SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Regional Energy Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act'' or the ``PREPARE Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) energy systems in the United States are in a period of significant change; (2) aging infrastructure, new technologies, increasing complexity, and growing threats are posing new challenges to energy systems and their resilience; (3) the interconnected nature of energy systems means regional energy strategies and plans will be more effective at preparing for challenges and mitigating risks; (4) States have distinct needs and unique energy, environmental, and economic goals and will play a critical role in developing and implementing regional energy strategies and plans; (5) the views and participation of a broad range of stakeholders in the development and implementation of regional energy strategies and plans is needed for success; and (6) the Federal Government, in the role of a long-term strategic energy partner, can effectively-- (A) establish strategic alliances with States; (B) convene stakeholders; (C) facilitate the process of developing regional energy strategies and plans; and (D) provide technical assistance and support in implementation. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Cooperative agreement.--The term ``cooperative agreement'' has the meaning given the term in sections 6302 and 6305 of title 31, United States Code. (2) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means-- (A) the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy, and the Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology Programs; and (B) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. (3) State.--The term ``State'' means-- (A) a State; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (D) any other territory or possession of the United States. SEC. 4. REGIONAL ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS. (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall provide assistance in accordance with this section for the purpose of developing energy strategies and plans that help harmonize and promote national, regional, and State energy goals, including goals for advancing resilient energy systems to mitigate risks and prepare for emerging energy challenges. (b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretaries may provide such technical assistance to States, political subdivisions of States, substate regional organizations (including organizations that cross State boundaries), multistate regional organizations, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations as the Secretaries determine appropriate to promote-- (1) the development and improvement of regional energy strategies and plans that sustain and promote energy system modernization across the United States; (2) investment in energy infrastructure, technological capacity, innovation, and workforce development to keep pace with the changing energy ecosystem; (3) structural transformation of the financial, regulatory, legal, and institutional systems that govern energy planning, production, and delivery within States and regions; and (4) public-private partnerships for the implementation of regional energy strategies and plans. (c) Cooperative Agreements.-- (1) In general.--The Secretaries may enter into cooperative agreements with 1 or more States and Indian tribes, on a regional basis, to develop and implement strategies and plans to address the energy challenges of States, Indian tribes, and regions. (2) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection shall include provisions covering or providing-- (A) the purpose and goals of the cooperative agreement, such as advancing energy efficiency, clean energy, fuel and supply diversity, energy system resiliency, economic development, or other goals to make measurable, significant progress toward specified metrics and objectives that are agreed to by the States or Indian tribes and the Secretaries; (B) the roles and responsibilities of the States or Indian tribes and the Secretaries for various functions of the cooperative agreement, including outreach, communication, resources, and capabilities; (C) a comprehensive framework for the development of energy strategies and plans for States, Indian tribes, or regions; (D) timeframes with associated metrics and objectives; (E) a governance structure to resolve conflicts and facilitate decisionmaking consistent with underlying authorities; and (F) other provisions determined necessary by the Secretaries, in consultation with the States or Indian tribes, to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (1). (d) Staff.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the entering into a cooperative agreement under subsection (c), the Secretaries shall, as appropriate, assign or employ individuals who have expertise in the technical and regulatory issues relating to the cooperative agreement, including particular expertise in (as applicable)-- (A) energy systems integration; (B) renewable energy and energy efficiency; (C) innovative financing mechanisms; (D) utility regulatory policy; (E) modeling and analysis; (F) facilitation and arbitration; (G) energy assurance and emergency preparedness; and (H) cyber and physical security of energy systems. (2) Duties.--Each individual assigned to carry out a cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) shall-- (A) report to a location in the applicable State, Indian tribe, or region not later than 90 days after the date of assignment; (B) be responsible for issues and technical assistance relating to the cooperative agreement; (C) participate as part of the team of personnel working on developing and implementing the applicable regional energy strategy and plan; and (D) build capacity within the State, Indian tribe, or region to continue to implement the goals of this Act after the expiration of the cooperative agreement. (e) Comprehensive Framework.--Under a cooperative agreement, a comprehensive framework shall be developed that identifies opportunities and actions across various energy sectors and cross- cutting issue areas, including-- (1) end-use efficiency; (2) energy supply, including electric generation and fuels; (3) energy delivery; (4) transportation; (5) technical integration, including standards and interdependencies; (6) institutional structures; (7) regulatory policies; (8) financial incentives; and (9) market mechanisms. (f) Awards.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Application group.--The term ``application group'' means a group of States or Indian tribes that have-- (i) entered into a cooperative agreement, on a regional basis, with the Secretaries under subsection (c); and (ii) submitted an application for an award under paragraph (2)(A). (B) Partner state.--The term ``partner State'' means a State or Indian tribe that is part of an application group. (2) Applications.-- (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an application group may apply to the Secretaries for awards under this subsection. (B) Individual states.--An individual State or Indian tribe that has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretaries under subsection (c) may apply to the Secretaries for an award under this subsection if the State or Indian tribe demonstrates to the Secretaries the uniqueness of the energy challenges facing the State or Indian tribe. (3) Base amount.--Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretaries shall provide 6 awards under this subsection, with a base amount of $20,000,000 for each award. (4) Bonus amount for application groups.-- (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretaries shall increase the amount of an award provided under this subsection to an application group for a successful application under paragraph (2)(A) by the quotient obtained by dividing-- (i) the product obtained by multiplying-- (I) the number of partner States in the application group; and (II) $100,000,000; by (ii) the total number of partner States of all successful applications under this subsection. (B) Maximum amount.--The amount of a bonus determined under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed an amount that represents $5,000,000 for each partner State that is a member of the relevant application group. (5) Limitation.--A State or Indian tribe shall not be part of more than 1 award under this subsection. (6) Selection criteria.--In selecting applications for awards under this subsection, the Secretaries shall consider-- (A) existing commitments from States or Indian tribes, such as memoranda of understanding; (B) for States that are part of the contiguous 48 States, the number of contiguous States involved that cover a region; (C) the diversity of the regions represented by all applications; (D) the amount of cost-share or in-kind contributions from States or Indian tribes; (E) the scope and focus of regional and State programs and strategies, with an emphasis on energy system resiliency and grid modernization, efficiency, and clean energy; (F) a management and oversight plan to ensure that objectives are met; (G) an outreach plan for the inclusion of stakeholders in the process for developing and implementing State or regional energy strategies and plans; (H) the inclusion of tribal entities; (I) plans to fund and sustain activities identified in regional energy strategies and plans; and (J) the clarity of roles and responsibilities of each State and the Secretaries. (7) Use of awards.-- (A) In general.--Awards provided under this subsection shall be used to achieve the purpose of this section, including by-- (i) conducting technical analyses, resource studies, and energy system baselines; (ii) convening and providing education to stakeholders on emerging energy issues; (iii) building decision support and planning tools; and (iv) improving communication between and participation of stakeholders. (B) Limitation.--Awards provided under this subsection shall not be used for-- (i) capitalization of green banks or loan guarantees; or (ii) building facilities or funding capital projects. SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $250,000,000, to remain available until expended. (b) Allocation.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a)-- (1) $120,000,000 shall be used for the base amount of awards under section 4(f)(3); (2) $100,000,000 shall be used for the bonus amount of awards under section 4(f)(4); and (3) $30,000,000 shall be for the administration of this Act, including-- (A) the assignment of staff under section 4(d); and (B) if the Secretaries determine appropriate, the sharing of best practices from regional partnerships by parties to cooperative agreements entered into under this Act. (c) State Energy Offices.--Funds provided to a State under this Act shall be provided to the office within the State that is responsible for developing the State energy plan for the State under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.). (d) Maintenance of Funding.--The funding provided to States under this Act shall supplement (and not supplant) funding provided under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.).

Summary: Promoting Regional Energy Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act or the PREPARE Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of the Interior (acting through specified Assistant Secretaries) to provide technical assistance to governmental entities, Indian tribes, and regional and nonprofit organizations to develop energy strategies that harmonize and promote national, regional, and state energy goals. Sets forth an awards program addressing the uniqueness of the energy challenges facing states and Indian tribes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Community Hazard Assessment and Mitigation Program Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) The earthquake and resulting tsunami of December 26, 2004, resulted in the deaths of over 230,000 people in Southeast Asia. (2) The geological fault line along which the December 26th tsunami occurred is mirrored by a fault line that runs along the whole of the west coast of the United States. (3) Scientists predict that there is a 10 to 15 percent chance of a major seismic event along this fault line, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, occurring in the next 50 years. (4) Such an event would probably include both a large-scale earthquake and a tsunami, causing incredible damage to both infrastructure and emergency response services. (5) Numerous false alarms in the past year have demonstrated that many coastal communities are not prepared if such a geological event takes place. SEC. 3. PURPOSE AND GOALS. (a) Purpose.--The purpose of the Community Hazard Assessment and Mitigation Program (CHAMP) is to award one-year grants directly to emergency management departments to build and maintain infrastructure to warn people of an approaching tsunami and to address post-tsunami needs. (b) Goals.--The primary goal of this Act is to provide assistance to meet the needs of emergency management departments regarding tsunami hazard preparedness, mitigation, and response. In part, the program seeks to support departments that lack the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to a tsunami and its aftermath. In addition, any improvement in warning systems for the coastal communities will improve all hazard capabilities. SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Grant Authorization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration, may provide grants in accordance with this Act to certain areas to prepare for a tsunami. (b) Priority.--The Director shall give priority to areas in which the likelihood of a tsunami striking in the next 50 years is 10 percent or greater. (c) Competitive Awards.--In addition to the priority given pursuant to subsection (b), the Director shall award a grant under this Act to emergency management departments on a competitive basis considering financial need, benefit to the community and a demonstrated ability to cooperate with other providers of emergency services. SEC. 5. USE OF FUNDS. An emergency management department that receives a grant under this Act may use grant funds-- (1) to establish or improve warning systems, including the purchase of-- (A) sirens; (B) individual weather radios; (C) public safety agency communications gear; and (D) reverse 911 systems; (2) to purchase public safety agency rescue equipment; (3) to reinforce buildings and facilities in maintaining continuity of critical services, including-- (A) police stations; (B) fire stations; (C) emergency management facilities; (D) hospitals; (E) shelters; and (F) endangered sewer sanitation systems; (4) post-tsunami shelters and supplies; and (5) to develop outreach programs to educate both residents and tourists of different types of tsunami (near shore and far field) and how to react to each type. SEC. 6. MATCHING FUNDS. (a) Population of More Than 50,000.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an emergency management department serving an area with a population over 50,000 shall provide, with non-Federal funds, 20 percent of the total cost of a project established with a grant provided under this Act. (b) Population Between 20,001 and 50,000.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an emergency management department serving an area with a population between 20,001 and 50,000 shall provide, with non-Federal funds, 10 percent of the total cost of a project established with a grant provided under this Act. (c) Population Under 20,000.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an emergency management department serving an area with a population under 20,000 shall provide, with non-Federal funds, 5 percent of the total cost of a project established with a grant provided under this Act. (d) In-Kind Contributions.--In determining the non-Federal share of the total costs of a project, the Secretary shall consider in-kind contributions of an emergency management department, not to exceed 50 percent of the amount that the department contributes in non-Federal funds. SEC. 7. EVALUATION AND REPORT. (a) Evaluation.--Not later than 180 days after grants are awarded under this Act, the Director shall determine if emergency management departments that received a grant under this section meet the standards for certification by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as being tsunami ready and evaluate the effectiveness and tsunami readiness of programs established pursuant to this Act. (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the evaluation is completed under subsection (a), the Director shall report such findings to the appropriate Committees of Congress. SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. (a) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration. (b) Emergency Management Department.--The term ``emergency management department'' means an agency or organization that is part of, or has a formally recognized arrangement with, a State, territory, local, or tribal authority (city, county, parish, fire district, township, town, or other governing body) and is responsible for planning, preparing, and providing for the prevention, mitigation, and management of emergencies or disasters that present a threat to the lives and property of the citizens and visitors of the community. (c) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico. SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the activities of this Community hazard Assessment and Mitigation Program. (b) Reservation.--From the amount made available to carry out this Act, the Director may reserve 5 percent for administrative costs. (c) Availability.--Such funds shall remain available until expended.

Summary: Community Hazard Assessment and Mitigation Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), to provide grants to certain areas to prepare for a tsunami. Requires the Director to: (1) give priority to areas in which the likelihood of a tsunami striking in the next 50 years is 10% or greater; and (2) award grants to state, territory, local, or tribal emergency management departments on a competitive basis considering financial need, benefit to the community, and a demonstrated ability to cooperate with other emergency services providers. Authorizes the use of grant funds to: (1) establish or improve warning systems; (2) purchase public safety agency rescue equipment; (3) reinforce buildings and facilities in maintaining continuity of critical services; (4) provide post-tsunami shelters and supplies; and (5) develop outreach programs to educate residents and tourists about different types of tsunamis and how to react to each type. Sets forth matching fund requirements, based on population. Requires the Director to: (1) determine if grant recipients meet National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) certification standards; and (2) evaluate the effectiveness and tsunami readiness of programs established pursuant to his Act.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act''. SEC. 2. DEFERRAL OF ACTIVE INCOME OF CONTROLLED FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. Section 952 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(d) Special Application of Subpart.-- ``(1) In general.--For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, notwithstanding any other provision of this subpart, the term `subpart F income' means, in the case of any controlled foreign corporation, the income of such corporation derived from any foreign country. ``(2) Applicable rules.--Rules similar to the rules under the last sentence of subsection (a) and subsection (d) shall apply to this subsection.''. SEC. 3. MODIFICATIONS OF FOREIGN TAX CREDIT RULES APPLICABLE TO LARGE INTEGRATED OIL COMPANIES WHICH ARE DUAL CAPACITY TAXPAYERS. (a) In General.--Section 901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o) and by inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection: ``(n) Special Rules Relating to Large Integrated Oil Companies Which Are Dual Capacity Taxpayers.-- ``(1) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any amount paid or accrued by a dual capacity taxpayer which is a large integrated oil company to a foreign country or possession of the United States for any period shall not be considered a tax-- ``(A) if, for such period, the foreign country or possession does not impose a generally applicable income tax, or ``(B) to the extent such amount exceeds the amount (determined in accordance with regulations) which-- ``(i) is paid by such dual capacity taxpayer pursuant to the generally applicable income tax imposed by the country or possession, or ``(ii) would be paid if the generally applicable income tax imposed by the country or possession were applicable to such dual capacity taxpayer. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to imply the proper treatment of any such amount not in excess of the amount determined under subparagraph (B). ``(2) Dual capacity taxpayer.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `dual capacity taxpayer' means, with respect to any foreign country or possession of the United States, a person who-- ``(A) is subject to a levy of such country or possession, and ``(B) receives (or will receive) directly or indirectly a specific economic benefit (as determined in accordance with regulations) from such country or possession. ``(3) Generally applicable income tax.--For purposes of this subsection-- ``(A) In general.--The term `generally applicable income tax' means an income tax (or a series of income taxes) which is generally imposed under the laws of a foreign country or possession on income derived from the conduct of a trade or business within such country or possession. ``(B) Exceptions.--Such term shall not include a tax unless it has substantial application, by its terms and in practice, to-- ``(i) persons who are not dual capacity taxpayers, and ``(ii) persons who are citizens or residents of the foreign country or possession. ``(4) Large integrated oil company.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `large integrated oil company' means, with respect to any taxable year, an integrated oil company (as defined in section 291(b)(4)) which-- ``(A) had gross receipts in excess of $1,000,000,000 for such taxable year, and ``(B) has an average daily worldwide production of crude oil of at least 500,000 barrels for such taxable year.''. (b) Effective Date.-- (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxes paid or accrued in taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Contrary treaty obligations upheld.--The amendments made by this section shall not apply to the extent contrary to any treaty obligation of the United States. SEC. 4. REINSTITUTION OF PER COUNTRY FOREIGN TAX CREDIT. (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 904 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: ``(a) Limitation.--The amount of the credit in respect of the tax paid or accrued to any foreign country or possession of the United States shall not exceed the same proportion of the tax against which such credit is taken which the taxpayer's taxable income from sources within such country or possession (but not in excess of the taxpayer's entire taxable income) bears to such taxpayer's entire taxable income for the same taxable year.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013. SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS MANAGED AND CONTROLLED IN THE UNITED STATES AS DOMESTIC CORPORATIONS. (a) In General.--Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (p) as subsection (q) and by inserting after subsection (o) the following new subsection: ``(p) Certain Corporations Managed and Controlled in the United States Treated as Domestic for Income Tax.-- ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a)(4), in the case of a corporation described in paragraph (2) if-- ``(A) the corporation would not otherwise be treated as a domestic corporation for purposes of this title, but ``(B) the management and control of the corporation occurs, directly or indirectly, primarily within the United States, then, solely for purposes of chapter 1 (and any other provision of this title relating to chapter 1), the corporation shall be treated as a domestic corporation. ``(2) Corporation described.-- ``(A) In general.--A corporation is described in this paragraph if-- ``(i) the stock of such corporation is regularly traded on an established securities market, or ``(ii) the aggregate gross assets of such corporation (or any predecessor thereof), including assets under management for investors, whether held directly or indirectly, at any time during the taxable year or any preceding taxable year is $50,000,000 or more. ``(B) General exception.--A corporation shall not be treated as described in this paragraph if-- ``(i) such corporation was treated as a corporation described in this paragraph in a preceding taxable year, ``(ii) such corporation-- ``(I) is not regularly traded on an established securities market, and ``(II) has, and is reasonably expected to continue to have, aggregate gross assets (including assets under management for investors, whether held directly or indirectly) of less than $50,000,000, and ``(iii) the Secretary grants a waiver to such corporation under this subparagraph. ``(C) Exception from gross assets test.-- Subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not apply to a corporation which is a controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957) and which is a member of an affiliated group (as defined section 1504, but determined without regard to section 1504(b)(3)) the common parent of which-- ``(i) is a domestic corporation (determined without regard to this subsection), and ``(ii) has substantial assets (other than cash and cash equivalents and other than stock of foreign subsidiaries) held for use in the active conduct of a trade or business in the United States. ``(3) Management and control.-- ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for purposes of determining cases in which the management and control of a corporation is to be treated as occurring primarily within the United States. ``(B) Executive officers and senior management.-- Such regulations shall provide that-- ``(i) the management and control of a corporation shall be treated as occurring primarily within the United States if substantially all of the executive officers and senior management of the corporation who exercise day-to-day responsibility for making decisions involving strategic, financial, and operational policies of the corporation are located primarily within the United States, and ``(ii) individuals who are not executive officers and senior management of the corporation (including individuals who are officers or employees of other corporations in the same chain of corporations as the corporation) shall be treated as executive officers and senior management if such individuals exercise the day-to-day responsibilities of the corporation described in clause (i). ``(C) Corporations primarily holding investment assets.--Such regulations shall also provide that the management and control of a corporation shall be treated as occurring primarily within the United States if-- ``(i) the assets of such corporation (directly or indirectly) consist primarily of as sets being managed on behalf of investors, and ``(ii) decisions about how to invest the assets are made in the United States.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after the date which is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of the foreign-source income of domestic corporations, to: (1) eliminate the deferral of tax on the foreign-source income of U.S. corporations for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, (2) deny the foreign tax credit to large integrated oil companies that are dual capacity taxpayers, (3) limit the offset of the foreign tax credit to income that is subject to U.S. tax, and (4) treat foreign corporations managed and controlled in the United States as domestic corporations for U.S. tax purposes.


[Congressional Bills 111th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 681 Introduced in House (IH)] 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 681 To amend the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 and the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a new digital television transition date, to improve the digital-to-analog converter box program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 26, 2009 Mr. Waxman (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Butterfield, Mrs. Capps, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Doyle, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Hill, Mr. Markey of Massachusetts, Mr. Rush, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Grayson, Mr. Rangel, and Mr. Pierluisi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 and the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a new digital television transition date, to improve the digital-to-analog converter box program, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Digital Television Transition Extension Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF DTV TRANSITION DEADLINE. (a) Amendments to Communications Act of 1934.-- (1) Section 309.--Section 309(j)(14)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(14)(A)) is amended by striking ``February 17, 2009'' and inserting ``June 12, 2009''. (2) Section 337.--Section 337(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 337(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``February 17, 2009'' and inserting ``June 12, 2009''. (b) Amendments to Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005.-- (1) Section 3002.--Section 3002(b) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 is amended by striking ``February 18'' each place it appears and inserting ``June 13''. (2) Section 3005.--Section 3005(c)(1) of such Act is amended by striking ``March 31, 2009'' and inserting ``July 31, 2009''. (3) Section 3008.--Section 3008(a)(1) of such Act is amended by striking ``February 17, 2009'' and inserting ``June 12, 2009''. (c) License Terms.-- (1) Extension.--The Federal Communications Commission shall extend the terms of the licenses for the recovered spectrum, including the license period and construction requirements associated with those licenses, for a 116-day period. (2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term ``recovered spectrum'' means-- (A) the recovered analog spectrum, as such term is defined in section 309(j)(15)(C)(vi) of the Communications Act of 1934; and (B) the spectrum excluded from the definition of recovered analog spectrum by subclauses (I) and (II) of such section. SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER BOX PROGRAM. (a) Treatment of Expired Coupons.-- (1) In general.--Section 3005(c)(1) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) Expired coupons.--The Assistant Secretary shall issue to a household, upon request by the household, one replacement coupon for each coupon that was issued to such household and that expired without being redeemed.''. (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3005(c)(1)(A) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 is amended by striking ``receives'' and inserting ``redeems''. (b) Expediting Delivery.-- (1) First class mail.--Within 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce shall expedite the distribution of coupons issued under section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 by directing that, if coupons are delivered via the United States Postal Service, such coupons shall be delivered via pre-sorted first class mail service. (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3005(c)(1)(A) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 is further amended by striking ``, via the United States Postal Service,''. (c) Condition of Modifications.--The amendments made by this section shall not take effect until the enactment of new budget authority to carry out the analog-to-digital converter box program under section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION. (a) Permissive Early Termination Under Existing Requirements.-- Nothing in this Act is intended to prevent a licensee of a television broadcast station from terminating the broadcasting of such station's analog television signal (and continuing to broadcast exclusively in the digital television service) prior to the date established by law under section 3002(b) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 for termination of all licenses for full-power television stations in the analog television service (as amended by section 2 of this Act) so long as such prior termination is conducted in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission's requirements in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, including the flexible procedures established in the Matter of Third Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television (FCC 07-228, MB Docket No. 07-91, released December 31, 2007). (b) Public Safety Radio Services.-- (1) Use on cleared spectrum.--Notwithstanding the amendments made by section 2, if-- (A) a television broadcast station ceases the broadcasting of such station's analog television service under subsection (a) of this section prior to June 12, 2009, and (B) as a consequence of such cessation, spectrum between frequencies 768 and 776 megahertz, inclusive, and 798 and 806 megahertz, inclusive, becomes available for non-television broadcast use prior to June 12, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission shall permit the use of such spectrum for authorized public safety radio services if the Commission determines that such use is in the public interest and does not cause harmful interference to full-power television stations in the analog or digital television service. (2) Expedited procedures.--The Federal Communications Commission is authorized to use expedited procedures, and to waive such rules as may be necessary, to make a determination on an application made under paragraph (1) to begin such use of such spectrum by a public safety agency (as such term is defined in section 3006(d)(1) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005) in not less than 2 weeks after the date of submission of such application. (c) Expedited Rulemaking.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each adopt or revise its rules, regulations, or orders or take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions, and carry out the purposes, of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF COMMISSION AUCTION AUTHORITY. Section 309(j)(11) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(11)) is amended by striking ``2011'' and inserting ``2012''. SEC. 6. REPORTS. (a) Monthly Reporting Requirement.--Beginning one month after enactment of this Act and ending on October 31, 2009, the Assistant Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a monthly report detailing-- (1) the number of unredeemed and unexpired coupons still held by consumers; (2) the number of replacement coupons the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has issued for expired coupons pursuant to section 3005(c)(1) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, as amended by section 3(a) of this Act, during the 30 days prior to the monthly reporting date required by this subsection; (3) the approximate number of analog-to-digital converter boxes available for purchase by consumers; (4) the number of new and replacement coupons issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration via postal mail and other delivery methods, including electronic mail; and (5) the remaining amount of funds available to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to carry out section 3005 of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, as amended by this Act and any other Act. (b) Report About Rural Areas.-- (1) In general.--Not later than December 30, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report about the effect of the digital television transition on consumers in rural areas in the United States. (2) Specific requirements.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall include information on the following: (A) Whether rural areas experienced disproportionately more service disruptions than urban and suburban areas. (B) Whether gaps in over-the-air broadcast coverage exist for rural consumers due to the shorter range for digital signals, as compared to analog signals. (C) Recommendations for rectifying significant problems that have arisen in rural areas in the United States as a result of the digital television transition.

Summary: Digital Television Transition Extension Act of 2009 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 and the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to extend for approximately four months the deadlines related to the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend for 116 days the terms of the licenses for recovered spectrum. Requires, on request, the reissue of any household digital-to-analog converter box coupons that expired without being redeemed. Requires expediting the delivery of household digital-to-analog converter box coupons by sending them via presorted first class mail. Allows a station to terminate analog broadcasting (and to continue broadcasting exclusively in digital signals) before the date established by law for termination of all full power analog station licenses. Requires the FCC to permit public safety entities to use spectrum thus relinquished if the FCC determines that such use does not cause harmful interference to full-power television stations in the analog or digital service. Extends until September 30, 2012 (currently, September 30, 2011) the FCC's spectrum auction authority.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act of 2005''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) Veterinary medicine is an integral and indispensable component of the Nation's public health system. Veterinarians protect human health by preventing and controlling infectious diseases, ensuring the safety and security of the nation's food supply, promoting healthy environments, and providing health care for animals. (2) Veterinarians are essential for early detection and response to unusual disease events that could be linked to newly emerging infectious diseases, such as monkeypox, SARS, and West Nile Virus, or other biothreat agents of concern. (3) There is a need to build national capacity in research and training in the prevention, surveillance, diagnosis, and control of newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. (4) Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to address these high priority public health issues because of their extensive professional training in basic biomedical sciences, population medicine, and broad, multi-species, comparative medical approach to disease prevention and control. (5) There is a shortage of veterinarians working in public health practice. As used in the preceding sentence, the term ``public health practice'' includes bioterrorism and emergency preparedness, environmental health, food safety and food security, regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, and biomedical research. (6) The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects there to be 28,000 job openings in the veterinary medical profession by 2012 due to growth and net replacements, a turnover of nearly 38 percent. (7) The Nation's veterinary medical colleges do not have the capacity to satisfy the current and future demand for veterinarians and veterinary expertise that is vital to maintain public health preparedness. SEC. 3. COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM. Part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Subpart 3--Veterinary Medicine ``SEC. 771. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of improving public health preparedness through increasing the number of veterinarians in the workforce. ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall-- ``(1) be-- ``(A) a public or other nonprofit school of veterinary medicine, department of comparative medicine, department of veterinary science, school of public health, or school of medicine that offers postgraduate training for veterinarians in a public health practice area as determined by the Secretary; and ``(B) accredited by a recognized body or bodies approved for such purpose by the Department of Education; and ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. ``(c) Consideration of Applications.--The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that applications under subsection (b)(2) are rigorously reviewed and that grants are competitively awarded based on-- ``(1) the ability of the applicant to increase the number of veterinarians who are trained in specified public practice areas as determined by the Secretary; ``(2) the ability of the applicant to increase capacity in research on high priority disease agents; or ``(3) any other consideration the Secretary determines necessary. ``(d) Preference.--In awarding grants under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall give preference to applicants that demonstrate a comprehensive approach by involving more than one school of veterinary medicine, department of comparative medicine, department of veterinary science, school of public health, or school of medicine that offers postgraduate training for veterinarians in a public health practice area as determined by the Secretary. ``(e) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a grant under this subsection shall be used by a grantee to increase the number of veterinarians in the workforce through-- ``(1) paying the costs associated with construction, the acquisition of equipment, and other capital costs relating to the expansion of existing schools of veterinary medicine, departments of comparative medicine, or departments of veterinary science; or ``(2) paying the capital costs associated with the expansion of academic programs that offer postgraduate training for veterinarians or concurrent training for veterinary students in specific areas of specialization. ``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `public health practice' includes bioterrorism and emergency preparedness, environmental health, food safety and food security, regulatory medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, and biomedical research. ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.-- ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $1,264,000,000 for the 9-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year 2007. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended. ``(2) Requirement.--Not more than 25 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) in each fiscal year shall be made available to schools of veterinary medicine that were established after the date of enactment of this section.''.

Summary: Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to improve public health preparedness through increasing the number of veterinarians in the workforce. Defines "eligible entities" as accredited public or nonprofit schools of veterinary medicine, departments of comparative medicine, departments of veterinary science, schools of public health, or schools of medicine that offer training for veterinarians in a public health practice area. Requires the Secretary to give preference to applicants that demonstrate a comprehensive approach by involving more than one eligible entity. Allows grantees to use funds to: (1) pay the costs associated with construction, the acquisition of equipment, and other capital costs relating to the expansion of existing schools or departments; and (2) pay the capital costs associated with the expansion of academic programs that offer postgraduate training for veterinarians or concurrent training for veterinary students in specific areas of specialization


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Cooperative Agricultural Programs Extended Retirement Credit Act of 1993''. SEC. 2. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to make creditable, for purposes of the Civil Service Retirement System, periods of service in certain qualified Federal-State cooperative programs which had agricultural or related purposes; and (2) to expedite the retirement of certain Federal Government employees by providing them improved retirement opportunities at typical retirement ages, thereby mitigating potentially adverse effects of deficit-control measures on the welfare of those and other employees of the Department of Agriculture. SEC. 3. CREDITABILITY OF PRIOR SERVICE. (a) In General.--Subject to section 8334(c) of title 5, United States Code, upon application to the Office of Personnel Management within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, any individual who is an employee (as defined by section 8331(1) or 8401(11) of such title) on such date shall be allowed credit under subchapter III of chapter 83 of such title for any service if such service was performed by such individual-- (1) before January 1, 1984; and (2) as an employee of a State, or an instrumentality of a State, in which capacity such individual performed duties relating to the carrying out of a program described in subsection (b). (b) Description of Programs.--The programs referred to in subsection (a) are-- (1) the Federal-State cooperative program of agricultural research of the State agricultural experiment stations as defined in section 1 of the Act entitled ``An Act to consolidate the Hatch Act of 1887 and laws supplementary thereto relating to the appropriation of Federal funds for support of agricultural experiment stations in the States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico'', approved August 11, 1955 (69 Stat. 671); (2) the Federal-State cooperative program of forestry research at eligible institutions of the State as defined in section 2 of the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to encourage and assist the several States in carrying on a program of forestry research, and for other purposes'', approved October 10, 1962 (76 Stat. 806), and popularly referred to as the ``McIntire-Stennis Act''; (3) the Federal-State cooperative program of agricultural research for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1967 and later fiscal years at the 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee Institute, as defined in subsection 1445(a) of the ``National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977'', approved September 29, 1977 (91 Stat. 1009); (4) the Federal-State cooperative program of agricultural extension work authorized by the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for cooperative agricultural extension work between the agricultural colleges in the several States receiving the benefits of an Act of Congress approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of Acts supplementary thereto, and the United States Department of Agriculture'', approved May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 372), and acts supplementary thereto; (5) the Federal-State cooperative program of vocational education including, but not limited to, State programs of instruction in vocational agriculture and home economics, authorized by the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the promotion of vocational education; to provide for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such education in agriculture and the trades and industries; to provide for cooperation with the States in the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects; and to appropriate money and regulate its expenditure'', approved February 23, 1917 (39 Stat. 929), and acts supplementary thereto; (6) the Federal-State cooperative program in marketing service and research authorized by the ``Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946'', approved August 14, 1946 (60 Stat. 1087), and predecessor programs, including programs to inspect, certify, and identify the class, quality, quantity, and condition of agricultural products shipped or received in interstate commerce; and programs of inspection and weighing services authorized by the United States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 71 and following), whether performed by a delegated State agency or a designated private agency; (7) the Federal-State cooperative program for the control of plant pests and animal diseases authorized by the provisions under the subheading ``Federal Horticulture Board'' under the heading ``Department of Agriculture'' in the Act entitled ``An Act making appropriations to supply urgent deficiencies in appropriations for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and prior fiscal years, on account of war expenses, and for other purposes'', approved October 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 374); by section 102 of the ``Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944'', approved September 21, 1944 (58 Stat. 734); by the joint resolution entitled ``Joint resolution making funds available for the control of incipient or emergency outbreaks of insect pests or plant diseases, including grasshoppers, mormon crickets, and chinch bugs'', approved April 6, 1937 (50 Stat. 57); by the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for regulating, inspecting, cleaning, and, when necessary, disinfecting railway cars, other vehicles, and other materials entering the United States from Mexico'', approved January 31, 1942 (56 Stat. 40); by the Act entitled ``An Act to regulate the importation of nursery stock and other plants and plant products; to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain quarantine districts for plant diseases and insect pests; to permit and regulate the movement of fruits, plants, and vegetables therefrom, and for other purposes'', approved August 20, 1912 (37 Stat. 315); by the first paragraph under the subheading ``Enforcement of the Plant-Quarantine Act'' under the heading ``Miscellaneous'' in the Act entitled ``An Act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and fourteen'', approved March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 853), insofar as such paragraph relates to the importation of certain plants for scientific purposes; by the second, third, and fourth paragraphs under the subheading ``Enforcement of the Plant-Quarantine Act'' under the heading ``Miscellaneous'' in the Act entitled ``An Act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and sixteen'', approved March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. 1113); and by section 11 of the Act entitled ``An Act for the establishment of a Bureau of Animal Industry, to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle, and to provide for the suppression and extirpation of pleuropneumonia and other contagious diseases among domestic animals'', approved May 29, 1884 (23 Stat. 31); (8) the Federal-State cooperative programs of forest protection, management, and improvement performed under authority of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the protection of forest lands, for the reforestation of denuded areas, for the extension of national forests, and for other purposes, in order to promote the continuous production of timber on the lands chiefly suitable therefore'', approved June 7, 1924 (43 Stat. 653); of the ``Cooperative Forest Management Act'', approved August 25, 1950 (64 Stat. 473); and of the ``Forest Pest Control Act'', approved June 25, 1947 (61 Stat. 177); and the predecessor programs of any Act referred to in this paragraph; (9) the Federal-State cooperative programs of emergency relief, including State rural rehabilitation corporation programs, established for the purposes of the Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933, approved May 12, 1933 (48 Stat. 55); the Act entitled ``An Act making an additional appropriation to carry out the purposes of the Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933, for continuation of the civil works program, and for other purposes'', approved February 15, 1934 (48 Stat. 351); and title II of the Act entitled ``An Act making appropriations to supply deficiencies in certain appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1934, and prior fiscal years, to provide supplemental general and emergency appropriations for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1934, and June 30, 1935, and for other purposes'', approved June 19, 1934 (48 Stat. 1021); (10) the Federal-State Cooperative Veterans' educational programs, including part-time instruction in on-the-farm training programs, as provided for in title II, chapter IV, ``Education of Veterans'', of the ``Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944'', approved June 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 287), and subsequent amendments and Acts pertaining thereto; and (11) the Federal-State cooperative programs in wildlife restoration and in fish restoration and management authorized respectively by the Acts entitled ``An Act to provide that the United States shall aid these States in wildlife restoration projects, and for other purposes'', approved September 2, 1937 (50 Stat. 917), and popularly referred to as the ``Pittman- Robertson Act'', and ``An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the States in fish restoration and management projects, and for other purposes'', approved August 9, 1950 (64 Stat. 431), and popularly referred to as the ``Dingell-Johnson Act'', and the program of animal damage control authorized by the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out his ten-year cooperative program for the eradication, suppression, or bringing under control of predatory and other wild animals injurious to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, wild game, and other interests, and for the suppression of rabies and tularemia in predatory or other wild animals, and for other purposes'', approved March 2, 1931 (46 Stat. 1468), as amended and supplemented. (c) Certification.--The Office of Personnel Management shall, with respect to any service for which credit is sought under this Act, accept the certification of the Secretary of Agriculture or his designee. SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY TO ANNUITANTS. (a) In General.--An annuity or survivor annuity-- (1) computed in whole or in part in accordance with subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, (2) which is based on the service of an individual who performed service described in section 3, and (3) the commencement date of which precedes the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be recomputed in accordance with section 3 if application therefor is made, and the deposit requirement under section 3(a) is met, within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Recomputation Rule.--Any change in an annuity or survivor annuity resulting from a recomputation under subsection (a) shall be effective as of the first day of the first month which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 5. DEFINITION. For the purpose of this Act, the term ``State'' includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the territories of Hawaii and Alaska prior to statehood.

Summary: Cooperative Agricultural Programs Extended Retirement Credit Act of 1993 - Provides for crediting under certain conditions, service in certain Federal-State cooperative agricultural and other programs under the Civil Service Retirement System.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Verifying Official Totals for Elections Act''. SEC. 2. DEPOSIT OF ELECTION-DEDICATED VOTING SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY IN NATIONAL SOFTWARE REFERENCE LIBRARY. (a) Deposit Required; Conditions for Disclosure.--Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(7) Prohibiting use of election-dedicated voting system technologies not deposited with national software reference library; disclosure requirements.-- ``(A) Prohibition.-- ``(i) In general.--A voting system used in an election for Federal office in a State may not at any time during the election contain or use any election-dedicated voting system technology which is not deposited by the State (or, at the option of the State, by the vendor of the technology) with the National Software Reference Library of the National Institute of Standards and Technology prior to the date of the election, to be held in escrow and subject to disclosure in accordance with subparagraph (B). ``(ii) Extension of deadline for deposit.-- If the chief State election official certifies to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology prior to the date of the election that, because of a revision to the election-dedicated voting system technology which is made less than 30 days prior to the date of the election, the State or vendor is unable to deposit the technology in accordance with clause (i) prior to the date of the election, the voting system used in the election may contain or use the technology if-- ``(I) the chief State election official approves the use of the technology for the election; and ``(II) the State or vendor deposits the technology in accordance with clause (i) not later than 1 week after the date of the election. ``(iii) Enforcement of vendor responsibilities.--If a State opts to require the vendor of election-dedicated voting system technology to deposit the technology in accordance with this subparagraph and the vendor fails to do so, the Attorney General may bring a civil action against the vendor in an appropriate district court for such relief as may be appropriate, including injunctive relief or an order for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $500,000. ``(B) Requirement for disclosure and limitation on restricting disclosure.--With respect to any election- dedicated voting system technology which is deposited under subparagraph (A), the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall-- ``(i) hold the technology in escrow; and ``(ii) disclose technology and information regarding the technology to another person if-- ``(I) the person is a qualified person described in subparagraph (C) who has entered into a nondisclosure agreement with respect to the technology which meets the requirements of subparagraph (D); or ``(II) the Director is permitted or required to disclose the technology to the person under the law of the applicable State, in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable under such law. ``(C) Qualified persons described.--With respect to the disclosure of election-dedicated voting system technology under subparagraph (B)(ii)(I), a `qualified person' is any of the following: ``(i) A governmental entity with responsibility for the administration of voting and election-related matters in elections for Federal office, for purposes of reviewing, analyzing, or reporting on the technology. ``(ii) If permitted under a court order, a party to post-election litigation challenging the result of an election or the administration or use of the technology used in an election, but only to the extent permitted under the terms and conditions of such court order. ``(iii) A person who reviews, analyzes, or reports on the technology solely for an investigation or inquiry concerning the accuracy or integrity of the technology pursuant to clause (i) or (ii). ``(D) Requirements for nondisclosure agreements.--A nondisclosure agreement entered into with respect to an election-dedicated voting system technology meets the requirements of this subparagraph if the agreement-- ``(i) is limited in scope to coverage of the technology disclosed under subparagraph (B) and any trade secrets and intellectual property rights related thereto; ``(ii) does not prohibit a signatory from entering into other nondisclosure agreements to review other technologies under this paragraph; ``(iii) exempts from coverage both information the signatory lawfully obtained from another source and information in the public domain; ``(iv) remains in effect for not longer than the life of any trade secret or other intellectual property right related thereto; ``(v) prohibits the request or use of injunctions that bar a signatory from carrying out any activity authorized under subparagraph (C), including injunctions limited to the period prior to a judicial proceeding involving the technology; ``(vi) is silent as to damages awarded for breach of the agreement, other than a reference to damages available under applicable law; ``(vii) allows disclosure of evidence relating to possible criminal conduct or other violations of law, including in response to a subpoena or warrant; ``(viii) allows disclosures and testimony to legislative branch authorities, judicial proceedings, and executive branch investigations in response to a subpoena or warrant or as otherwise provided by law; and ``(ix) provides that the agreement shall be governed by the trade secret laws of the applicable State. ``(E) Election-dedicated voting system technology defined.--For purposes of this paragraph: ``(i) In general.--The term `election- dedicated voting system technology' means the following: ``(I) The source code used for the trusted build and the file signatures for the trusted build. ``(II) A complete disk image of the pre-build, build environment, and any file signatures to validate that it is unmodified. ``(III) A complete disk image of the post-build, build environment, and any file signatures to validate that it is unmodified. ``(IV) All executable code produced by the trusted build and any file signatures to validate that it is unmodified. ``(V) Installation devices and software file signatures. ``(ii) Exclusion.--Such term does not include `commercial-off-the-shelf' software and hardware defined under the voluntary voting system guidelines adopted by the Commission under section 222 which are in effect as of the date of the election involved. ``(F) Trusted build defined.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term `trusted build' means a witnessed software build in which source code is converted to machine-readable binary instructions (executable code) in a manner providing security measures that help ensure that the executable code is a verifiable and faithful representation of the source code.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to elections occurring during 2013 or any succeeding year. SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY. There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to enable the Institute, including the National Software Reference Library of the Institute, to carry out paragraph (7) of section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 2(a).

Summary: Verifying Official Totals for Elections Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a voting system used in a federal election from containing or using any election-dedicated voting system technology which is not deposited by the state (or at the state's option by the vendor of the technology) with the National Software Reference Library of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) before the election. Requires the Director of NIST to: (1) hold the technology in escrow; and (2) disclose it and information about it to a qualified person who has entered into a nondisclosure agreement with respect to it, or to whom the Director is permitted or required to disclose the technology under state law.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the National Science Foundation. (2) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce. SEC. 3. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH INITIATIVE. (a) Requirement to Establish.--The Under Secretary and the Director shall establish an initiative known as the National Hurricane Research Initiative for the purposes described in subsection (b). (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the National Hurricane Research Initiative shall be to set research objectives based on the findings of the September 29, 2006, National Science Board report entitled ``Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need for National Hurricane Initiative''-- (1) to make recommendations to the National Science Board based on such research; (2) to assemble the expertise of the science and engineering capabilities of the United States through a multi- agency effort that is focused on-- (A) improving a better understanding of hurricane prediction, intensity, and mitigation on coastal populations; (B) infrastructure; and (C) the natural environment; and (3) to make grants to eligible entities to carry out research in the following areas: (A) Predicting hurricane intensification.--Research to improve understanding of-- (i) rapid intensity change in storms, relationships among storm size, motion and intensity; (ii) the internal dynamics of hurricanes; and (iii) the manner in which hurricanes interact with the environment. (B) Understanding air-sea interactions.--Research to improve understanding of theories of air-sea interaction that are common to the strong wind and high wave conditions associated with hurricanes, and cases in which the air-sea interface beneath hurricanes vanishes and is replaced by an emulsion, including theoretical theories, observational theories, and modeling. (C) Predicting storm surge, rainfall, and inland flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms.--Research to understand and model rainfall and flooding from hurricanes, including probabilistic modeling and mapping of storm surge risk. (D) Hurricane modification.--Basic research for modifying hurricanes to reduce the intensity or alter the movement of hurricanes by human intervention, including research to improve understanding of the potential effects of hurricane modification on precipitation and fresh water supply, as well as on climate. (E) Improved observation of hurricanes and tropical storms.--Research to improve hurricane and tropical storm observation through mobile radars, Global Positioning System technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, and ground-based and aerial wireless sensors to improve understanding of the complex nature of storms. (F) Assessing vulnerable infrastructure.--Research to develop a national engineering assessment of coastal infrastructure, including infrastructure related to levees, seawalls, drainage systems, bridges, water and sewage utilities, power, and communications, to determine the level of vulnerability of such infrastructure to damage from a hurricane. (G) Interaction of hurricanes with engineered structures.--Research to improve understanding of the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms on buildings, structures, and housing combined with modeling essential for guiding the creation of improved building designs and construction codes in locations particularly vulnerable to hurricanes. (H) Relationship between hurricanes, climate, and natural ecosystems.--Research to improve the understanding of the complex relationships between hurricanes and climate, including research to determine the most effective methods to use observational information to examine the impacts on ecosystems over long- and short-periods of time. (I) Technologies for disaster response and recovery.--Research to improve emergency communication networks for government agencies and non-government entities and to improve communications between such networks during disaster response and recovery, including cyber-security during disaster situations and the ability to improve damage assessments during storms. (J) Evacuation planning.--Research to improve the manner in which hurricane-related information is provided to, and utilized by, the public and government officials, including research to assist officials of State or local government in determining the circumstances in which evacuations are required and in carrying out such evacuations. (K) Computational capability.--Research to improve understanding of the efficient utility of multiple models requiring sharing and inter-operability of databases, computing environments, networks, visualization tools, and analytic systems beyond what is currently available for transitioning hurricane research assets into operational practice and to provide access to robust computational facilities beyond the facilities normally accessible by the civilian research community for the hurricane research enterprise, including data acquisition and modeling capability during hurricane events. (c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Under Secretary and the Director shall cooperate with the head of each appropriate Federal agency or department, research institute, university, and disaster- response or nongovernmental organization to utilize the expertise and capabilities of such entity to carry out the purposes of the National Hurricane Research Initiative, including cooperation with the heads of the following entities: (1) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2) The National Institute of Standards and Technology. (3) The Department of Homeland Security, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (4) The Department of Energy. (5) The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency. (6) The Environmental Protection Agency. (7) The United States Geological Survey. (8) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (d) Coordination.--The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, through the National Science and Technology Council, shall coordinate the activities carried out by the United States related to the National Hurricane Research Initiative as a formal program with a well defined organizational structure and execution plan. (e) Grants.-- (1) Authority.--The Under Secretary and the Director may award grants to appropriate government agencies or departments or nongovernmental entities to carry out the purposes described in subsection (b). (2) Best practices.--The Under Secretary and the Director shall develop and make available to the public a description of best practices to be used to carry out a project with a grant awarded under this subsection. (f) Research Seminars and Forums.--The Under Secretary and the Director shall carry out a series of national seminars and forums that assemble a broad collection of scientific disciplines to direct researchers to work collaboratively to carry out the purposes described in subsection (b). (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated $285,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2018 to carry out this section. SEC. 4. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DATABASE. (a) Requirement to Establish.--The Under Secretary and the Director shall establish a National Infrastructure Database for the purposes of-- (1) cataloging and characterizing the physical, social, and natural infrastructure in order to provide a baseline for developing standards, measuring modification, and determining loss; (2) providing information to Federal, State, and local government officials to improve information public policy related to hurricanes and tropical storms; and (3) providing data to researchers to improve their ability to measure hurricane impacts, separate such impacts from other effects, both natural and anthropogenic, make effective recommendations for improved building codes and urban planning practices, and develop effective procedures for responding to infrastructure disruption. (b) Database Requirements.--The National Infrastructure Database shall be a virtual, cyber environment that uses existing capabilities and facilities, and establishes new capabilities and facilities, as appropriate, to provide an interoperable environment and the necessary metadata and other resources needed by users of that Database. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2018 to carry out this section. SEC. 5. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH MODEL. (a) Requirement to Establish.--The Under Secretary and the Director shall develop a National Hurricane Research Model to conduct integrative research and to facilitate the transfer of research knowledge to operational applications, including linking relevant theoretical, physical, and computational models from atmospheric, oceanic, economic, sociological, engineered infrastructure, and ecologic fields, conducting experimental research to understand the extensive complexities of hurricanes, and obtaining measurable results in a comprehensive framework suitable for testing end-to-end integrative systems. (b) System Requirements.--The National Hurricane Research Model shall be a physically distributed and highly coordinated working environment in which research from the National Hurricane Research can be experimentally substantiated using suitable quantitative metrics, and where a culture of interaction and collaboration can further be promoted, including in the areas of-- (1) facilities and cyberinfrastructure; (2) software integration; and (3) fixed mobile data collection platforms and data provisioning systems. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated $130,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2018 to carry out this section.

Summary: National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2006 - Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a National Hurricane Research Initiative and to cooperate with other specified federal agencies to carry it out. Requires such Initiative to set research objectives (based on a National Science Board report on the need for such Initiative) to: (1) make recommendations to the Board; (2) assemble the expertise of U.S. science and engineering capabilities through a multi-agency effort focused on infrastructure, the natural environment, and improving understanding of hurricane prediction, intensity, and mitigation on coastal populations; and (3) make grants for hurricane research, including regarding hurricane dynamics, modification, and observation, air-sea interaction, relationships between hurricanes and climate, predicting flooding and storm surge, coastal infrastructure, building construction, emergency communication networks, information utilization by public officials, and sharing computational capability. Directs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, through the National Science and Technology Council, to coordinate U.S. activities related to the Initiative as a formal program with a well-defined organizational structure and execution plan. Directs the Under Secretary and the Director to: (1) establish a National Infrastructure Database to catalog infrastructure, provide information to improve information public policy related to hurricanes, and provide data to improve researchers' abilities to measure hurricane impacts in order to improve building codes and urban planning; and (2) develop a National Hurricane Research Model to conduct integrative research and facilitate the transfer of research knowledge to operational applications.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994''. SEC. 2. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. A covered entity, in connection with employment or employment opportunities, shall not-- (1) subject an individual to different standards or treatment on the basis of sexual orientation; (2) discriminate against an individual based on the sexual orientation of persons with whom such individual is believed to associate or to have associated; or (3) otherwise discriminate against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation. SEC. 3. BENEFITS. This Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits to an individual for the benefit of his or her partner. SEC. 4. NO DISPARATE IMPACT. The fact that an employment practice has a disparate impact, as the term ``disparate impact'' is used in section 703(k) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(k)), on the basis of sexual orientation does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. SEC. 5. QUOTAS AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROHIBITED. (a) Quotas.--A covered entity shall not adopt or implement a quota on the basis of sexual orientation. (b) Preferential Treatment.--A covered entity shall not give preferential treatment to an individual on the basis of sexual orientation. SEC. 6. RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act shall not apply to religious organizations. (b) For-Profit Activities.--This Act shall apply to a religious organization's for-profit activities subject to taxation under section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 7. NONAPPLICATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES; VETERANS' PREFERENCES. (a) Armed Forces.--(1) For purposes of this Act, the term ``employment or employment opportunities'' does not apply to the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces. (2) As used in paragraph (1), the term ``Armed Forces'' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. (b) Veterans' Preferences.--This Act does not repeal or modify any Federal, State, territorial, or local law creating special rights or preferences for veterans. SEC. 8. ENFORCEMENT. (a) Enforcement Powers.--With respect to the administration and enforcement of this Act-- (1) the Commission and the Librarian of Congress shall have the same powers, respectively, as the Commission and the Librarian of Congress have to administer and enforce title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.); (2) the Attorney General of the United States shall have the same powers as the Attorney General has to administer and enforce such title; and (3) the district courts of the United States shall have the same jurisdiction and powers as such courts have to enforce such title and section 309 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1209). (b) Procedures and Remedies.--The procedures and remedies applicable to a claim for a violation of this Act are as follows: (1) For a violation alleged by an individual, other than an individual specified in paragraph (2) or (3), the procedures and remedies applicable to a claim brought by an individual for a violation of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) shall apply. (2) For a violation alleged by an employee of the House of Representatives or of an instrumentality of the Congress, the procedures and remedies applicable to a claim by such employee for a violation of section 117 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 60l) shall apply. (3) For a violation alleged by a Senate employee, the procedures and remedies applicable to a claim by such employee for a violation of section 302 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202) shall apply. SEC. 9. STATE AND FEDERAL IMMUNITY. (a) State Immunity.--A State shall not be immune under the eleventh article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States from an action in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this Act. In an action against a State for a violation of this Act, remedies (including remedies at law and in equity) are available for the violation to the same extent as such remedies are available in an action against any public or private entity other than a State. (b) Liability of the United States.--The United States shall be liable for all remedies under this Act to the same extent as a private person and shall be liable to the same extent as a nonpublic party for interest to compensate for delay in payment. SEC. 10. ATTORNEYS' FEES. In any action or administrative proceeding commenced pursuant to this Act, the court or the Commission, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney's fee, including expert fees and other litigation expenses, and costs. The United States shall be liable for the foregoing the same as a private person. SEC. 11. RETALIATION AND COERCION PROHIBITED. (a) Retaliation.--A covered entity shall not discriminate against an individual because such individual opposed any act or practice prohibited by this Act or because such individual made a charge, assisted, testified, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Act. (b) Coercion.--A person shall not coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his or her having exercised, enjoyed, assisted, or encouraged the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this Act. SEC. 12. POSTING NOTICES. A covered entity shall post notices for employees, applicants for employment, and members describing the applicable provisions of this Act in the manner prescribed by, and subject to the penalty provided under, section 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e- 10). SEC. 13. REGULATIONS. The Commission shall have authority to issue regulations to carry out this Act. SEC. 14. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS. This Act shall not invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, or procedures available to an individual claiming discrimination prohibited under any other Federal law or any law of a State or political subdivision of a State. SEC. 15. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. SEC. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall not apply to conduct occurring before such effective date. SEC. 17. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: (1) The term ``Commission'' means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2) The term ``covered entity'' means an employer, employment agency, labor organization, joint labor management committee, an entity to which section 717(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(a)) applies, an employing authority of the House of Representatives, an employing office of the Senate, or an instrumentality of the Congress. (3) The term ``employer'' has the meaning given such term in section 701(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(b)). (4) The term ``employment agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 701(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(c)). (5) The term ``employment or employment opportunities'' includes job application procedures, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. (6) The term ``instrumentalities of the Congress'' has the meaning given such term in section 117(b)(4) of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 60l(b)(4)). (7) The term ``labor organization'' has the meaning given such term in section 701(d) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(d)). (8) The term ``person'' has the meaning given such term in section 701(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(a)). (9) The term ``religious organization'' means-- (A) a religious corporation, association, or society; or (B) a college, school, university, or other educational institution, not otherwise a religious organization, if-- (i) it is in whole or substantial part controlled, managed, owned, or supported by a religious corporation, association, or society; or (ii) its curriculum is directed toward the propagation of a particular religion. (10) The term ``Senate employee'' has the meaning given such term in section 301(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1201(c)). (11) The term ``sexual orientation'' means lesbian, gay, bisexual, or heterosexual orientation, real or perceived, as manifested by identity, acts, statements, or associations. (12) The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in section 701(i) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(i)).

Summary: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including employing authorities of the House of Representatives, employing offices of the Senate, and instrumentalities of the Congress. Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits quotas and preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State and Federal immunity. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Prohibits retaliation and coercion. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress makes the following findings: (1) The right to vote is the most fundamental act performed by citizens in our great representative democracy. (2) Citizen participation in local, State, and Federal elections is the primary means to assure representation of many constituent groups in the political process. (3) More than 500,000 Americans who were convicted of felony crimes have served their entire sentence and stand free and clear of incarceration and parole. (4) It is the civic duty of every citizen of the United States to vote in any election in order to guarantee full and fair representation of all interests. (5) Allowing ex-offenders to vote restores them to their role as responsible citizens in this great country whose greatness is strengthened by the civic rehabilitation and participation of all nonvoting citizens. (6) The States of Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, restore the right to vote automatically upon the completion of sentence, including parole. (7) The United States should ensure that the Federal voting rights of a person are restored upon the unconditional release of that person from prison and the completion of sentence, including parole. SEC. 3. FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In General.--The right of an individual who is a citizen of the United States to vote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense. (b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply to an individual convicted of a criminal offense upon the unconditional release of that individual from incarceration for that offense and the completion of sentence for that offense, including parole. SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT. (a) Attorney General.--The Attorney General may, in a civil action, obtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy a violation of this Act. (b) Private Right of Action.-- (1) A person who is aggrieved by a violation of this Act may provide written notice of the violation to the chief election official of the State involved. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a notice under paragraph (1), or within 20 days after receipt of the notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person may, in a civil action obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation. (3) If the violation occurred within 30 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief election official of the State under paragraph (1) before bringing a civil action to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act-- (1) the term ``election'' means-- (A) a general, special, primary, or runoff election; (B) a convention or caucus of a political party held to nominate a candidate; (C) a primary election held for the selection of delegates to a national nominating convention of a political party; or (D) a primary election held for the expression of a preference for the nomination of persons for election to the office of President; and (2) the term ``Federal office'' means the office of President or Vice President of the United States, or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States. SEC. 6. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS. (a) State Laws.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the States enacting any State law which affords the right to vote in any election for Federal office on terms less restrictive than those established by this Act. (b) Federal Laws.--The rights and remedies established by this Act are in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and neither rights and remedies established by this Act shall supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.) or the National Voter Registration Act (42 U.S.C. 1973-gg).

Summary: Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2006 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense. Applies this Act to a convicted individual upon his or her unconditional release from incarceration and completion of his or her sentence, including parole. Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for, violations of this Act. Prohibits construing this Act to prohibit states from affording the right to vote in any federal election on less restrictive terms.