[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15456-15459]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. SNOWE:
  S. 3715. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the 
treatment of eligible combined defined benefit plans and qualified cash 
or deferred arrangements; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small 
Business and Entrepreneurship, I have long believed that it is my 
responsibility and the duty of this Chamber to help small businesses, 
as they are the driver of this Nation's economy, responsible for 
generating approximately 75 percent of net new jobs annually.
  On Monday I introduced legislation that would help to address the 
retirement needs of millions of small business employees. My bill will 
make it easier for small employers to offer pension and 401(k) benefits 
to their employees, who typically have lower retirement savings rates. 
My bill makes it easier for small businesses to offer a ``DB/K plan'' 
which is a combination of a defined benefit plan and a section 401(k) 
plan that is included in a single plan document. Currently, due to 
defined benefit plans' complex rules and high establishment costs, many 
small businesses are unable to set up these types of pension plans for 
their employees. Instead, many small businesses choose to offer less 
complex 401(k) plans that do not require employer contributions and 
offer their employees less guaranteed retirement benefits.
  Many small employers would like to offer defined benefit pension 
plans but are currently hampered by top-heavy rules designed to prevent 
large companies from exclusively offering pensions to key employees. 
These well-meaning regulations prevent most small companies, with a few 
key employees, from providing pension benefits. Legislation that 
establishes DB/K plans would provide small businesses with reasonable 
exemptions from these top-heavy rules. This increased flexibility will 
enable employers to offer employees pension benefits as well as the 
capability to save incrementally in 401(k) type accounts.
  Another advantage of DB/K plans is that they offer employees 
increased flexibility. Employees with DB/K plans would be allowed to 
take their DB/K assets with them when they switch employers. This 
portability would make DB/Ks attractive to many younger employees, who 
tend to change jobs often. Portability is a DB/K innovation not offered 
by traditional defined benefit plans which have vesting periods and 
stop accumulating value when the employee leaves a company. For older 
workers, the main attraction would be the defined benefit feature, 
which provides that at least part of their retirement savings would 
provide a monthly pension check at retirement.
  According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, only 16 percent 
of employees at companies with 10 workers or fewer and 32 percent of 
employees at companies with 100 employees or fewer participate in their 
company-sponsored retirement savings plans. Comparatively, almost 60 
percent of employees at companies with more than 1,000 workers save for 
retirement through a company sponsored plan. Small business workers' 
low participation rates in retirement savings plan

[[Page 15457]]

are troubling as small businesses employ half of all private sector 
employees. Many policymakers who are closely watching the aging of the 
American population worry that small business owners' and their 
employees' low savings rates will leave this group inadequately 
prepared to pay for their retirements. The creation of DB/K plans is 
one option for helping small business owners and their employees 
increase their overall retirement savings.
  Under this legislation each part of the DB/K plan would be subject to 
the present-law rules for defined benefit plans or 401(k) plans, but 
the rules would be simplified. Like 401(k) plans, the proposed DB/Ks 
would allow employees to make pretax contributions to their accounts, 
could include employer matching funds and permit employees to invest 
their 401(k) portion in mutual funds etc. The assets of both components 
of the DB/K plan could be held in a trust covered by a single trust 
instrument. However, the assets of the defined benefit component of the 
plan and the assets of the 401(k) component of the plan must be clearly 
identified and allocated to the appropriate part of the trust.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. CLINTON:
  S. 3716. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 100 Pitcher Street in Utica, New York, as the 
``Captain George A. Wood Post Office Building''; to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I am proud to introduce legislation 
which would designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located 
at 100 Pitcher Street in Utica, NY, as the Captain George A. Wood Post 
Office Building.
  CAPT George A. Wood bravely served our Nation in Iraq before his 
tragic death on November 20, 2003.
  Captain Wood was born and raised in Utica, NY, in the heart of the 
Mohawk Valley. As a student at Notre Dame Junior-Senior High School, 
Wood excelled both in the classroom and on the athletic field, where he 
participated in football and track and field.
  Upon graduation from high school, Wood attended Cornell University. 
He played on the university's football team, but focused most of his 
attention on his academics, particularly his history coursework. After 
earning his bachelor's degree in 1993, Wood continued in his academic 
pursuits, earning master's degrees at SUNY-Albany and SUNY-Cortland.
  Wood's interest in history continued after he entered the U.S. Army. 
As a captain in the 4th Infantry Division, Wood's responsibilities 
included leading a tank unit in Iraq. He told his wife that his 
experience leading troops would someday help him prepare for a 
doctorate in military history.
  Captain Wood hoped to teach history and coach football at the U.S. 
Military Academy at West Point, NY. Unfortunately, his untimely death 
will prevent this dream from becoming a reality. However, we can honor 
this great American for the sacrifice he made defending the freedoms we 
all enjoy.
  Captain Wood's father and grandfather both worked at the Pitcher 
Street Post Office in Utica, NY, and it would be a fitting honor to 
designate this facility in tribute to CAPT George A. Wood.
  I ask that the Senate come together and honor this brave American 
hero for his service to our Nation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3716

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CAPTAIN GEORGE A. WOOD POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 100 Pitcher Street in Utica, New York, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Captain George A. Wood 
     Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Captain George A. Wood Post Office 
     Building''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. HARKIN:
  S. 3717. A bill to amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the 
Public Health Service Act to set standards for medical diagnostic 
equipment and to establish a program for promoting good health, disease 
prevention, and wellness and for the prevention of secondary conditions 
for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3717

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Wellness for 
     Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL 
                   DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT.

       Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791 et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end of the following:

     ``SEC. 510. ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL 
                   DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT.

       ``(a) Standards.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
     enactment of the Promoting Wellness for Individuals with 
     Disabilities Act of 2006, the Architectural and 
     Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall issue 
     (including publishing) standards setting forth the minimum 
     technical criteria for medical diagnostic equipment used in 
     (or in conjunction with) physician's offices, clinics, 
     emergency rooms, hospitals, and other medical settings. The 
     standards shall ensure that such equipment is accessible to, 
     and usable by, individuals with disabilities, and shall allow 
     independent entry to, use of, and exit from the equipment by 
     such individuals to the maximum extent possible.
       ``(b) Medical Diagnostic Equipment Covered.--The standards 
     issued under subsection (a) for medical diagnostic equipment 
     shall apply to equipment that includes examination tables, 
     examination chairs (including chairs used for eye 
     examinations or procedures, and dental examinations or 
     procedures), weight scales, mammography equipment, x-ray 
     machines, and other radiological equipment commonly used for 
     diagnostic purposes by health professionals.
       ``(c) Review and Amendment.--The Architectural and 
     Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall periodically 
     review and, as appropriate, amend the standards.''.

     SEC. 3. WELLNESS GRANT PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   DISABILITIES.

       Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 399P. ESTABLISHMENT OF WELLNESS GRANT PROGRAM FOR 
                   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

       ``(a) In General.--
       ``(1) Individual with a disability defined.--For purposes 
     of this section, the term `individual with a disability' has 
     the meaning given the term in section 7(20) of the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(20)), for purposes 
     of title V of such Act (29 U.S.C. 791 et seq.).
       ``(2) Wellness grant program for individuals with 
     disabilities.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
     National Advisory Committee on Wellness for Individuals With 
     Disabilities, may make grants on a competitive basis to 
     public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of 
     carrying out programs for promoting good health, disease 
     prevention, and wellness for individuals with disabilities, 
     and preventing secondary conditions in such individuals.
       ``(b) Requirement of Application.--To be eligible to 
     receive a grant under subsection (a), a public or nonprofit 
     private entity shall submit to the Secretary an application 
     at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, 
     assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be 
     necessary to carry out this section.
       ``(c) Authorized Activities.--With respect to promoting 
     good health and wellness for individuals with disabilities 
     described in subsection (a), activities for which the 
     Secretary may make a grant under such subsection include--
       ``(1) programs or activities for smoking cessation, weight 
     control, nutrition, or fitness that focus on the unique 
     challenges faced by individuals with disabilities regarding 
     these issues;
       ``(2) preventive health screening programs for individuals 
     with disabilities to reduce the incidence of secondary 
     conditions; and
       ``(3) athletic, exercise, or sports programs that provide 
     individuals with disabilities (including children with 
     disabilities) an opportunity to increase their physical 
     activity in a dedicated or adaptive recreational environment.
       ``(d) Priorities.--

[[Page 15458]]

       ``(1) Advisory committee.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     National Advisory Committee on Wellness for Individuals With 
     Disabilities that shall set priorities to carry out this 
     section, review grant proposals, and make recommendations for 
     funding, and annually evaluate the progress of the program 
     under this section in implementing the priorities.
       ``(2) Representation.--The Advisory Committee established 
     under paragraph (1) shall include representation by the 
     Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability, 
     the United States Surgeon General or his designee, the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, private nonprofit 
     organizations that represent the civil rights and interests 
     of individuals with disabilities, and individuals with 
     disabilities or their family members.
       ``(e) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary shall, 
     in addition to the usual methods of the Secretary, 
     disseminate information about the availability of grants 
     under the Wellness Grant Program for Individuals with 
     Disabilities in a manner designed to reach public entities 
     and nonprofit private organizations that are dedicated to 
     providing outreach, advocacy, or independent living services 
     to individuals with disabilities.
       ``(f) Reports to Congress.--The Secretary shall, not later 
     than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the 
     Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 
     2006, and annually thereafter, submit to Congress a report 
     summarizing activities, findings, outcomes, and 
     recommendations resulting from the grant projects funded 
     under this section during the preceding fiscal year.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     making grants under this section, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary.''.

     SEC. 4. IMPROVING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO PROVIDE MEDICAL 
                   SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

       (a) Coordinated Program To Improve Pediatric Oral Health.--
     Section 320A(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     247d-8(b)) is amended by--
       (1) striking ``, or to increase'' and inserting ``, to 
     increase''; and
       (2) striking the period and inserting the following ``, or 
     to provide training to improve competency and clinical skills 
     in providing oral health services to, and communicating with, 
     patients with disabilities, including those with intellectual 
     disabilities.''.
       (b) Children's Hospitals That Operate Graduate Medical 
     Education Programs.--Section 340E of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256e) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(h) Requirement To Provide Training.--To be eligible to 
     receive a payment under this section, a children's hospital 
     shall provide training to improve competency and clinical 
     skills in providing health care to, and communicating with, 
     patients with disabilities, including those with intellectual 
     disabilities, as part of any approved graduate medical 
     residency training program provided by the hospital.''.
       (c) Centers of Excellence.--Section 736(b) of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
       ``(7) to carry out a program to improve competency and 
     clinical skills of students in providing health services to, 
     and communicating with, patients with disabilities, including 
     those with intellectual disabilities; and''.
       (d) Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, General 
     Pediatrics, General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, and 
     Physician Assistants.--Section 747(a)(6) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293k(a)(6)) is amended by striking 
     ``pediatric dentistry.'' and inserting the following: 
     ``pediatric dentistry; and
       ``(7) to plan, develop, and operate a program for the 
     training of physicians or dentists, or medical or dental 
     residents, to improve competency and clinical skills of 
     physicians and dentists in providing services to, and 
     communicating with, patients with disabilities, including 
     those with intellectual disabilities.''.
       (e) Advisory Council on Graduate Medical Education.--
     Section 762(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     294o(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) appropriate efforts to be carried out by hospitals, 
     schools of medicine, schools of osteopathic medicine, schools 
     of dentistry, and accrediting bodies with respect to changes 
     in undergraduate and graduate medical training to improve 
     competency and clinical skills of physicians in providing 
     health care services to, and communicating with, patients 
     with disabilities, including those with intellectual 
     disabilities; and''.
       (f) Medicare Graduate Medical Education Programs.--Section 
     1886(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) Requirement to provide training.--To be eligible to 
     receive a payment under this subsection, a hospital shall 
     provide training to improve competency and clinical skills in 
     providing health care to, and communicating with, patients 
     with disabilities, including those with intellectual 
     disabilities, as part of any approved medical residency 
     training program provided by the hospital.''.
       (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections 
     (b), (c), and (f) shall take effect 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Allard, 
        and Mr. Craig):
  S. 3719. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow 
public school districts to receive no interest loans for the purchase 
of renewable energy systems, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Finance.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3719

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Renewable Schools Energy Act 
     of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. QUALIFIED RENEWABLE SCHOOL ENERGY BONDS.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter U of chapter 1 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to incentives for education 
     zones) is amended by redesignating section 1397F as section 
     1397G and by adding at the end of part IV of such subchapter 
     the following new section:

     ``SEC. 1397F. QUALIFIED RENEWABLE SCHOOL ENERGY BONDS.

       ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--If a taxpayer holds a qualified 
     renewable school energy bond on 1 or more credit allowance 
     dates of the bond occurring during any taxable year, there 
     shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this 
     chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the sum of 
     the credits determined under subsection (b) with respect to 
     such dates.
       ``(b) Amount of Credit.--
       ``(1) In general.--The amount of the credit determined 
     under this subsection with respect to any credit allowance 
     date for a qualified renewable school energy bond is 25 
     percent of the annual credit determined with respect to such 
     bond.
       ``(2) Annual credit.--The annual credit determined with 
     respect to any qualified renewable school energy bond is the 
     product of--
       ``(A) the credit rate determined by the Secretary under 
     paragraph (3) for the day on which such bond was sold, 
     multiplied by
       ``(B) the outstanding face amount of the bond.
       ``(3) Determination.--For purposes of paragraph (2), with 
     respect to any qualified renewable school energy bond, the 
     Secretary shall determine daily or cause to be determined 
     daily a credit rate which shall apply to the first day on 
     which there is a binding, written contract for the sale or 
     exchange of the bond. The credit rate for any day is the 
     credit rate which the Secretary or the Secretary's designee 
     estimates will permit the issuance of qualified renewable 
     school energy bonds with a specified maturity or redemption 
     date without discount and without interest cost to the 
     qualified issuer.
       ``(4) Credit allowance date.--For purposes of this section, 
     the term `credit allowance date' means--
       ``(A) March 15,
       ``(B) June 15,
       ``(C) September 15, and
       ``(D) December 15.
     Such term also includes the last day on which the bond is 
     outstanding.
       ``(5) Special rule for issuance and redemption.--In the 
     case of a bond which is issued during the 3-month period 
     ending on a credit allowance date, the amount of the credit 
     determined under this subsection with respect to such credit 
     allowance date shall be a ratable portion of the credit 
     otherwise determined based on the portion of the 3-month 
     period during which the bond is outstanding. A similar rule 
     shall apply when the bond is redeemed or matures.
       ``(c) Limitation Based on Amount of Tax.--The credit 
     allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not 
     exceed the excess of--
       ``(1) the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in 
     section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over
       ``(2) the sum of the credits allowable under part IV of 
     subchapter A (other than subpart C thereof, relating to 
     refundable credits, subpart H thereof, section 1400N(l), and 
     this section).
       ``(d) Qualified Renewable School Energy Bond.--For purposes 
     of this section--
       ``(1) In general.--The term `renewable school energy bond' 
     means any bond issued as part of an issue if--

[[Page 15459]]

       ``(A) 95 percent or more of the proceeds of such issue are 
     to be used for a qualified purpose with respect to a 
     qualified school operated by an eligible local education 
     agency,
       ``(B) the bond is issued by a State or local government of 
     an eligible State within the jurisdiction of which such 
     school is located,
       ``(C) the issuer--
       ``(i) designates such bond for purposes of this section, 
     and
       ``(ii) certifies that it has the written approval of the 
     eligible local education agency for such bond issuance, and
       ``(D) the term of each bond which is part of such issue is 
     20 years.
       ``(2) Qualified school.--The term `qualified school' means 
     any public school or public school system administrative 
     building which is owned by or operated by an eligible local 
     education agency.
       ``(3) Eligible local education agency.--The term `eligible 
     local education agency' means any local educational agency as 
     defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965.
       ``(4) Eligible state.--The term `eligible State' means, 
     with respect to any calendar year)--
       ``(A) one of the five States with the greatest percentage 
     population growth for the most recent preceding year for 
     which data is available as determined by the Bureau of the 
     Census, and
       ``(B) the State with a total percentage population growth 
     greater than 9 percent but less than 13.9 percent and a total 
     population under the age of 19 of less than 300,000 as 
     determined under the 2000 Census.
       ``(5) Qualified purpose.--The term `qualified purpose' 
     means, with respect to any qualified school, the purchase and 
     installation of renewable energy products.
       ``(e) Limitation on Amount of Bonds Designated.--
       ``(1) National limitation.--There is a national renewable 
     school energy bond limitation for each calendar year. Such 
     limitation is $50,000,000 for 2007, $100,000,000 for 2008, 
     $150,000,000 for 2009, and, except as provided in paragraph 
     (4), zero thereafter.
       ``(2) Allocation of limitation.--The national renewable 
     school energy bond limitation for a calendar year shall be 
     allocated by the Secretary--
       ``(A) among the eligible States described in subsection 
     (d)(4)(A), 30 percent to the State with the greatest 
     percentage population growth, 20 percent to each of second 
     and third ranked States, and 10 percent to each of the fourth 
     and fifth ranked States, and
       ``(B) to the State described in subsection (d)(4)(B), 10 
     percent.

     The limitation amount allocated to an eligible State under 
     the preceding sentence shall be allocated by the State 
     education agency to qualified schools within such State.
       ``(3) Designation subject to limitation amount.--The 
     maximum aggregate face amount of bonds issued during any 
     calendar year which may be designated under subsection (d)(1) 
     with respect to any qualified school shall not exceed the 
     limitation amount allocated to such school under paragraph 
     (2) for such calendar year.
       ``(4) Carryover of unused limitation.--If for any calendar 
     year--
       ``(A) the limitation amount for any eligible State, exceeds
       ``(B) the amount of bonds issued during such year which are 
     designated under subsection (d)(1) with respect to qualified 
     schools within such State,

     the limitation amount for such State for the following 
     calendar year shall be increased by the amount of such 
     excess. Any carryforward of a limitation amount may be 
     carried only to the first 2 years following the unused 
     limitation year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a 
     limitation amount shall be treated as used on a first-in 
     first-out basis.
       ``(f) Other Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
       ``(1) Bond.--The term `bond' includes any obligation.
       ``(2) State.--The term `State' includes the District of 
     Columbia and any possession of the United States.
       ``(g) Credit Included in Gross Income.--Gross income 
     includes the amount of the credit allowed to the taxpayer 
     under this section (determined without regard to subsection 
     (c)).
       ``(h) Credits May Be Stripped.--Under regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary--
       ``(1) In general.--There may be a separation (including at 
     issuance) of the ownership of a qualified renewable school 
     energy bond and the entitlement to the credit under this 
     section with respect to such bond. In case of any such 
     separation, the credit under this section shall be allowed to 
     the person which, on the credit allowance date, holds the 
     instrument evidencing the entitlement to the credit and not 
     to the holder of the bond.
       ``(2) Certain rules to apply.--In the case of a separation 
     described in paragraph (1), the rules of section 1286 shall 
     apply to the qualified renewable school energy bond as if it 
     were a stripped bond and to the credit under this section as 
     if it were a stripped coupon.
       ``(i) Credit Treated as Nonrefundable Bondholder Credit.--
     For purposes of this title, the credit allowed by this 
     section shall be treated as a credit allowable under subpart 
     H of part IV of subchapter A of this chapter.
       ``(j) Special Rules.--For purposes of this section, rules 
     similar to the rules under paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 
     54(l) shall apply.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections for part 
     V of such subchapter is amended by redesignating section 
     1397F as section 1397G and by adding at the end of the table 
     of sections for part IV of such subchapter the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 1397F. Credit for holders of qualified renewable school energy 
              bonds.''.

       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to bonds issued after December 31, 2006.

                          ____________________