[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12005-S12010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3023. Mr. KERRY (for himself and Ms. Snowe) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 10__. COMMERCIALIZATION PILOT PROGRAM.

       Section 9(y) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(y)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``The authority to create and administer a Commercialization 
     Pilot Program under this subsection may not be construed to 
     eliminate or replace any other SBIR program that enhances the 
     insertion or transition of SBIR technologies, including any 
     such program in effect on the date of enactment of the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 
     (Public Law 109-163; 119 Stat. 3136).'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs 
     (7) and (8), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
       ``(5) Insertion incentives.--For any contract with a value 
     of not less than $100,000,000, the Secretary of Defense is 
     authorized to--
       ``(A) establish goals for transitioning Phase III 
     technologies in subcontracting plans; and
       ``(B) require a prime contractor on such a contract to 
     report the number and dollar amount of contracts entered into 
     by that prime contractor for Phase III SBIR projects.
       ``(6) Goal for sbir technology insertion.--The Secretary of 
     Defense shall--
       ``(A) set a goal to increase the number of Phase II 
     contracts awarded by that Secretary that lead to technology 
     transition into programs of record or fielded systems;
       ``(B) use incentives in effect on the date of enactment of 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, 
     or create new incentives, to encourage prime contractors to 
     meet the goal under subparagraph (A); and

[[Page S12006]]

       ``(C) submit to the Committee on Armed Services and the 
     Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
     on Small Business of the House of Representatives an annual 
     report regarding the percentage of contracts described in 
     subparagraph (A) awarded by that Secretary.''; and
       (4) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2012''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3024. Mr. KERRY (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Hagel, Ms. Landrieu, 
Mr. Lieberman, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department 
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal 
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end, add the following:

                  DIVISION D--VETERAN SMALL BUSINESSES

     SEC. 4001. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``Military Reservist and 
     Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 4002. DEFINITIONS.

       In this division--
       (1) the term ``activated'' means receiving an order placing 
     a Reservist on active duty;
       (2) the term ``active duty'' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code;
       (3) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean 
     the Small Business Administration and the Administrator 
     thereof, respectively;
       (4) the term ``Reservist'' means a member of a reserve 
     component of the Armed Forces, as described in section 10101 
     of title 10, United States Code;
       (5) the term ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' means 
     the Service Corps of Retired Executives authorized by section 
     8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1));
       (6) the terms ``service-disabled veteran'' and ``small 
     business concern'' have the meaning as in section 3 of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);
       (7) the term ``small business development center'' means a 
     small business development center described in section 21 of 
     the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648); and
       (8) the term ``women's business center'' means a women's 
     business center described in section 29 of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 656).

                TITLE XLI--VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

     SEC. 4101. INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF VETERANS 
                   BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Office of Veterans Business Development of the 
     Administration, to remain available until expended--
       (1) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (2) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
       (3) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2010.
       (b) Funding Offset.--Amounts necessary to carry out 
     subsection (a) shall be offset and made available through the 
     reduction of the authorization of funding under section 
     20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 
     note).
       (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     any amounts provided pursuant to this section that are in 
     excess of amounts provided to the Administration for the 
     Office of Veterans Business Development in fiscal year 2007, 
     should be used to support Veterans Business Outreach Centers.

     SEC. 4102. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

       Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Interagency Task Force.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this subsection, the President shall 
     establish an interagency task force to coordinate the efforts 
     of Federal agencies necessary to increase capital and 
     business development opportunities for, and increase the 
     award of Federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities 
     to, small business concerns owned and controlled by service-
     disabled veterans and small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by veterans (in this section referred to as the 
     `task force').
       ``(2) Membership.--The members of the task force shall 
     include--
       ``(A) the Administrator, who shall serve as chairperson of 
     the task force;
       ``(B) a representative from--
       ``(i) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       ``(ii) the Department of Defense;
       ``(iii) the Administration (in addition to the 
     Administrator);
       ``(iv) the Department of Labor;
       ``(v) the Department of the Treasury;
       ``(vi) the General Services Administration; and
       ``(vii) the Office of Management and Budget; and
       ``(C) 4 representatives from a veterans service 
     organization or military organization or association, 
     selected by the President.
       ``(3) Duties.--The task force shall coordinate 
     administrative and regulatory activities and develop 
     proposals relating to--
       ``(A) increasing capital access and capacity of small 
     business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled 
     veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising;
       ``(B) increasing access to Federal contracting and 
     subcontracting for small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by service-disabled veterans and small business 
     concerns owned and controlled by veterans through expanded 
     mentor-protege assistance and matching such small business 
     concerns with contracting opportunities;
       ``(C) increasing the integrity of certifications of status 
     as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-
     disabled veterans or a small business concern owned and 
     controlled by veterans;
       ``(D) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on 
     veterans in accessing business development and 
     entrepreneurship opportunities; and
       ``(E) making other improvements relating to the support for 
     veterans business development by the Federal Government.
       ``(4) Reporting.--The task force shall submit an annual 
     report regarding its activities and proposals to--
       ``(A) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
     and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       ``(B) the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.''.

     SEC. 4103. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF SBA ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
                   VETERANS BUSINESS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Assumption of Duties.--Section 33 of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 657c) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (h); and
       (2) by redesignating subsections (i) through (k) as 
     subsections (h) through (j), respectively.
       (b) Permanent Extension of Authority.--Section 203 of the 
     Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act 
     of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking 
     subsection (h).

TITLE XLII--NATIONAL RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABILITY

     SEC. 4201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``National Reservist 
     Enterprise Transition and Sustainability Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 4202. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this title is to establish a program to--
       (1) provide managerial, financial, planning, development, 
     technical, and regulatory assistance to small business 
     concerns owned and operated by Reservists;
       (2) provide managerial, financial, planning, development, 
     technical, and regulatory assistance to the temporary heads 
     of small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists;
       (3) create a partnership between the Small Business 
     Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs to assist small business concerns owned 
     and operated by Reservists;
       (4) utilize the service delivery network of small business 
     development centers, women's business centers, Veterans 
     Business Outreach Centers, and centers operated by the 
     National Veterans Business Development Corporation to expand 
     the access of small business concerns owned and operated by 
     Reservists to programs providing business management, 
     development, financial, procurement, technical, regulatory, 
     and marketing assistance;
       (5) utilize the service delivery network of small business 
     development centers, women's business centers, Veterans 
     Business Outreach Centers, and centers operated by the 
     National Veterans Business Development Corporation to quickly 
     respond to an activation of Reservists that own and operate 
     small business concerns; and
       (6) utilize the service delivery network of small business 
     development centers, women's business centers, Veterans 
     Business Outreach Centers, and centers operated by the 
     National Veterans Business Development Corporation to assist 
     Reservists that own and operate small business concerns in 
     preparing for future military activations.

     SEC. 4203. NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 21(a)(1) of the Small Business Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``any small 
     business development center, women's business center, 
     Veterans Business Outreach Center, or center operated by the 
     National Veterans Business Development Corporation providing 
     enterprise transition and sustainability assistance to 
     Reservists under section 37,'' after ``any women's business 
     center operating pursuant to section 29,''.
       (b) Program.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 37 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as 
     section 38; and
       (2) by inserting after section 36 the following:

     ``SEC. 37. RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND 
                   SUSTAINABILITY.

       ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a 
     program to provide business planning assistance to small 
     business concerns owned and operated by Reservists.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this section--

[[Page S12007]]

       ``(1) the terms `activated' and `activation' mean having 
     received an order placing a Reservists on active duty, as 
     defined by section 101(1) of title 10, United States Code;
       ``(2) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of 
     the Small Business Administration, acting through the 
     Associate Administrator for Small Business Development 
     Centers;
       ``(3) the term `Association' means the association 
     established under section 21(a)(3)(A);
       ``(4) the term `eligible applicant' means--
       ``(A) a small business development center that is 
     accredited under section 21(k);
       ``(B) a women's business center;
       ``(C) a Veterans Business Outreach Center that receives 
     funds from the Office of Veterans Business Development; or
       ``(D) an information and assistance center operated by the 
     National Veterans Business Development Corporation under 
     section 33;
       ``(5) the term `enterprise transition and sustainability 
     assistance' means assistance provided by an eligible 
     applicant to a small business concern owned and operated by a 
     Reservist, who has been activated or is likely to be 
     activated in the next 12 months, to develop and implement a 
     business strategy for the period while the owner is on active 
     duty and 6 months after the date of the return of the owner;
       ``(6) the term `Reservist' means any person who is--
       ``(A) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, 
     as defined by section 10101 of title 10, United States Code; 
     and
       ``(B) on active status, as defined by section 101(d)(4) of 
     title 10, United States Code;
       ``(7) the term `small business development center' means a 
     small business development center as described in section 21 
     of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648);
       ``(8) the term `State' means each of the several States of 
     the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
     of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam; 
     and
       ``(9) the term `women's business center' means a women's 
     business center described in section 29 of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 656).
       ``(c) Authority.--The Administrator may award grants, in 
     accordance with the regulations developed under subsection 
     (d), to eligible applicants to assist small business concerns 
     owned and operated by Reservists by--
       ``(1) providing management, development, financing, 
     procurement, technical, regulatory, and marketing assistance;
       ``(2) providing access to information and resources, 
     including Federal and State business assistance programs;
       ``(3) distributing contact information provided by the 
     Department of Defense regarding activated Reservists to 
     corresponding State directors;
       ``(4) offering free, one-on-one, in-depth counseling 
     regarding management, development, financing, procurement, 
     regulations, and marketing;
       ``(5) assisting in developing a long-term plan for possible 
     future activation; and
       ``(6) providing enterprise transition and sustainability 
     assistance.
       ``(d) Rulemaking.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
     the Association and after notice and an opportunity for 
     comment, shall promulgate regulations to carry out this 
     section.
       ``(2) Deadline.--The Administrator shall promulgate final 
     regulations not later than 180 days of the date of enactment 
     of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business 
     Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007.
       ``(3) Contents.--The regulations developed by the 
     Administrator under this subsection shall establish--
       ``(A) procedures for identifying, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Defense, States that have had a recent 
     activation of Reservists;
       ``(B) priorities for the types of assistance to be provided 
     under the program authorized by this section;
       ``(C) standards relating to educational, technical, and 
     support services to be provided by a grantee;
       ``(D) standards relating to any national service delivery 
     and support function to be provided by a grantee;
       ``(E) standards relating to any work plan that the 
     Administrator may require a grantee to develop; and
       ``(F) standards relating to the educational, technical, and 
     professional competency of any expert or other assistance 
     provider to whom a small business concern may be referred for 
     assistance by a grantee.
       ``(e) Application.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each eligible applicant desiring a grant 
     under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Administrator at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 
     by such information as the Administrator may reasonably 
     require.
       ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall describe--
       ``(A) the activities for which the applicant seeks 
     assistance under this section; and
       ``(B) how the applicant plans to allocate funds within its 
     network.
       ``(f) Award of Grants.--
       ``(1) Deadline.--The Administrator shall award grants not 
     later than 60 days after the promulgation of final rules and 
     regulations under subsection (d).
       ``(2) Amount.--Each eligible applicant awarded a grant 
     under this section shall receive a grant in an amount not 
     greater than $300,000 per fiscal year.
       ``(g) Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall--
       ``(A) initiate an evaluation of the program not later than 
     30 months after the disbursement of the first grant under 
     this section; and
       ``(B) submit a report not later than 6 months after the 
     initiation of the evaluation under paragraph (1) to--
       ``(i) the Administrator;
       ``(ii) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
     of the Senate; and
       ``(iii) the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) address the results of the evaluation conducted under 
     paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) recommend changes to law, if any, that it believes 
     would be necessary or advisable to achieve the goals of this 
     section.
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this section--
       ``(A) $5,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after 
     the date of enactment of the Military Reservist and Veteran 
     Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007; 
     and
       ``(B) $5,000,000 for each of the 3 fiscal years following 
     the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Funding offset.--Amounts necessary to carry out this 
     section shall be offset and made available through the 
     reduction of the authorization of funding under section 
     20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 
     note).''.

                    TITLE XLIII--RESERVIST PROGRAMS

     SEC. 4301. RESERVIST PROGRAMS.

       (a) Application Period.--Section 7(b)(3)(C) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(C)) is amended by striking 
     ``90 days'' and inserting ``1 year''.
       (b) Pre-Consideration Process.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``eligible 
     Reservist'' means a Reservist who--
       (A) has not been ordered to active duty;
       (B) expects to be ordered to active duty during a period of 
     military conflict; and
       (C) can reasonably demonstrate that the small business 
     concern for which that Reservist is a key employee will 
     suffer economic injury in the absence of that Reservist.
       (2) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a 
     pre-consideration process, under which the Administrator--
       (A) may collect all relevant materials necessary for 
     processing a loan to a small business concern under section 
     7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) 
     before an eligible Reservist employed by that small business 
     concern is activated; and
       (B) shall distribute funds for any loan approved under 
     subparagraph (A) if that eligible Reservist is activated.
       (c) Outreach and Technical Assistance Program.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
     Defense, shall develop a comprehensive outreach and technical 
     assistance program (in this subsection referred to as the 
     ``program'') to--
       (A) market the loans available under section 7(b)(3) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) to Reservists, and 
     family members of Reservists, that are on active duty and 
     that are not on active duty; and
       (B) provide technical assistance to a small business 
     concern applying for a loan under that section.
       (2) Components.--The program shall--
       (A) incorporate appropriate websites maintained by the 
     Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the 
     Department of Defense; and
       (B) require that information on the program is made 
     available to small business concerns directly through--
       (i) the district offices and resource partners of the 
     Administration, including small business development centers, 
     women's business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired 
     Executives; and
       (ii) other Federal agencies, including the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
       (3) Report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter until 
     the date that is 30 months after such date of enactment, the 
     Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the status 
     of the program.
       (B) Contents.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include--
       (i) for the 6-month period ending on the date of that 
     report--

       (I) the number of loans approved under section 7(b)(3) of 
     the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3));
       (II) the number of loans disbursed under that section; and
       (III) the total amount disbursed under that section; and

       (ii) recommendations, if any, to make the program more 
     effective in serving small business concerns that employ 
     Reservists.

     SEC. 4302. RESERVIST LOANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 7(b)(3)(E) of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(E)) is amended by striking 
     ``$1,500,000'' each place such term appears and inserting 
     ``$2,000,000''.
       (b) Loan Information.--

[[Page S12008]]

       (1) In general.--The Administrator and the Secretary of 
     Defense shall develop a joint website and printed materials 
     providing information regarding any program for small 
     business concerns that is available to veterans or 
     Reservists.
       (2) Marketing.--The Administrator is authorized--
       (A) to advertise and promote the program under section 
     7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act jointly with the Secretary 
     of Defense and veterans' service organizations; and
       (B) to advertise and promote participation by lenders in 
     such program jointly with trade associations for banks or 
     other lending institutions.

     SEC. 4303. NONCOLLATERALIZED LOANS.

       Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     636(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Administrator may make a loan under this paragraph of not 
     more than $50,000 without collateral.
       ``(ii) The Administrator may defer payment of principal and 
     interest on a loan described in clause (i) during the longer 
     of--
       ``(I) the 1-year period beginning on the date of the 
     initial disbursement of the loan; and
       ``(II) the period during which the relevant essential 
     employee is on active duty.''.

     SEC. 4304. LOAN PRIORITY.

       Section 7(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     636(b)(3)), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(H) The Administrator shall give priority to any 
     application for a loan under this paragraph and shall process 
     and make a determination regarding such applications prior to 
     processing or making a determination on other loan 
     applications under this subsection, on a rolling basis.''.

     SEC. 4305. RELIEF FROM TIME LIMITATIONS FOR VETERAN-OWNED 
                   SMALL BUSINESSES.

       Section 3(q) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Relief from time limitations.--
       ``(A) In general.--Any time limitation on any 
     qualification, certification, or period of participation 
     imposed under this Act on any program available to small 
     business concerns shall be extended for a small business 
     concern that--
       ``(i) is owned and controlled by--

       ``(I) a veteran who was called or ordered to active duty 
     under a provision of law specified in section 101(a)(13)(B) 
     of title 10, United States Code, on or after September 11, 
     2001; or
       ``(II) a service-disabled veteran who became such a veteran 
     due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the 
     active military, naval, or air service during a period of 
     active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty under 
     a provision of law referred to in subclause (I) on or after 
     September 11, 2001; and

       ``(ii) was subject to the time limitation during such 
     period of active duty.
       ``(B) Duration.--Upon submission of proper documentation to 
     the Administrator, the extension of a time limitation under 
     subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the period of time that 
     such veteran who owned or controlled such a concern was on 
     active duty as described in that subparagraph.''.

     SEC. 4306. SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     submit to the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives a report 
     describing--
       (1) the types of assistance needed by service-disabled 
     veterans who wish to become entrepreneurs; and
       (2) any resources that would assist such service-disabled 
     veterans.

     SEC. 4307. STUDY ON OPTIONS FOR PROMOTING POSITIVE WORKING 
                   RELATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THEIR RESERVE 
                   COMPONENT EMPLOYEES.

       (a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study on options for promoting 
     positive working relations between employers and Reserve 
     component employees of such employers, including assessing 
     options for improving the time in which employers of 
     Reservists are notified of the call or order of such members 
     to active duty other than for training.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
     a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).
       (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall--
       (A) provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of--
       (i) what measures, if any, are being taken to inform 
     Reservists of the obligations and responsibilities of such 
     members to their employers;
       (ii) how effective such measures have been; and
       (iii) whether there are additional measures that could be 
     taken to promote positive working relations between 
     Reservists and their employers, including any steps that 
     could be taken to ensure that employers are timely notified 
     of a call to active duty; and
       (B) assess whether there has been a reduction in the hiring 
     of Reservists by business concerns because of--
       (i) any increase in the use of Reservists after September 
     11, 2001; or
       (ii) any change in any policy of the Department of Defense 
     relating to Reservists after September 11, 2001.
       (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Small Business of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3025. Mrs. CLINTON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of subtitle A of title VI, add the following:

     SEC. 604. EXTENSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR 
                   TEMPORARY LODGING EXPENSES FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
                   ARMED FORCES IN AREAS SUBJECT TO MAJOR DISASTER 
                   DECLARATION OR FOR INSTALLATIONS EXPERIENCING 
                   SUDDEN INCREASE IN PERSONNEL LEVELS.

       (a) Maximum Period of Receipt of Expenses.--Section 
     404a(c)(3) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``20 days'' and inserting ``60 days''.
       (b) Extension of Authority for Increase in Certain BAH.--
     Section 403(b)(7)(E) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 2008'' and inserting ``December 31, 2009''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2007.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3026. Mr. OBAMA (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 876. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN MILITARY AND 
                   SECURITY CONTRACTING.

       (a) Reports on Iraq and Afghanistan Contracts.--Not later 
     than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 
     of the Interior, the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development, and the Director of 
     National Intelligence shall each submit to Congress a report 
     that contains the information, current as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, as follows:
       (1) The number of persons performing work in Iraq and 
     Afghanistan under contracts (and subcontracts at any tier) 
     entered into by departments and agencies of the United States 
     Government, including the Department of Defense, the 
     Department of State, the Department of the Interior, and the 
     United States Agency for International Development, 
     respectively.
       (2) The companies awarded such contracts and subcontracts.
       (3) The total cost of such contracts.
       (4) The total number of persons who have been killed or 
     wounded in performing work under such contracts.
       (b) Department of Defense Report on Strategy for and 
     Appropriateness of Activities of Contractors Under Department 
     of Defense Contracts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War 
     on Terror.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
     to Congress a report setting forth the strategy of the 
     Department of Defense for the use of, and a description of 
     the activities being carried out by, contractors and 
     subcontractors working in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of 
     Department missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War 
     on Terror, including its strategy for ensuring that such 
     contracts do not--
       (1) have private companies and their employees performing 
     inherently governmental functions;
       (2) place contractors in supervisory roles over United 
     States Government personnel; or
       (3) threaten the safety of contractor personnel or United 
     States Government personnel.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3027. Mrs. HUTCHISON submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department 
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal 
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:


[[Page S12009]]


       At the end of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1070. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DOMESTIC 
                   MILITARY AVIATION NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER.

       (a) In General.--Not later than March 31, 2008, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
     defense committees a report on the feasibility of 
     establishing a Domestic Military Aviation National Training 
     Center (DMA-NTC) for current and future operational 
     reconnaissance and surveillance missions of the National 
     Guard that support local, State, and Federal law enforcement 
     agencies.
       (b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) examine the current and past requirements of RC-26 
     aircraft in support of local, State, and Federal law 
     enforcement and determine the number of aircraft required to 
     provide such support for each State that borders Canada, 
     Mexico, or the Gulf of Mexico;
       (2) determine the number of military and civilian personnel 
     required to run a RC-26 domestic training center meeting the 
     requirements identified under paragraph (1); and
       (3) determine the requirements and cost of locating such a 
     training center at a military installation for the purpose of 
     preempting and responding to security threats and responding 
     to crises.
       (c) Consultation.--In preparing the report required under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall consult with 
     the Adjutant General of each State that borders Canada, 
     Mexico, or the Gulf of Mexico.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3028. Mr. CARPER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1070. DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLE.

       Section 301(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     13211(3)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(3) the term'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(3) Alternative fueled vehicle.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `alternative fueled vehicle' 
     includes--
       ``(i) a new qualified fuel cell motor vehicle (as defined 
     in section 30B(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);
       ``(ii) a new advanced lean burn technology motor vehicle 
     (as defined in section 30B(c)(3) of that Code);
       ``(iii) a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle (as defined in 
     section 30B(d)(3) of that Code); and
       ``(iv) any other type of vehicle that the agency 
     demonstrates to the Secretary would achieve a significant 
     reduction in petroleum consumption.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3029. Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself and Mr. Menendez) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 358. REPORTS ON SAFETY MEASURES AND ENCROACHMENT ISSUES 
                   AT WARREN GROVE GUNNERY RANGE, NEW JERSEY.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States Air Force has 32 training sites in 
     the United States for aerial bombing and gunner training, of 
     which Warren Grove Gunnery Range functions in the densely 
     populated Northeast.
       (2) A number of dangerous safety incidents caused by the 
     Air National Guard have repeatedly impacted the residents of 
     New Jersey, including the following:
       (A) On May 15, 2007, a fire ignited during an Air National 
     Guard practice mission at Warren Grove Gunnery Range, 
     scorching 17,250 acres of New Jersey's Pinelands, destroying 
     5 houses, significantly damaging 13 others, and temporarily 
     displacing approximately 6,000 people from their homes in 
     sections of Ocean and Burlington Counties.
       (B) In November 2004, an F-16 Vulcan cannon piloted by the 
     District of Columbia Air National Guard was more than 3 miles 
     off target when it blasted 1.5-inch steel training rounds 
     into the roof of the Little Egg Harbor Township Intermediate 
     School.
       (C) In 2002, a pilot ejected from an F-16 aircraft just 
     before it crashed into the woods near the Garden State 
     Parkway, sending large pieces of debris onto the busy 
     highway.
       (D) In 1999, a dummy bomb was dumped a mile off target from 
     the Warren Grove target range in the Pine Barrens, igniting a 
     fire that burned 12,000 acres of the Pinelands forest.
       (E) In 1997, the pilots of F-16 aircraft uplifting from the 
     Warren Grove Gunnery Range escaped injury by ejecting from 
     their aircraft just before the planes collided over the ocean 
     near the north end of Brigantine. Pilot error was found to be 
     the cause of the collision.
       (F) In 1986, a New Jersey Air National Guard jet fighter 
     crashed in a remote section of the Pine Barrens in Burlington 
     County, starting a fire that scorched at least 90 acres of 
     woodland.
       (b) Annual Report on Safety Measures.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
     annually thereafter for two years, the Secretary of the Air 
     Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
     report on efforts made to provide the highest level of safety 
     by all of the military departments utilizing the Warren Grove 
     Gunnery Range.
       (c) Study on Encroachment at Warren Grove Gunnery Range.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force 
     shall submit to the congressional defense committees a study 
     on encroachment issues at Warren Grove Gunnery Range.
       (2) Content.--The study required under paragraph (1) shall 
     include a master plan for the Warren Grove Gunnery Range and 
     the surrounding community, taking into consideration military 
     mission, land use plans, urban encroachment, the economy of 
     the region, and protection of the environment and public 
     health, safety, and welfare.
       (3) Required input.--The study required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include input from all affected parties and relevant 
     stakeholders at the Federal, State, and local level.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3030. Mr. BENNETT (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2011 proposed by Mr. 
Nelson of Nebraska (for Mr. Levin) to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle C of title XXVIII, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 2836. MODIFICATION OF LAND MANAGEMENT RESTRICTIONS 
                   APPLICABLE TO UTAH NATIONAL DEFENSE LANDS.

       Section 2815 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65; 113 Stat. 852) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``that are adjacent to 
     or near the Utah Test and Training Range and Dugway Proving 
     Ground or beneath'' and inserting ``that are beneath''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Sunset Date.--This section shall expire on October 1, 
     2013.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3031. Mr. BOND submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2011 proposed by Mr. Nelson of Nebraska (for Mr. Levin) to 
the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       After section 1064, insert the following:

     SEC. 1065. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF 
                   SECURITY CLEARANCES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The process for issuing security clearances is an 
     antiquated, paper-driven effort that costs thousands of 
     dollars and requires hundreds of days to process one request 
     for a security clearance.
       (2) Years of promises to improve the process have resulted 
     in no reduction in the amount of time and money required to 
     process a request for a security clearance and such process 
     is hopelessly backlogged.
       (3) The inability of civilians, intelligence officers, 
     military personnel, and contractors to perform their jobs due 
     to delays in receiving a security clearance results in 
     substantial costs every year and poses a significant threat 
     to the national security of the United States.
       (4) The Secretary of Defense and the Director of National 
     Intelligence have begun to work together to improve the 
     process for issuing security clearances and have established 
     a team known as the ``Tiger Team'' to address problems in 
     that process.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National 
     Intelligence should continue to work together to rapidly 
     update the antiquated security clearance process using 
     existing commercial technology and innovative new approaches 
     to transform the process to the maximum extent possible; and
       (2) funding for processing of requests for security 
     clearances should be made available directly through 
     appropriations of funds for

[[Page S12010]]

     that purpose and not through a fee-for-service arrangement 
     with the Office of Management and Budget or the Office of 
     Personnel Management.
       (c) Demonstration Projects.--
       (1) Requirement for demonstration projects.--Not later than 
     6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Defense and the Director of National 
     Intelligence shall implement multiple demonstration projects 
     that apply new and innovative approaches to improve the 
     processing of requests for security clearances. Each such 
     project shall utilize proven commercial technologies and 
     methods to the maximum extent possible.
       (2) Exemption from executive orders.--No executive order 
     that delegates responsibility for the issuance of security 
     clearances to the personnel of the Office of Management and 
     Budget shall apply to a demonstration project carried out 
     under paragraph (1).
       (3) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the status and progress of the demonstration 
     projects carried out under paragraph (1).
       (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Director of National Intelligence such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this subsection.
       (d) Evaluation and Report.--
       (1) Requirement for evaluation.--The Secretary of Defense 
     and the Director of National Intelligence shall carry out an 
     evaluation of the process for issuing security clearances and 
     develop a specific plan and schedule for replacing such 
     process with an improved process.
       (2) Requirement for report.--Not later than 30 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense and the Director of National Intelligence shall 
     submit to Congress a report on the evaluation carried out 
     under paragraph (1) together with the plan developed under 
     such paragraph.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3032. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2011 proposed by Mr. Nelson of Nebraska (for Mr. Levin) 
to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 531 and insert the following:

     SEC. 531. SENSE OF SENATE ON FORGOING REVISIONS TO THE 
                   STRUCTURE OF THE RESERVE FORCES POLICY BOARD.

       It is the sense of the Senate that, in light of the wide 
     range of views on the optimal structure of the Reserve Forces 
     Policy Board among the Commission on the National Guard and 
     Reserves, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the 
     Department of Defense, and the Reserve community, and in 
     light of the absence of full and complete hearings in 
     Congress on that structure, the Act authorizing 
     appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities 
     of the Department of Defense should not include revisions to 
     the structure of the Reserve Forces Policy Board.

                          ____________________