SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Local Government
Landfill Compliance Deadline Act''.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to strengthen the ability
of county and city officials to fulfill the goals established for
municipal solid waste landfills by allowing adequate time for wise,
environmentally sound, and fiscally responsible decisionmaking by the
officials in a manner consistent with the obligations of the officials
to the citizens they serve.

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN LANDFILLS FROM MEETING REVISED
              CRITERIA.

    (a) Temporary Exemption.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
        during the 1-year period beginning on October 9, 1993, each
        municipal solid waste landfill that--
                    (A) is in existence on October 8, 1993; and
                    (B) meets the requirements of the criteria
                contained in regulations issued pursuant to sections
                4004(a) and 4010(c) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42
                U.S.C. 6944(a) and 6949a(c), respectively) as in effect
                on January 1, 1993,
        shall not be required to meet any revised criteria that take
        effect after the date specified in subparagraph (B).
            (2) Exceptions.--
                    (A) In general.--If the Administrator of the
                Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this
                section as the `Administrator'), or the appropriate
                official of a State with a plan approved by the
                Administrator pursuant to title IV of the Solid Waste
                Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) (referred to in
                this section as an ``appropriate State official''),
                determines that the owner or operator of a municipal
                solid waste landfill did not make a good faith effort
                before October 9, 1993, to comply with any revised
                criteria that took effect after the date specified in
                paragraph (1)(B), the exemption described in paragraph
                (1) shall not apply to the landfill.
                    (B) Temporary extension of exemption.--The owner or
                operator of a municipal solid waste landfill that is
                the subject of an exemption under paragraph (1) may
                submit an application to the Administrator or an
                appropriate State official (in the case of a State
                referred to in subparagraph (A)) for a 180-day
                extension of the exemption. The Administrator (or the
                appropriate State official) shall grant the extension
                if the Administrator (or the appropriate State
                official) determines that the owner or operator cannot
                achieve compliance with the revised criteria referred
                to in such paragraph by the end of the 1-year period
                specified in such paragraph because of 1 or more
                factors beyond the control of the owner or operator,
                including--
                            (i) litigation;
                            (ii) adverse weather conditions that slow
                        or bring to a temporary halt the construction
                        of a landfill;
                            (iii) a breakdown in negotiations for the
                        construction or use of a regional landfill that
                        requires any local government participating in
                        the negotiations to pursue other arrangements
                        for waste disposal; or
                            (iv) any delay in siting, permitting, or
                        patenting a landfill or transfer station,
                        including any delay attributable to--
                                    (I) the unavailability of, or
                                inaccessibility to, technical
                                assistance; or
                                    (II) procedures for purchasing,
                                leasing, permitting, or patenting a
                                site on Federal land, including
                                carrying out any necessary
                                environmental assessments or preparing
                                environmental impact statements
                                pursuant to the National Environmental
                                Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
                                seq.).
                    (C) Mandatory extension.--The Administrator (or the
                appropriate State official) may not disapprove any
                application referred to in subparagraph (B) in any case
                in which the Administrator (or appropriate State
                official) determines that the failure of a Federal
                agency or a department or agency of a State to issue a
                permit, patent, or other necessary approval for a
                landfill that is the subject of the application, or a
                transfer station associated with the landfill, has been
                a factor in the inability of the owner or operator of
                the landfill to achieve compliance with the revised
                criteria referred to in paragraph (1).
    (b) Prior Criteria Applicable During Exemption Period.--During the
period specified in subsection (a)(1), and during any applicable
additional period specified in subsection (a)(2)(B), a landfill subject
to an exemption pursuant to this section shall be subject to the
criteria referred to in subsection (a)(1)(B).
    (c) Effective Date of Revised Criteria.--Except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Act, beginning on October 9, 1994, each
municipal solid waste landfill shall be subject to the revised criteria
applicable to the landfill issued pursuant to sections 4004(a) and
4010(c) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6944(a) and
6949a(c), respectively), and any subsequent revision to the criteria.
    (d) Citizen Suits.--No person may commence a civil action pursuant
to section 7002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6972) on the
basis of the failure of a municipal solid waste landfill subject to the
exemption described in subsection (a)(1) to meet any requirement with
respect to which the exemption applies.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF EFFECTIVE DATE OF FINANCIAL ASSURANCE
              REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Administrator shall issue regulations that revise the financial
assurance requirements under subpart G of title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, to broaden the mechanisms available to an owner or
operator of a municipal solid waste landfill for demonstrating
financial responsibility. The revised regulations shall include revised
criteria for determining whether mechanisms in addition to the
mechanisms specified in the regulations may be approved by the
Administrator. The revised criteria shall take into account the
financial circumstances of small municipalities and counties (as
defined and determined by the Administrator).
    (b) Effective Date.--The revised regulations promulgated pursuant
to subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after
the promulgation of the regulations.
    (c) Applicability.--During the period beginning on the effective
date specified in section 258.70 of title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, and ending on the date specified in subsection (b), the
financial assurance requirements under subpart G of part 258 of title
40, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply.

SEC. 4. GROUND WATER MONITORING.

    (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall issue regulations that exempt from
the ground water monitoring requirements under sections 258.51 through
258.55 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, any municipal solid
waste landfill unit described in the matter preceding clause (i) in
section 258.1(f)(1), as added by the final rule published at 56 Fed.
Reg. 50798 on October 9, 1991, (referred to in this section as a
``small landfill'')--
            (1) in a community that experiences an annual interruption
        of at least 3 consecutive months of surface transportation that
        prevents access to a regional waste management facility; or
            (2) in a community that has no practicable waste management
        alternative and that has a small landfill unit located in an
        area that annually receives less than or equal to 25 inches of
        precipitation.
    (b) Effective Date.--The regulations promulgated pursuant to
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Exemption.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, before
the effective date of the regulations referred to in subsection (b), a
landfill referred to in subsection (a) shall not be required to carry
out any ground water monitoring activities required under Federal law.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Endangered Species
Criminal and Civil Penalties Liability Reform Act''.
    (b) References to Endangered Species Act of 1973.--Except as
otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or
repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a
section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be
made to that section or provision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

SEC. 2. SPECIFIC INTENT REQUIRED FOR PENALTIES REGARDING TAKINGS OF
              SPECIES.

    Section 9 (16 U.S.C. 1538) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
    ``(h) Specific Intent Required for Taking.--For purposes of this
section, the term `take' means to--
            ``(1) knowingly and intentionally perform any act with the
        knowledge that the act would constitute harassing, harming,
        pursuing, hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping,
        capturing, or collecting an individual member of a species that
        was present at the time and location of the act; or
            ``(2) attempt to engage in conduct described in paragraph
        (1).''.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT
              VIOLATION.

    Section 10 (16 U.S.C. 1540) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
    ``(k) Notice and Opportunity To Correct Violation.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person shall not be liable for any
        criminal or civil penalty for a violation of this Act committed
        while conducting an otherwise lawful activity and not for the
        purpose of a taking prohibited by this Act, unless--
                    ``(A) the Secretary provides the person notice of
                the violation; and
                    ``(B) the person fails to terminate and otherwise
                correct the activity constituting the violation by not
                later than 30 days after the date of the notice.
            ``(2) Corrective action.--A person may correct an activity
        for purposes of paragraph (1)(B) by mitigation, entering into a
        binding commitment to carry out mitigation, or other method
        that is determined by the Secretary to be reasonably calculated
        to restore the species to its status immediately prior to the
        activity.''.

SEC. 4. NO SURPRISES.

    Section 10(a) (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
    ``(3)(A) Each conservation plan developed under this subsection
shall include provisions under which a person who has entered into, and
is in compliance with, the conservation plan may not, without their
consent, be required to undertake any additional mitigation measures
for species covered by the plan if the measures would require payment
of money, or compliance with use, development, or management
restrictions on any land, waters, or water-related rights, in addition
to payments or compliance, respectively, otherwise required under the
terms of the plan.
    ``(B) The provisions required by subparagraph (A) shall, among
other matters, identify--
            ``(i) modifications to the plan; or
            ``(ii) additional conservation measures;
if any, that the Secretary may require under extraordinary
circumstances.''.

SEC. 5. KNOWLEDGE OF ENDANGERED OR THREATENED STATUS REQUIRED FOR
              ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.

    Section 11 (16 U.S.C. 1540) is further amended by adding at the end
the following:
    ``(h) Knowledge of Endangered or Threatened Status Required.--In
any enforcement action or citizen suit under this Act in which it is
alleged that the defendant acted or failed to act with respect to a
member of a species listed under section 4(c), it is an affirmative
defense to the allegation that the defendant could not reasonably have
known that the fish or wildlife or plant concerned is a member of an
endangered species or threatened species.''.

SEC. 6. SAFE HARBOR AGREEMENTS.

    Section 10 (16 U.S.C. 1539) is further amended by adding at the end
thereof the following new subsection:
    ``(m) Safe Harbor Agreements.--
            ``(1) Agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into
                agreements with non-Federal persons to benefit the
                conservation of endangered species or threatened
                species by creating, restoring, or improving habitat or
                by maintaining currently unoccupied habitat for
                endangered species or threatened species. Under an
                agreement, the Secretary shall permit the person to
                take endangered species or threatened species included
                under the agreement on lands or waters that are subject
                to the agreement if the taking is incidental to, and
                not the purpose of, carrying out of an otherwise lawful
                activity, provided that the Secretary may not permit
                through such agreements any incidental take below the
                baseline requirement specified pursuant to subparagraph
                (B).
                    ``(B) Baseline.--For each agreement under this
                subsection, the Secretary shall establish a baseline
                requirement that is mutually agreed upon by the
                applicant and the Secretary at the time of the
                agreement that will, at a minimum, maintain existing
                conditions for the species covered by the agreement on
                lands and waters that are subject to the agreement. The
                baseline may be expressed in terms of the abundance or
                distribution of endangered or threatened species,
                quantity or quality of habitat, or such other
                indicators as appropriate.
            ``(2) Standards and guidelines.--The Secretary shall issue
        standards and guidelines for the development and approval of
        safe harbor agreements in accordance with this subsection.
            ``(3) Financial assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In cooperation with the States
                and subject to the availability of appropriations under
                section 15(d), the Secretary may provide a grant of up
                to $10,000 to any individual private landowner to
                assist the landowner in carrying out a safe harbor
                agreement under this subsection.
                    ``(B) Prohibition on assistance for required
                activities.--The Secretary may not provide assistance
                under this paragraph for any action that is required by
                a permit issued under this Act or that is otherwise
                required under this Act or other Federal law.
                    ``(C) Other payments.--Grants provided to an
                individual private landowner under this paragraph shall
                be in addition to, and not affect, the total amount of
                payments that the landowner is otherwise eligible to
                receive under the Conservation Reserve Program (16
                U.S.C. 3831 et seq.), the Wetlands Reserve Program (16
                U.S.C. 3837 et seq.), or the Wildlife Habitat
                Incentives Program (16 U.S.C. 3836a).''.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural
Equity Act of 1995''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings, policy, and purpose.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress on ending the Federal deficit.
Sec. 4. Nonrecourse loans and deficiency payments for the 1996 through
                            2002 crops of rice, upland cotton, feed
                            grains, wheat, and oilseeds.
Sec. 5. Review of status and future of production agriculture.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS, POLICY, AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) A sound and prosperous economy in the United States is
        dependent on American agriculture and related industries,
        including producers, processors, handlers, manufacturers,
        marketers, transporters, and the banking and credit industry.
            (2) American agriculture and related industries account for
        over 21,000,000 jobs and approximately 16 percent, or over
        $41,000,000,000,000, of the gross domestic product.
            (3) Because of the combined effort of American agriculture
        and related industries, consumers in the United States enjoy a
        dependable supply of food and fiber at fair prices.
            (4) The future of American agriculture is dependent on the
        continued viability of the American agricultural producer, the
        underpinning of the national economy.
            (5) Agricultural producers must receive a fair return on
        their productivity and investment in an industry characterized
        by continued subsidized foreign competition and wide
        fluctuations in production and prices due to weather and
        related factors.
            (6) One of the essential elements of a sound agricultural
        economy is the ability of the United States to compete in the
        world market.
            (7) Exports of United States agricultural commodities are
        expected to reach nearly $50,000,000,000 in 1995 and contribute
        about $20,000,000,000 to the United States balance of trade.
            (8) Agricultural exports account for over 1,000,000
        American jobs.
            (9) Commodity Credit Corporation outlays for farm programs
        have declined from a high of approximately $26,000,000,000 for
        fiscal year 1986 to less than $9,000,000,000 for fiscal year
        1995, a reduction of over 65 percent that is unique among the
        many mandatory spending programs of the Federal Government.
            (10) According to the Congressional Budget Office, farm
        program outlays are projected to remain below the outlay level
        for fiscal year 1995 for the next 5 years and continue to
        decline by nearly 8 percent, even if no changes are made in
        current law for existing farm programs.
    (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States that--
            (1) continued Federal Government support is necessary to
        provide stability for American agricultural producers to--
                    (A) enable the producers to continue to provide
                consumers with a steady and dependable supply of food
                and fiber at fair prices;
                    (B) enhance farmer and rancher profitability;
                    (C) encourage young farmers to stay on the farm;
                    (D) maintain the competitiveness of the United
                States in the world market; and
                    (E) otherwise preserve the underpinnings of a sound
                agricultural economy; and
            (2) reductions in farm program spending should be made in a
        fair and equitable manner in order to meet the objective of
        achieving a balanced budget for the Federal Government in a
        manner consistent with paragraph (1).
    (c) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish agricultural
price support and production adjustment programs for the 1996 through
2002 crop years that provide a structure for a sound agricultural
economy in a manner consistent with subsection (b).

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ENDING THE FEDERAL DEFICIT.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the continuation of significant Federal budgetary
        deficits harms the economic well-being of the United States and
        is detrimental to the development of sound, long-term
        agricultural policy;
            (2) agricultural price support and production adjustment
        programs are necessary for the continued economic health of
        United States agriculture, which must compete in international
        markets against subsidized foreign competition; and
            (3) agricultural price support and production adjustment
        programs should be--
                    (A) implemented, to the maximum extent practicable,
                in a manner that is consistent with the primary goal of
                the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year
                1996 (H. Con. Res. 67, agreed to June 29, 1995) to end
                Federal budget deficits; and
                    (B) modified, as necessary, to ensure that the
                programs comply with applicable budget reconciliation
                instructions in the concurrent resolution that are
                designed to end Federal budget deficits, in a manner
                consistent with section 306 of the concurrent
                resolution.

SEC. 4. NONRECOURSE LOANS AND DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS FOR THE 1996 THROUGH
              2002 CROPS OF RICE, UPLAND COTTON, FEED GRAINS, WHEAT,
              AND OILSEEDS.

    (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) Covered commodities.--The term ``covered commodities''
        means rice, upland cotton, feed grains, wheat, and oilseeds.
            (2) Feed grains.--The term ``feed grains'' means corn,
        grain sorghum, barley, and oats.
            (3) Oilseeds.--The term ``oilseeds'' means soybeans,
        sunflower seeds, canola, rapeseed, safflower, flaxseed, mustard
        seed, and such other oilseeds as the Secretary may determine
        appropriate for inclusion.
    (b) Nonrecourse Loans.--
            (1) Price support loans.--The Secretary shall make
        available to producers on a farm nonrecourse loans for each of
        the 1996 through 2002 crops of each covered commodity at the
        level specified in paragraph (2). Acreage covered shall include
        both mandatory and voluntary flex acres.
            (2) Loan levels.--The loan levels for each covered
        commodity shall be 100 percent of the simple average price
        received by producers of that covered commodity, as determined
        by the Secretary, during the marketing years for the preceding
        5 crops of that covered commodity, excluding the year in which
        the average price was the highest and the year in which the
        average price was the lowest in the period. The Secretary may
        adjust the loan level for a particular covered commodity to
        reflect changes in the market price of that covered commodity.
            (3) Prohibitions.--The Secretary shall not make available a
        marketing loan or loan deficiency payment to any producer on a
        farm for any of the 1996 through 2002 crops of covered
        commodities.
    (c) Deficiency Payments.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make deficiency
        payments available to producers for each of the 1996 through
        2002 crops of each covered commodity (other than oilseeds) in
        an amount computed by multiplying--
                    (A) the payment rate for the covered commodity;
                    (B) the payment acres for the crop of that covered
                commodity; and
                    (C) the farm program yield for the crop of that
                covered commodity for the farm.
            (2) Payment rate.--
                    (A) Minimum established price.--The minimum
                established price in effect for the 1991 through 1995
                crops of each covered commodity shall continue in
                effect for the 1996 through 2002 crops of that covered
                commodity.
                    (B) Establishment of rate.--The payment rate for
                each of the 1996 through 2002 crops of each covered
                commodity shall be the amount by which the target price
                exceeds the higher of--
                            (i) the loan level established for that
                        covered commodity under subsection (b);
                            (ii) the average market price of that
                        covered commodity.
            (3) Payment acres.--Payment acres for a crop of a covered
        commodity shall equal base acres less idled (set aside) and
        flex (mandatory and optional) acres.
            (4) Elimination of \0/85\ and \50/85\ programs.--The
        Secretary shall discontinue the partial payment programs,
        variously known as \0/85\, \50/85\, \0/92\, and \50/92\,
        effective with crop year 1996.
    (d) Flexibility (`Flex') Program.--The Secretary shall increase
producer planting flexibility--
            (1) by increasing the mandatory flex acreage percentage for
        each covered commodity from 15 percent to 20 percent; and
            (2) by offering producers an additional voluntary increase
        in flex acres of between 10 percent to 25 percent.
    (e) Crop Insurance Requirement.--As a condition for eligibility for
crop loans and deficiency payments under this section, the producers on
a farm shall obtain catastrophic risk protection insurance coverage in
accordance with section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1508(b)).
    (f) Conforming Repeals.--Sections 101B (rice), 103B (cotton), 105B
(feed grains), 107B (wheat), and 205 (oilseeds) of the Agricultural Act
of 1949 are repealed. The repeal of such sections shall not affect the
authority of the Secretary to carry out a price support or production
adjustment program for any of the 1991 through 1995 crops of a covered
commodity under a provision of law in effect immediately before the
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. REVIEW OF STATUS AND FUTURE OF PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE.

    (a) Scope of Review.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a
comprehensive review of the status and future of production agriculture
and farming communities in the United States and the extent to which
the program changes made by this Act will impact production agriculture
and farming communities in the United States. The review shall include
the following--
            (1) an assessment of the food security situation in the
        United States in the areas of trade, consumer prices,
        international competitiveness of United States production
        agriculture, food supplies, and humanitarian relief;
            (2) an assessment of current and future farm land values
        and agricultural producer incomes;
            (3) an assessment of the extent to which regulatory relief
        for agricultural producers has been enacted and implemented,
        including the application of cost-benefit principles in the
        issuance of agricultural regulations;
            (4) an assessment of the extent to which tax relief for
        agricultural producers has been enacted in the form of capital
        gains tax reductions, estate tax exemptions, and mechanisms to
        average tax loads over high- and low-income years;
            (5) an assessment of any Federal Government interference in
        agricultural export markets, such as the imposition of trade
        embargoes, and the degree of implementation and success of
        international trade agreements;
            (6) identification of the appropriate future relationship
        of the Federal Government with production agriculture after
        2002;
            (7) identification of the long-term goals for production
        agriculture and farming communities in the United States and
        recommendations for actions needed to achieve those goals; and
            (8) an assessment of manpower and infrastructure
        requirements of the Department of Agriculture as the result of
        program changes made by this Act.
    (b) Legislative Proposals.--As part of the comprehensive review
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop specific
legislative proposals to implement any recommendations being made.
    (c) Reports.--The Secretary shall report the findings and
recommendations made under subsection (a) to the President, to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, not
later than March 31, 1997.
    (d) Hearings.--The Secretary may, for the purpose of carrying out
this section, conduct such hearings and receive such evidence as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
    (e) Assistance From Other Agencies.--The Secretary may secure from
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government such
information as may be necessary to carry out this section.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Close Big Oil Tax
Loopholes Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Senate on high gas prices.
                  TITLE I--CLOSE BIG OIL TAX LOOPHOLES

Sec. 101. Modifications of foreign tax credit rules applicable to major
                            integrated oil companies which are dual
                            capacity taxpayers.
Sec. 102. Limitation on section 199 deduction attributable to oil,
                            natural gas, or primary products thereof.
Sec. 103. Limitation on deduction for intangible drilling and
                            development costs.
Sec. 104. Limitation on percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas
                            wells.
Sec. 105. Limitation on deduction for tertiary injectants.
         TITLE II--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL AND NATURAL GAS

Sec. 201. Repeal of outer Continental Shelf deep water and deep gas
                            royalty relief.
                        TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 301. Deficit reduction.
Sec. 302. Budgetary effects.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) gas prices have risen significantly largely in response
        to unrest in north Africa and the Middle East, unrest that
        speculators are capitalizing on to increase oil futures prices
        and make huge profits;
            (2) high gas prices are hurting the quality of life of
        people of the United States, cutting into savings, and
        jeopardizing jobs and the economic recovery of the United
        States;
            (3) implementation of the regulatory reforms enacted by
        Congress in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
        Protection Act (Public Law 111-203; 124 Stat. 1376) to prevent
        energy market manipulation and control excessive speculation
        has been delayed and has been threatened with funding
        reductions in the House of Representatives;
            (4) the United States is producing more oil than any time
        in the last 13 years and companies hold abundant inventories of
        oil, but the United States is still importing more than
        11,000,000 barrels of oil per day and the Energy Information
        Administration projects that full production in all onshore and
        offshore areas would reduce gas prices by only 3 cents per
        gallon by 2030;
            (5) domestic refining capacity now exceeds United States
        demand for refined petroleum products, resulting in increased
        idle refinery capacity;
            (6) oil companies are sitting idly on approximately
        60,000,000 acres of leased Federal lands and waters containing
        more than 11,000,000,000 barrels of oil and 59,000,000,000,000
        cubic feet of natural gas;
            (7) the United States possesses less than 2 percent of the
        proven oil reserves of the world, yet consumes an unsustainable
        25 percent of the oil production of the world;
            (8) the economy of the United States suffers huge net
        losses in jobs and productivity from the growing annual trade
        deficit in energy, due mainly to the outflow of
        $250,000,000,000 or more to pay for foreign oil;
            (9) world oil prices have risen steadily since the slow
        beginning of the global economic recovery and, absent major
        efficiency or conservation improvements or deployment of
        alternative fuels, those oil prices are projected to remain
        well above $100 per barrel or higher as world demand grows as
        China, India and other countries industrialize;
            (10) the oil production policies of cartel of the
        Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are a
        large determinant of the world price of oil, so the economy of
        the United States will be affected by decisions of OPEC as long
        as the United States depends on oil for a significant portion
        of the energy consumption of the United States;
            (11) the major oil companies have accumulated more than
        $1,000,000,000,000 in net profits over the last 10 years and
        collected more than $40,000,000,000 in tax breaks during the
        same period, but have invested negligible amounts of those
        funds into research and development of the production of clean
        and renewable fuels made in the United States, leaving
        consumers with few if any choices at the pump; and
            (12) in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
        (42 U.S.C. 17001 et seq.), Congress increased fuel economy
        standards for the first time in 30 years and established
        ambitious requirements for domestic biofuels, actions that have
        reduced oil consumption and reduced upward pressure on gas
        prices.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF SENATE ON HIGH GAS PRICES.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the President and Administration should be commended
        for recognizing the severity of high gas prices and for taking
        appropriate actions to help reduce gas prices, including
        actions--
                    (A) to move forward with expeditious and
                responsible domestic production in the Gulf of Mexico
                and elsewhere;
                    (B) to form a Task Force led by the Department of
                Justice to investigate and eliminate oil and gas price
                gouging and market manipulation;
                    (C) to establish a national oil savings goal to cut
                imports by 33 percent by 2025;
                    (D) to call for 1,000,000 electric vehicles to be
                on the road by 2015;
                    (E) to harmonize corporate average fuel standards
                under section 32902 of title 49, United States Code,
                (CAFE) and carbon pollution standards to achieve
                1,800,000,000 barrels in oil savings from new vehicles
                built before 2017, and working with stakeholders to
                increase those savings from future year vehicles;
                    (F) to establish the National Clean Fleets
                Partnership and Green Fleet Initiative to reduce diesel
                and gasoline use in fleets by incorporating electric
                vehicles, alternative fuels like natural gas, and
                efficiency measures; and
                    (G) to clarify and expand the use of E-15 fuel for
                new motor vehicles;
            (2) Congress should take additional actions to complement
        the efforts of the President, including enacting provisions--
                    (A) to encourage diligent and responsible
                development of domestic oil and gas resources onshore
                and off-shore;
                    (B) to eliminate subsidies for major oil and gas
                companies and use the savings to promote research,
                development, and deployment of affordable alternative
                fuels and vehicles;
                    (C) to give consumers more choices at the pump and
                incentives for buying vehicles that displace petroleum
                consumption; and
                    (D) to direct and fund the Commodity Futures
                Trading Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to
                rapidly implement the energy consumer protection
                requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
                Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203; 124 Stat.
                1376);
            (3) the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
        (OPEC) should contribute to the stabilization of world oil
        markets and prices and reduce the burden of high gasoline
        prices borne by the consumers in the United States by using
        existing idle oil production capacity to compensate for any
        supply shortages experienced in member countries; and
            (4) the economic, environmental, and national security of
        the United States depend on a sustained effort to drastically
        reduce and eventually eliminate the dependency of the United
        States on oil.

                  TITLE I--CLOSE BIG OIL TAX LOOPHOLES

SEC. 101. MODIFICATIONS OF FOREIGN TAX CREDIT RULES APPLICABLE TO MAJOR
              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 Major 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 major integrated oil company (as defined in
        section 167(h)(5)(B)) 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.''.
    (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. 102. LIMITATION ON SECTION 199 DEDUCTION ATTRIBUTABLE TO OIL,
              NATURAL GAS, OR PRIMARY PRODUCTS THEREOF.

    (a) Denial of Deduction.--Paragraph (4) of section 199(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) Special rule for certain oil and gas
                income.--In the case of any taxpayer who is a major
                integrated oil company (as defined in section
                167(h)(5)(B)) for the taxable year, the term `domestic
                production gross receipts' shall not include gross
                receipts from the production, transportation, or
                distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary
                product (within the meaning of subsection (d)(9))
                thereof.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.

SEC. 103. LIMITATION ON DEDUCTION FOR INTANGIBLE DRILLING AND
              DEVELOPMENT COSTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 263(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``This
subsection shall not apply to amounts paid or incurred by a taxpayer in
any taxable year in which such taxpayer is a major integrated oil
company (as defined in section 167(h)(5)(B)).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December
31, 2011.

SEC. 104. LIMITATION ON PERCENTAGE DEPLETION ALLOWANCE FOR OIL AND GAS
              WELLS.

    (a) In General.--Section 613A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Application With Respect to Major Integrated Oil Companies.--
In the case of any taxable year in which the taxpayer is a major
integrated oil company (as defined in section 167(h)(5)(B)), the
allowance for percentage depletion shall be zero.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.

SEC. 105. LIMITATION ON DEDUCTION FOR TERTIARY INJECTANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 193 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Application With Respect to Major Integrated Oil Companies.--
This section shall not apply to amounts paid or incurred by a taxpayer
in any taxable year in which such taxpayer is a major integrated oil
company (as defined in section 167(h)(5)(B)).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December
31, 2011.

         TITLE II--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL AND NATURAL GAS

SEC. 201. REPEAL OF OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF DEEP WATER AND DEEP GAS
              ROYALTY RELIEF.

    (a) In General.--Sections 344 and 345 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 15904, 15905) are repealed.
    (b) Administration.--The Secretary of the Interior shall not be
required to provide for royalty relief in the lease sale terms
beginning with the first lease sale held on or after the date of
enactment of this Act for which a final notice of sale has not been
published.

                        TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 301. DEFICIT REDUCTION.

    The net amount of any savings realized as a result of the enactment
of this Act and the amendments made by this Act (after any expenditures
authorized by this Act and the amendments made by this Act) shall be
deposited in the Treasury and used for Federal budget deficit reduction
or, if there is no Federal budget deficit, for reducing the Federal
debt in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury considers
appropriate.

SEC. 302. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Construction
Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2016''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Congressional findings.
Sec. 3. Design-build construction process improvement.
Sec. 4. Prohibition on the use of a reverse auction for the award of a
                            contract for design and construction
                            services.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The acquisition procedures that are often used
        effectively to procure products and other forms of services are
        not always appropriate for procurement of design and
        construction services.
            (2) Federal procurement officials often adopt contracting
        techniques from the private sector and have used those
        techniques effectively to procure products and services.
            (3) Design-build is a procurement technique Federal
        officials have adopted from the private sector that has worked
        well for procurement of design and construction services.
            (4) The current statutory framework for design-build could
        benefit from legislative refinement.
            (5) Reverse auctions are another procurement technique
        Federal officials have adopted from the private sector and used
        successfully to award contracts for the purchase of products
        that are commercially equivalent to commodities.
            (6) Despite their success in other contexts, reverse
        auctions are generally inappropriate for procurement of design
        and construction services, given the unique nature of each such
        project.

SEC. 3. DESIGN-BUILD CONSTRUCTION PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Civilian Contracts.--
            (1) In general.--Section 3309(b) of title 41, United States
        Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Criteria for Use.--
            ``(1) Contracts with a value of at least $750,000
        $3,000,000.--Two-phase selection procedures shall be used for
        entering into a contract for the design and construction of a
        public building, facility, or work when a contracting officer
        determines that the project has a value of $750,000 $3,000,000
        or greater, as adjusted for inflation in accordance with
        section 1908 of this title.
            ``(2) Contracts with a value less than $750,000
        $3,000,000.--For projects that a contracting officer determines
        have a value of less than $750,000 $3,000,000, the contracting
        officer shall make a determination whether two-phase selection
        procedures are appropriate for use for entering into a contract
        for the design and construction of a public building, facility,
        or work when--
                    ``(A) the contracting officer anticipates that 3 or
                more offers will be received for the contract;
                    ``(B) design work must be performed before an
                offeror can develop a price or cost proposal for the
                contract;
                    ``(C) the offeror will incur a substantial amount
                of expense in preparing the offer; and
                    ``(D) the contracting officer has considered
                information such as--
                            ``(i) the extent to which the project
                        requirements have been adequately defined;
                            ``(ii) the time constraints for delivery of
                        the project;
                            ``(iii) the capability and experience of
                        potential contractors;
                            ``(iv) the suitability of the project for
                        use of the two-phase selection procedures;
                            ``(v) the capability of the agency to
                        manage the two-phase selection process; and
                            ``(vi) other criteria established by the
                        agency.''.
            (2) Annual reports.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than November 30 of
                2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, the head of each
                agency shall compile an annual report of each instance
                in which the agency awarded a design-build contract
                pursuant to section 3309 of title 41, United States
                Code, during the fiscal year ending in such calendar
                year, in which--
                            (i) more than 5 finalists were selected for
                        phase-two requests for proposals; or
                            (ii) the contract or order was awarded
                        without using two-phase selection procedures.
                    (B) Public availability.--The Director of the
                Office of Management and Budget shall facilitate public
                access to the reports, including by posting them on a
                publicly available Internet website. A notice of the
                availability of each report shall be published in the
                Federal Register.
    (b) GAO Reports.--Not later than 270 days after the deadline for
the final reports required under subsection (f) of section 3309 of
title 41, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), the
Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report analyzing
the compliance of the various Federal agencies with the requirements of
such section.

SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF A REVERSE AUCTION FOR THE AWARD OF A
              CONTRACT FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.

    (a) Finding.--Congress finds that, in contrast to a traditional
auction in which the buyers bid up the price, sellers bid down the
price in a reverse auction.
    (b) Prohibition.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, in
consultation with the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy,
shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to prohibit the use of
reverse auctions as part of the two-phase selection procedure for
awarding contracts for construction and design services.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            (1) the term ``design and construction services'' means--
                    (A) site planning and landscape design;
                    (B) architectural and engineering services
                (including surveying and mapping defined in section
                1101 of title 40, United States Code);
                    (C) interior design;
                    (D) performance of substantial construction work
                for facility, infrastructure, and environmental
                restoration projects;
                    (E) delivery and supply of construction materials
                to construction sites; or
                    (F) construction or substantial alteration of
                public buildings or public works; and
            (2) the term ``reverse auction'' means, with respect to
        procurement by an agency--
                    (A) a real-time auction conducted through an
                electronic medium among 2 or more offerors who compete
                by submitting bids for a supply or service contract
                with the ability to submit revised lower bids at any
                time before the closing of the auction; and
                    (B) the award of the contract, delivery order, task
                order, or purchase order to the offeror, in whole or in
                part, based on the price obtained through the auction
                process.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Department of
Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Savings clause.
         TITLE I--INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Sec. 101. Technology transfer and transitions assessment.
Sec. 102. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 103. Nuclear energy innovation.
     TITLE II--CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT COMPETITIVENESS

Sec. 201. Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program.
Sec. 202. Public-private partnerships for commercialization.
Sec. 203. Inclusion of early-stage technology demonstration in
                            authorized technology transfer activities.
Sec. 204. Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education
                            and other nonprofit institutions.
Sec. 205. Participation in the Innovation Corps program.
                    TITLE III--ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT

Sec. 301. Report by Government Accountability Office.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
        Department of Energy.
            (2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
        means a Department of Energy nonmilitary national laboratory,
        including--
                    (A) Ames Laboratory;
                    (B) Argonne National Laboratory;
                    (C) Brookhaven National Laboratory;
                    (D) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory;
                    (E) Idaho National Laboratory;
                    (F) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory;
                    (G) National Energy Technology Laboratory;
                    (H) National Renewable Energy Laboratory;
                    (I) Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
                    (J) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory;
                    (K) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory;
                    (L) Savannah River National Laboratory;
                    (M) Stanford Linear Accelerator Center;
                    (N) Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility;
                and
                    (O) any laboratory operated by the National Nuclear
                Security Administration, but only with respect to the
                civilian energy activities thereof.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Energy.

SEC. 3. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act abrogates or
otherwise affects the primary responsibilities of any National
Laboratory to the Department.

         TITLE I--INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

SEC. 101. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TRANSITIONS ASSESSMENT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report which
shall include--
            (1) an assessment of the Department's current ability to
        carry out the goals of section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of
        2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391), including an assessment of the role and
        effectiveness of the Director of the Office of Technology
        Transitions; and
            (2) recommended departmental policy changes and legislative
        changes to section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
        U.S.C. 16391) to improve the Department's ability to
        successfully transfer new energy technologies to the private
        sector.

SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should encourage
the National Laboratories and federally funded research and development
centers to inform small businesses of the opportunities and resources
that exist pursuant to this Act.

SEC. 103. NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary, in consultation with the National Laboratories, relevant
Federal agencies, and other stakeholders, shall transmit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate a report assessing the Department's capabilities to
authorize, host, and oversee privately funded fusion and non-light
water reactor prototypes and related demonstration facilities at
Department-owned sites. For purposes of this report, the Secretary
shall consider the Department's capabilities to facilitate privately-
funded prototypes up to 20 megawatts thermal output. The report shall
address the following:
            (1) The Department's safety review and oversight
        capabilities.
            (2) Potential sites capable of hosting research,
        development, and demonstration of prototype reactors and
        related facilities for the purpose of reducing technical risk.
            (3) The Department's and National Laboratories' existing
        physical and technical capabilities relevant to research,
        development, and oversight.
            (4) The efficacy of the Department's available contractual
        mechanisms, including cooperative research and development
        agreements, work for others agreements, and agreements for
        commercializing technology.
            (5) Potential cost structures related to physical security,
        decommissioning, liability, and other long-term project costs.
            (6) Other challenges or considerations identified by the
        Secretary, including issues related to potential cases of
        demonstration reactors up to 2 gigawatts of thermal output.

     TITLE II--CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT COMPETITIVENESS

SEC. 201. AGREEMENTS FOR COMMERCIALIZING TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out the Agreements for
Commercializing Technology pilot program of the Department, as
announced by the Secretary on December 8, 2011, in accordance with this
section.
    (b) Terms.--Each agreement entered into pursuant to the pilot
program referred to in subsection (a) shall provide to the contractor
of the applicable National Laboratory, to the maximum extent determined
to be appropriate by the Secretary, increased authority to negotiate
contract terms, such as intellectual property rights, payment
structures, performance guarantees, and multiparty collaborations.
    (c) Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--Any director of a National Laboratory may
        enter into an agreement pursuant to the pilot program referred
        to in subsection (a).
            (2) Agreements with non-federal entities.--To carry out
        paragraph (1) and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall
        permit the directors of the National Laboratories to execute
        agreements with a non-Federal entity, including a non-Federal
        entity already receiving Federal funding that will be used to
        support activities under agreements executed pursuant to
        paragraph (1), provided that such funding is solely used to
        carry out the purposes of the Federal award.
            (3) Restriction.--The requirements of chapter 18 of title
        35, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Bayh-Dole
        Act'') shall apply if--
                    (A) the agreement is a funding agreement (as that
                term is defined in section 201 of that title); and
                    (B) at least 1 of the parties to the funding
                agreement is eligible to receive rights under that
                chapter.
    (d) Submission to Secretary.--Each affected director of a National
Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary, with respect to each
agreement entered into under this section--
            (1) a summary of information relating to the relevant
        project;
            (2) the total estimated costs of the project;
            (3) estimated commencement and completion dates of the
        project; and
            (4) other documentation determined to be appropriate by the
        Secretary.
    (e) Certification.--The Secretary shall require the contractor of
the affected National Laboratory to certify that each activity carried
out under a project for which an agreement is entered into under this
section--
            (1) is not in direct competition with the private sector;
        and
            (2) does not present, or minimizes, any apparent conflict
        of interest, and avoids or neutralizes any actual conflict of
        interest, as a result of the agreement under this section.
    (f) Extension.--The pilot program referred to in subsection (a)
shall be extended until October 31, 2017.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) Overall assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the
        date described in subsection (f), the Secretary, in
        coordination with directors of the National Laboratories, shall
        submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
        Natural Resources of the Senate a report that--
                    (A) assesses the overall effectiveness of the pilot
                program referred to in subsection (a);
                    (B) identifies opportunities to improve the
                effectiveness of the pilot program;
                    (C) assesses the potential for program activities
                to interfere with the responsibilities of the National
                Laboratories to the Department; and
                    (D) provides a recommendation regarding the future
                of the pilot program.
            (2) Transparency.--The Secretary, in coordination with
        directors of the National Laboratories, shall submit to the
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
        Resources of the Senate an annual report that accounts for all
        incidences of, and provides a justification for, non-Federal
        entities using funds derived from a Federal contract or award
        to carry out agreements pursuant to this section.

SEC. 202. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR COMMERCIALIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary
shall delegate to directors of the National Laboratories signature
authority with respect to any agreement described in subsection (b) the
total cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions
and project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000, if such an
agreement falls within the scope of--
            (1) a strategic plan for the National Laboratory that has
        been approved by the Department; or
            (2) the most recent Congressionally approved budget for
        Department activities to be carried out by the National
        Laboratory.
    (b) Agreements.--Subsection (a) applies to--
            (1) a cooperative research and development agreement;
            (2) a non-Federal work-for-others agreement; and
            (3) any other agreement determined to be appropriate by the
        Secretary, in collaboration with the directors of the National
        Laboratories.
    (c) Administration.--
            (1) Accountability.--The director of the affected National
        Laboratory and the affected contractor shall carry out an
        agreement under this section in accordance with applicable
        policies of the Department, including by ensuring that the
        agreement does not compromise any national security, economic,
        or environmental interest of the United States.
            (2) Certification.--The director of the affected National
        Laboratory and the affected contractor shall certify that each
        activity carried out under a project for which an agreement is
        entered into under this section does not present, or minimizes,
        any apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or neutralizes
        any actual conflict of interest, as a result of the agreement
        under this section.
            (3) Availability of records.--Within 30 days of entering an
        agreement under this section, the director of a National
        Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary for monitoring and
        review all records of the National Laboratory relating to the
        agreement.
            (4) Rates.--The director of a National Laboratory may
        charge higher rates for services performed under a partnership
        agreement entered into pursuant to this section, regardless of
        the full cost of recovery, if such funds are used exclusively
        to support further research and development activities at the
        respective National Laboratory.
    (d) Exception.--This section does not apply to any agreement with a
majority foreign-owned company.
    (e) Conforming Amendment.--Section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting
                the subparagraphs appropriately;
                    (B) by striking ``Each Federal agency'' and
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
        each Federal agency''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in
        accordance with section 202(a) of the Department of Energy
        Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015,
        approval by the Secretary of Energy shall not be required for
        any technology transfer agreement proposed to be entered into
        by a National Laboratory of the Department of Energy, the total
        cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions
        and project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000.'';
        and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``subsection (a)(1)''
        each place it appears and inserting ``subsection (a)(1)(A)''.

SEC. 203. INCLUSION OF EARLY-STAGE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION IN
              AUTHORIZED TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES.

    Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) is
amended by--
            (1) redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Early-Stage Technology Demonstration.--The Secretary shall
permit the directors of the National Laboratories to use funds
authorized to support technology transfer within the Department to
carry out early-stage and pre-commercial technology demonstration
activities to remove technology barriers that limit private sector
interest and demonstrate potential commercial applications of any
research and technologies arising from National Laboratory
activities.''.

SEC. 204. FUNDING COMPETITIVENESS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
              AND OTHER NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16352(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Except as provided in
        paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting ``Except as provided in
        paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Exemption for institutions of higher education and
        other nonprofit institutions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to
                a research or development activity performed by an
                institution of higher education or nonprofit
                institution (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-
                Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
                3703)).
                    ``(B) Termination date.--The exemption under
                subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 6-year period
                beginning on the date of enactment of this
                paragraph.''.

SEC. 205. PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION CORPS PROGRAM.

    The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Director of the
National Science Foundation to enable researchers funded by the
Department to participate in the National Science Foundation Innovation
Corps program.

                    TITLE III--ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT

SEC. 301. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.

    Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a
report--
            (1) describing the results of the projects developed under
        sections 201, 202, and 203, including information regarding--
                    (A) partnerships initiated as a result of those
                projects and the potential linkages presented by those
                partnerships with respect to national priorities and
                other taxpayer-funded research; and
                    (B) whether the activities carried out under those
                projects result in--
                            (i) fiscal savings;
                            (ii) expansion of National Laboratory
                        capabilities;
                            (iii) increased efficiency of technology
                        transfers; or
                            (iv) an increase in general efficiency of
                        the National Laboratory system; and
            (2) assess the scale, scope, efficacy, and impact of the
        Department's efforts to promote technology transfer and private
        sector engagement at the National Laboratories, and make
        recommendations on how the Department can improve these
        activities.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2015.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.


SECTION 1. POTENTIAL PROBLEM OFFICER EARLY WARNING PROGRAMS.

    (a) Declarations.--The Congress finds and declares that--
            (1) police brutality is a problem of deep concern; and
            (2) the Congress has an interest in assisting local units
        in creating early warning systems that are effective,
        resilient, and affordable to the local units.
    (b) Definition.--In this Act, ``potential problem officer early
warning program'' means a system of procedures that is designed to--
            (1) identify police officers who have been the subject of
        an excessive number of legitimate complaints of excessive use
        of force by members of the public or have otherwise
        demonstrated the potentiality of having difficulty dealing
        appropriately with members of the public;
            (2) provide assistance to such officers in avoiding such
        difficulty in the future, including the provision of training
        in communication techniques, conflict resolution, and stress
        management; and
            (3) apply discipline where appropriate.
    (c) Evaluation and Report.--
            (1) Evaluation.--The Attorney General, acting through the
        Director of the National Institute of Justice, shall--
                    (A) conduct an evaluation of potential problem
                officer early warning programs that are being or have
                been utilized by units of local government, including
                analyses of--
                            (i) the effect on such programs of factors
                        such as the population and geographic size and
                        characteristics of a jurisdiction and the
                        ability of such programs to adjust in a
                        resilient manner to changes in such factors;
                            (ii) the potential savings that local
                        governments can realize from the operation of
                        such programs as a result of the reduction in
                        the number of citizen complaints, the reduction
                        in the number of occasions in which it is
                        necessary to change the duty assignments of or
                        to dismiss (and replace) problem officers, and
                        other beneficial effects;
                            (iii) the positive and negative effects
                        that such programs may have on the law
                        enforcement system, such as their effect on
                        police morale and the ability of police
                        officers to perform their law enforcement
                        duties;
                            (iv) the ability of such programs to ensure
                        the exoneration of officers whose conduct is
                        proper while identifying those whose conduct
                        indicates the necessity or desirability of
                        prophylactic action; and
                            (v) the costs of establishing such programs
                        and of operating and monitoring the
                        effectiveness of such programs on a permanent
                        basis;
                    (B) develop a model early warning system that is
                effective, capable of adjusting to changing
                circumstances, and affordable to units (or combinations
                of units) of local government of jurisdictions (or
                combinations of jurisdictions) with populations of
                50,000 or more; and
                    (C) prepare and disseminate to the law enforcement
                community, including Federal, State and local law
                enforcement agencies, findings and recommendations made
                as a result of the evaluation for the establishment of
                such programs.
            (2) Report.--On or before October 1, 1994, the Attorney
        General shall submit to Congress a report addressing the
        matters described in paragraph (1), with recommendations
        concerning the need or appropriateness of further action by the
        Federal Government.
            (3) Expenses.--Expenses incurred in conducting the
        evaluation and developing a model potential problem officer
        early warning system under paragraph (1) shall be paid out of
        funds that are available to the National Institute of Justice
        and not specifically appropriated for other purposes, to the
        extent that such funds can be made available without increasing
        the amount of appropriations for the National Institute of
        Justice for any fiscal year over the amount appropriated for
        fiscal year 1993.
    (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Attorney General should, under existing authorities
        and using appropriations available for those authorities and
        funds otherwise available to the Attorney General, make seed
        money grants of up to $25,000 each to units (or combinations of
        units) of local government of jurisdictions (or combinations of
        jurisdictions) of a population of 50,000 or more for the
        purpose of assisting the police department (or other entity
        that performs the functions of a police department) in
        establishing a potential problem officer early warning program;
            (2) a unit of local government should be eligible to
        receive a grant described in subsection (c) if--
                    (A) its police department (or other entity that
                performs the functions of a police department) adopts
                and enforces--
                            (i) a written policy prohibiting the use of
                        unreasonable or unnecessary physical force by
                        law enforcement officers; and
                            (ii) written procedures for receiving and
                        investigating citizen complaints alleging
                        misconduct by law enforcement officers;
                    (B) the program to be funded includes provisions
                for continuing self-monitoring of the program,
                including the provision to the Attorney General of
                information that may be useful in performing the
                evaluation and developing the model program described
                in subsection (d)(1); and
                    (C) the grant recipient demonstrates a commitment
                to the long-term continuance of the program and the
                reduction of the incidence of police brutality;
            (3) a policy described in paragraph (2)(A) should--
                    (A) restrict the use of force to circumstances
                authorized by law and to the degree minimally necessary
                to accomplish a lawful law enforcement purpose; and
                    (B) include procedures for reporting and monitoring
                the use of force by officers within the jurisdiction of
                the department;
            (4) the procedures described in paragraph (2)(B) should
        require that complainants--
                    (A) be allowed to receive copies of their
                complaints;
                    (B) be informed of the findings, disposition, and
                specific disciplinary actions, if any, resulting from
                their complaints; and
                    (C) be permitted to attend any disciplinary
                hearings that result from their complaints;
            (5) a unit (or combination of units) of local government
        should receive grants described in this subsection in amounts
        that do not exceed $50,000 in the aggregate; and
            (6) the total amount of grants described in this subsection
        that are made during fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and
        1998 should not exceed $5,000,000.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pipeline
Improvement and Preventing Spills Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                   TITLE I--INFORMATION TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 101. References to title 49, United States Code.
Sec. 102. Notice to property owners and residents.
Sec. 103. Facility operation information standards.
Sec. 104. Availability of industry standards and procedures adopted in
                            regulations by reference.
Sec. 105. Considerations for identification of high-consequence areas.
                  TITLE II--PIPELINE SPILL PREVENTION

Sec. 201. Assessment of oil spill impacts and response in the Great
                            Lakes.
Sec. 202. Great Lakes Basin water crossing study and alternatives
                            assessment.
Sec. 203. Prohibition on transport of crude oil on Great Lakes.
Sec. 204. Definition of worst case discharge.

                   TITLE I--INFORMATION TRANSPARENCY

SEC. 101. REFERENCES TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be
considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 49,
United States Code.

SEC. 102. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND RESIDENTS.

    Section 60102(c)(4) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Notice to property owners and residents.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year
                        after the date of enactment of this
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall prescribe
                        minimum standards to require the owner or
                        operator of a pipeline facility to notify all
                        owners and residents of property located within
                        2,000 feet of a transmission line of the
                        facility of--
                                    ``(I) the proximity of the property
                                to the transmission line; and
                                    ``(II) in the case of a
                                transmission line located on private
                                residential property, the specific
                                location of the line on the property.
                            ``(ii) Required information.--The notice
                        under clause (i) shall include, at a minimum--
                                    ``(I) a method for electronic
                                access to the information described in
                                clause (i) through the Geospatial
                                Platform or such other Federal data
                                archive as the Secretary considers
                                appropriate;
                                    ``(II) information on how to obtain
                                a map of the pipeline system through
                                the National Pipeline Mapping System;
                                and
                                    ``(III) such other information as
                                the Secretary considers appropriate.
                            ``(iii) Deadlines.--The notice under clause
                        (i) shall be provided not later than 2 years
                        after the date of enactment of this
                        subparagraph and at least once every 3 years
                        thereafter.''.

SEC. 103. FACILITY OPERATION INFORMATION STANDARDS.

    Section 60102(d) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting
        appropriately;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting
        appropriately;
            (3) in paragraph (5), by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
        through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
        indenting appropriately;
            (4) by designating paragraphs (1) through (6) as
        subparagraphs (A) through (F), respectively, and indenting
        appropriately; and
            (5) by striking ``The Secretary'' and all that follows
        through ``shall include--'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not later than
        1 year after the date of enactment of the Pipeline Improvement
        and Preventing Spills Act of 2015, the Secretary shall
        prescribe minimum standards under this section requiring an
        operator of a pipeline facility subject to this chapter--
                    ``(A) to maintain information related to operating
                the facility as required by the standards prescribed
                under this chapter; and
                    ``(B) to provide that information, including any
                updates and changes, to the Secretary, State regulatory
                officials, State and local emergency responders, and
                such other entities as the Secretary considers
                appropriate.
            ``(2) Local emergency responders.--In the case of a local
        emergency responder, the Secretary shall provide the
        information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (E), and (F)
        of paragraph (4) only to the extent applicable to the local
        district.
            ``(3) Maintenance.--The Secretary shall keep on file the
        information submitted to the Secretary under paragraphs (1) and
        (2).
            ``(4) Information.--The information shall include--''.

SEC. 104. AVAILABILITY OF INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES ADOPTED IN
              REGULATIONS BY REFERENCE.

    Section 60102 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(q) Availability of Industry Standards and Procedures Adopted in
Regulations by Reference.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that industry
        standards and procedures adopted by reference as part of the
        Federal pipeline safety regulatory program under this chapter
        are easily available to the public free of charge.
            ``(2) Application.--This subsection shall apply to
        regulations issued before, on, or after the date of enactment
        of this subsection.''.

SEC. 105. CONSIDERATIONS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-CONSEQUENCE AREAS.

    Section 60109 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Considerations for Identification of High-Consequence
Areas.--In identifying high-consequence areas under this chapter, the
Secretary shall consider--
            ``(1) the age of the pipe;
            ``(2) whether the pipe at issue can be inspected using the
        most modern instrumented internal inspection devices;
            ``(3) whether the pipe at issue crosses open waters of the
        Great Lakes; and
            ``(4) the type of commodity (including the type and grade
        of petroleum product) being transported through the pipe.''.

                  TITLE II--PIPELINE SPILL PREVENTION

SEC. 201. ASSESSMENT OF OIL SPILL IMPACTS AND RESPONSE IN THE GREAT
              LAKES.

    (a) Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--The Interagency Coordinating Committee on
        Oil Pollution Research, in consultation with the Secretary of
        the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the
        heads of other relevant agencies, shall--
                    (A) identify measures to respond to spills or leaks
                of oil in the Great Lakes; and
                    (B) conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of
                such measures in preventing significant or substantial
                harm to the public health or welfare, including fish,
                shellfish, wildlife, public and private property,
                shorelines, and beaches of the Great Lakes system.
            (2) Elements.--The assessment required under paragraph (1)
        shall include--
                    (A) new scientific research on the impacts of a
                spill or leak of oil or a hazardous substance in fresh
                water under a wide range of meteorological and
                hydrological conditions, including an evaluation of the
                impacts of different types of petroleum, including
                synthetic oil from tar sands;
                    (B) an evaluation of oil spill or leak prevention
                and response plans (including techniques to address
                submerged oil recovery and recovery in ice-choked
                waters) in order to identify vulnerabilities and
                existing threats to the Great Lakes system; and
                    (C) recommendations to foster improvements to
                safety technologies, spill response planning, clean-up
                techniques, and environmental protection systems.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Oil
Pollution Research shall submit to Congress a report on the results of
the assessment required under subsection (a).

SEC. 202. GREAT LAKES BASIN WATER CROSSING STUDY AND ALTERNATIVES
              ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Survey Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, working with
pipeline facility owners, operators, and State governments, shall
conduct a comprehensive water crossing survey of all intrastate and
interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facilities that cross waterways in
the Great Lakes Basin in the waters of the United States (as defined in
the final rule of the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental
Protection Agency entitled ``Clean Water Rule: Definition of `Waters of
the United States''' (80 Fed. Reg. 37054; June 29, 2015)).
    (b) Elements.--The survey required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) produce a comprehensive map of all hazardous pipeline
        waterway crossings in the Great Lakes Basin, including lakes,
        rivers, and streams;
            (2) evaluate the condition and structural integrity of
        pipelines at each crossing, considering factors that include
        pipeline thickness, diameter, weld integrity, internal and
        external corrosion, age, pressure, control and shut-off valves,
        burial depths, water depths, currents, and ice cover;
            (3) identify risks of leak and rupture resulting from
        pipeline integrity failures, or any other vulnerability at the
        pipeline water crossings;
            (4) identify gaps in data and information that exist in the
        pipeline network in the Great Lakes Basin, and request
        information related to pipeline integrity or risks from owners
        and operators with facilities that cross lakes, rivers, and
        streams; and
            (5) produce recommendations to prevent future leaks,
        ruptures, and failures that could result in damage to waterways
        and natural resources in the Great Lakes Basin.
    (c) National Research Council Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall
        enter into a joint agreement with the National Research Council
        of the National Academies of Sciences to conduct a study in
        connection with the survey under this section.
            (2) Elements.--The study conducted under this subsection
        shall include--
                    (A) a study covering the elements described under
                paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b);
                    (B) consideration of ways in which review of
                facility response plans as required by the Oil
                Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and
                approval of permits under section 404 of the Federal
                Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) in
                accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
                of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) of future and existing
                pipelines that cross waterways in the Great Lakes Basin
                would help prevent spills in the Great Lakes; and
                    (C) a risk assessment analysis for alternative
                transportation options to the hazardous liquid pipeline
                facility that crosses from the Upper Peninsula of
                Michigan to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan through the
                Straits of Mackinac, including--
                            (i) no action (status quo);
                            (ii) rerouting;
                            (iii) decommissioning and abandoning;
                            (iv) replacing;
                            (v) modifying operations (such as limiting
                        pipeline product transport to only natural gas
                        liquids); and
                            (vi) other transportation means.

SEC. 203. PROHIBITION ON TRANSPORT OF CRUDE OIL ON GREAT LAKES.

    Section 108 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1258) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Prohibition on Transport of Crude Oil on Great Lakes.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective beginning on the
date of enactment of the Pipeline Improvement and Preventing Spills Act
of 2015, crude oil (as that term is defined in section 2101 of title
46, United States Code) and crude oil derived from oil sands may not be
transported on the Great Lakes by vessel (as that term is defined in
section 3 of title 1, United States Code).''.

SEC. 204. DEFINITION OF WORST CASE DISCHARGE.

    Section 311(a)(24)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(33 U.S.C. 1321(a)(24)(B)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon
at the end the following: ``, including conditions in which waters that
may receive a discharge are covered in whole or in part by ice''.