```

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 292 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 292

 To improve energy and water efficiencies and conservation throughout 
      the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 8, 2009

   Mr. Buyer (for himself, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Walz, Mr. Brown of South 
   Carolina, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Hare, Mr. 
  Buchanan, and Mr. Miller of Florida) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in 
addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To improve energy and water efficiencies and conservation throughout 
      the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Department of 
Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability Act of 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Department of Veteran Affairs Sustainability Program.
Sec. 3. Database on energy and water usage and expenditures.
Sec. 4. Annual energy usage audit requirements.
Sec. 5. Office of Energy Management.
Sec. 6. Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability.
Sec. 7. Compliance with Executive Order 13423 and Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs Directive 0055.
Sec. 8. Report on installation of fueling stations for alternative 
                            fuels.
Sec. 9. Installation of energy efficient and renewable energy systems 
                            in Department buildings.
Sec. 10. Use of electrical sub-metering of buildings of the Department 
                            of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 11. Energy Star acquisition requirements.
Sec. 12. Grants for adaptive housing to encourage use of high 
                            efficiency systems and products and other 
                            energy reduction items.
Sec. 13. Grants for adaptive vehicles to encourage purchase of 
                            alternative fuel vehicles.
Sec. 14. Study on water and energy consumption by National Cemetery 
                            Administration.
Sec. 15. Use by Department of Veterans Affairs of expertise of the 
                            national laboratories regarding energy and 
                            water efficient technologies.
Sec. 16. Pilot program for the sale of air pollution emission reduction 
                            incentives and retention of proceeds from 
                            sales.
Sec. 17. Submission of reports to Congress by Secretary of Veterans 
                            Affairs in electronic form.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.

    (a) Sustainability Program.--Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall implement a comprehensive program (to be known as the ``Energy 
Sustainability Program'') throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for the purpose of using resources in a manner so that the resources 
are used in a manner that minimizes consumption and encourages the use 
of alternative sources of energy while still meeting the 
responsibilities of the Department.
    (b) Goals of Program.--The goals of the Sustainability Program 
are--
            (1) to reduce overall energy consumption by the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs, per unit of measure determined by the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
            (2) to reduce overall water usage by each of the Veterans 
        Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and 
        Veterans Benefits Administration, per unit of measure 
        determined by the Secretary;
            (3) to reduce the non-bio hazard and non-toxic waste stream 
        generated by activities of the Department;
            (4) to increase, whenever appropriate, the use of products 
        that promote and support an integrated approach to 
        sustainability; and
            (5) to cooperate to the maximum extent possible with State 
        and local jurisdictions in matters of sustainability.
    (c) Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take 
immediate action to inform all personnel of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs about the need for the Sustainability Program and its goals and 
to encourage feedback from Department personnel.
    (d) Management Organization.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a management organization, to be led by the Assistant 
Secretary for Management, to develop the Sustainability Program. To 
assist the management organization, the Secretary shall appoint an 
advisory committee, to be comprised of Government employees, private 
persons, and industry officials with experience and expertise in 
developing sustainability programs.
    (e) Strategic Plan.--
            (1) Plan required.--As part of the Energy Sustainability 
        Program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a 
        strategic plan for energy sustainability for the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
        to Congress a report on the progress made by the Secretary in 
        developing the plan required by subsection (a).

SEC. 3. DATABASE ON ENERGY AND WATER USAGE AND EXPENDITURES.

    (a) Database Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and maintain a database to track and report on energy and 
water expenditures by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The database 
will provide a baseline to compare changes in Department energy and 
water expenditures.
    (b) Database Categories.--At a minimum in maintaining the database, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall maintain summary statistics by 
facility type, major census region, size and age of facility, and 
energy and water source. In the case of health care facilities, the 
Secretary shall use subcategories of inpatient, outpatient, nursing 
home, and domiciliary care. Data on energy sources shall include the 
percentage of energy supplied by petroleum, natural gas, coal, and 
alternative energy.

SEC. 4. ANNUAL ENERGY USAGE AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Baseline.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than September 30, 2010, the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete an audit of energy 
        usage by the Department of Veterans Affairs during fiscal year 
        2010.
            (2) Submission.--Not later than March 30, 2011, the 
        Secretary shall submit to Congress, in electronic form, a 
        report containing the results of the energy audit.
            (3) Use.--The energy audit shall serve as a baseline for 
        the Sustainability Program required by section 2 and identify 
        the potential impact of the Sustainability Program on the 
        budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Annual Energy Audit Update and Report.--As part of the annual 
report required to be submitted under section 546(e)(b) of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by section 5, the Secretary shall include 
a report comparing energy usage by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
during the last fiscal year that ended before the submission of the 
report to the fiscal year 2010 baseline.

SEC. 5. OFFICE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Establishment of Office.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 323. Office of Energy Management
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Department an Office of 
Energy Management.
    ``(b) Head.--There is at the head of the Office a Director, who 
shall be a Deputy Assistant Secretary. The Director reports directly to 
the Assistant Secretary for Management.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Director is responsible for--
            ``(1) the formulation of policy and planning related to, 
        and the implementation of, energy management programs of the 
        Department; and
            ``(2) the monitoring of Department compliance with--
                    ``(A) Executive Orders, Department Directives, and 
                statutory requirements relating to energy management;
                    ``(B) Department energy audits; and
                    ``(C) reporting requirements to Congress relating 
                to the Department energy policies; and
            ``(3) serving as the chair of the Advisory Committee on 
        Energy Management and Sustainability under section 546 of this 
        title.
    ``(d) Staff and Support.--The Office shall employ a sufficient 
number of personnel as are necessary to carry out the responsibilities 
of the Office. The Secretary shall ensure that the Office is furnished 
sufficient resources in addition to personnel to enable the Office to 
carry out its responsibilities in a timely manner.''.
    (b) Increase in Maximum Number of Deputy Assistant Secretaries.--
Section 308(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking ``not exceeding 
19'' and inserting ``not exceeding 20''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``323. Office of Energy Management.''.

SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY.

    (a) Establishment.--Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 547. Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Department the Advisory 
Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability (hereinafter in this 
section referred to as the `Committee'). The chair of the Committee is 
the Director of the Office of Energy Management under section 321 of 
this title.
    ``(b) Membership.--(1) The Committee shall consist of members 
appointed by the Secretary from the general public, including--
            ``(A) individuals who are recognized authorities in fields 
        pertinent to energy management and sustainability; and
            ``(B) representatives of industries relating to energy 
        management and sustainability.
    ``(2) The Committee shall include, as ex officio members, the 
following:
            ``(A) The Under Secretary for Health, or the Under 
        Secretary's designee.
            ``(B) The Under Secretary for Benefits, or the Under 
        Secretary's designee.
            ``(C) The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, or the 
        Under Secretary's designee
            ``(D) The Assistant Secretary for Management, or the 
        Assistant Secretary's designee.
            ``(E) The Chief Information Officer, or the Chief 
        Information Officer's designee.
            ``(F) Such other officers of the Department as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the members of the Committee 
have expertise in the areas covered by the memorandum of understanding 
entitled `Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable 
Buildings' entered into on March 6, 2006, as in effect on the date of 
the enactment of this section, namely--
            ``(A) employment of integrated design principles;
            ``(B) optimization of energy performance;
            ``(C) protection and conservation of water;
            ``(D) enhancement of indoor environmental quality; and
            ``(E) reduction of the environmental impact of materials.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the number, terms of service, 
and pay and allowances of members of the Committee appointed by the 
Secretary, except that a term of service of any such member may not 
exceed three years. The Secretary may reappoint any such member for 
additional terms of service.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--(1) The Committee shall provide advice, 
coordination, and recommendations related to the implementation of the 
sustainability construction projects for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
    ``(d) Consultation.--(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, 
consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the 
implementation of energy and sustainability programs at the Department.
    ``(2) In providing advice to the Secretary under this subsection, 
the Committee shall--
            ``(A) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
        of the Department as part of a whole sustainability and energy 
        savings program;
            ``(B) provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the 
        policies, organizational structures, and services of the 
        Department's sustainability program; and
            ``(C) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate means 
        of responding to additional energy and sustainability 
        requirements as may be imposed upon the Department through 
        additional Acts of Congress, or through Presidential Executive 
        Orders for each of the Department's business lines.
    ``(e) Annual Reports.--(1) Not later than December 31 of each year, 
the Committee shall submit to the Secretary an electronic report on the 
programs and activities of the Department relating to sustainability 
programs and energy efficiency programs developed by the Department. 
Each such report shall include--
            ``(A) an assessment of the needs of each of the 
        Department's business lines to enhance sustainability programs 
        within each administration;
            ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
        Department designed to meet such needs; and
            ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
        administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
        considers appropriate.
    ``(2) Not later than 90 days after receipt of a report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit electronically to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a copy of the report, together with any comments and 
recommendations concerning the report that the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
    ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other 
reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted 
to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all 
reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary 
since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to 
that section.
    ``(f) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--(1) Except 
as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the activities of the 
Committee under this section.
    ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.''.
    (b) Staff Awareness Campaigns To Encourage Support and Adoption of 
Energy Savings Practices.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a campaign to encourage personnel of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to support and adopt energy savings practices.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``547. Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability.''.

SEC. 7. COMPLIANCE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 13423 AND DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTIVE 0055.

    (a) Executive Order 13423.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs complies with Executive 
Order 13423. Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall notify Congress of the current status of 
the Department's compliance.
    (b) Department of Veterans Affairs Directive 0055.--The Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall notify Congress--
            (1) of the anticipated completion dates for meeting the 
        energy objectives contained in Department of Veterans Affairs 
        Directive 0055 using the management tools specified in that 
        Directive; and
            (2) of the actual completion date for meeting each 
        objective.

SEC. 8. REPORT ON INSTALLATION OF FUELING STATIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE 
              FUELS.

    (a) Report Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to Congress a report on the use of funds appropriated for 
``Construction, minor projects'' for the installation of alternative 
fueling stations at 35 medical facility campuses under title II of the 
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2009 (division E of Public Law 110-329; 122 Stat. 
3708). Such report shall include--
            (1) a list of the 35 medical facility campuses at which the 
        Secretary plans to install alternative fueling stations;
            (2) the types of alternative fuels to be made available at 
        each station; and
            (3) the cost of installing each station.
    (b) Requirement for Alternative Fuels.--The alternative fuel made 
available through the alternative fueling stations on Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical facility campuses referred to in subsection 
(a) shall include domestically produced and refined E-85.

SEC. 9. INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS 
              IN DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS.

    (a) Plan To Increase Use of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 
Technologies in Department Facilities.--Not later than March 30, 2010, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress, in 
electronic form, a detailed plan for increasing the use of energy 
efficient and renewable energy technologies in Department of Veterans 
Affairs facilities and operations, including--
            (1) qualified solar technologies such as distributed 
        amorphous, crystalline and nano-photovoltaic technologies 
        systems, solar heating systems, solar cooling systems, solar 
        hot water systems, solar lighting systems, and hybrid 
        technologies that incorporate one or more of such systems;
            (2) qualified energy efficient roof and building envelope 
        systems such as systems with high solar reflectance or thermal 
        emittance, including high albedo systems, systems with high 
        thermal resistance, including use of enhanced roof insulation, 
        systems with high thermal inertia, including use of ballasted 
        or vegetated roof systems;
            (3) qualified wind technologies; and
            (4) qualified biomass materials such as wood-based 
        renewable fuels to be used for fueling boilers and heaters.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $150,000,000 to carry out subsection (a).

SEC. 10. USE OF ELECTRICAL SUB-METERING OF BUILDINGS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Installation Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
provide for the installation of individual electrical sub-metering 
equipment for--
            (1) each boiler plant, chiller building, energy center, and 
        laundry of the Department of Veterans Affairs, whether in 
        existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act or 
        constructed after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) all other buildings of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs constructed after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.
    (b) Purpose.--The sub-metering required by this section is intended 
to record building electrical energy consumption for economic analysis 
and energy conservation measures.
    (c) Installation Location.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of boiler plants, chiller 
        buildings, energy centers, and laundry buildings, the sub-
        metering equipment shall be installed at the building's low-
        voltage switchboard. If high-voltage chillers are used, 
        additional sub-metering equipment for the chillers shall be 
        installed. The meters for boiler plants shall be located 
        separately from the energy center, where feasible.
            (2) New separate buildings.--In the case of buildings 
        described in subsection (a)(2), the sub-metering equipment 
        shall be installed with the building's utilization voltage 
        equipment.
            (3) Meter functions.--At a minimum, the meter shall monitor 
        voltage, current, kW, kW demand, kW hours, kVA, kVAR, and power 
        factor.

SEC. 11. ENERGY STAR ACQUISITION REQUIREMENTS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure, to the maximum 
extent practicable, that energy efficient products meeting the 
requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs are purchased 
whenever the Department purchases items that consume electricity. In 
determining the energy efficiency of products, the Secretary shall 
consider products that--
            (1) meet or exceed Energy Star specifications; or
            (2) are listed on the Federal Energy Management Program 
        Product Energy Efficiency Recommendations product list of the 
        Department of Energy.

SEC. 12. GRANTS FOR ADAPTIVE HOUSING TO ENCOURAGE USE OF HIGH 
              EFFICIENCY SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS AND OTHER ENERGY 
              REDUCTION ITEMS.

    Section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) The dollar limitations in effect under subsections (b) and 
(d) may be increased by the lesser of--
            ``(1) an amount equal to the actual cost of any high 
        efficiency systems or products or other energy-use reduction 
        items incorporated into the housing unit; or
            ``(2) $10,000.''.

SEC. 13. GRANTS FOR ADAPTIVE VEHICLES TO ENCOURAGE PURCHASE OF 
              ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES.

    Section 3902(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The amount otherwise 
available to an eligible individual under this subsection may be 
increased by an amount equal to the difference between the cost of an 
alternative fuel vehicle and the cost of a comparable gas or diesel 
model of the vehicle if the eligible person elects to purchase an 
alternative fuel vehicle.''.

SEC. 14. STUDY ON WATER AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY NATIONAL CEMETERY 
              ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Water Consumption Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall conduct a study on water consumption by activities of the 
National Cemetery Administration and ways to reduce water consumption. 
The study shall also examine the extent to which the use of grasses and 
other vegetation that is not native to the location of a national 
cemetery affects water consumption and evaluate the feasibility of 
composting grass clippings and other vegetation collected during 
cleanup of national cemeteries.
    (b) Fuel Consumption Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall conduct a study on fuel consumption by equipment of the National 
Cemetery Administration used in maintaining national cemeteries and 
ways to improve fuel efficiency at cemeteries and other facilities 
under the control of the National Cemetery Administration.
    (c) Deadline for Completion of Studies.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall complete the studies required under subsections (a) and 
(b) by not later than September 30, 2010.
    (d) Report.--Not later than March 31, 2011, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the studies 
conducted under this section.

SEC. 15. USE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF EXPERTISE OF THE 
              NATIONAL LABORATORIES REGARDING ENERGY AND WATER 
              EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and the Secretary of Energy shall enter into a memorandum of 
understanding for the purpose of improving and facilitating the use by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs of the expertise of the national 
laboratories to evaluate energy and water efficient technologies for 
use by the Department to implement this Act.
    (b) Assistance.--The memorandum of understanding shall provide that 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request assistance from the 
national laboratories with respect to energy and water efficient 
technologies as the Secretary of Veteran Affairs and the Secretary of 
Energy determine can be provided through the technical skills and 
experience of the national laboratories, using such financial 
arrangements as the Secretaries determine are appropriate.
    (c) Activities.--The memorandum of understanding shall provide that 
the national laboratories shall carry out those activities necessary to 
respond to requests for assistance from the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs referred to in subsection (b).
    (d) National Laboratories.--In this section, the term ``national 
laboratory'' has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

SEC. 16. PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE SALE OF AIR POLLUTION EMISSION REDUCTION 
              INCENTIVES AND RETENTION OF PROCEEDS FROM SALES.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation 
with the Administrator of General Services, may carry out a pilot 
program to sell economic incentives for the reduction of emission of 
air pollutants attributable to a facility of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
    (b) Incentives Available for Sale.--Under the program, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may sell economic incentives for the 
reduction of emission of air pollutants attributable to a facility of 
the Department only if such incentives are not otherwise required for 
the activities or operations of the Department.
    (c) Use of Proceeds.--
            (1) Credit to department facilities.--The proceeds of sale 
        of economic incentives attributable to a facility of the 
        Department shall be credited to the funds available to the 
        facility for the costs of identifying, quantifying, or valuing 
        economic incentives for the reduction of emission of air 
        pollutants. The amount credited shall be equal to the cost 
        incurred in identifying, quantifying, or valuing the economic 
        incentives sold.
            (2) Allocation to department programs, projects, and 
        activities.--If after crediting under paragraph (1) a balance 
        remains, the amount of such balance shall be available to the 
        Department for allocation by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        for programs, projects, and activities of the Department 
        necessary for compliance with Federal environmental laws, 
        including the purchase of economic incentives for the reduction 
        of emission of air pollutants. To the extent practicable, 
        amounts allocated under this paragraph shall be made available 
        to the facilities that generated the economic incentives 
        providing the basis for the amounts.
            (3) Treatment of proceeds.--Funds credited under paragraph 
        (1) or allocated under paragraph (2) shall be merged with the 
        funds to which credited or allocated, as the case may be, and 
        shall be available for the same purposes and for the same 
        period as the funds with which merged.
    (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``economic incentives 
for the reduction of emission of air pollutants'' means any 
transferable economic incentives (including marketable permits and 
emission rights) necessary or appropriate to meet air quality 
requirements under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
    (e) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under 
this section shall terminate on September 30, 2011.

SEC. 17. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS TO CONGRESS BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS IN ELECTRONIC FORM.

    (a) Submission of Reports.--Chapter 1 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 117. Reports to Congress: submission in electronic form
    ``(a) Requirement.--Whenever the Secretary or any other official of 
the Department is required by law to submit to Congress (or any 
committee of either House of Congress) a report, the Secretary or other 
official shall submit to Congress (or such committee) a copy of the 
report in an electronic format.
    ``(b) Treatment.--The submission of a copy of a report in 
accordance with this section shall be treated as meeting any 
requirement of law to submit such report to Congress (or any committee 
of either House of Congress).
    ``(c) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
`report' includes any certification, notification, or other 
communication in writing.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``117. Reports to Congress: submission in electronic form.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--Section 117 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to a report 
submitted after the date that is 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>
```