[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17460-17469]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Inhofe, 
        Mr. Vitter, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Johnson of Wisconsin, Mr. Barrasso, 
        Mr. Scott, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. 
        Roberts):
  S. 1724. A bill to provide that the reinsurance fee for the 
transitional reinsurance program under the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act be applied equally to all health insurance issuers 
and group health plans; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I come to the floor to discuss again how 
ObamaCare is negatively impacting American families.
  NBC News is reporting that 5 million Americans have received 
cancellation notices from health insurers. In my home State of South 
Dakota, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader is reporting that nearly 3,000 
people have lost the plan they had. Yet this administration is merely 
pursuing political bandaids for the problem created by the President's 
health care law. The President is trying to fix this problem of 
canceled plans, but his solution is a politically motivated bandaid in 
response to pressure from Members of his own party who are nervous 
about the next election. The unfortunate reality of his bandaid is that 
it won't work.
  Instead of taking responsibility for his failed policies and broken 
promises, he is changing his mind about how he wants his law to work at 
the eleventh hour. He is kicking the can to State insurance regulators 
to determine whether, in 48 days--which is from the date of his 
announcement on Thursday--they can reverse a train wreck that has been 
barreling down the tracks for nearly 4 years.
  The President's health care law told the entire country that 
compliance with the President's law must occur on January 1, 2014. In 
response, industry and State regulators complied. Now, after 
relentlessly pushing a law that is fundamentally flawed, the President 
is changing his mind. He is expecting the State insurance commissioners 
to bail him out, to allow Americans to keep the plans they were 
promised they could keep.
  Since passage of his health care law, the President has continued to 
tout his law and has continued to make promises to the American people 
that he knowingly cannot keep. While I agree that Americans should be 
able to keep the plans they have and like, this eleventh-hour attempt 
at a fix is an indication that the underpinnings of this law are 
irreversibly flawed.
  The administration is now trying to live up to a promise it made 
despite the fact that they knew the promise wasn't true. In fact, the 
President repeated and reiterated that promise as recently as September 
26 despite the fact that the administration knew it wasn't true. In 
2010 the administration knew that up to 93 million Americans in the 
private market were in danger of losing their current health care plan. 
But the deeper problem with the President's fix is that it is merely a 
bandaid. By this time next year Americans will be in this exact same 
situation all over again.

[[Page 17461]]

  The President is not focused on finding a good permanent solution but 
a good political solution. Putting this bandaid on the problem now may 
get him and his party past next year's elections. He seems more 
interested in preserving that power than creating real solutions to the 
underlying issues. In fact, the President is so concerned about the 
politics of his actions that he is considering yet again a way to bail 
out his union friends. As part of the health care law, unions agree to 
pay a tax to help pay for the cost of expanding coverage. This tax, 
known as the reinsurance tax, is scheduled to be paid by self-insured 
plans, including plans administered by unions and many of the largest 
businesses in America. But the unions are unhappy that they have to pay 
money into a fund to help fund a benefit for someone other than their 
dues-paying members. They took their complaints to the administration, 
and, buried in a regulation issued last month, the administration 
announced they intend to exempt unions from paying this tax.
  Yesterday the Wall Street Journal editorial page articulated exactly 
why the unions should not be exempt from this tax. The editorial, 
called ``ObamaCare's Union Favor,'' argues that ``the unions ought to 
consider this tax a civic obligation in solidarity with the (uninsured) 
working folk they claim to support.'' It further states that ``there's 
no conceivable rationale--other than politics--for releasing union-only 
plans from a tax.'' As the editorial pointed out, exempting unions from 
this tax will only mean increased taxes on nonunionized Americans in 
self-insured plans since the tax is structured in a way that it must 
raise a total of $25 billion and isn't structured as a straight 
percentage like most taxes.
  Granting this political deal to unions is why I am introducing the 
Union Tax Fairness Act. This bill would ensure that unions live up to 
the commitments they made when they put their political weight behind 
the health care law. It is political deals such as this that highlight 
how this law is failing the average American.
  This reinsurance fee exemption isn't the only backroom deal the 
administration is trying to grant unions. Earlier this fall the 
administration tried to find a way to provide ObamaCare subsidies to 
ineligible union employees. I introduced a bill called the Union 
Bailout Prevention Act which was aimed at ensuring the administration 
could not make that special deal either.
  It is clear that this President--President Obama--is trying to fix 
problems in his health care law by making decisions and exemptions 
based on favors to his political allies.
  Democrats are on the run from the law they once championed. They 
recognize this law is sagging under its own weight. Last week there 
were 39 House Democrats who voted against the Obama administration by 
supporting the Upton bill that provides a better solution to allowing 
Americans to keep plans they like than what the President proposed. 
Even former President Bill Clinton said President Obama should keep his 
word when it comes to allowing Americans to keep the plans they have 
and like. In this Chamber, several Senate Democrats are running for the 
exits and looking for a legislative escape hatch of their own.
  Unfortunately, the solutions proposed by this administration to fix 
problems in the health care law are only temporary solutions. Their 
solutions to problems are either temporary delays--as they did with the 
employer mandate and the 1-year extension of 2013 plans--or political 
favors to their friends and allies. Instead, this administration should 
agree to delay this entire law for all Americans.
  Americans are deeply skeptical of the Affordable Care Act. According 
to last week's Gallup poll, 55 percent of Americans now disapprove of 
the health care law. There is a more recent poll this morning in which 
ABC News and the Washington Post have that number at 57 percent 
disapproving.
  The time to act is now to ensure Americans can keep the plans they 
have and like. This ``fix'' won't prevent Americans from losing their 
coverage, facing sticker shock and premium increases, or losing their 
doctors. This law is fundamentally broken, and we need to start over 
and enact real reforms that decrease costs and improve access to care.
  As do so many of us in this Chamber, I hear on a daily basis from my 
constituents in South Dakota about the very real impact this is having 
on middle-income Americans. This is an email I received last week:

       My wife just received our health care insurance policy 
     renewals for 2014 and we are in shock!
       Our monthly premiums increased from $400 per month to 
     $1,000, or over $7,000 more per year. My wife age 59 and me 
     age 60 now receive maternity benefits and some other very 
     limited coverage. We lost our prescription drug co-pay and 
     doctor visits co-pay. These expenses will now be included in 
     our $6,300 deductible. I will have no option for any subsidy 
     to offset these increases in premiums.

  He goes on to say:

       Please, please push for a reversal of this horrible health 
     care plan.
       My wife and I are physically ill after receiving this 
     letter from our insurance carrier. Again, the government is 
     destroying our lives and we need you to stop this madness.

  This is just one example of many that I have heard from my State of 
South Dakota and many that my colleagues here in the Senate are hearing 
from all across this country. It is clear this program, this health 
insurance law, is not ready for prime time. It is time for us to take a 
timeout and to go back to the drawing board and construct a plan, an 
insurance program for this country, legislation that will help reduce 
the costs for working-class Americans, give them access to better 
quality of care, and allow them to keep the doctor they choose, which 
is very much in jeopardy as well as a result of this takeover, 
literally, of one-sixth of our economy.
  There is a better way, as I think countless--millions--Americans are 
finding out through canceled coverages, sticker shock from skyrocketing 
premiums, and the new knowledge that they may not be able to keep not 
only their health insurance plan but also the doctors they like. This 
is a grim reality for way too many Americans, and it is time for us to 
step forward and do something about it.
  The President's proposal is a bandaid. It is a political solution. It 
is not a permanent solution; it is temporary. We need long-term fixes 
put in place that will address the health care concerns people have. 
The way to do that isn't to have the Federal Government literally 
assume control of one-sixth of the American economy and all the 
decisionmaking that takes out of the hands of ordinary, middle-class 
families--people across this country who are working hard to take care 
of their families.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Warner, 
        Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Brown):
  S. 1728. A bill to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting Act to improve ballot accessibility to uniformed services voters 
and overseas voters, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Rules 
and Administration.
  Mr. CORNYN. 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. 1728

       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 ``Safeguarding Elections for 
     our Nation's Troops through Reforms and Improvements (SENTRI) 
     Act''.

  TITLE I--AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS 
                          ABSENTEE VOTING ACT

     SEC. 101. PRE-ELECTION REPORTING REQUIREMENT ON TRANSMISSION 
                   OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 102 of the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1973ff-1(c)) is amended by striking ``Not later than 
     90 days'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) Pre-election report on absentee ballots 
     transmitted.--

[[Page 17462]]

       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 43 days before any 
     election for Federal office held in a State, the chief State 
     election official of such State shall submit a report to the 
     Attorney General and the Presidential Designee, and make that 
     report publicly available that same day, confirming--
       ``(i) the number of absentee ballots validly requested by 
     absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters whose 
     requests were received by the 46th day before the election, 
     and
       ``(ii) whether those ballots were timely transmitted.
       ``(B) Matters to be included.--The report under 
     subparagraph (A) shall include the following information:
       ``(i) Specific information about ballot transmission, 
     including the total numbers of ballot requests received from 
     such voters and ballots transmitted to such voters by the 
     46th day before the election from each unit of local 
     government that will administer the election.
       ``(ii) If the chief State election official has incomplete 
     information on any items required to be included in the 
     report, an explanation of what information is incomplete 
     information and efforts made to acquire such information.
       ``(C) Requirement to supplement incomplete information.--If 
     the report under subparagraph (A) has incomplete information 
     on any items required to be included in the report, the chief 
     State election official shall make all reasonable efforts to 
     expeditiously supplement the report with complete 
     information.
       ``(D) Format.--The report under subparagraph (A) shall be 
     in a format prescribed by the Attorney General in 
     consultation with the chief State election officials of each 
     State.
       ``(2) Post election report on number of absentee ballots 
     transmitted and received.--Not later than 90 days''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The heading for subsection (c) 
     of section 102 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1(c)) is amended 
     by striking ``Report on Number of Absentee Ballots 
     Transmitted and Received'' and inserting ``Reports on 
     Absentee Ballots''.

     SEC. 102. TRANSMISSION REQUIREMENTS; REPEAL OF WAIVER 
                   PROVISION.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (8) of section 102(a) of the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1973ff-1(a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(8) transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an 
     absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter by the date 
     and in the manner determined under subsection (g);''.
       (b) Ballot Transmission Requirements and Repeal of Waiver 
     Provision.--Subsection (g) of section 102 of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1973ff-1(g)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(g) Ballot Transmission Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(8), in 
     the case in which a valid request for an absentee ballot is 
     received at least 46 days before an election for Federal 
     office, the following rules shall apply:
       ``(A) Transmission deadline.--The State shall transmit the 
     absentee ballot not later than 46 days before the election.
       ``(B) Special rules in case of failure to transmit on 
     time.--
       ``(i) In general.--If the State fails to transmit any 
     absentee ballot by the 46th day before the election as 
     required by subparagraph (A) and the absent uniformed 
     services voter or overseas voter did not request electronic 
     ballot transmission pursuant to subsection (f), the State 
     shall transmit such ballot by express delivery.
       ``(ii) Extended failure.--If the State fails to transmit 
     any absentee ballot by the 41st day before the election, in 
     addition to transmitting the ballot as provided in clause 
     (i), the State shall--

       ``(I) in the case of absentee ballots requested by absent 
     uniformed services voters with respect to regularly scheduled 
     general elections, notify such voters of the procedures 
     established under section 103A for the collection and 
     delivery of marked absentee ballots; and
       ``(II) in any other case, provide for the return of such 
     ballot by express delivery.

       ``(iii) Cost of express delivery.--In any case in which 
     express delivery is required under this subparagraph, the 
     cost of such express delivery--

       ``(I) shall not be paid by the voter, and
       ``(II) may be required by the State to be paid by a local 
     jurisdiction if the State determines that election officials 
     in such jurisdiction are responsible for the failure to 
     transmit the ballot by any date required under this 
     paragraph.

       ``(iv) Enforcement.--A State's compliance with this 
     subparagraph does not bar the Attorney General from seeking 
     additional remedies necessary to effectuate the purposes of 
     this Act.
       ``(2) Requests received after 46th day before election.--
     For purposes of subsection (a)(8), in the case in which a 
     valid request for an absentee ballot is received less than 46 
     days but not less than 30 days before an election for Federal 
     office, the State shall transmit the absentee ballot not 
     later than 3 business days after such request is received.''.

     SEC. 103. TECHNICAL CLARIFICATIONS TO CONFORM TO 2009 MOVE 
                   ACT AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN 
                   ABSENTEE BALLOT.

       (a) In General.--Section 102(a)(3) of the Uniformed and 
     Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-
     1(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``general elections'' and 
     inserting ``general, special, primary, and runoff 
     elections''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 103 of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1973ff-2) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by striking ``general'', and
       (2) in the heading thereof, by striking ``general''.

     SEC. 104. TREATMENT OF BALLOT REQUESTS.

       (a) Application of Prohibition of Refusal of Applications 
     on Grounds of Early Submission to Overseas Voters.--Section 
     104 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-3) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``or overseas voter'' after ``submitted by 
     an absent uniformed services voter''; and
       (2) by striking ``members of the uniformed services'' and 
     inserting ``absent uniformed services voters or overseas 
     voters''.
       (b) Use of Single Application for Subsequent Elections.--
       (1) In general.--Section 104 of the Uniformed and Overseas 
     Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-3) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``A State'' and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Prohibition of Refusal of Applications on Grounds of 
     Early Submission.--A State'', and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(b) Application Treated as Valid for Subsequent 
     Elections.--
       ``(1) In general.--If a State accepts and processes a 
     request for an absentee ballot by an absent uniformed 
     services voter or overseas voter and the voter requests that 
     the application be considered an application for an absentee 
     ballot for each subsequent election for Federal office held 
     in the State through the next regularly scheduled general 
     election for Federal office (including any runoff elections 
     which may occur as a result of the outcome of such general 
     election) and any special elections for Federal office held 
     in the State through the calendar year following such general 
     election, the State shall provide an absentee ballot to the 
     voter for each such subsequent election.
       ``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply with 
     respect to either of the following:
       ``(A) Voters changing registration.--A voter removed from 
     the list of official eligible voters in accordance with 
     subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 8(a)(3) of the 
     National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-
     6(a)).
       ``(B) Undeliverable ballots.--A voter whose ballot is 
     returned by mail to the State or local election officials as 
     undeliverable or, in the case of a ballot delivered 
     electronically, if the email sent to the voter was 
     undeliverable or rejected due to an invalid email address.''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--The heading of section 104 of 
     such Act is amended by striking ``PROHIBITION OF REFUSAL OF 
     APPLICATIONS ON GROUNDS OF EARLY SUBMISSION'' and inserting 
     ``TREATMENT OF BALLOT REQUESTS''.
       (3) Revision to postcard form.--
       (A) In general.--The Presidential designee shall ensure 
     that the official postcard form prescribed under section 
     101(b)(2) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
     Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff(b)(2)) enables a voter using the 
     form to--
       (i) request an absentee ballot for each election for 
     Federal office held in a State through the next regularly 
     scheduled general election for Federal office (including any 
     runoff elections which may occur as a result of the outcome 
     of such general election) and any special elections for 
     Federal office held in the State through the calendar year 
     following such general election; or
       (ii) request an absentee ballot for a specific election or 
     elections for Federal office held in a State during the 
     period described in paragraph (1).
       (B) Presidential designee.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
     the term ``Presidential designee'' means the individual 
     designated under section 101(a) of the Uniformed and Overseas 
     Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff(a)).

     SEC. 105. APPLICABILITY TO COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN 
                   MARIANA ISLANDS.

       Paragraph (6) and (8) of section 107 of the Uniformed and 
     Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-6(6)) 
     are each amended by striking ``and American Samoa'' and 
     inserting ``American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands''.

     SEC. 106. BIENNIAL REPORT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVITIES 
                   OF THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND 
                   COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.

       (a) In General.--Section 105A(b) of the Uniformed and 
     Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-
     4a(b)) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--

[[Page 17463]]

       (A) by striking ``March 31 of each year'' and inserting 
     ``June 30 of each odd-numbered year''; and
       (B) by striking ``the following information'' and inserting 
     ``the following information with respect to the Federal 
     elections held during the 2 preceding calendar years'';
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``separate assessment'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``separate assessment and 
     statistical analysis''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``section 1566a'' in the matter preceding 
     subparagraph (A) and inserting ``sections 1566a and 1566b'';
       (B) by striking ``such section'' each place it appears in 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting ``such sections''; 
     and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(C) The number of completed official postcard forms 
     prescribed under section 101(b)(2) that were completed by 
     absent uniformed services members and accepted and 
     transmitted.
       ``(D) The number of absent uniformed services members who 
     declined to register to vote under such sections.''.
       (b) Comptroller General Reviews.--Section 105A of the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1973ff-4a) is amended by redesignating subsection (c) 
     as subsection (d) and by inserting after subsection (b) the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(c) Comptroller General Reviews.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) Review.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a 
     review of any reports submitted by the Presidential designee 
     under subsection (b) with respect to elections occurring in 
     calendar years 2014 through 2020.
       ``(B) Report.--Not later than 180 days after a report is 
     submitted by the Presidential designee under subsection (b), 
     the Comptroller General shall submit to the relevant 
     committees of Congress a report containing the results of the 
     review conducted under subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Matters reviewed.--A review conducted under paragraph 
     (1) shall assess--
       ``(A) the methodology used by the Presidential designee to 
     prepare the report and to develop the data presented in the 
     report, including the approach for designing, implementing, 
     and analyzing the results of any surveys,
       ``(B) the effectiveness of any voting assistance covered in 
     the report provided under subsection (b) and provided by the 
     Presidential designee to absent overseas uniformed services 
     voters and overseas voters who are not members of the 
     uniformed services, including an assessment of--
       ``(i) any steps taken toward improving the implementation 
     of such voting assistance; and
       ``(ii) the extent of collaboration between the Presidential 
     designee and the States in providing such voting assistance; 
     and
       ``(C) any other information the Comptroller General 
     considers relevant to the review.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 101(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff(b)) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking paragraph (6); and
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (11) as 
     paragraphs (6) through (10), respectively.
       (2) Section 102(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1(a)) is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``101(b)(7)'' and 
     inserting ``101(b)(6)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (11), by striking ``101(b)(11)'' and 
     inserting ``101(b)(10)''.
       (3) Section 105A(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-4a(b)) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``Annual Report'' in the subsection heading 
     and inserting ``Biennial Report''; and
       (B) by striking ``In the case of'' in paragraph (3) and all 
     that follows through ``a description'' and inserting ``A 
     description''.

     SEC. 107. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this title shall apply with respect 
     to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
     office held in November 2014 and each succeeding election for 
     Federal office.

 TITLE II--PROVISION OF VOTER ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

     SEC. 201. PROVISION OF ANNUAL VOTER ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Annual Voter Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 80 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 1566a the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 1556b. Annual voter assistance

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out 
     the following activities:
       ``(1) In coordination with the Secretary of each military 
     department--
       ``(A) affirmatively offer, on an annual basis, each member 
     of the armed forces on active duty (other than active duty 
     for training) the opportunity, through the online system 
     developed under paragraph (2), to--
       ``(i) register to vote in an election for Federal office;
       ``(ii) update the member's voter registration information; 
     or
       ``(iii) request an absentee ballot;
       ``(B) provide services to such members for the purpose of 
     carrying out the activities in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) 
     of subparagraph (A); and
       ``(C) require any such member who declines the offer for 
     voter assistance under subparagraph (A) to indicate and 
     record that decision.
       ``(2) Implement an online system that, to the extent 
     practicable, is integrated with the existing systems of each 
     of the military departments and that--
       ``(A) provides an electronic means for carrying out the 
     requirements of paragraph (1);
       ``(B) in the case of an individual registering to vote in a 
     State that accepts electronic voter registration and operates 
     its own electronic voter registration system using a form 
     that meets the requirements for mail voter registration forms 
     under section 9(b) of the National Voter Registration Act of 
     1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-7(b)), directs such individual to that 
     system; and
       ``(C) in the case of an individual using the official 
     postcard form prescribed under section 101(b)(2) of the 
     Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1973ff(b)(2)) to register to vote and request an 
     absentee ballot--
       ``(i) pre-populates such official postcard form with the 
     personal information of such individual, and
       ``(ii)(I) produces the pre-populated form and a pre-
     addressed envelope for use in transmitting such official 
     postcard form; or
       ``(II) transmits the completed official postcard form 
     electronically to the appropriate State or local election 
     officials.
       ``(3) Implement a system (either independently or in 
     conjunction with the online system under paragraph (2)) by 
     which any change of address by a member of the armed forces 
     on active duty who is undergoing a permanent change of 
     station, deploying overseas for at least six months, or 
     returning from an overseas deployment of at least six months 
     automatically triggers, through the Defense Enrollment and 
     Eligibility Registration System or related systems, a 
     notification via electronic means to such member that--
       ``(A) indicates that such member's voter registration or 
     absentee mailing address should be updated with the 
     appropriate State or local election officials; and
       ``(B) includes instructions on how to update such voter 
     registration using the online system developed under 
     paragraph (2).
       ``(b) Data Collection.--The online system developed under 
     subsection (a)(2) shall collect and store all data required 
     to meet the reporting requirements of section 201(b) of the 
     Safeguarding Elections for our Nation's Troops through 
     Reforms and Improvements (SENTRI) Act and section 105A(b)(2) 
     of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-4a(b)(2)) in a manner that complies with 
     section 552a of title 5, United States Code, (commonly known 
     as the Privacy Act of 1974) and imposes no new record 
     management burden on any military unit or military 
     installation.
       ``(c) Timing of Voter Assistance.--To the extent 
     practicable, the voter assistance under subsection (a)(1) 
     shall be offered as a part of each service member's annual 
     training.
       ``(d) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     prescribe regulations implementing the requirements of 
     subsection (a). Such regulations shall include procedures to 
     inform those members of the armed forces on active duty 
     (other than active duty for training) experiencing a change 
     of address about the benefits of this section and the 
     timeframe for requesting an absentee ballot to ensure 
     sufficient time for State delivery of the ballot.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 80 of such title is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 1566a the following new 
     item:

``1556b. Annual voter assistance.''.

       (b) Report on Status of Implementation.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report on the 
     status of the implementation of the requirements of section 
     1566b of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a)(1).
       (2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
     include--
       (A) a detailed description of any specific steps already 
     taken towards the implementation of the requirements of such 
     section 1566b;
       (B) a detailed plan for the implementation of such 
     requirements, including milestones and deadlines for the 
     completion of such implementation;
       (C) the costs expected to be incurred in the implementation 
     of such requirements;
       (D) a description of how the annual voting assistance and 
     system under subsection (a)(3) of such section will be 
     integrated with the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility 
     Registration System or other Department of Defense personnel 
     databases that track military service members' address 
     changes;
       (E) an estimate of how long it will take an average member 
     to complete the voter assistance process required under 
     subsection (a)(1) of such section;

[[Page 17464]]

       (F) an explanation of how the Secretary of Defense will 
     collect reliable data on the utilization of the online system 
     under subsection (a)(2) of such section; and
       (G) a summary of any objections, concerns, or comments made 
     by State or local election officials regarding the 
     implementation of such section.
       (3) Relevant committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``relevant committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and 
     Rules and Administration of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and 
     House Administration of the House of Representatives.

                  TITLE III--ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS

     SEC. 301. REPEAL OF ELECTRONIC VOTING DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

       Section 1604 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1973ff note) is repealed.

             TITLE IV--RESIDENCY OF MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS

     SEC. 401. EXTENDING GUARANTEE OF RESIDENCY FOR VOTING 
                   PURPOSES TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF ABSENT MILITARY 
                   PERSONNEL.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 705 of the 
     Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 595) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``a person who is absent from a State 
     because the person is accompanying the persons's spouse who 
     is absent from that same State in compliance with military or 
     naval orders shall not, solely by reason of that absence'' 
     and inserting ``a dependent of a person who is absent from a 
     State in compliance with military orders shall not, solely by 
     reason of absence, whether or not accompanying that person''; 
     and
       (2) in the heading by striking ``Spouses'' and inserting 
     ``Dependents''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The heading of section 705 of 
     such Act (50 U.S.C. App 595) is amended by striking 
     ``SPOUSES'' and inserting ``DEPENDENTS''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to absences from States described in 
     section 705(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 
     U.S.C. App. 595(b)), as amended by subsection (a), after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, regardless of the date of 
     the military orders concerned.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. COLLINS:
  S. 1730. A bill to reform the regulatory process to ensure that small 
businesses are free to compete and to create jobs, to clear unnecessary 
regulatory burdens, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Clearing 
Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013, or the ``CURB Act.'' This 
legislation is designed to help relieve the onerous regulatory burden 
on our Nation's job creators.
  When I ask employers in Maine what we need to do to help them add 
jobs, they tell me that Washington must reduce the cost and complexity 
of the regulations imposed on them. And this is not just a concern 
voiced by Maine businesses. Earlier this year, a Gallup poll of small 
business owners found that the vast majority are not hiring new workers 
right now, and more than half pointed to government regulations as one 
of the reasons why. The National Federation of Independent Business 
found the same when it polled its members last year.
  No business owner I know questions the legitimate role of regulation 
in protecting the health, safety, and well-being of employees and the 
public. But the public is not well-served by regulations that bury 
small businesses under a mountain of paperwork, driving up costs 
unnecessarily, and impeding growth and job creation. Proper regulation 
should be as efficient and simple as possible. At the very least, the 
benefits of a regulation should exceed its costs.
  Unfortunately, the burden of Federal regulations continues to grow. 
Right now, Federal agencies are at work on nearly 2,500 new rules, at 
least 229 of which affect small businesses. One hundred thirty-nine are 
major rules, costing more than $100 million each. These rules will go 
on top of a pile of regulations now measured in the millions of pages.
  Year-by-year, this pile of pages gets ever deeper. In the 1970s, the 
Federal Register, the compilation of Federal regulations, added some 
450,000 pages. In the first decade of the 21st Century, more than 
730,000 pages were added--a rate of 73,000 pages per year. The pace 
continues to accelerate. On average since 2010, the Federal Government 
has added more than 80,000 pages to the Federal Register each year. 
This cannot continue.
  We are not in the fifth year of an economic ``recovery'' that has 
produced tepid economic growth and stubbornly high unemployment. The 
red-tape that is strangling our job creators is one of the chief 
reasons our economy has not fully recovered, and why millions of 
Americans still cannot find jobs. If we want to get our economy moving 
again and get Americans back to work, we must get serious about 
streamlining and reforming our regulatory system.
  The CURB Act is designed to do that by requiring Federal agencies to 
take into account the impacts to small businesses and job growth before 
imposing new rules and regulations. It does this in four ways: first, 
by requiring Federal agencies to analyze the indirect costs of 
regulations, such as the impact on job creation, the cost of energy, 
and consumer prices; second, by requiring agencies to follow ``good 
guidance'' practices; third, by helping small businesses avoid 
unnecessary penalties for first-time, non-harmful paperwork violations; 
and fourth, by implementing reforms to the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
proposed by our former colleague, Senator Olympia Snowe. Let me explain 
each of these provisions in further detail.
  First, as a general rule, Federal agencies are not required by 
statute to analyze the indirect costs regulations can have on the 
public, such as higher energy costs, higher prices, and the impact on 
job creation. However, Executive Order 12866, issued by President 
Clinton in 1993, obligates agencies to provide the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OIRA, with an assessment of the 
indirect costs of proposed regulations. The CURB Act would essentially 
codify this provision of President Clinton's Executive Order.
  Second, our bill obligates Federal agencies to comply with public 
notice and comment requirements and prohibits them from circumventing 
these requirements by issuing unofficial rules as ``guidance 
documents.'' Let me explain why this is necessary:
  After President Clinton issued Executive Order 12866, Federal 
agencies found it easier to issue so-called ``guidance documents,'' 
rather than formal rules. Although these guidance documents are merely 
an agency's interpretation of how the public can comply with a 
particular rule, and are not enforceable in court, as a practical 
matter they operate as if they are legally binding. Thus, they have 
been used by agencies to circumvent OIRA regulatory review and public 
notice and comment requirements.
  In 2007, OMB issued a Bulletin which contained a provision closing 
this loophole by imposing ``Good Guidance Practices'' on Federal 
agencies. This requires agencies to provide public notice and comment 
for significant guidance documents. The CURB Act would essentially 
codify this OMB Bulletin.
  Third, the CURB Act helps out the ``little guy'' trying to navigate 
our incredibly complex and burdensome regulatory environment. So many 
small businesses do not have a lot of capital on hand. When a small 
business inadvertently runs afoul of a Federal regulation for the first 
time, that first penalty could sink the business and the jobs it 
supports. The CURB Act directs agencies to search their files to 
determine whether a small business is facing a paperwork violation for 
the first time, and to offer to waive the penalty for that violation if 
no harm has come of it. It simply does not make sense to me to punish 
small businesses the first time they accidentally fail to comply with 
paperwork requirements, so long as no harm comes from that failure.
  Fourth, as I mentioned, my bill also includes reforms to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, RFA. These reforms would build on the RFA 
by expanding its requirements to include guidance documents and 
indirect costs, in a manner consistent with what I have already 
described. In addition, the reforms to the RFA would allow small 
businesses to challenge burdensome rules when they are proposed, 
instead of when the rules have become final, which is often too late.

[[Page 17465]]

  Finally, these proposed reforms would put teeth into the RFA's 
requirement that agencies review their rules for possible savings at 
least once a decade. The bill directs each agency's Inspector General 
to notify the head of the agency if a rule has not been reviewed in the 
time required. Once this notification is received, the agency has 6 
months to conduct the required review. If it fails to do so, the bill 
directs the IG to notify Congress, triggering the recission of one 
percent of the offending agency's personnel budget unless Congress 
intervenes.
  Before I close, I want to note that many Members of this body, on 
both sides of the aisle, have offered serious regulatory reform 
proposals for our consideration in recent years. Indeed, even the 
President's own ``Jobs Council''--before it was disbanded--stressed the 
need for regulatory reform, and put forward ideas consistent with many 
of the proposals I and other Members of this body have submitted as 
legislation. Last session, the Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs Committee, under the leadership of then- Chairman Lieberman and 
myself, held a series of hearings on regulatory reform. But the Senate 
as a whole did not act on these proposals last session, or dedicate any 
time whatsoever to their consideration. I am hopeful this session will 
be different, and room will be made on the Senate's agenda to consider 
regulatory reform. As we do so, I would ask my colleagues to consider 
the approach I have proposed in the CURB Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Burr, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Harkin, 
        and Mr. Kirk):
  S. 1736. A bill to amend titles 5 and 38, United States Code, to 
clarify the veteran status of an individual based on the attendance of 
the individual at a preparatory school of a service academy, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. DURBIN. 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. 1736

       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 ``Support Earned Recognition 
     for Veterans Act'' or the ``SERVe Act''.

     SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF VETERAN STATUS.

       (a) Clarification of Definition of Military Service.--
     Section 101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (21)(D), by inserting after ``Naval 
     Academy'' the following: ``(but, except for purposes of 
     chapter 17 of this title in accordance with section 
     107(e)(2), does not include any service performed by a 
     student at a preparatory school of a service academy who is 
     not otherwise a member of the Armed Forces)'';
       (2) in paragraph (22), by inserting before the period at 
     the end the following: `` or, except for purposes of chapter 
     17 of this title in accordance with section 107(e)(2), duty 
     performed by a student at a preparatory school of a service 
     academy who is not otherwise a member of the Armed Forces''; 
     and
       (3) in paragraph (23), by adding after the period at the 
     end the following: ``Except for purposes of chapter 17 of 
     this title in accordance with section 107(e)(2), such term 
     does not include duty performed by a student at a preparatory 
     school of a service academy who is not otherwise a member of 
     the Armed Forces.''.
       (b) Service Deemed Not to Be Active Service.--Section 107 
     of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(e)(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), duty 
     performed by a student at a preparatory school of a service 
     academy who is not otherwise a member of the Armed Forces 
     shall not be deemed to have been active military, naval, or 
     air service for the purposes of any of the laws administered 
     by the Secretary, regardless of whether the student was 
     injured or disabled as a result of such duty.
       ``(2) Chapter 17 of this title shall apply to an individual 
     described in paragraph (1) with respect to furnishing 
     hospital care and medical services solely for an injury or 
     disability incurred by the individual as a result of military 
     training related to future active duty service performed as a 
     student during the course of required training at a 
     preparatory school of a service academy. An individual who 
     receives such care and services under this paragraph may not 
     be treated as a veteran for the purposes of any other 
     provision of law solely by reason of receiving such care and 
     services under this paragraph.''.
       (c) Small Business Concerns.--Section 8127(l) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(3) The term `veteran', in accordance with sections 101 
     and 107 of this title, does not include an individual whose 
     veteran status is based solely on the attendance of the 
     individual as a student at a preparatory school of a service 
     academy, regardless of whether the individual was injured or 
     disabled as a result of duty performed as such a student.''.
       (d) Preference Eligible.--Section 2108 of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) an individual whose veteran status is based solely on 
     the attendance of the individual as a student at a 
     preparatory school of a service academy, regardless of 
     whether the individual was injured or disabled as a result of 
     duty performed as such a student, may not be treated as a 
     `veteran', `disabled veteran', or `preference eligible'.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Klobuchar, 
        and Mr. Rubio):
  S. 1738. A bill to provide justice for the victims of trafficking; to 
the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CORNYN. 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. 1738

       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 ``Justice for Victims of 
     Trafficking Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING VICTIMS' FUND.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 201 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 3014. Additional special assessment

       ``(a) In addition to the assessment imposed under section 
     3013, the court shall assess an amount of $5,000 on any 
     person or entity convicted of an offense under--
       ``(1) chapter 77 (relating to peonage, slavery, and 
     trafficking in persons);
       ``(2) chapter 109A (relating to sexual abuse);
       ``(3) chapter 110 (relating to sexual exploitation and 
     other abuse of children);
       ``(4) chapter 117 (relating to transportation for illegal 
     sexual activity and related crimes); or
       ``(5) section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1324) (relating to human smuggling), unless the person 
     induced, assisted, abetted, or aided only an individual who 
     at the time of such action was the alien's spouse, parent, 
     son, or daughter (and no other individual) to enter the 
     United States in violation of law.
       ``(b) An assessment under subsection (a) shall not be 
     payable until the person subject to the assessment has 
     satisfied all outstanding court-ordered fines and orders of 
     restitution arising from the criminal convictions on which 
     the special assessment is based.
       ``(c) There is established in the Treasury of the United 
     States a fund, to be known as the `Domestic Trafficking 
     Victims' Fund' (referred to in this section as the `Fund'), 
     to be administered by the Attorney General, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services.
       ``(d) Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United 
     States Code, or any other law regarding the crediting of 
     money received for the Government, there shall be deposited 
     in the Fund an amount equal to the amount of the assessments 
     collected under this section, which shall remain available 
     until expended.
       ``(e)(1) From amounts in the Fund, and without further 
     appropriation, the Attorney General, in coordination with the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, for each of 
     fiscal years 2015 through 2019, use amounts available in the 
     Fund to award grants or enhance victims' programming under--
       ``(A) sections 202, 203, and 204 of the Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044a, 
     14044b, and 14044c);
       ``(B) subsections (b)(2) and (f) of section 107 of the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105); 
     and
       ``(C) section 214(b) of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
     1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002(b)).
       ``(2) Of the amounts in the Fund used under paragraph (1), 
     not less than $2,000,000 shall be used for grants to provide 
     services for child pornography victims under section 214(b) 
     of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     13002(b)).
       ``(f)(1) Effective on the day after the date of enactment 
     of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013, on 
     September 30 of

[[Page 17466]]

     each fiscal year, all unobligated balances in the Fund shall 
     be transferred to the Crime Victims Fund established under 
     section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 
     10601).
       ``(2) Amounts transferred under paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) shall be available for any authorized purpose of the 
     Crime Victims Fund; and
       ``(B) shall remain available until expended.
       ``(g) The amount assessed under subsection (a) shall, 
     subject to subsection (b), be collected in the manner that 
     fines are collected in criminal cases.
       ``(h) The obligation to pay an assessment imposed on or 
     after the date of enactment of the Justice for Victims of 
     Trafficking Act of 2013 shall not cease until the assessment 
     is paid in full.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3013 
     the following:

``3014. Additional special assessment.''.

     SEC. 3. OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN VICTIMS OF HUMAN 
                   TRAFFICKING.

       Section 107(f) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
     2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(4) Official recognition of american victims of human 
     trafficking.--
       ``(A) In general.--Upon receiving credible information that 
     establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that a covered 
     individual is a victim of a severe form of trafficking and at 
     the request of the covered individual, the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services shall promptly issue a 
     determination that the covered individual is a victim of a 
     severe form of trafficking. The Secretary shall have 
     exclusive authority to make such a determination.
       ``(B) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the 
     term `covered individual' means--
       ``(i) a citizen of the United States; or
       ``(ii) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
     (as that term is defined in section 101(20) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(20)).
       ``(C) Procedure.--For purposes of this paragraph, in 
     determining whether a covered individual has provided 
     credible information that the covered individual is a victim 
     of a severe form of trafficking, the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services shall consider all relevant and credible 
     evidence, and if appropriate, consult with the Attorney 
     General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Secretary 
     of Labor.
       ``(D) Presumptive evidence.--For purposes of this 
     paragraph, the following forms of evidence shall receive 
     deference in determining whether a covered individual has 
     established that the covered individual is a victim of a 
     severe form of trafficking:
       ``(i) A sworn statement by the covered individual or a 
     representative of the covered individual if the covered 
     individual is present at the time of such statement but not 
     able to competently make such sworn statement.
       ``(ii) Police, government agency, or court records or 
     files.
       ``(iii) Documentation from a social services, trafficking, 
     or domestic violence program, child welfare or runaway and 
     homeless youth program, or a legal, clinical, medical, or 
     other professional from whom the covered individual has 
     sought assistance in dealing with the crime.
       ``(iv) A statement from any other individual with knowledge 
     of the circumstances that provided the basis for the claim.
       ``(v) Physical evidence.
       ``(E) Regulations required.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of the Justice for Victims of 
     Trafficking Act of 2013, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall adopt regulations to implement this paragraph.
       ``(F) Rule of construction; official recognition 
     optional.--Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to 
     require a covered individual to obtain a determination under 
     this paragraph in order to be defined or classified as a 
     victim of a severe form of trafficking under this section.''.

     SEC. 4. VICTIM-CENTERED HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETERRENCE BLOCK 
                   GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 203 of the Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 203. VICTIM-CENTERED CHILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
                   DETERRENCE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Attorney General may make 
     block grants to an eligible entity to develop, improve, or 
     expand comprehensive domestic child human trafficking 
     deterrence programs that assist law enforcement officers, 
     prosecutors, judicial officials, and qualified victims' 
     services organizations in collaborating to rescue and restore 
     the lives of victims, while investigating and prosecuting 
     offenses involving child human trafficking.
       ``(b) Authorized Activities.--Grants awarded under 
     subsection (a) may be used for--
       ``(1) the establishment or enhancement of specialized 
     training programs for law enforcement officers, first 
     responders, health care officials, child welfare officials, 
     juvenile justice personnel, prosecutors, and judicial 
     personnel to--
       ``(A) identify victims and acts of child human trafficking;
       ``(B) address the unique needs of child victims of human 
     trafficking;
       ``(C) facilitate the rescue of child victims of human 
     trafficking;
       ``(D) investigate and prosecute acts of human trafficking, 
     including the soliciting, patronizing, or purchasing of 
     commercial sex acts from children, as well as training to 
     build cases against complex criminal networks involved in 
     child human trafficking;
       ``(E) use laws that prohibit acts of child human 
     trafficking, child sexual abuse, and child rape, and to 
     assist in the development of State and local laws to 
     prohibit, investigate, and prosecute acts of child human 
     trafficking; and
       ``(F) implement and provide education on safe harbor laws 
     enacted by States, aimed at preventing the criminalization 
     and prosecution of child sex trafficking victims for 
     prostitution offenses;
       ``(2) the establishment or enhancement of dedicated anti-
     trafficking law enforcement units and task forces to 
     investigate child human trafficking offenses and to rescue 
     victims, including--
       ``(A) funding salaries, in whole or in part, for law 
     enforcement officers, including patrol officers, detectives, 
     and investigators, except that the percentage of the salary 
     of the law enforcement officer paid for by funds from a grant 
     awarded under this section shall not be more than the 
     percentage of the officer's time on duty that is dedicated to 
     working on cases involving child human trafficking; and
       ``(B) investigation expenses for cases involving child 
     human trafficking, including--
       ``(i) wire taps;
       ``(ii) consultants with expertise specific to cases 
     involving child human trafficking;
       ``(iii) travel; and
       ``(iv) other technical assistance expenditures;
       ``(C) dedicated anti-trafficking prosecution units, 
     including the funding of salaries for State and local 
     prosecutors, including assisting in paying trial expenses for 
     prosecution of child human trafficking offenders, except that 
     the percentage of the total salary of a State or local 
     prosecutor that is paid using an award under this section 
     shall be not more than the percentage of the total number of 
     hours worked by the prosecutor that is spent working on cases 
     involving child human trafficking;
       ``(D) the establishment of child human trafficking victim 
     witness safety, assistance, and relocation programs that 
     encourage cooperation with law enforcement investigations of 
     crimes of child human trafficking by leveraging existing 
     resources and delivering child human trafficking victims' 
     services through coordination with--
       ``(i) child advocacy centers;
       ``(ii) social service agencies;
       ``(iii) State governmental health service agencies;
       ``(iv) housing agencies;
       ``(v) legal services agencies; and
       ``(vi) non-governmental organizations and shelter service 
     providers with substantial experience in delivering 
     comprehensive services to victims of child human trafficking; 
     and
       ``(3) the establishment or enhancement of problem solving 
     court programs for trafficking victims that include--
       ``(A) mandatory and regular training requirements for 
     judicial officials involved in the administration or 
     operation of the court program described under this 
     paragraph;
       ``(B) continuing judicial supervision of victims of child 
     human trafficking who have been identified by a law 
     enforcement or judicial officer as a potential victim of 
     child human trafficking, regardless of whether the victim has 
     been charged with a crime related to human trafficking;
       ``(C) the development of a specialized and individualized, 
     court-ordered treatment program for identified victims of 
     child human trafficking, including--
       ``(i) State-administered outpatient treatment;
       ``(ii) life skills training;
       ``(iii) housing placement;
       ``(iv) vocational training;
       ``(v) education;
       ``(vi) family support services; and
       ``(vii) job placement;
       ``(D) centralized case management involving the 
     consolidation of all of each child human trafficking victim's 
     cases and offenses, and the coordination of all trafficking 
     victim treatment programs and social services;
       ``(E) regular and mandatory court appearances by the victim 
     during the duration of the treatment program for purposes of 
     ensuring compliance and effectiveness;
       ``(F) the ultimate dismissal of relevant non-violent 
     criminal charges against the victim, where such victim 
     successfully complies with the terms of the court-ordered 
     treatment program; and
       ``(G) collaborative efforts with child advocacy centers, 
     child welfare agencies, shelters, and non-governmental 
     organizations to provide comprehensive services to victims 
     and encourage cooperation with law enforcement.

[[Page 17467]]

       ``(c) Application.--
       ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall submit an 
     application to the Attorney General for a grant under this 
     section in such form and manner as the Attorney General may 
     require.
       ``(2) Required information.--An application submitted under 
     this subsection shall--
       ``(A) describe the activities for which assistance under 
     this section is sought;
       ``(B) include a detailed plan for the use of funds awarded 
     under the grant; and
       ``(C) provide such additional information and assurances as 
     the Attorney General determines to be necessary to ensure 
     compliance with the requirements of this section.
       ``(3) Preference.--In reviewing applications submitted in 
     accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General 
     shall give preference to grant applications if--
       ``(A) the application includes a plan to use awarded funds 
     to engage in all activities described under paragraphs (1) 
     through (3) of subsection (b); or
       ``(B) the application includes a plan by the State or unit 
     of local government to continue funding of all activities 
     funded by the award after the expiration of the award.
       ``(d) Duration and Renewal of Award.--
       ``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall expire 
     1 year after the date of award of the grant.
       ``(2) Renewal.--A grant under this section shall be 
     renewable not more than 3 times and for a period of not 
     greater than 1 year.
       ``(e) Evaluation.--The Attorney General shall enter into a 
     contract with an academic or non-profit organization that has 
     experience in issues related to child human trafficking and 
     evaluation of grant programs to conduct an annual evaluation 
     of grants made under this section to determine the impact and 
     effectiveness of programs funded with grants awarded under 
     this section.
       ``(f) Mandatory Exclusion.--An eligible entity awarded 
     funds under this section that is found to have used grant 
     funds for any unauthorized expenditure or otherwise 
     unallowable cost shall not be eligible for any grant funds 
     awarded under the block grant for 2 fiscal years following 
     the year in which the unauthorized expenditure or unallowable 
     cost is reported.
       ``(g) Compliance Requirement.--An eligible entity shall not 
     be eligible to receive a grant under this section if within 
     the 5 fiscal years before submitting an application for a 
     grant under this section, the grantee has been found to have 
     violated the terms or conditions of a Government grant 
     program by utilizing grant funds for unauthorized 
     expenditures or otherwise unallowable costs.
       ``(h) Administrative Cap.--The cost of administering the 
     grants authorized by this section shall not exceed 3 percent 
     of the total amount appropriated to carry out this section.
       ``(i) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
     program funded by a grant awarded under this section shall 
     be--
       ``(1) 70 percent in the first year;
       ``(2) 60 percent in the second year; and
       ``(3) 50 percent in the third year.
       ``(j) Authorization of Funding; Fully Offset.--For purposes 
     of carrying out this section, the Attorney General, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     is authorized to award not more than $7,000,000 of the funds 
     available in the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund, 
     established under section 3014 of title 18, United States 
     Code, for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
       ``(k) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `child' means a person under the age of 18;
       ``(2) the term `child advocacy center' means a center 
     created under subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
     1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et seq.);
       ``(3) the term `child human trafficking' means 1 or more 
     severe forms of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 
     103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 7102))involving a victim who is a child; and
       ``(4) the term `eligible entity' means a State or unit of 
     local government that--
       ``(A) has significant criminal activity involving child 
     human trafficking;
       ``(B) has demonstrated cooperation between Federal, State, 
     local, and, where applicable, tribal law enforcement 
     agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in 
     addressing child human trafficking;
       ``(C) has developed a workable, multi-disciplinary plan to 
     combat child human trafficking, including--
       ``(i) the establishment of a shelter for victims of child 
     human trafficking, through existing or new facilities;
       ``(ii) the provision of trauma-informed, gender-responsive 
     rehabilitative care to victims of child human trafficking;
       ``(iii) the provision of specialized training for law 
     enforcement officers and social service providers for all 
     forms of human trafficking, with a focus on domestic child 
     human trafficking;
       ``(iv) prevention, deterrence, and prosecution of offenses 
     involving child human trafficking, including soliciting, 
     patronizing, or purchasing human acts with children;
       ``(v) cooperation or referral agreements with organizations 
     providing outreach or other related services to runaway and 
     homeless youth;
       ``(vi) law enforcement protocols or procedures to screen 
     all individuals arrested for prostitution, whether adult or 
     child, for victimization by sex trafficking and by other 
     crimes, such as sexual assault and domestic violence; and
       ``(vii) cooperation or referral agreements with State child 
     welfare agencies and child advocacy centers;
       ``(D) has a victim certification process for eligibility 
     and access to State-administered medical care to ensure that 
     minor victims of human trafficking who are not eligible for 
     interim assistance under section 107(b)(1)(F) of the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 
     7105(b)(1)(F)) are granted eligibility for, and have access 
     to, State-administered medical care immediately upon 
     certification as such a victim, or as soon as practicable 
     thereafter but not later than the period determined by the 
     Assistant Attorney General in consultation with the Assistant 
     Secretary for Children and Families of the Department; and
       ``(E) provides an assurance that, under the plan under 
     subparagraph (C), a victim of child human trafficking shall 
     not be required to collaborate with law enforcement officers 
     to have access to any shelter or services provided with a 
     grant under this section.
       ``(l) Grant Accountability; Specialized Victims' Service 
     Requirement.--No grant funds under this section may be 
     awarded or transferred to any entity unless such entity has 
     demonstrated substantial experience providing services to 
     victims of human trafficking or related populations (such as 
     runaway and homeless youth), or employs staff specialized in 
     the treatment of human trafficking victims.''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization 
     Act of 2005 (22 U.S.C. 7101 note) is amended by striking the 
     item relating to section 203 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 203. Victim-centered child human trafficking deterrence block 
              grant program.''.

     SEC. 5. DIRECT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

       The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 212(5) (42 U.S.C. 13001a(5)), by inserting 
     ``, including human trafficking and the production of child 
     pornography'' before the semicolon at the end; and
       (2) in section 214 (42 U.S.C. 13002)--
       (A) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as 
     subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Direct Services for Victims of Child Pornography.--
     The Administrator, in coordination with the Director and with 
     the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, may make 
     grants to develop and implement specialized programs to 
     identify and provide direct services to victims of child 
     pornography.''.

     SEC. 6. INCREASING RESTITUTION FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.

       (a) Title 18 Amendments.--Section 1594 of title 18, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``that was used or'' and inserting ``that 
     was involved in, used, or'';
       (ii) by inserting ``or any property traceable to such 
     property'' after ``such violation''; and
       (iii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or any property 
     traceable to such property'' after ``such violation''; and
       (B) in subsection (e)(1)(A)--
       (i) by striking ``Any property, real or personal, used or'' 
     and inserting ``Any property, real or personal, involved in, 
     used, or''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, or any property traceable to such 
     property'' after ``any violation of this chapter'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
       ``(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Attorney General shall transfer assets forfeited pursuant to 
     this section, or the proceeds derived from the sale thereof, 
     to satisfy victim restitution orders arising from violations 
     of this chapter. Such transfers shall have priority over any 
     other claims to the assets or their proceeds.''.
       (b) Title 28 Amendment.--Section 524(c)(1)(B) of title 28, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting ``chapter 77 of 
     title 18,'' after ``criminal drug laws of the United States 
     or of''.
       (c) Title 31 Amendment.--Section 9703(a)(2)(B) of title 31, 
     United States Code, (relating to the Department of the 
     Treasury Forfeiture Fund) is amended--
       (1) in clause (iii)(III), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
       ``(v) the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
     with respect to a violation of chapter 77 of title 18 
     (relating to human trafficking).''.

[[Page 17468]]



     SEC. 7. STREAMLINING STATE AND LOCAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
                   INVESTIGATIONS.

       Section 2516(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting ``human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, 
     child pornography production,'' after ``kidnapping,''.

     SEC. 8. FIGHTING COMPLEX CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES ENGAGED IN 
                   HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 96 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 1969. AGGRAVATED HUMAN TRAFFICKING RACKETEERING.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `aggravated human-trafficking racketeering 
     activity' means any activity that--
       ``(A) is a racketeering activity (as defined in section 
     1961(1)); and
       ``(B) includes--
       ``(i) any act or threat involving murder, kidnapping, human 
     trafficking, sexual exploitation, coerced prostitution, or 
     the production of child pornography, which is chargeable 
     under State law and punishable by imprisonment for more than 
     1 year (as amended or revised as of the date on which the 
     activity occurred or, in the instance of a continuing 
     offense, the date on which the charges under this section are 
     filed in a particular matter); or
       ``(ii) any act that is indictable under (as amended or 
     revised as of the date on which the activity occurred or, in 
     the instance of a continuing offense, the date on which 
     charges under this section are filed in a particular 
     matter)--

       ``(I) sections 1581 through 1592 (relating to peonage, 
     slavery, and trafficking in persons);
       ``(II) section 1958 (relating to use of interstate commerce 
     facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire);
       ``(III) section 1959 (relating to violent crimes in aid of 
     racketeering);
       ``(IV) section 2251, 2251A, 2252, or 2260 (relating to 
     sexual exploitation of children); or
       ``(V) sections 2421 through 2424 (relating to slave 
     traffic); and

       ``(2) the term `enterprise' has the meaning given the term 
     in section 1961.
       ``(b) Prohibited Activities.--It shall be unlawful for any 
     person to participate, directly or indirectly, in or relating 
     to the affairs of any enterprise engaged in, or the 
     activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, 
     if--
       ``(1)(A) such participation within the enterprise includes 
     committing or causing to be committed 2 or more acts of 
     aggravated human-trafficking racketeering activity in or 
     relating to the affairs of the enterprise; or
       ``(B) such participation within the enterprise includes any 
     act of participation with the intention that some known or 
     unknown participant or participants within the enterprise 
     would commit, or would cause to be committed, individually or 
     collectively, 2 or more acts of aggravated human-trafficking 
     racketeering activity in or relating to the affairs of the 
     enterprise.
       ``(c) Conspiracy.--It shall be unlawful for any person to 
     conspire to violate subsection (b).
       ``(d) Criminal Penalties.--
       ``(1) In general.--Whoever violates this section shall be 
     punished in accordance with section 1963.
       ``(2) Clarification of punishable offenses.--Any person 
     prosecuted under this section may be both convicted and 
     sentenced in any court of competent jurisdiction for any 
     combination of the following:
       ``(A) The offense of conspiring to violate this section, 
     and for any other particular offense or offenses that may be 
     an object of the conspiracy.
       ``(B) Any violation of this section.
       ``(C) Any aggravated human-trafficking racketeering 
     activity.''.
       (b) Penalties.--Section 1963 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting ``or section 1969'' after 
     ``section 1962'' each place it appears.
       (c) Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering.--Section 1959 of 
     title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by inserting ``or aggravated human-trafficking 
     racketeering activity'' before ``, or for the purpose''; and
       (B) by striking ``murders, kidnaps, maims'' and inserting 
     ``aggravated human trafficking racketeering activity, 
     murders, kidnaps, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, 
     coerced prostitution, maims''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs 
     (2) and (3), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the 
     following:
       ``(1) `aggravated human-trafficking racketeering activity' 
     has the meaning given the term in section 1969;''.
       (d) Table of Sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
     96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 1968 the following:

``1969. Aggravated human trafficking racketeering.''.

     SEC. 9. ENHANCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING.

       (a) In General.--Section 505 of title I of the Omnibus 
     Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) Part 1 Violent Crimes to Include Human Trafficking.--
     For purposes of this section, the term `part 1 violent 
     crimes' shall include severe forms of trafficking in persons, 
     as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).''.
       (b) Crime Control Act Amendments.--Section 3702 of the 
     Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5780) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
       (2) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and a photograph 
     taken within the previous 180 days'' after ``dental 
     records'';
       (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
     and
       (E) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
       ``(C) notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
     Children of each report received relating to a child reported 
     missing from a foster care family home or childcare 
     institution; and''.

     SEC. 10. REDUCING DEMAND FOR SEX TRAFFICKING.

       (a) In General.--Section 1591 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``or maintains'' and 
     inserting ``maintains, patronizes, or solicits'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or obtained'' and 
     inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or obtained'' and 
     inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``or maintained'' and inserting ``, 
     maintained, patronized, or solicited''; and
       (B) by striking ``knew that the person'' and inserting 
     ``knew, or recklessly disregarded the fact, that the 
     person''.
       (b) Definition Amended.--Section 103(10) of the Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)) is 
     amended by striking ``or obtaining'' and inserting 
     ``obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting''.

     SEC. 11. USING EXISTING TASK FORCES TO TARGET OFFENDERS WHO 
                   EXPLOIT CHILDREN.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Attorney General shall ensure that all task forces 
     and working groups within the Innocence Lost National 
     Initiative engage in activities, programs, or operations to 
     increase the investigative capabilities of State and local 
     law enforcement officers in the detection, investigation, and 
     prosecution of persons who patronize, or solicit children for 
     sex.

     SEC. 12. ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD 
                   EXPLOITATION, AND REPEAT OFFENDERS.

       Part 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in chapter 77--
       (A) in section 1583(a), in the flush text following 
     paragraph (3), by striking ``not more than 20 years'' and 
     inserting ``not more than 30 years'';
       (B) in section 1587, by striking ``four years'' and 
     inserting ``10 years''; and
       (C) in section 1591(d), by striking ``20 years'' and 
     inserting ``25 years''; and
       (2) in section 2426(a), by striking ``twice'' and inserting 
     ``3 times''.

     SEC. 13. HOLDING SEX TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE.

       Section 2423(g) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``a preponderance of the evidence'' and inserting 
     ``clear and convincing evidence''.

     SEC. 14. COMBATING SEX TOURISM.

       Section 2423 of title 18, United States Code is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``for the purpose'' and 
     inserting ``with a motivating purpose of''; and
       (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``for the purpose of 
     engaging'' and inserting ``with a motivating purpose of 
     engaging''.

     SEC. 15. GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``covered 
     grant'' means a grant awarded by the Attorney General under 
     section 203 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
     Reauthorization Act (42 U.S.C. 14044b).
       (b) Accountability.--All covered grants shall be subject to 
     the following accountability provisions:
       (1) Audit requirement.--
       (A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term ``unresolved 
     audit finding'' means an audit report finding in the final 
     audit report of the Inspector General of the Department of 
     Justice that the grantee has used grant funds for an 
     unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost that 
     is not closed or resolved during the 12-month period 
     beginning on the date on which the final audit report is 
     issued.
       (B) Requirement.--Beginning in the first fiscal year 
     beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and in 
     each fiscal year thereafter, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Justice shall conduct audits of recipients of 
     covered grants to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by 
     grantees. The Inspector General shall determine the

[[Page 17469]]

     appropriate number of grantees to be audited each year.
       (C) Mandatory exclusion.--A recipient of a covered grant 
     that is found to have an unresolved audit finding shall not 
     be eligible to receive a covered grant during the first 2 
     fiscal years beginning after the end of the 12-month period 
     described in subparagraph (A).
       (D) Priority.--In awarding covered grants, the Attorney 
     General shall give priority to eligible applicants that did 
     not have an unresolved audit finding during the 3 fiscal 
     years before submitting an application for a covered grant.
       (E) Reimbursement.--If an entity is awarded a covered grant 
     during the 2-fiscal-year period during which the entity is 
     barred from receiving grants under subparagraph (C), the 
     Attorney General shall--
       (i) deposit an amount equal to the amount of the grant 
     funds that were improperly awarded to the grantee into the 
     General Fund of the Treasury; and
       (ii) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the fund 
     from the grant recipient that was erroneously awarded grant 
     funds.
       (2) Nonprofit organization requirements.--
       (A) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph and covered 
     grants, the term ``nonprofit organization'' means an 
     organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation 
     under section 501(a) of such Code.
       (B) Prohibition.--The Attorney General may not award a 
     covered grant to a nonprofit organization that holds money in 
     offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax 
     described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986.
       (C) Disclosure.--Each nonprofit organization that is 
     awarded a covered grant and uses the procedures prescribed in 
     regulations to create a rebuttable presumption of 
     reasonableness for the compensation of its officers, 
     directors, trustees, and key employees, shall disclose to the 
     Attorney General, in the application for the grant, the 
     process for determining such compensation, including the 
     independent persons involved in reviewing and approving such 
     compensation, the comparability data used, and 
     contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and 
     decision. Upon request, the Attorney General shall make the 
     information disclosed under this subparagraph available for 
     public inspection.
       (3) Conference expenditures.--
       (A) Limitation.--No amounts authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Department of Justice under this Act may be used by 
     the Attorney General, or by any individual or entity awarded 
     discretionary funds through a cooperative agreement under 
     this Act or an Act amended by this Act, to host or support 
     any expenditure for conferences that uses more than $20,000 
     in funds made available to the Department of Justice, unless 
     the Deputy Attorney General or the appropriate Assistant 
     Attorney General, Director, or principal deputy (as 
     designated by the Deputy Attorney General) provides prior 
     written authorization that the funds may be expended to host 
     the conference.
       (B) Written approval.--Written approval under subparagraph 
     (A) shall include a written estimate of all costs associated 
     with the conference, including the cost of all food, 
     beverages, audio-visual equipment, honoraria for speakers, 
     and entertainment.
       (C) Report.--The Deputy Attorney General shall submit an 
     annual report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 
     and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives on all conference expenditures approved under 
     this paragraph.
       (4) Annual certification.--Beginning in the first fiscal 
     year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Attorney General shall submit, to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate 
     and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an annual 
     certification indicating whether--
       (A) all audits issued by the Office of the Inspector 
     General under paragraph (1) have been completed and reviewed 
     by the appropriate Assistant Attorney General or Director;
       (B) all mandatory exclusions required under paragraph 
     (1)(C) have been issued;
       (C) all reimbursements required under paragraph (1)(E) have 
     been made; and
       (D) includes a list of any grant recipients excluded under 
     paragraph (1) from the previous year.

                          ____________________