SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2003''. SEC. 2. HEALTH EMPOWERMENT ZONES. (a) Health Empowerment Zone Programs.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Director of the Office of Minority Health, and in cooperation with the Director of the Office of Community Services and the Director of the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities-- (A) shall designate health empowerment zones in accordance with paragraph (2); and (B) shall make grants in accordance with paragraph (3). (2) Designation of health empowerment zones.--The Secretary may designate a community as a health empowerment zone if-- (A) a community partnership seeking a grant under this section requests that the community be designated as a health empowerment zone; and (B) the community partnership demonstrates, to the Secretary's satisfaction, that the community is a community of color that experiences disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. (3) Grants.--The Secretary shall make grants to community partnerships of private and public entities to establish health empowerment zone programs. (4) Use of funds.--Grants under this section shall be used for the establishment of a health empowerment zone program to assist individuals, businesses, schools, minority health associations, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, health care clinics, and foundations in a health empowerment zone that are seeking-- (A) to effectively access Federal programs to improve the health or environment of 1 or more minority individuals in the community and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care; and (B) to coordinate the efforts of governmental and private entities regarding the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care. (5) Establishment in territory or possession.--The Secretary shall make at least 1 grant under this section to a community partnership for a health empowerment zone program in a health empowerment zone that is located in a territory or possession of the United States. (6) Application.--To seek the designation of a community as a health empowerment zone and to obtain a grant under this section, a community partnership shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and in such manner as the Secretary may require. An application under this paragraph shall-- (A) demonstrate that the community to be served is a community of color that experiences disproportionate disparities in health status and health care; (B) set forth a strategic plan for the proposed health empowerment zone program, by-- (i) describing the coordinated health, economic, human, community, and physical development plan and related activities proposed for the community involved; (ii) describing the inclusion of the community involved as a full partner in the process of developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the strategic plan and the extent to which local institutions and organizations have contributed to the planning process; (iii) identifying the projected amount of Federal, State, local, and private resources that will be available in the area and the private and public community partnerships to be used (including any participation by or cooperation with universities, colleges, foundations, nonprofit organizations, medical centers, hospitals, health clinics, school districts, or other private and public entities); (iv) identifying the funding requested under any Federal program in support of the proposed health, economic, human, community, and physical development, and related activities; (v) identifying baselines, methods, health outcomes, and benchmarks for measuring the success of carrying out the strategic plan; (vi) demonstrating the ability to effectively reach and service the targeted underserved minority community populations in a culturally appropriate and linguistically responsive manner; (vii) demonstrating a capacity and infrastructure to provide long-term community response that is culturally appropriate and linguistically responsive to a community of color that experiences disproportionate disparities in health status and health care; and (viii) identifying the individuals who have agreed to serve as members of a health empowerment zone coordinating committee for the community involved; and (C) include such other information as the Secretary may require. (7) Preference.--In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give preference to proposals from indigenous community entities that have an expertise in providing culturally appropriate and linguistically responsive services to communities of color that experience disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. (b) Federal Assistance for Health Empowerment Zone Grant Programs.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall each-- (1) where appropriate, provide entity-specific technical assistance and evidence-based strategies to communities of color that experience disproportionate disparities in health status and health care to further the purposes of a health empowerment zone program described in subsection (a)(5); (2) identify all programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, respectively, that may be used to further the purposes of a health empowerment zone program described in subsection (a)(5); and (3) in administering any program identified under paragraph (2), give priority to any individual or entity located in a community served by a health empowerment zone program under subsection (a) if such priority would further the purposes of the health empowerment zone program described in subsection (a)(5). (c) Health Empowerment Zone Coordinating Committee.-- (1) Establishment.--For each health empowerment zone program established with a grant under subsection (a), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a health empowerment zone coordinating committee. (2) Duties.--Each coordinating committee established, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall provide technical assistance and evidence-based strategies to the grant recipient involved, including providing guidance on research, strategies, health outcomes, program goals, management, implementation, monitoring, assessment, and evaluation processes. (3) Membership.-- (A) Appointment.--The Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in consultation with the respective grant recipient, shall appoint the members of each coordinating committee. (B) Composition.--The Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall ensure that each coordinating committee-- (i) has not more than 20 members; (ii) includes individuals from communities of color that experience disproportionate disparities in health status and health care; (iii) includes community leaders and leaders of community-based organizations; (iv) includes representatives of academia and lay and professional organizations and associations including those having expertise in medicine, technical, social and behavioral science, health policy, advocacy, cultural and linguistic competency, research management, and organization; and (v) represents a reasonable cross-section of knowledge, views, and application of expertise on societal, ethical, behavioral, educational, policy, legal, cultural, linguistic, and workforce issues related to eliminating disparities in health and health care. (C) Qualifications.--The Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall ensure that the members of each coordinating committee meet the following: (i) No member is employed by the Federal Government. (ii) Each member has appropriate experience, including experience in the areas of community development, cultural and linguistic competency, reducing and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care, or minority health. (iii) A majority of the members reside in the health empowerment zone involved. (D) Selection.--In selecting individuals to serve on a coordinating committee, the Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the Congress, industry leaders, the scientific community (including the Institute of Medicine), academia, community based nonprofit organizations, minority health and related organizations, the education community, State and local governments, and other appropriate organizations. (E) Chairperson.--The Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in consultation with the members of the coordinating committee involved, shall designate a chairperson of the coordinating committee, who shall serve for a term of 3 years and who may be reappointed at the expiration of each such term. (F) Terms.--Each member of a coordinating committee shall be appointed for a term of 1 to 3 years in overlapping staggered terms, as determined by the Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration at the time of appointment, and may be reappointed at the expiration of each such term. (G) Vacancies.--A vacancy on a coordinating committee shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (H) Compensation.--The members of a coordinating committee shall serve without pay. (I) Travel expenses.--Each member of a coordinating committee shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (4) Staff; experts and consultants.-- (A) Staff.--The chairperson of a coordinating committee may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel as the chairperson considers appropriate. (B) Experts and consultants.--The chairperson of a coordinating committee may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. (5) Meetings.--A coordinating committee shall meet 3 to 5 times each year, at the call of the coordinating committee's chairperson and in consultation with the Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. (6) Report.--Each coordinating committee shall transmit to the Congress an annual report that, with respect to the health empowerment zone program involved, includes the following: (A) A review of the program's effectiveness in achieving stated goals and outcomes, and overcoming challenges. (B) A review of the program's management and coordination of the entities involved. (C) A review of the activities in the program's portfolio and components. (D) An identification of policy issues raised by the program. (E) An assessment of program's results including that of capacity, infrastructure, number of underserved minority communities reached and retained in the effort in a defined time frame. (F) Recommendations for new program goals, research areas, enhanced approaches, community partnerships, coordination and management mechanisms, and projects to be established to achieve the program's stated goals, to improve outcomes, assessments, monitoring, and evaluation. (G) A review of the degree of minority entities participation in the program, and an identification of a strategy to increase such participation. (H) Any other reviews or recommendations determined to be appropriate by the coordinating committee. (d) Report.--The Director of the Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall submit a joint annual report to the appropriate committees of the Congress on the results of the implementation of programs under this section. (e) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Coordinating committee.--The term ``coordinating committee'' means a health empowerment zone coordinating committee established under this section. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010.

Summary: Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate a community as a health empowerment zone if a participating community partnership: (1) requests such designation; and (2) demonstrates that the community is a community of color experiencing disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. Directs the Secretary to make: (1) grants to community partnerships of private and public entities to establish health empowerment zone programs to assist individuals, businesses, schools, minority health associations, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, health care clinics, and foundations in a health empowerment zone that are seeking to improve the health or environment of minority individuals and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care; (2) at least one grant in a health empowerment zone in a U.S. territory or possession; and (3) establish a health empowerment zone coordinating committee for each zone. Directs the Secretary, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance for such programs.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``International Hydrocephalus Treatment and Training Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Hydrocephalus, also known as ``water on the brain'', is a medical condition in which an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles or cavities of the brain causes increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head. (2) If left untreated, hydrocephalus leads to physical and mental disabilities and eventually death. (3) Hydrocephalus is an extremely painful condition that most commonly occurs in infants and young children as a result of a congenital abnormality (anatomic abnormality, aqueductal stenosis, spina bifida or encephalocele), or post-infectious hydrocephalus (PIH) caused by infections acquired after birth, such as meningitis, that attack the brain. (4) PIH is the most common cause of hydrocephalus globally, accounting for approximately 60 percent of all cases. (5) Three to five out of every 1,000 newborns in developing countries are either born with hydrocephalus or acquire it due to neonatal infections in the first few months of life. (6) It is conservatively estimated that more than 300,000 children are born with or acquire hydrocephalus in the developing world each year. (7) Children with hydrocephalus who are not effectively treated or who are not treated in the early stages of the condition suffer from cognitive deficiencies or physical disabilities or both. (8) Families of children who have hydrocephalus in developing countries rarely know that it is a treatable condition, where to go for treatment, or how to care for a child suffering from the condition. (9) Many children with hydrocephalus in developing countries are abandoned, ostracized, or abused due to their appearance and physical and mental disabilities. (10) Hydrocephalus can be treated, and advances in innovative medical procedures such as ETV/CPC have the potential to save thousands of lives annually and prevent or mitigate physical and mental disabilities in thousands of children in developing countries. (11) The current standard treatment for hydrocephalus is the VP shunt which often requires up to 5 surgical revisions before a child reaches adulthood to remedy blockages in the shunt and to account for the child's growth. Blockages can be expected during the life of the patient and can lead to death, particularly in developing countries where access to the requisite medical expertise often is not available. (12) Due to the need for multiple replacements of a VP shunt, this treatment is expensive and creates an increased burden on fragile health systems, patients, and families. (13) ETV/CPC is a shunt-less surgery for hydrocephalus that does not require a VP shunt and has been shown to be appropriate in at least two-thirds of the cases of infants with hydrocephalus. Of those cases, ETV/CPC is 93 percent effective in eliminating hydrocephalus. (14) Few hospitals with the expertise and capacity to treat hydrocephalus exist in developing countries, and the demand for treatment far exceeds the capacity of health systems in those countries. (15) Neurosurgical care for hydrocephalus in developing countries is widely unavailable due to a lack of trained neurosurgeons. In East Africa, there is only 1 neurosurgeon per 10,000,000 people. In many developing countries there are no trained neurosurgeons. (16) Hundreds of thousands of cases of hydrocephalus in children in developing countries could be successfully treated if adequate resources are devoted to training surgeons in new techniques, such as ETV/CPC, and many future cases could be prevented if adequate resources are devoted to research means to mitigate the preventable causes of hydrocephalus. (17) Adoption of innovative new techniques to treat hydrocephalus, such as ETV/CPC, are more cost effective in the long term than current treatment methods since only one surgery is required in most cases, thus limiting the impact on overburdened health systems in developing countries. SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO TREAT HYDROCEPHALUS AND TRAIN SURGEONS. Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et. seq.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating the second section 135 (as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2536)) as section 136; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 137. ASSISTANCE TO TREAT HYDROCEPHALUS AND TRAIN SURGEONS. ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of assistance authorized by this section are-- ``(1) to ensure that life-saving treatment of hydrocephalus is an important priority of United States bilateral foreign assistance, including through promotion of innovative treatments and training of medical practitioners from the developing world in the latest treatment protocols and best practices for the treatment of hydrocephalus, including-- ``(A) surgery and post-surgery care in developing countries; ``(B) the creation of a comprehensive hydrocephalus training program based in the developing world for surgeons and key members of their medical team; and ``(C) the training of medical practitioners based in the developing world in ETV/CPC and other appropriate treatment protocols; and ``(2) to promote research to reduce the incidence of PIH epidemiology, pathophysiology, and disease burden, and to improve treatment of hydrocephalus. ``(b) Authorization.--To carry out the purposes of subsection (a), the President is authorized to provide assistance to support a network of trained medical practitioners to treat hydrocephalus in children at pediatric hospitals and hydrocephalus treatment centers in developing countries with a high incidence of hydrocephalus. ``(c) Activities Supported.-- ``(1) Comprehensive program.-- ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided under subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to establish a comprehensive program to administer global hydrocephalus treatment and training activities utilizing a network of pediatric hospitals capable of performing endoscopic surgery in developing countries. ``(B) Administration.--The program described in subparagraph (A) shall be administered by healthcare executives and neurosurgeons with expertise in the treatment of hydrocephalus. ``(C) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the administrators described in subparagraph (B) shall include-- ``(i) developing an appropriate education and training curriculum; ``(ii) establishing quality control standards; ``(iii) instituting safety guidelines and standards; and ``(iv) developing monitoring and evaluation protocols. ``(2) Training hospital.-- ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided under subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to establish a surgeon training program within a pediatric hospital based in a developing country with a high incidence of hydrocephalus with the goal of training four surgeons annually and a total of 20 surgeons over a 5-year period to treat hydrocephalus utilizing the ETV/CPC technique. ``(B) Timeline.--To the maximum extent practicable, the surgeon training program described in subparagraph (A) should be operational no later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. ``(C) Training admissions criteria.--Candidates for the surgeon training program established under subparagraph (A) shall-- ``(i) have a demonstrated commitment to providing medical assistance in the developing world; and ``(ii) certify that the candidate intends to remain and practice medicine in the developing world following completion of the program. ``(D) Training program methodology.--The surgeon training program established under subparagraph (A) shall-- ``(i) be conducted by a neurosurgeon with a minimum of 3 years of full-time operating experience in the developing world; ``(ii) be a hands-on operating room experience in the developing world; ``(iii) utilize a hydrocephalus treatment protocol with an emphasis on ETV/CPC as the preferred treatment when medically appropriate; and ``(iv) require that each trainee complete a minimum of 50 ETV/CPC or ETV procedures and at least 25 VP shunt procedures. ``(3) Treatment centers.-- ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided under subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to establish at least 20 hydrocephalus treatment centers located at public and private hospital in developing countries with a high incidence of hydrocephalus, which shall include treatment costs, endoscopy equipment and medical supplies necessary to provide ETV/CPC procedures to treat hydrocephalus. ``(B) Staffing.--The treatment centers described in subparagraph (A) shall be staffed by-- ``(i) one or more surgeons who have successfully completed the surgeon training program provided pursuant to paragraph (2); and ``(ii) a patient care administrator. ``(C) Treatment.--The treatment centers described in subparagraph (A) shall-- ``(i) provide surgery to treat hydrocephalus in children; ``(ii) perform at least 50 hydrocephalus surgeries annually including a minimum of 25 ETV or ETV/CPC surgeries; and ``(iii) provide post-surgery care and support for the children treated in accordance with clause (i). ``(4) Medical records and data.--Assistance provided under subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, include the maintenance of medical records which track patient care activities and information about the causes and incidence rates of PIH. ``(d) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) CPC.--The term `CPC' means choroid plexus cauterization, a surgical procedure to reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. ``(2) ETV.--The term `ETV' means endoscopic third ventriculostomy, a shunt-less surgical procedure in which an opening is created in the floor of the third ventricle of the brain allowing cerebrospinal fluid to bypass any obstruction and flow directly to the basal cisterns. ``(3) ETV/CPC.--The term `ETV/CPC' means the shunt-less surgical method for treating hydrocephalus through the combination of ETV and CPC surgical procedures. ``(4) Hydrocephalus.--The term `hydrocephalus' means a medical condition in which an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles or cavities of the brain causes increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head. ``(5) Medical practitioners.--The term `medical practitioners' means physicians, nurses and other clinicians. ``(6) PIH.--The term `PIH' means post-infectious or acquired hydrocephalus which is the onset of hydrocephalus after birth due to the affects of an infection, such as meningitis, that has attacked the brain. ``(7) VP shunt.--The term `VP shunt' means a ventriculoperitonea shunt which is a plastic tube that is regulated by a valve and surgically placed in a brain ventricle that allows the cerebrospinal fluid to flow out of the brain through the tube and into the patient's abdomen. ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts made available to carry out this chapter for child survival and maternal health programs, there are authorized to be appropriated to the President such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to carry out this section.''.

Summary: International Hydrocephalus Treatment and Training Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance to support a network of trained medical practitioners to treat hydrocephalus in children at pediatric hospitals and hydrocephalus treatment centers in developing countries. Requires such assistance to provide for surgeon training and establishment of at least 20 treatment centers.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Equity for Temporary Workers Act of 1999''. SEC. 2. TEMPORARY WORKER RIGHTS. (a) Discrimination.-- No employer shall discriminate with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment against any temporary employee. (b) Benefits.--After a temporary employee works for an employer for 1,000 hours during a 12-month period, whether placed in the employ of such employer by the employer, by a temporary help agency or staffing firm, or under a leasing arrangement by a third party, such temporary employee shall be eligible to receive any benefit offered by the employer to other permanent employees. SEC. 3. EQUAL PAY FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES. (a) General Rule.--An employer having employees subject to section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 shall not discriminate, within any establishment in which such employees are employed, between employees on the basis of employment status by paying wages to temporary employees in such establishment at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays wages to full-time employees in such establishment for equal work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions, except where such payment is made pursuant to-- (1) a seniority system; (2) a merit system; (3) a system that measures earning by quantity or quality of production; or (4) a differential based on any other factor other than employment status. (b) Wage Reduction.--An employer who is paying a wage rate differential in violation of this section shall not, in order to comply with the provisions of this section, reduce the wage rate of any employee. (c) Labor Organization.--No labor organization, or its agents, representing the employees of an employer having employees subject to section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 shall cause or attempt to cause such an employer to discriminate against an employee in violation of this section. (d) Unpaid Wages.--For purposes of administration and enforcement, any amounts owing to any employee that have been withheld in violation of this section shall be deemed to be unpaid minimum wages or unpaid overtime compensation under section 5. (e) Definition.--As used in this section, the term ``labor organization'' means any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employers participate and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work. SEC. 4. LIABILITY TO ALL PERSONS ON WORKSITE. Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows: ``(1) shall, at the place of employment of the employer, furnish to each person at such place a place which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to such persons; and''. SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT. (a) Civil Action by Employees.-- (1) Liability.--Any employer who violates section 2 or 3 shall be liable to any eligible employee affected-- (A) for damages equal to-- (i) the amount of any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost to such employee by reason of the violation; (ii) the interest on the amount described in clause (i) calculated at the prevailing rate; and (iii) an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to the sum of the amount described in clause (i) and the interest described in clause (ii), except that if an employer who has violated section 2 or 3 proves to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission which violated such section was in good faith and that the employer had reasonable grounds for believing that the act or omission was not a violation of such section, such court may, in the discretion of the court, reduce the amount of the liability to the amount and interest determined under clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and (B) for such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion. (2) Right of action.--An action to recover the damages or equitable relief prescribed in paragraph (1) may be maintained against any employer (including a public agency) in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees for and in behalf of-- (A) the employees; or (B) the employees and other employees similarly situated. (3) Fees and costs.--The court in such an action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff, allow a reasonable attorney's fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant. (4) Limitations.--The right provided by paragraph (2) to bring an action by or on behalf of any employee shall terminate-- (A) on the filing of a complaint by the Secretary in an action under subsection (d) in which restraint is sought of any further delay in the payment of the amount described in paragraph (1)(A) to such employee by an employer responsible under paragraph (1) for the payment; or (B) on the filing of a complaint by the Secretary in an action under subsection (b) in which a recovery is sought of the damages described in paragraph (1)(A) owing to an eligible employee by an employer liable under paragraph (1), unless the action described in subparagraph (A) or (B) is dismissed without prejudice on motion of the Secretary. (b) Action by the Secretary.-- (1) Administrative action.--The Secretary shall receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of section 2 or 3 in the same manner that the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207). (2) Civil action.--The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the damages described in subsection (a)(1)(A). (3) Sums recovered.--Any sums recovered by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each employee affected. Any such sums not paid to an employee because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. (c) Limitation.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), an action may be brought under this section not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought. (2) Willful violation.--In the case of such action brought for a willful violation of section 2 or 3, such action may be brought within 3 years of the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which such action is brought. (3) Commencement.--In determining when an action is commenced by the Secretary under this section for the purposes of this subsection, it shall be considered to be commenced on the date when the complaint is filed. (d) Action for Injunction by Secretary.--The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, in an action brought by the Secretary-- (1) to restrain violations of section 2 or 3, including the restraint of any withholding of payment of wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation, plus interest, found by the court to be due to eligible employees; or (2) to award such other equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion. (e) Solicitor of Labor.--The Solicitor of Labor may appear for and represent the Secretary on any litigation brought under this section. SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) Employee.--The term ``employee'' means any individual who performs services for wages, salary, or other reimbursement under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied with an employer. This individual also works for an employer at least 1,000 hours per year. (2) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means any person engaged in commerce or in any industry or activity affecting commerce who employs 100 or more employees for each working day during each of 20 or more calendar workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year. (3) Permanent employee.--The term ``permanent employee'' means any individual who is hired for an indefinite period of time as an employee and is accorded benefits. (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor. (5) Temporary agency.--The term ``temporary agency'' means any person regularly undertaking with or without compensation to procure employees for an employer temporarily or to procure for employees opportunities to work for an employer and includes an agent of such a person. (6) Temporary employee.--The term ``temporary employee'' means any employee who is not permanent.

Summary: Equity for Temporary Workers Act of 1999 - Prohibits employers from discriminating with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment against any temporary employee. Makes a temporary employee eligible to receive any benefit offered by an employer to other permanent employees after the temporary employee works for the employer for 1,000 hours during a 12-month period, regardless of whether placed by the employer, by a temporary help agency or staffing firm, or under a leasing arrangement by a third party. Requires equal pay for temporary employees. Prohibits employers with employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 from discriminating between employees on the basis of employment status by paying wages to temporary employees in the same establishment at a rate less than that at which the employer pays full-time employees for equal work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions. Exempts from such prohibition any such payments made pursuant to: (1) a seniority system; (2) a merit system; (3) a system that measures earning by quantity or quality of production; or (4) a differential based on any other factor other than employment status. Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to require employers to furnish each employee a place free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Sets forth enforcement provisions with respect to violations of this Act, including civil actions by employees and administrative and injunctive actions by the Secretary of Labor.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Charitable Pension Flexibility Act of 2013''. SEC. 2. ELECTION TO CEASE TO BE TREATED AS AN ELIGIBLE CHARITY PLAN. (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 104 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as added by section 202 of the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010, is amended by-- (1) striking ``For purposes of'' and inserting ``(1) In general.--For purposes of'', and (2) adding at the end the following: ``(2) Election not to be an eligible charity plan.--A plan sponsor may elect for a plan to cease to be treated as an eligible charity plan for plan years beginning after December 31, 2013. Such election shall be made at such time and in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Any such election may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury. ``(3) Election to use funding options available to other plan sponsors.-- ``(A) In general.--A plan sponsor that makes the election described in paragraph (2) may also elect for a plan to apply the rules described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) for plan years beginning after December 31, 2013. Such election shall be made at such time and in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Any such election may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury. ``(B) Applicable shortfall amortization bases.-- Under the rules described in this subparagraph, for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, a plan has-- ``(i) an 11-year shortfall amortization base, ``(ii) a 12-year shortfall amortization base, and ``(iii) a 7-year shortfall amortization base. ``(C) Determination of installments.--Under the rules described in this subparagraph, section 430(c)(2)(A) and (B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and section 303(c)(2)(A) and (B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall be applied-- ``(i) in the case of an 11-year shortfall amortization base, by substituting `11-plan- year period' for `7-plan-year period' wherever it appears, and ``(ii) in the case a 12-year shortfall amortization base, by substituting `12-plan- year period' for `7-plan-year period' wherever it appears. ``(D) Alternate required installments.--Under the rules described in this subparagraph, section 430(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and section 303(c)(7) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall apply to a plan for which an election has been made under subparagraph (A). Such provisions shall apply in the following manner: ``(i) The first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, shall be treated as an election year, and no other plan years shall be so treated. ``(ii) All references in section 430(c)(7) of such Code and in section 303(c)(7) of such Act to `February 28, 2010' or `March 1, 2010' shall be treated as references to `February 28, 2013' or `March 1, 2013', respectively. ``(E) 11-year shortfall amortization base.--For purposes of this paragraph, the 11-year shortfall amortization base is an amount, determined for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, equal to the unamortized principal amount of the shortfall amortization base (as defined in section 430(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and section 303(c)(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) that would have applied to the plan for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2009, if-- ``(i) the plan had never been an eligible charity plan. ``(ii) the plan sponsor had made the election described in section 430(c)(2)(D)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and in section 303(c)(2)(D)(i) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to have section 430(c)(2)(D)(iii) of such Code and section 303(c)(2)(D)(iii) of such Act apply with respect to the shortfall amortization base for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2009, and ``(iii) no event had occurred under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 430(c) of such Code or paragraph (6) or (7) of section 303(c) of such Act that, as of the first day of the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, would have modified the shortfall amortization base or the shortfall amortization installments with respect to the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2009. ``(F) 12-year shortfall amortization base.--For purposes of this paragraph, the 12-year shortfall amortization base is an amount, determined for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, equal to the unamortized principal amount of the shortfall amortization base (as defined in section 430(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and section 303(c)(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) that would have applied to the plan for the first plan beginning after December 31, 2010, if-- ``(i) the plan had never been an eligible charity plan, ``(ii) the plan sponsor had made the election described in section 430(c)(2)(D)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and in section 303(c)(2)(D)(i) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to have section 430(c)(2)(D)(iii) of such Code and section 303(c)(2)(D)(iii) of such Act apply with respect to the shortfall amortization base for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2010, and ``(iii) no event had occurred under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 430(c) of such Code or paragraph (6) or (7) of section 303(c) of such Act that, as of the first day of the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, would have modified the shortfall amortization base or the shortfall amortization installments with respect to the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2010. ``(G) 7-year shortfall amortization base.--For purposes of this paragraph, the 7-year shortfall amortization base is an amount, determined for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, equal to-- ``(i) the shortfall amortization base for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 2013, without regard to this paragraph, minus ``(ii) the sum of the 11-year shortfall amortization base and the 12-year shortfall amortization base.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Charitable Pension Flexibility Act of 2013 - Amends the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as amended by the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010, to allow the sponsor of a multiple-employer defined benefit pension plan to elect for a plan to cease to be treated as an eligible charity plan for plan years beginning after December 31, 2013. Permits revocation of such an election, however, only with the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury. Allows a plan sponsor also to elect to apply specified requirements with respect to the shortfall amortization base in minimum funding standards for such plans.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Health Care for Veterans of Project 112/Project SHAD Act of 2003''. SEC. 2. PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE TO VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE TESTING. Section 1710(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(E) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a veteran who participated in a test conducted by the Department of Defense Deseret Test Center as part of a program for chemical and biological warfare testing from 1962 through 1973 (including the program designated as `Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD)' and related land-based tests) is eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection (a)(2)(F) for any illness, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illness is attributable to such testing.''. (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking out ``paragraph (1)(C) or (1)(D)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (1)''; and (3) in paragraph (3)-- (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B); (B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; and''; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) in the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph (1)(E), after December 31, 2005.''. SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. (a) Promotion Standards for Health Care Personnel.--Subsection (c) of 7403 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Promotions'' and inserting ``Consistent with subsection (a) of section 7422 of this title, and notwithstanding subsection (b) of that section, promotions''. (b) Promotions for Nurses Who Do Not Have Baccalaureate Degrees.-- Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h) In a case in which a registered nurse has accomplished the performance elements required for promotion to the next grade, the lack of a baccalaureate degree in nursing shall not be a bar to promotion to that grade, and in such a case the registered nurse shall not be denied a promotion on that basis.''. SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL PAY FOR SATURDAY TOURS OF DUTY FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. (a) In General.--Section 7454(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) Employees appointed under section 7408 of this title shall be entitled to additional pay on the same basis as provided for nurses in section 7453(c) of this title.''. (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to pay periods beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 5. COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES OF VETERANS' CANTEEN SERVICE UNDER ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS. (a) Coverage.--Paragraph (5) of section 7802 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the semicolon a period and the following: ``An employee appointed under this section may be considered for appointment to a Department position in the competitive service in the same manner that a Department employee in the competitive service is considered for transfer to such position. An employee of the Service who is appointed to a Department position in the competitive service under the authority of the preceding sentence may count toward the time-in-service requirement for a career appointment in such position any previous period of employment in the Service''. (b) Technical Amendments.--Such section is further amended-- (1) by striking the semicolon at the end of each of paragraphs (1) through (10) and inserting a period; (2) by striking ``The Secretary '' and all that follows through ``(1) establish,'' and inserting ``(a) Locations for Canteens.--The Secretary shall establish,''; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (11) as subsections (b) through (k), respectively, and by realigning those subsections (as so redesignated) so as to be flush to the left margin; (4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Warehouses and Storage Depots.--The Secretary shall'' before ``establish''; (5) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Space, Buildings, and Structures.--The Secretary shall'' before ``furnish''; (6) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Equipment, Services, and Utilities.--The Secretary shall'' before ``transfer''; (7) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated and as amended by subsection (a)), by inserting ``Personnel.--The Secretary shall'' before ``employ''; (8) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Contracts and Agreements.--The Secretary shall'' before ``make all''; (9) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Prices.--The Secretary shall'' before ``fix the''; (10) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Gifts and Donations.--The Secretary may'' before ``accept''; (11) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Rules and Regulations.--The Secretary shall'' before ``make such''; (12) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Delegation.--The Secretary may'' before ``delegate such''; and (13) in subsection (k) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Authority To Cash Checks, Etc.--The Secretary may'' before ``authorize''. Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 2003. Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL, Clerk.

Summary: Health Care for Veterans of Project 112/Project SHAD Act of 2003 - Makes a veteran who participated in a test conducted by the Department of Defense Deseret Test Center as part of a program for chemical and biological warfare testing from 1962 through 1973 (including the program designated as Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD) and related land-based tests) eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for any illness, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illness is attributable to such testing. Terminates such eligibility after December 31, 2005. (Sec. 3) Prohibits the lack of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from being a bar to, or resulting in the denial of, a promotion to the next higher grade for a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) registered nurse who has accomplished required performance elements. (Sec. 4) Authorizes additional pay for Saturday VHA nursing duty. (Sec. 5) Allows: (1) employees of the Veterans' Canteen Service (Service) to be considered for appointment to a Department position in the competitive service in the same manner that Department employees in the competitive service are considered for transfer to Service positions; and (2) former Service employees to count their previous period of employment toward the time-in-service requirement of a Department position in the competitive service.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. EARLIER EFFECTIVE DATE FOR CREDIT CARD PROVISIONS OF THE CREDIT CARD ACT OF 2009. Section 3 of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 1602 note) is amended-- (1) by striking ``This Act'' and inserting ``(a) In General.--This Act''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: ``(b) Certain Credit Card Provisions.--Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, titles I, II, and III, and the amendments made by such titles, shall take effect on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009. ``(c) Certain Credit Card Issuers.--Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act and notwithstanding subsection (b), the effective date established under subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the application of titles I, II, and III, and the amendments made by such titles, to any credit card issuer which is a depository institution (as defined in section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act) with fewer than 2,000,000 credit cards in circulation as of the date of the enactment of this Act.''. SEC. 3. EARLIER EFFECTIVE DATES FOR SPECIFIC PROVISIONS TO PREVENT FURTHER ABUSES. (a) Review of Past Consumer Interest Rate Increases.--Section 148(d) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1665c(d)) (as added by section 101(c) of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009) is amended-- (1) by striking ``9 months after the date of enactment of this section'' and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, except that for a depository institution, as defined in section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A)), with fewer than 2 million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, the effective date shall be February 22, 2010,''; and (2) by striking ``become effective 15 months after that date of enactment'' and inserting ``take effect on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, except that for a depository institution, as defined in section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A)), with fewer than 2 million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, the effective date shall be August 22, 2010''. (b) Requirement That Penalty Fees Be Reasonable and Proportional to the Violation.--Section 149(b) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1665d(b)) (as added by section 102(b) of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009) is amended-- (1) by striking ``9 months after the date of enactment of this section,'' and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, except that for a depository institution, as defined in section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A)), with fewer than 2 million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, the effective date shall be February 22, 2010,''; and (2) by striking ``become effective 15 months after the date of enactment of the section'' and inserting ``take effect on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, except that for a depository institution, as defined in section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A)), with fewer than 2 million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, the effective date shall be August 22, 2010''. SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION THAT 45-DAY DELAY DOES NOT APPLY TO REDUCTIONS IN INTEREST RATES AND FEES. Subsection (i) of section 127 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637) (as added by section 101(a)(1) of the Credit CARD Act of 2009) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(5) Clarification.--No provision of this subsection shall be construed as preventing any creditor from putting any reduction in an annual percentage rate, any decrease or elimination of any fee imposed on any consumer, or any significant change in terms solely or primarily for the benefit of the consumer into effect immediately.''. SEC. 5. MORATORIUM ON INCREASES IN RATES AND FEES AND CHANGES IN TERMS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CONSUMER. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, subsection (b) of section 164 of the Truth in Lending Act (as added by section 104(4) of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-24)) shall not take effect until February 22, 2010, for any creditor with respect to an existing credit card account under an open end credit plan, or such a plan issued on or after the date of enactment, as long as the creditor does not-- (1) increase any annual percentage rate, fee, or finance charge applicable to any existing or future balance, except as permitted under subsection 171(b) of the Truth in Lending Act (as added by Public Law 111-24); or (2) change the terms to the detriment of a consumer, including terms governing the repayment of any outstanding balance, except as provided in section 171(c) of the Truth in Lending Act (as added by Public Law 111-24). SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ESTABLISHED. Section 127 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637) is amended by inserting after subsection (r) (as added by the Credit CARD Act of 2009) the following new subsection: ``(s) Cancellation of Account Without Detrimental Effect.--If, in the case of a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan, the consumer receives notice of the imposition of a new fee, and within the 45-day period beginning on receipt of such notice, pays off any outstanding balance on the account, no creditor and no consumer reporting agency (as defined in section 603) may use such pay off or closure of the consumer credit account to negatively impact the consumer's credit score or consumer report (as such terms are defined in sections 609 and 603, respectively).''. SEC. 7. MORATORIUM ON RATE INCREASES. (a) In General.--During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending 9 months after the date of the enactment of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, in the case of any credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan-- (1) no creditor may increase any annual percentage rate, fee, or finance charge applicable to any outstanding balance, except as permitted under subsection 171(b) of the Truth in Lending Act (as added by Public Law 111-24); and (2) no creditor may change the terms governing the repayment of any outstanding balance, except as set forth in section 171(c) of the Truth in Lending Act (as added by Public Law 111-24). (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Annual percentage rate.--The term ``annual percentage rate'' means an annual percentage rate, as determined under section 107 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1606). (2) Finance charge.--The term ``finance charge'' means a finance charge, as determined under section 106 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1605). (3) Outstanding balance.--The term ``outstanding balance'' has the same meaning as in section 171(d) of the Truth in Lending Act (as added by Public Law 111-24). (4) Other terms.--Any term used in this section that is defined in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1602) and is not otherwise defined in this section shall have the same meanings as in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act. (c) Regulatory Authority.-- (1) In general.--The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. (2) Effective date.--The provisions of this section shall take effect upon the date of the enactment of this title, regardless of whether rules are issued under subsection (a). Passed the House of Representatives November 4, 2009. Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, Clerk.

Summary: Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Credit CARD Act of 2009) to: (1) make Title I: Consumer Protection, Title II: Enhanced Consumer Disclosures, and Title III: Protection of Young Consumers effective as of the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) make February 22, 2010, the effective date of such titles for a depository institution with fewer than two million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of the Credit CARD Act of 2009. (Sec. 3) Amends the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) to make conforming amendments with respect to review of past consumer interest rate increases. Amends TILA to move to the date of enactment of this Act: (1) the deadline by which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) must issue final implementing rules for required creditor reviews of changes in factors considered in past consumer annual percentage interest rate (APR) increases when determining whether to reduce the APR; and (2) the effective date of the creditor review requirement. But makes February 22, 2010, the rules deadline, and August 22, 2010, the effective date of the creditor review requirement governing a depository institution that has fewer than two million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of this Act. Declares the date of enactment of this Act: (1) the effective date of the requirement that any penalty fee or charge that a credit card issuer may impose, including a late payment fee, over-the-limit fee, or any other penalty fee or charge, be reasonable and proportional to the omission or violation to which it relates; and (2) the deadline for the Board to issue final implementing rules establishing standards for assessing whether any such penalty fee or charge is reasonable and proportional. But makes February 22, 2010, the rules deadline, and August 22, 2010, the effective date of the reasonable and proportional requirement itself, with respect to a depository institution with fewer than two million credit cards in circulation on the date of the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 4) States that TILA does not prevent a creditor from putting into effect immediately: (1) any reduction in APR; (2) elimination or reduction of any fee imposed on a consumer; or (3) any significant change in terms for the benefit of the consumer. (Sec. 5) Defers until February 22, 2010, the effective date of the new requirement under the Act that a credit card issuer must apply amounts in excess of the minimum payment amount first to the card balance bearing the highest rate of interest. Conditions this moratorium, however, on the creditor's refraining from: (1) increasing any APR, or fees or finance charges applicable to any existing or future balance (other than as provided in TILA); or (2) changing the account terms to the detriment of a consumer, including repayment of any outstanding balance (other than as provided in TILA). (Sec. 6) Amends TILA to prohibit either a creditor or a consumer reporting agency from using the pay off or closure of a consumer credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan to negatively impact the consumer's credit score or consumer report when the consumer pays off an outstanding account balance within 45 days after receiving notice of the imposition of a new fee. (Sec. 7) Imposes a limited moratorium on APR, fee, and finance charge increases, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Prohibits a creditor, during the moratorium period, from: (1) increasing any APR, fee, or finance charge applicable to any outstanding balance of a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan; or (2) changing the repayment terms of an outstanding balance (except as permitted under TILA). Ends such moratorium nine months (February 22, 2010) after the date of enactment of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (May 22, 2009).


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Richmond National Battlefield Park Act of 2000''. (b) Definitions.--In this Act: (1) Battlefield park.--The term ``battlefield park'' means the Richmond National Battlefield Park. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following: (1) In the Act of March 2, 1936 (Chapter 113; 49 Stat. 1155; 16 U.S.C. 423j), Congress authorized the establishment of the Richmond National Battlefield Park, and the boundaries of the battlefield park were established to permit the inclusion of all military battlefield areas related to the battles fought during the Civil War in the vicinity of the city of Richmond, Virginia. The battlefield park originally included the area then known as the Richmond Battlefield State Park.- (2) The total acreage identified in 1936 for consideration for inclusion in the battlefield park consisted of approximately 225,000 acres in and around the city of Richmond. A study undertaken by the congressionally authorized Civil War Sites Advisory Committee determined that of these 225,000 acres, the historically significant areas relating to the campaigns against and in defense of Richmond encompass approximately 38,000 acres. (3) In a 1996 general management plan, the National Park Service identified approximately 7,121 acres in and around the city of Richmond that satisfy the National Park Service criteria of significance, integrity, feasibility, and suitability for inclusion in the battlefield park. The National Park Service later identified an additional 186 acres for inclusion in the battlefield park. (4) There is a national interest in protecting and preserving sites of historical significance associated with the Civil War and the city of Richmond. (5) The Commonwealth of Virginia and its local units of government have authority to prevent or minimize adverse uses of these historic resources and can play a significant role in the protection of the historic resources related to the campaigns against and in defense of Richmond. (6) The preservation of the New Market Heights Battlefield in the vicinity of the city of Richmond is an important aspect of American history that can be interpreted to the public. The Battle of New Market Heights represents a premier landmark in black military history as 14 black Union soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of their valor during the battle. According to National Park Service historians, the sacrifices of the United States Colored Troops in this battle helped to ensure the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery. (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act-- (1) to revise the boundaries for the Richmond National Battlefield Park based on the findings of the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee and the National Park Service; and (2) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to work in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Virginia, the city of Richmond, other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth, other public entities, and the private sector in the management, protection, and interpretation of the resources associated with the Civil War and the Civil War battles in and around the city of Richmond, Virginia. SEC. 3. RICHMOND NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK; BOUNDARIES. (a) Establishment and Purpose.--For the purpose of protecting, managing, and interpreting the resources associated with the Civil War battles in and around the city of Richmond, Virginia, there is established the Richmond National Battlefield Park consisting of approximately 7,307 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Richmond National Battlefield Park Boundary Revision'', numbered 367N.E.F.A.80026A, and dated September 2000. The map shall be on file in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. (b) Boundary Adjustments.--The Secretary may make minor adjustments in the boundaries of the battlefield park consistent with section 7(c) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l- 9(c)). SEC. 4. LAND ACQUISITION. (a) Acquisition Authority.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire lands, waters, and interests in lands within the boundaries of the battlefield park from willing landowners by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. In acquiring lands and interests in lands under this Act, the Secretary shall acquire the minimum interest necessary to achieve the purposes for which the battlefield is established. (2) Special rule for private lands.--Privately owned lands or interests in lands may be acquired under this Act only with the consent of the owner. (b) Easements.-- (1) Outside boundaries.--The Secretary may acquire an easement on property outside the boundaries of the battlefield park and around the city of Richmond, with the consent of the owner, if the Secretary determines that the easement is necessary to protect core Civil War resources as identified by the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee. Upon acquisition of the easement, the Secretary shall revise the boundaries of the battlefield park to include the property subject to the easement. (2) Inside boundaries.--To the extent practicable, and if preferred by a willing landowner, the Secretary shall use permanent conservation easements to acquire interests in land in lieu of acquiring land in fee simple and thereby removing land from non-Federal ownership. (c) Visitor Center.--The Secretary may acquire the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and associated land in the city of Richmond for use as a visitor center for the battlefield park. SEC. 5. PARK ADMINISTRATION. (a) Applicable Laws.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall administer the battlefield park in accordance with this Act and laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et. seq.) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et. seq.). (b) New Market Heights Battlefield.--The Secretary shall provide for the establishment of a monument or memorial suitable to honor the 14 Medal of Honor recipients from the United States Colored Troops who fought in the Battle of New Market Heights. The Secretary shall include the Battle of New Market Heights and the role of black Union soldiers in the battle in historical interpretations provided to the public at the battlefield park. (c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia, its political subdivisions (including the city of Richmond), private property owners, and other members of the private sector to develop mechanisms to protect and interpret the historical resources within the battlefield park in a manner that would allow for continued private ownership and use where compatible with the purposes for which the battlefield is established. (d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical assistance to the Commonwealth of Virginia, its political subdivisions, nonprofit entities, and private property owners for the development of comprehensive plans, land use guidelines, special studies, and other activities that are consistent with the identification, protection, interpretation, and commemoration of historically significant Civil War resources located inside and outside of the boundaries of the battlefield park. The technical assistance does not authorize the Secretary to own or manage any of the resources outside the battlefield park boundaries. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. SEC. 7. REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED LAW. The Act of March 2, 1936 (Chapter 113; 16 U.S.C. 423j-423l) is repealed. Passed the House of Representatives October 17, 2000. Attest: Clerk.

Summary: Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the establishment of a monument or memorial to honor the 14 Medal of Honor recipients from the United States Colored Troops who fought in the Battle of New Market Heights; and (2) include the role of black Union soldiers in historical interpretations provided at the Park.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Safe, Efficient, Coordinated, Unified, Revitalized, Enhanced Visa Waiver Act''. SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION BY VISA WAIVER PARTICIPANTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish, as part of the integrated entry and exit data system required under section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1365a), an electronic system through which an alien seeking to enter the United States without a visa under the visa waiver program described in section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) is required to submit biographical information prior to embarkation. (b) Elements.--The electronic system required to be established under subsection (a) shall satisfy the following requirements: (1) Electronic determination of eligibility.--The system shall include a method for an electronic determination to be made, and an electronic response to be provided, in 30 minutes or less, as to whether or not an alien submitting information as described in subsection (a) is eligible to be admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor described in section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(B)). (2) Carrier obligations.--The system shall include a method for requiring-- (A) carriers and other corporations described in section 217(a)(5) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(5)) to inquire electronically, prior to an alien passenger's embarkation without a visa, whether the alien has been determined, using the system described in this section, to be eligible for such an admission; and (B) the electronic response to such inquiry to be provided in 90 seconds or less. (3) Deployment.--The system shall be deployed as soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act. (4) Fee.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a fee to be charged to aliens described in subsection (a) that is set at a level that will ensure the recovery of the full costs of establishing and operating the system. (c) Consultation.--In developing the system, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with, and allow for the system's review by, a private sector group consisting of individuals with expertise in travel, tourism, privacy, national security, or computer security issues. SEC. 3. CHANGE TO REQUIREMENT FOR READERS AND SCANNERS AT PORTS OF ENTRY. Section 303(b)(2)(A) of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (8 U.S.C. 1732(b)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows: ``(A) In general.--Not later than October 26, 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall install at all ports of entry into the United States equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of all United States visas and other travel and entry documents issued to aliens. Not later than October 26, 2005, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall install at all ports of entry into the United States equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of passports issued pursuant to subsection (c)(1).''. SEC. 4. TECHNOLOGY STANDARD IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE. Section 303(c) of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (8 U.S.C. 1732(c)) is amended, in each of paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``2004,'' and inserting ``2005,''. SEC. 5. LIMITED GOOD FAITH WAIVER. Section 303(c) of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (8 U.S.C. 1732(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Limited good faith waiver.-- ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may grant not more than 2 extensions for a country, and its nationals, of the deadlines in paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, upon a determination that the country is making substantial progress towards ensuring that the passports the country issues to its nationals satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1). Each such extension shall be for a period not exceeding 6 months. ``(B) Factors.--In determining whether a country is making substantial progress under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take into account the following factors, which shall be certified by the Secretary of State: ``(i) Whether the country has made a good faith effort to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) not later than October 26, 2005. ``(ii) Whether the country has a program designed to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) not later than October 26, 2006. ``(iii) Whether the country has commenced a pilot program under which some number of passports that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) will be issued before March 26, 2006. ``(4) Reports.-- ``(A) Initial.--Not later than October 26, 2005, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall issue an initial report on the status of countries' progress in meeting the requirements of paragraph (1). ``(B) Final.--Not later than April 25, 2006, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall issue a final report on the status of countries' progress in meeting the requirements of paragraph (1).''. SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act (8 U.S.C. 1732) is amended by striking ``Attorney General'' each place that term appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security''.

Summary: Safe, Efficient, Coordinated, Unified, Revitalized, Enhanced Visa Waiver Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an electronic system that requires aliens seeking entry to the United States under the visa waiver program (VWP) to submit biographical information prior to embarkation. Requires such system to: (1) make electronic determinations of eligibility for admission within 30 minutes; (2) require carriers and other corporations providing transportation to inquire electronically, prior to embarkation, whether the alien has been determined eligible for admission and to respond to such inquiries within 90 seconds; and (3) be deployed as soon as possible. Requires the Secretary: (1) to charge a fee to VWP aliens that ensures the recovery of the full costs of establishing and operating the system; and (2) in developing the system, to consult with and allow for review by a private sector group consisting of experts in travel, tourism, privacy, national security, or computer security issues. Amends the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act to extend by one year: (1) the deadline for installing equipment and software at U.S. ports of entry to allow biometric comparison and authentication of machine-readable passports issued by VWP countries; and (2) the deadline for VWP aliens to present such passports. Authorizes the Secretary to grant up to two extensions of the new deadlines where the VWP country is making substantial progress toward issuing machine-readable, tamper-resistant passports that incorporate biometric and document authentication identifiers.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2014''. SEC. 2. MACROECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSES. (a) In General.--Part A of title IV of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``macroeconomic impact analysis of major legislation ``Sec. 407. (a) Congressional Budget Office.--The Congressional Budget Office shall, to the extent practicable, prepare for each major bill or resolution reported by any committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate (except the Committee on Appropriations of each House), as a supplement to estimates prepared under section 402, a macroeconomic impact analysis of the budgetary effects of such bill or resolution for the ten fiscal-year period beginning with the first fiscal year for which an estimate was prepared under section 402 and each of the next three ten fiscal-year periods. The Director shall submit to such committee the macroeconomic impact analysis, together with the basis for the analysis. As a supplement to estimates prepared under section 402, all such information so submitted shall be included in the report accompanying such bill or resolution. ``(b) Economic Impact.--The analysis prepared under subsection (a) shall describe the potential economic impact of the applicable major bill or resolution on major economic variables, including real gross domestic product, business investment, the capital stock, employment, interest rates, and labor supply. The analysis shall also describe the potential fiscal effects of the bill or resolution, including any estimates of revenue increases or decreases resulting from changes in gross domestic product. To the extent practicable, the analysis should use a variety of economic models in order to reflect the full range of possible economic outcomes resulting from the bill or resolution. The analysis (or a technical appendix to the analysis) shall specify the economic and econometric models used, sources of data, relevant data transformations, and shall include such explanation as is necessary to make the models comprehensible to academic and public policy analysts. ``(c) Reporting on Accuracy of Macroeconomic Impact Analyses.--Upon completion of the fifth fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of any major bill or joint resolution for which the Congressional Budget Office prepared an analysis under subsection (a), the Congressional Budget Office shall report on the accuracy of the original macroeconomic impact analysis of such enacted bill or joint resolution and submit these reports to the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate. ``(d) Definitions.--As used in this section-- ``(1) the term `macroeconomic impact analysis' means-- ``(A) an estimate of the changes in economic output, employment, interest rates, capital stock, and tax revenues expected to result from enactment of the proposal; ``(B) an estimate of revenue feedback expected to result from enactment of the proposal; and ``(C) a statement identifying the critical assumptions and the source of data underlying that estimate; ``(2) the term `major bill or resolution' means any bill or resolution if the gross budgetary effects of such bill or resolution for any fiscal year in the period for which an estimate is prepared under section 402 is estimated to be greater than .25 percent of the current projected gross domestic product of the United States for any such fiscal year; ``(3) the term `budgetary effect', when applied to a major bill or resolution, means the changes in revenues, outlays, deficits, and debt resulting from that measure; and ``(4) the term `revenue feedback' means changes in revenue resulting from changes in economic growth as the result of the enactment of any major bill or resolution. ``(e) Legislation With Revenue Provisions.--The macroeconomic analysis described in subsection (c) shall rely on macroeconomic analysis prepared by the Joint Committee on Taxation for any provisions of such legislation that are described in section 201(f). For legislation consisting solely of provisions described in section 201(f), the macroeconomic analysis described in subsection (c) shall be prepared by the Joint Committee on Taxation.''. (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 inserting after the item relating to section 406 the following new item: ``Sec. 407. Macroeconomic impact analysis of major legislation.''. Passed the House of Representatives April 4, 2014. Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, Clerk.

Summary: Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2014 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to prepare for each major bill or resolution reported by any congressional committee (except the congressional appropriations committees), as a supplement to CBO cost estimates, a macroeconomic impact analysis of the budgetary effects of such legislation for the 10-fiscal year period beginning with the first fiscal year for which such estimate was prepared and each of the next three 10-fiscal year periods. Defines "major bill or resolution" as any bill or resolution whose budgetary effects, for any fiscal year in the period for which a CBO cost estimate is prepared, is estimated to be greater than .25% of the current projected U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) for that fiscal year. Requires the analysis to describe: (1) the potential economic impact of the bill or resolution on major economic variables, including real GDP, business investment, the capital stock, employment, interest rates, and labor supply; and (2) the potential fiscal effects of the measure, including any estimates of revenue increases or decreases resulting from changes in GDP. Requires the analysis (or a technical appendix to it) to specify the economic and econometric models used, sources of data, relevant data transformations, as well as any explanation necessary to make the models comprehensible to academic and public policy analysts. Requires the CBO, five fiscal years after the enactment of any major bill or joint resolution for which it prepared a macroeconomic impact analysis, to report to the congressional budget committees on the accuracy of the original analysis.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Made in America Act of 2016''. SEC. 2. AMERICA STAR LABELS. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to establish labels that a person may use as a voluntary means of indicating to consumers the extent to which products that such person introduces, delivers for introduction, sells, advertises, or offers for sale in commerce are of United States origin. Such labels shall be known as America Star labels. (b) Requirements for Labels.-- (1) In general.--The regulations required by subsection (a) shall establish 4 America Star labels, as follows: (A) A label that may be used for a product that satisfies the standard for an unqualified United States origin claim set forth by the Commission in the Enforcement Policy Statement. (B) A label that may be used for a product for which not less than 90 percent of the total cost of manufacturing the product is attributable to United States costs, as determined under the Enforcement Policy Statement. (C) A label that may be used for a product for which not less than 80 percent of the total cost of manufacturing the product is attributable to United States costs, as determined under the Enforcement Policy Statement. (D) A label that may be used for a product for which not less than 70 percent of the total cost of manufacturing the product is attributable to United States costs, as determined under the Enforcement Policy Statement. (2) Goals.--The America Star labels shall be designed to achieve the following goals: (A) Providing clarity for consumers about the extent to which products are manufactured in the United States. (B) Encouraging manufacturers to manufacture more products in the United States. (C) Highlighting the importance of domestic manufacturing for the economy of the United States. (3) Appearance and content; additional standards and requirements.--The regulations required by subsection (a) shall establish the visual appearance and content of the America Star labels, any standards (in addition to the standards described in paragraph (1)) that a product shall meet in order for a particular America Star label to be used for such product, and requirements for the permissible use of the America Star labels, as the Commission considers appropriate to achieve the goals described in paragraph (2) and to ensure that the labels-- (A) are consistent with public perceptions of the meaning of descriptions of the extent to which a product is of United States origin; and (B) are not used in a way that is unfair or deceptive, including, for a product that does not meet the standards for an America Star label, placing such label on such product, using such label in any marketing materials for such product, or in any other way representing that such product meets the standards of such label. (c) Use of Labels Voluntary.--The Commission may not require a person who makes a qualified or unqualified claim that a product is of United States origin to use an America Star label to make such claim. (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect the standards of the Commission in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act for a qualified or unqualified claim that a product is of United States origin. (e) Consultation.--In promulgating the regulations required by subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with-- (1) the Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection in order to ensure consistency with the country of origin labeling requirements under section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1304); and (2) the United States Trade Representative in order to ensure consistency with the obligations of the United States under international trade agreements. (f) Enforcement.-- (1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of a regulation promulgated under this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices. (2) Powers of commission.--The Commission shall enforce the regulations promulgated under this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act. Any person who violates a regulation promulgated under this section shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act. SEC. 3. PREEMPTION OF CERTAIN STATE REQUIREMENTS. (a) Requirements More Stringent Than FTC Standards.--Section 320933 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (15 U.S.C. 45a) and any regulation promulgated by the Commission under such section shall supercede any provision of law of a State or a political subdivision of a State that imposes more stringent requirements relating to the extent to which any person may introduce, deliver for introduction, sell, advertise, or offer for sale in commerce a product with a ``Made in the U.S.A.'' or ``Made in America'' label, or the equivalent thereof, in order to represent that such product is in whole or substantial part of domestic origin. (b) Requirements Limiting Ability To Use America Star Labels.--The regulations promulgated under section 2 shall supercede any provision of law of a State or a political subdivision of a State relating to the extent to which any person introduces, delivers for introduction, sells, advertises, or offers for sale in commerce a product with a ``Made in the U.S.A.'' or ``Made in America'' label, or the equivalent thereof, in order to represent that such product is in whole or substantial part of domestic origin, to the extent that such provision would have the effect of limiting the ability of a person to use an America Star label with respect to a product in accordance with such regulations. SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Trade Commission. (2) Enforcement policy statement.--The term ``Enforcement Policy Statement'' means the Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims issued by the Commission in December 1998, or any successor guidance or regulation. (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe.

Summary: Made in America Act of 2016 This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish labels that persons or businesses may use voluntarily to indicate to consumers the extent to which products introduced, delivered for introduction, sold, advertised, or offered for sale in commerce are of U.S. origin. The FTC must establish four categories of such labels, to be known as America Star labels, which may be used to designate products: (1) that satisfy the standard for an unqualified U.S. origin claim set forth by the FTC in the Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims; or (2) for which not less than 90%, 80%, or 70% of the total cost of manufacturing is attributable to U.S. costs. The FTC must promulgate regulations for such labels and enforce such regulations under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill also preempts certain state law requirements relating to the use of "Made in the U.S.A." or "Made in America" labels. The preemption provisions provide for: (1) the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to supersede state laws that impose more stringent requirements, and (2) FTC regulations under this bill to supersede state laws.