any House of Representatives or Senate measure that would increase fiscal year budget authority for a fund above an amount made available under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reduce available fund amounts so as not to exceed the previous year's deposited fund amounts. States that any budgetary offset necessary because of additional spending provided by this Act should not come from surface transportation programs. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report on ensuring the deficit neutrality of the Highway Trust Fund.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity, and Training Act of 2002''. (b) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States Code. TITLE I--EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS. As used in this title: (1) The term ``veteran'' has the same meaning as ``eligible veteran'' as defined in section 4211(4) of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term ``eligible person'' means-- (A) the spouse of any person who died of a service- connected disability; (B) the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for assistance under this Act, is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37, United States Code, and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than ninety days-- (i) missing in action, (ii) captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or (iii) forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power; or (C) the spouse of any person who has a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability or the spouse of a veteran who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence. (3) The term ``State'' means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and may include, to the extent determined necessary by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and feasible for all purposes of this title, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. (4) The term ``servicemember'' has the same meaning as an individual who is a member of the Armed Forces as defined in section 101(10) of title 38, United States Code, and who is being separated from the Armed Forces within the time periods specified in section 1142(a)(3) of title 10, United States Code. SEC. 102. PURPOSE. In furtherance of the Nation's responsibility toward alleviating unemployment and underemployment among veterans, there shall be established a national performance-based job-search assistance program that-- (1) will provide high-quality, job-search service to veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons, focused on assisting such individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment, as well as reducing the duration of individual's unemployment; (2) will assist employers in locating and hiring qualified veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons; and (3) will be accessible to veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons. The Department of Veterans Affairs would continue to aggressively use web-based technology to provide better service to veterans around the world. SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. (a) Establishment of New Program.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a competitive grants program to be referred to as the ``Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity and Training Program'' (``VEBOT'') through which State Governors or other entities, as may be appropriate, would receive grants for the purpose of providing employment services to veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons within each State. The purpose of such program shall be to assist veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons in obtaining employment by providing for access to optimal employment opportunities. (b) Implementation of New Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe such regulations as the Secretary considers appropriate to implement the VEBOT program required to be established under this section. Such regulations shall address matters relating to the development and implementation of the program, including-- (1) the determination of eligibility criteria for affected veterans, servicemembers, or other eligible persons, for employment services and other related services that shall be provided; (2) the nature and type of services to be provided; (3) the most appropriate and efficient means to provide such services; (4) the most appropriate means to monitor and assess the performance of entities providing employment services; (5) the manner in which the Department of Veterans Affairs will cooperate with State employment agencies to ensure that veterans continue to have access to the full range of workforce services available through existing State and local one-stop employment-service delivery systems; (6) the manner in which the Department of Veterans Affairs will coordinate with the Department of Labor to ensure that veterans continue to receive priority or other special consideration in the provision of employment services through existing State and local one-stop employment-service delivery systems, as required by law or regulation; and (7) the entity or organization within the Department of Veterans Affairs that will administer the program. In developing the regulations, the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the task force required to be established under subsection (c) of this section and shall consult with the Secretary of Defense with respect to eligibility criteria affecting servicemembers. (c) Task Force To Be Established; Consultation With Designated Parties.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a task force comprised of at least eleven (but not more than fifteen) members which shall, not later than 180 days from the date of its establishment, make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the matters described in subsection (b) of this section. The task force shall include representatives of veterans service organizations, representatives of employers in private industry or employer organizations, and representatives of State Governors. The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation shall be ex officio members of the task force. (d) Grants, Program To Be Competitive; Grants To Include Performance Requirements.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that all services under the VEBOT program are provided through grants awarded either directly or indirectly on a competitive basis and that such grants include appropriate performance requirements with clear outcome measures. States or other entities may join in consortia to provide services to veterans. (e) Performance Measurement.-- (1) Each Governor of a State or other entity receiving funds under a grant authorized by this section shall achieve the performance requirements as agreed in the established provisions for such grant. If unanticipated circumstances arising in a State would adversely affect a grantee's ability to meet its performance requirements, the grantee may request that the Secretary adjust the agreed-to levels of performance. If a grantee fails to meet the agreed-to levels of performance, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide to the grantee assistance in such form as the Secretary may consider appropriate, including training, technical assistance, staff development, and activities replicating those used by other successful grants and projects with demonstrated effectiveness. In the event of continued non-performance, the Secretary may, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, remove the funds from a grantee and directly or indirectly solicit through a competition a new grantee and service provider. (2) Consistent with State law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and States and other entities identified to deliver services under the VEBOT program may utilize wage record information for program performance measurement as prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary of Labor shall provide assistance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in gaining access to wage information for this purpose. (f) Cost Principles.-- (1)(A) Each Governor of a State or other entity receiving funds under this section shall comply with the applicable uniform-cost principles included in the appropriate circulars or directives of the Office of Management and Budget for the type of entity receiving the funds, as well as regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Each grantee shall establish such fiscal controls and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure the proper disbursal of, and accounting for, Federal funds allocated to any provider receiving funds under this section and shall maintain appropriate records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable in each State. Each grantee shall comply with the appropriate uniform administrative requirements for grants, contracts and agreements applicable for the type of entity receiving funds, as promulgated in circulars or directives of the Office of Management and Budget. (B) If a grantee determines that a service provider acting under a contract or sub-grant is not in compliance with the requirements of this Act, the grantee shall take corrective action either to secure the service provider's prompt compliance or to remove the funds from the service provider for failure to so comply. If the grantee fails to take such corrective action, the Secretary may, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, remove funds from the grantee and directly or indirectly solicit through a competition a new grantee and service provider. (2) Unless approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, not more than 15 percent of the funds available under this section to each State Governor or other entity may be expended by a service provider and State Governor for costs of administration. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations governing the expenditure of funds for costs of administration under this paragraph. (g) Pilot Projects Authorized.--In connection with the development and implementation of the VEBOT program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during each fiscal year, may reserve up to 25 percent of the total available funding for grants to finance national-level primary services and to create pilot programs and demonstration projects to establish the effectiveness and viability of specific proposed innovative program designs and service delivery systems. SEC. 104. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period beginning on October 1, 2002, and ending on the later of September 30, 2003, or the date upon which regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 103(b) of this title become effective, responsibilities assigned to the Secretary of Labor under sections 4101 through 4102A (other than responsibilities assigned under section 4102A regarding the purposes of chapters 42 and 43 of title 38, United States Code), sections 4103 through 4108, and section 4110 of title 38, United States Code, shall be assumed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the function of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training in the Department of Labor, as well as such personnel of the Department of Labor as may be deemed necessary to carry out such function, shall be transferred from the Department of Labor to the Department of Veterans Affairs. During that period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate activities with the Secretary of Labor to facilitate the transfer of functions associated with the administration of employment services provided under chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, that are conducted by disabled veterans' outreach programs specialists and local veterans' employment representatives. SEC. 105. REPEAL OR AMENDMENT OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES. (a) Repeal of Authorities.--Effective on the later of September 30, 2003, or the date upon which regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 103(b) of this Act become effective, the following sections are repealed: 4100 through 4104A, 4105(b), 4106 through 4109, and 4110A. (b) Conforming Amendment to Chapter 43 Provision.--Section 4321 is amended by striking out ``(through the Veterans' Employment and Training Service)''. (c) Advisory Committee.--Section 4110 is amended)-- (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking out ``Department of Labor'' and by inserting in lieu thereof ``Department of Veterans Affairs''; (2) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``Department of Veterans Affairs and the'' before ``Department of Labor''; (3) in subsection (b), by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; (4) in subsection (c), by striking out ``Labor'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Veterans Affairs''; (5) in subsection (d)-- (A) by striking out ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Labor''; (B) by striking out in paragraph (6) ``The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``The official designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to administer the Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity and Training Program''; (C) by striking out in paragraph (11) ``The Director of the United States Employment Service.'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``A representative of State Governors.''; and (D) by striking out in paragraph (12) ``Secretary of Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; (6) in subsection (e)-- (A) by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; and (B) by striking out in paragraph (4) ``through the Veterans Employment and Training Service''; (7) in subsection (f)-- (A) by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; and (B) by striking out ``Department of Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Department of Veterans Affairs''; and (8) in subsection (g), by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''. TITLE II--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE SEC. 201. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. Notwithstanding any other provision of law-- (1) references to the ``Secretary of Labor'' in section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, shall be deemed to be references to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; (2) references to the ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs'' in section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, shall be deemed to be references to the Secretary of Labor; and (3) section 1144(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``(1) provide, as the case may be, for the use of personnel of grant recipients under section 103(b) of the Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity, and Training Act of 2002 or such other personnel as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may determine to be appropriate, to the extent that the Secretary determines that such use will not significantly interfere with the provision of services or other benefits to eligible veterans and other eligible recipients of services or benefits under programs administered by the Secretary.''. TITLE III--HOMELESS VETERANS' REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS SEC. 301. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HOMELESS VETERANS' REINTEGRATION PROGRAM TO THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. Section 2021 is amended-- (1) by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; and (2) by striking out subsection (c) and redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). TITLE IV--EFFECTIVE DATE SEC. 401. EFFECTIVE DATE. Except where provided otherwise, the provisions of this Act shall become effective on October 1, 2002.

Summary: Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity, and Training Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity and Training Program through which State governors or other entities receive grants for providing employment services to veterans, servicemembers, and the spouses of certain veterans. Requires the Secretary to ensure that all services under the program are provided through grants awarded on a competitive basis and that such grants include appropriate performance requirements with clear outcome measures. Requires each governor or entity receiving grant funds to: (1) achieve the performance requirements; and (2) comply with applicable uniform-cost principles and regulations prescribed by the Secretary.Transfers from the Secretary of Labor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs responsibility for the administration of: (1) certain employment services for veterans; (2) a program of furnishing counseling and employment and training assistance to members of the armed forces who are being separated from active duty and their spouses; and (3) the homeless veterans' reintegration program.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Neighborhood Rescue and Stabilization Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF ABANDONED AND FORECLOSED HOMES. (a) Direct Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008, $10,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, for assistance to States, qualified metropolitan cities, and units of general local government for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. (b) Allocation of Appropriated Amounts.-- (1) Allocation by hud for states.--Any amounts appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this section shall be allocated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development among the States, and provided to the States, in amounts determined according to the funding formula established pursuant to paragraph (2). (2) Formula for allocation among states.-- (A) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a funding formula under this paragraph. (B) Criteria.--The funding formula under this paragraph shall provide that, of the aggregate amount appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this section, the amount allocated for each State shall be the amount that bears the same ratio to such aggregate amount as the number of foreclosures on mortgages for homes occurring in such State during the most recently completed two calendar quarters for which such information is available, as determined by the Secretary, bears to the aggregate number of such foreclosures occurring in all States during such calendar quarters, as such amount is adjusted to account for differences in the States in-- (i) the number and percentage of homes in a State that are financed by a subprime mortgage related loan; (ii) the number and percentage of homes in a State in default or delinquency; and (iii) the median home price in a State. (3) Distribution.--Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this section shall be distributed to the States according to the funding formula required under paragraph (2) not later than 30 days after the establishment of such formula. (4) Allocation by states for qualified metropolitan cities.-- (A) Requirement to allocate.--Of any amounts allocated pursuant to this subsection for a State, such State shall allocate for each qualified metropolitan city located in such State an amount, as determined according to the funding formula established pursuant to subparagraph (B). (B) Formula for allocation among states.-- (i) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a funding formula under this subparagraph. (ii) Criteria.--The funding formula under this subparagraph shall provide that, of the aggregate amount allocated pursuant to this subsection for a State, the amount allocated for a qualified metropolitan city located in the State shall be the amount that bears the same ratio to such aggregate amount as the number of foreclosures on mortgages for homes occurring in such qualified metropolitan city during the most recently completed two calendar quarters for which such information is available, as determined by the Secretary, bears to the aggregate number of such foreclosures occurring in such State during such calendar quarters, as such amount is adjusted to account for differences between the qualified metropolitan city in and State in-- (I) the percentage of homes that are financed by a subprime mortgage related loan; (II) the percentage of homes in default or delinquency; and (III) the median home price. (5) Other amounts.--Any amounts allocated for a State that are not allocated for a qualified metropolitan city pursuant to paragraph (4) may be used for any units of general local government in the State. (c) Use of Funds.-- (1) In general.--Any State, qualified metropolitan city, or unit of general local government that receives amounts pursuant to this section shall, not later than 18 months after the receipt of such amounts, use such amounts to redevelop abandoned and foreclosed homes. (2) Priority.--Any State, qualified metropolitan city, or unit of general local government that receives amounts pursuant to this section shall in distributing such amounts give priority emphasis and consideration to those metropolitan areas, metropolitan cities, urban areas, rural areas, low- and moderate-income areas, and other areas with the greatest need, including those-- (A) with the greatest percentage of home foreclosures; (B) with the highest percentage of homes financed by a subprime mortgage related loan; or (C) identified by the State, qualified metropolitan city, or unit of general local government as likely to face a significant rise in the rate of home foreclosures. (3) Eligible uses.-- (A) In general.--Amounts made available under this section may be used only as follows: (i) Financial assistance through institutions and organizations.--To make grants, loans, and other financing mechanisms to community development financial institutions (as such term is defined under section 103(5) of the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702(5))), national intermediaries, and nonprofit housing or community development organizations and others to purchase and rehabilitate homes that have been abandoned or foreclosed upon, in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes. (ii) Financing mechanisms for redevelopment.--To establish financing mechanisms for redevelopment of foreclosed upon homes, including such mechanisms as soft- seconds, loan loss reserves, and shared-equity loans for low- and moderate-income homebuyers. (iii) Purchase and rehabilitation for sale or rental.--To purchase and rehabilitate homes that have been abandoned or foreclosed upon, in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes. (iv) Land banks.--To establish land banks for homes that have been foreclosed upon. (v) Demolition.--To demolish blighted structures. (vi) Project-based rental assistance.--To provide rental assistance for low- and moderate-income persons (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302)) that is attached to single family and multifamily residences. (vii) Project operating reserves.--To provide grants for use to cover the loss of rental assistance or in conjunction with a project loan that is attached to single family and multifamily residences. (viii) Project operating subsidies.--To fund project operating accounts used to cover net operating income shortfalls for single and multifamily residences. Eligible operating costs shall include costs of management, taxes, handling, insurance, and other related costs. (ix) CDBG-eligible activities.--To carry out any activities that, under section 105 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305), are eligible to be carried out with amounts provided under title I of such Act. (B) Limitation.--Any funds used under this section for the purchase of an abandoned or foreclosed upon home shall be at a cost equal to or less than the appraised value of the home based on the most up-to- date appraisal, as such appraisal is defined by the Secretary. (d) Rule of Construction.--Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to States, qualified metropolitan cities, and units of general local government under this section shall be treated as though such funds were community development block grant funds under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. (e) Waiver Authority.-- (1) In general.--In administering any amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this section, the Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers (but not including the requirements of this section) in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient of such funds (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), in order to expedite or facilitate the use of such funds. (2) Low and moderate income requirement.--Notwithstanding the authority of the Secretary under paragraph (1)-- (A) all of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this section shall be used with respect to persons whose incomes do not exceed 120 percent of area median income; and (B) not less than 25 percent of the funds made available under this section to any State, qualified metropolitan city, or unit of general local government shall be used with respect to persons whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income. (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Qualified metropolitan city.--The term ``qualified metropolitan city'' means a metropolitan city, as such term is defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302), that has a population of not less than 200,000, as determined by the 2000 decennial census. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (3) State; unit of general local government.--The terms ``State'' and ``unit of general local government'' have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302). (g) Emergency Designation.--The amounts appropriated under this title are designated as an emergency requirement and necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to section 204 of S . Con. Res. 21 (110th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008.

Summary: Neighborhood Rescue and Stabilization Act of 2008 - Authorizes for FY2008 appropriations for assistance to states and local governmental units for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate the funds among the states according to a funding formula reflecting the ratio that home mortgage foreclosures occurring in a state bears to the aggregate number of such foreclosures occurring in all states. Requires states to allocate funds to qualified metropolitan cities according to a similar formula. Requires states and local governmental units to give priority to those metropolitan areas, metropolitan cities, urban areas, rural areas, low- and moderate-income areas, and other areas with the greatest need, including those: (1) with the greatest percentage of home foreclosures; (2) with the highest percentage of homes financed by a subprime mortgage related loan; or (3) identified as likely to face a significant rise in the rate of home foreclosures. Cites eligible uses and redevelopment financing mechanisms. Sets forth low- and moderate-income requirements for the use of all funds made available under this Act.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Defense Reinvestment and High-Tech Job Creation Act of 1993''. SEC. 2. DEFENSE CONVERSION CREDIT. (a) General Rule.--Section 46 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to amount of investment credit) is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2), (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting ``, and'', and (3) by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: ``(4) the defense conversion credit.'' (b) Defense Conversion Credit.--Section 48 of such Code is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: ``(c) Defense Conversion Credit.-- ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 46, the defense conversion credit for any taxable year is the sum of-- ``(A) the defense conversion employment credit for the taxable year, and ``(B) the defense conversion investment credit for the taxable year. ``(2) Defense conversion employment credit.-- ``(A) In general.--The defense conversion employment credit for any taxable year is 10 percent of the qualified wages paid or incurred by a qualified employer during such year. ``(B) Qualified wages.--For purposes of this subsection-- ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified wages' means the wages (as defined in clause (ii)) paid or incurred by the qualified employer during the taxable year to, and amounts paid or incurred by the qualified employer to third parties for retraining expenses with respect to, qualified conversion employees during the period commencing on July 31, 1993, and ending on December 31, 1995 (`the qualified period'). ``(ii) Wages defined.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii), the term `wages' has the meaning given to such term by subsection (b) of section 3306 (determined without regard to any dollar limitation contained in such section), but the amount of wages during any taxable year which may be taken into account with respect to any individual shall not exceed 25 percent of the wages (determined without regard to this subsection) paid to such individual during such taxable year or portion thereof included within the qualified period. ``(iii) Retraining expenses.--The term `retraining expenses' includes all amounts paid or incurred with respect to educational or training programs in which a qualified conversion employee participates to learn or improve skills necessary or useful to such employee's employment in the qualified employer's nondefense-related business. ``(C) Qualified conversion employees.-- ``(i) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `qualified conversion employees' means an employee of a qualified employer who had been employed by the qualified employer or another employer in a defense- related business and who is employed by the qualified employer in a nondefense-related business during the taxable year. ``(ii) Proration in case of dual employment.--If a qualified conversion employee is employed by the qualified employer in both a defense-related business and a nondefense- related business during the taxable year, only the portion of the employee's wages properly allocable to employment in the nondefense- related business shall be treated as `wages' for purposes of subparagraph (B)(ii). ``(D) Qualified employer.--For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified employer is an employer which is engaged in a qualified business (as defined in paragraph (3)(D)). ``(3) Defense conversion investment credit.-- ``(A) In general.--The defense conversion investment credit for any taxable year is the applicable percentage of the qualified conversion investment by a qualified business during the taxable year. ``(B) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of this paragraph-- ``(i) In general.--The applicable percentage shall be 7 percent for all taxable years ending after December 31, 1992, and on or before December 31, 1994, and shall be 5 percent for all taxable years ending after December 31, 1994, and on or before December 31, 1999. ``(ii) Incremental employment incentive percentage.--The applicable percentage shall be 10 percent for any taxable year ending after December 31, 1992, and on or before December 31, 1994, and shall be 8 percent for any taxable year ending after December 31, 1994, and on or before December 31, 1999, if in such year the number of employees of the qualified business increases 4 percent or more over the average number of employees of the qualified business during the 3 preceding years (the `qualifying increase'). ``(iii) Recapture in case of decreased employment.--If a qualified business claims the benefit of the incremental employment incentive percentage under clause (ii), and its average employment during any of the 3 years following the year in which the benefit of the increased percentage was claimed falls below the qualifying increase level (a `disqualifying decrease'), the qualified business shall increase its tax liability for the year during which the disqualifying decrease occurred by the difference between the credit to which it would have been entitled under clause (i) and the credit claimed under clause (ii). ``(C) Qualified conversion investment.--For purposes of this paragraph-- ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified conversion investment' means the costs paid or incurred by a qualified business during the taxable year for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, creating, or developing any tangible or intangible assets, in connection with the conduct of the qualified business' nondefense-related business, except that such term shall not include direct production costs of any property held by the qualified business for sale to customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business. ``(ii) Intangible assets.--The term `intangible assets' includes all `intangible property' as defined in section 936(h)(3)(B) (other than literary, musical or artistic compositions) and specifically includes processes and products, models, and prototypes. ``(D) Qualified business.--For purposes of this subsection and pursuant to regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary-- ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified business' means any corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship or separate unit thereof in existence on January 1, 1993, which derived a substantial portion of its gross receipts or incurred a substantial portion of its gross costs during the 5 years preceding January 1, 1993, from 1 or more defense-related businesses, and which derives a significant portion of its gross receipts from (or incurs a significant amount of costs in acquiring or developing) 1 or more nondefense-related businesses during the taxable year. ``(ii) Defense-related business.--A `defense-related business' is an activity in connection with the development or production (pursuant to a contract or subcontract) of any property designed, modified, or equipped for military purposes (including NASA). ``(iii) Nondefense-related business.--A `nondefense-related business' is any activity in connection with the development or production of any property not designed, modified, or equipped for military purposes which uses a significant portion of assets and employees which had been employed in a defense- related business.'' (c) Accelerated Depreciation of Excess Defense Conversion Property.-- (1) Subsection (b)(3) of section 168 of such Code is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subparagraph: ``(F) Property described in subsection (e)(3)(B)(vii).'' (2) Subsection (e)(3)(B) of section 168 of such Code is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (v), by striking the period at the end of clause (vi) and inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the end thereof the following new clause: ``(vii) any qualifying excess defense conversion property.'' (3) Subsection (i) of section 168 of such Code is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: ``(14) Qualifying excess defense conversion property.-- ``(A) The term `qualifying excess defense conversion property' means, with respect to property owned or leased by the taxpayer and otherwise subject to depreciation under this section and which is `excess defense conversion property' (as defined in subparagraph (B)), the basis of property (or the portion thereof) constituting excess defense conversion property owned by the taxpayer or the total discounted cost of lease obligations during the remaining term of the lease applicable to excess conversion property leased by the taxpayer. ``(B) The term `excess defense conversion property' means property that-- ``(i) has been used by the taxpayer in a defense-related business (as defined in section 48(c)(3)(D)); and ``(ii) is not being used in the taxable year, and is not reasonably expected to be used in the foreseeable future, in a defense-related business. ``(C) Any deductions claimed by a taxpayer with respect to property reported on its return as qualifying excess defense conversion property and which is later determined as not constituting excess defense conversion property shall be recaptured at the rate of 150 percent of the deductions so claimed. ``(D) For purposes of this section, the amount of the property's basis constituting qualifying excess defense conversion property shall be considered to be placed in service on the first day of the taxable year in which the property is determined to constitute qualifying excess defense conversion property.'' (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on July 31, 1993.

Summary: Defense Reinvestment and High-Tech Job Creation Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for defense conversion equal to the defense conversion employment credit (ten percent of wages paid by an employer) and the defense conversion investment credit (applicable percentage of a qualified business investment). Makes qualified excess defense conversion property eligible for the straight-line depreciation method and classifies it as five-year depreciable property.