In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor 
Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MEDAL.

    After September 1, 2001, the President may award, and present in 
the name of Congress, a Medal of Valor of appropriate design, with 
ribbons and appurtenances, to a public safety officer who is cited by 
the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor 
Review Board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of 
duty. The Public Safety Medal of Valor shall be the highest national 
award for valor by a public safety officer.

SEC. 3. MEDAL OF VALOR BOARD.

    (a) Establishment of Board.--There is established a Medal of Valor 
Review Board (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Board''), 
which shall be composed of 11 members appointed in accordance with 
subsection (b) and shall conduct its business in accordance with this 
Act.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Members.--The members of the Board shall be individuals 
        with knowledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, 
        in the field of public safety, of which--
                    (A) two shall be appointed by the majority leader 
                of the Senate;
                    (B) two shall be appointed by the minority leader 
                of the Senate;
                    (C) two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (D) two shall be appointed by the minority leader 
                of the House of Representatives; and
                    (E) three shall be appointed by the President, 
                including one with experience in firefighting, one with 
                experience in law enforcement, and one with experience 
                in emergency services.
            (2) Term.--The term of a Board member shall be 4 years.
            (3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the Board 
        shall not affect the powers of the Board and shall be filled in 
        the same manner as the original appointment.
            (4) Operation of the board.--
                    (A) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Board shall be 
                elected by the members of the Board from among the 
                members of the Board.
                    (B) Meetings.--The Board shall conduct its first 
                meeting not later than 90 days after the appointment of 
                the last member appointed of the initial group of 
                members appointed to the Board. Thereafter, the Board 
                shall meet at the call of the Chairman of the Board. 
                The Board shall meet not less often than twice each 
                year.
                    (C) Voting and rules.--A majority of the members 
                shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the 
                Board may establish a lesser quorum for conducting 
                hearings scheduled by the Board. The Board may 
                establish by majority vote any other rules for the 
                conduct of the Board's business, if such rules are not 
                inconsistent with this Act or other applicable law.
    (c) Duties.--The Board shall select candidates as recipients of the 
Medal of Valor from among those applications received by the National 
Medal of Valor Office. Not more often than once each year, the Board 
shall present to the Attorney General the name or names of those it 
recommends as Medal of Valor recipients. In a given year, the Board 
shall not be required to select any recipients but may not select more 
than 5 recipients. The Attorney General may in extraordinary cases 
increase the number of recipients in a given year. The Board shall set 
an annual timetable for fulfilling its duties under this Act.
    (d) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Board may hold such hearings, sit and 
        act at such times and places, administer such oaths, take such 
        testimony, and receive such evidence as the Board considers 
        advisable to carry out its duties.
            (2) Witness expenses.--Witnesses requested to appear before 
        the Board may be paid the same fees as are paid to witnesses 
        under section 1821 of title 28, United States Code. The per 
        diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from 
        funds appropriated to the Board.
    (e) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Board may secure 
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the 
Board considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of 
the Board, the head of such department or agency may furnish such 
information to the Board.
    (f) Information To Be Kept Confidential.--The Board shall not 
disclose any information which may compromise an ongoing law 
enforcement investigation or is otherwise required by law to be kept 
confidential.

SEC. 4. BOARD PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), each member of the Board shall be compensated at a rate equal to 
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which 
such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Board.
    (2) All members of the Board who serve as officers or employees of 
the United States, a State, or a local government, shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for those services.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Board shall be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of service for the Board.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Public safety officer.--The term ``public safety 
        officer'' means a person serving a public agency, with or 
        without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement 
        officer, or emergency services officer, as determined by the 
        Attorney General. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term 
        ``law enforcement officer'' includes a person who is a 
        corrections or court officer or a civil defense officer.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
        Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL MEDAL OF VALOR OFFICE.

    There is established within the Department of Justice a National 
Medal of Valor Office. The Office shall provide staff support to the 
Board to establish criteria and procedures for the submission of 
recommendations of nominees for the Medal of Valor and for the final 
design of the Medal of Valor.

SEC. 8. CONFORMING REPEAL.

    Section 15 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2214) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following 
        new subsection (a):
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established an honorary award 
for the recognition of outstanding and distinguished service by public 
safety officers to be known as the Director's Award For Distinguished 
Public Safety Service (`Director's Award').'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1); and
                    (B) by striking ``(2)'';
            (3) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and redesignating 
        subsections (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), 
        respectively; and
            (4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1); and
                    (B) by striking ``(2)''.

SEC. 9. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.

    The Board shall consult with the Institute of Heraldry within the 
Department of Defense regarding the design and artistry of the Medal of 
Valor. The Board may also consider suggestions received by the 
Department of Justice regarding the design of the medal, including 
those made by persons not employed by the Department.

            Passed the Senate May 14, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
107th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 39

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

  To provide a national medal for public safety officers who act with 
 extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty, and for other 
                               purposes.
[EX A]: Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001 - Allows the President to award, and present in the name of the Congress, a Medal of Valor to a public safety officer cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. Provides that the Public Safety Medal of Valor shall be the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer.Establishes a Medal of Valor Review Board to select candidates to receive the Medal from among applications received by the National Medal of Valor Office. Requires the Board to consult with the Institute of Heraldry in the Department of Defense regarding the design of the Medal.Authorizes appropriations.Establishes within the Department of Justice a National Medal of Valor Office to provide staff support to the Board to establish criteria and procedures for the submission of nominee recommendations for the Medal and for the final design of the Medal.Amends the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to establish an honorary Director's (Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency) Award for Distinguished Public Safety Service for the recognition of outstanding and distinguished service by public safety officers (repeals provisions regarding the President's Award for Outstanding Public Safety Service and the Secretary of Commerce's Award for Distinguished Public Safety Service).

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE: TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Port Authority of 
New York/New Jersey Port Security Task Force Implementation Act of 
2008''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Secure systems of international intermodal transportation. 
Sec. 3. Regional recovery plans. 
Sec. 4. National tactical plans.
Sec. 5. Risk based resource allocation. 
Sec. 6. Use of maritime security risk assessment model.
Sec. 7. Maritime and cargo security integrated project teams.
Sec. 8. Integration of security plans and systems with local port 
                            authority and law enforcement agencies.
Sec. 9. Standardized policy for advanced notice of Coast Guard boarding 
                            for security or port state control 
                            inspections.
Sec. 10. Fraudulent or tampered with transportation worker 
                            identification cards.
Sec. 11. Federal licensing of ship agents.
Sec. 12. Establishment of a security individual.
Sec. 13. Certification of maritime security guards.
Sec. 14. Grants to tier 1 and tier 2 ports require regional strategic 
                            risk management assessment.
Sec. 15. Vessel security plans for supply and similar vessels.

SEC. 2. SECURE SYSTEMS OF INTERNATIONAL INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION.

    Section 70116 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``transportation.'' in subsection (a) and 
        inserting ``transportation--
            ``(1) to ensure the security and integrity of shipments of 
        goods to the United States from the point at which such goods 
        are initially packed or loaded into a cargo container for 
        international shipment until they reach their ultimate 
        destination; and
            ``(2) to facilitate the movement of such goods through the 
        entire supply chain through an expedited security and clearance 
        program.''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Program Elements.--Within one year after the date of 
enactment of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Port Security 
Task Force Implementation Act of 2008, the Secretary, acting through 
the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, shall--
            ``(1) establish minimum standards and procedures for 
        verifying, at the point at which goods are placed in a cargo 
        container for shipping, that the container is free of 
        unauthorized contents, including hazardous chemical, 
        biological, radiological, or nuclear material and for securely 
        sealing such containers after the contents are so verified;
            ``(2) establish standards and procedures for securing cargo 
        and monitoring that security while in transit;
            ``(3) develop performance standards to enhance the physical 
        security of shipping containers, including performance 
        standards for seals and locks and protocols and procedures to 
        address anomalies;
            ``(4) establish standards and procedures for screening and 
        evaluating cargo prior to loading in a foreign port for 
        shipment to the United States either directly or via a foreign 
        port;
            ``(5) establish standards and procedures that will enable 
        the United States Government to ensure and validate compliance 
        with those standards and procedures; and
            ``(6) incorporate any other measures the Secretary 
        considers necessary to ensure the security and integrity of 
        international intermodal transport movements.
    ``(c) Requirements for Entry of Containers.--Beginning 1 year after 
the date on which the Secretary determines that the standards and 
procedures under subsection (b)(5) have been established and are in 
effect, the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection shall refuse 
entry into the customs territory of the United States to any container, 
arriving directly or via a foreign port, unless the entity shipping the 
container has complied with those standards and procedures with respect 
to that container.''.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL RECOVERY PLANS.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 70103(b)(2) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (G) as 
        subparagraphs (F) through (H), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
                    ``(E) establish regional response and recovery 
                protocols to prepare for, respond to, mitigate against, 
                and recover from a transportation security incident 
                consistent with section 202 of the Security and 
                Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 
                942) and section 70103(a) of title 46, United States 
                Code;''.
    (b) Coordination of Plans.--Section 70103(b)(1) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in subparagraph 
        (F);
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:
            ``(G) be consistent with, and support implementation of, 
        the National Incident Management System, the National Response 
        Plan, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, the National 
        Preparedness Guidance, the National Preparedness Goal, the 
        National Transportation Security Plan, National Tactical Plans, 
        and other similar initiatives; and''.
    (c) Use of Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans in 
Exercises.--Section 114(b)(1) of the SAFE Port Act (6 U.S.C. 912(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph 
        (1);
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) utilizes the Area Maritime Transportation Security 
        Plans established under section 70103(b) of title 46, United 
        States Code, in conducting such exercises; and''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL TACTICAL PLANS.

    The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating shall ensure that the National Tactical Plan is shared with 
the Area Maritime Security Committees established under section 70112 
of title 46, United States Code. The Area Maritime Security Committees 
shall use the plan in developing regional and local plans and for 
exercises.

SEC. 5. RISK BASED RESOURCE ALLOCATION.

    (a) National Standard.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, in carrying out chapter 701 of title 46, United States 
Code, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the Security and 
Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall develop and 
utilize a national standard and formula for prioritizing and addressing 
assessed security risks at United States ports, such as the Maritime 
Assessment Strategy Tool that has been tested by the Department of 
Homeland Security.
    (b) Use by Maritime Security Committees.--Within 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall require each Area 
Maritime Security Committee to use this standard to regularly evaluate 
each port's assessed risk and prioritize how to mitigate the most 
significant risks.
    (c) Other Uses of Standard.--The Secretary shall utilize the 
standard when considering departmental resource allocations and grant-
making decisions.

SEC. 6. USE OF MARITIME SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL.

    Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
make the United States Coast Guard's Maritime Security Risk Assessment 
Model tool available, in an unclassified version, on a limited basis to 
regulated vessels and facilities to conduct true risk assessments of 
their own facilities and vessels using the same criteria employed by 
the United States Coast Guard when evaluating a port area.

SEC. 7. MARITIME AND CARGO SECURITY INTEGRATED PROJECT TEAMS.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall--
            (1) establish integrated project teams within the science 
        and technology directorate to assist the Department of Homeland 
        Security in product research, development, transition, and 
        acquisition activities for cargo security; and
            (2) provide for participation by port authorities or the 
        appropriate State agency responsible for oversight of port 
        areas in such activities.

SEC. 8. INTEGRATION OF SECURITY PLANS AND SYSTEMS WITH LOCAL PORT 
              AUTHORITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

    Section 70102 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end thereof the following:
    ``(c) Sharing of Assessment; Integration of Plans and Equipment.--
The owner or operator of a facility shall--
            ``(1) make a current copy of the vulnerability assessment 
        conducted under subsection (b) available to the port authority 
        with jurisdiction of the facility and appropriate State or 
        local law enforcement agencies; and
            ``(2) integrate, to the maximum feasible extent, any 
        security system for the facility with compatible systems 
        operated or maintained by the port authority or such law 
        enforcement agencies.''.

SEC. 9. STANDARDIZED POLICY FOR ADVANCED NOTICE OF COAST GUARD BOARDING 
              FOR SECURITY OR PORT STATE CONTROL INSPECTIONS.

    Within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard shall establish, and publish in the 
Federal Register, a policy governing how much advance notice is to be 
provided by the Coast Guard to the owner or operator of a vessel before 
the vessel is boarded by the Coast Guard for ISPS compliance or Port 
State Control inspection.

SEC. 10. FRAUDULENT OR TAMPERED WITH TRANSPORTATION WORKER 
              IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

    Section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end thereof the following:
    ``(n) Confiscation of Fraudulent TWICs.--If any Federal, State, or 
local government law enforcement officer, or any member of the United 
States Coast Guard in the execution of such officer's duties, has 
reasonable cause to believe that a transportation security card issued 
under this section is fraudulent, has been unlawfully modified, or is 
otherwise invalid, the officer may confiscate the card, notify the 
Department of Homeland Security, and hold the bearer of the card in 
custody for a reasonable period of time for relinquishment to 
appropriate law enforcement authorities.''.

SEC. 11. FEDERAL LICENSING OF SHIP AGENTS.

    (a) In General.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Federal Maritime Commission shall establish and implement a 
procedure for the training, certification, and licensing of steamship 
agents and agencies operating in the United States.
    (b) TWIC Required.--An individual may not receive a license under 
the procedure established by the Federal Maritime Commission under 
subsection (a) unless that individual holds a valid transportation 
security card issued under section 70105 of title 46, United States 
Code.
    (c) License Requirement.--Beginning 1 year after the date on which 
the Federal Maritime Commission establishes the licensing procedure, or 
after such date as the Federal Maritime Commission may establish, it 
shall be unlawful for any person to act as a vessel agent in the United 
States without a valid license issued by the Federal Maritime 
Commission and a valid transportation security card issued under 
section 70105 of title 46, United States Code.
    (d) Enforcement.--Violation of subsection (c) is punishable by 
imprisonment for not more than 1 year and a fine under title 18, United 
States Code.

SEC. 12. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECURITY INDIVIDUAL.

    Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
each vessel documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States 
Code, and each foreign vessel entering a United States port, engaged in 
the commercial transportation of goods or passengers shall--
            (1) designate a United States person that is responsible 
        for responding to a transportation security incident involving 
        the vessel while in a United States port by notifying 
        appropriate emergency response entities and facilitating vessel 
        response activities; and
            (2) provide notice to the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
        the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the captain of the port 
        of the identity and contact information for such person.

SEC. 13. CERTIFICATION OF MARITIME SECURITY GUARDS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
``Sec. 70122. Incident command system training
    ``The Secretary shall ensure that all maritime security guards meet 
minimum training and performance standards in the Department of 
Homeland Security's security awareness and response procedures and in 
the handling of hazardous materials.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 701 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 70121 the following:

``70122. Incident command system training.''.

SEC. 14. GRANTS TO TIER 1 AND TIER 2 PORTS REQUIRE REGIONAL STRATEGIC 
              RISK MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT.

    Section 70107(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end ``The Secretary shall establish regional strategic 
risk management priorities for tier 1 and tier 2 ports and take such 
priorities into account in awarding grants under this section.''.

SEC. 15. VESSEL SECURITY PLANS FOR SUPPLY AND SIMILAR VESSELS.

    (a) In General.--Section 70103(c)(2)(A) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``incident;'' and inserting ``incident 
(including supply vessels, bunker and fuel deliver and launch vessels 
conducting activities or providing services to other vessels at 
anchorage;''.
    (b) TWICs Required for Crew.--Section 70105(b)(2)(F) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``personnel working on 
board vessels described in section 70103(c)(2)(A) of this title and'' 
after ``(F)''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
[EX A]: Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Port Security Task Force Implementation Act of 2008 - Amends federal port security law to revise mandatory elements of the secure system of transportation program.

Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, acting through the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, to establish minimum program standards and procedures for verifying, at the point goods are placed in a cargo container for shipping, that such container is free of unauthorized contents, including hazardous chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear material, and is securely sealed after verification of its contents. Prohibits the entry of any container that has not complied with such standards and procedures.

Requires Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans to establish regional response and recovery protocols for transportation security incidents.

Amends the SAFE Port Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that the Port Security Exercise Program utilizes Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans in conducting port security exercises.

Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to develop and utilize a national standard for prioritizing and assessing security risks at U.S. ports, such as the Maritime Assessment Strategy Tool.

Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) use of the U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Security Risk Assessment Model tool to conduct vessel and port facility security risk assessments; (2) establishment of maritime and cargo security integrated project teams; (3) sharing of port facility vulnerability assessments and integration of port security plans and systems with local port authority and law enforcement agencies; (4) policy for advanced notice of Coast Guard boarding of vessels for security or Port State Control inspections; (5) confiscation of fraudulent transportation worker identification cards (TWICs); (6) Federal Maritime Commission training and licensing of steamship agents; (7) designation of a U.S. person to be responsible for notifying emergency response entities in the event of a transportation security incident involving a U.S. or foreign vessel; (8) minimum incident command system training and performance standards for maritime security guards; (9) consideration of regional strategic risk management priorities for tier 1 and tier 2 ports in grant awards; and (10) the submission of security plans for supply, bunker, and fuel deliver and launch vessels conducting activities or providing services to other vessels at anchorage.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prescription Drug Comparative 
Effectiveness Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION 
              DRUGS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Research.--The Director of the Agency for Healthcare 
        Research and Quality, in consultation with the Director of the 
        National Institutes of Health, shall conduct or support 
        research, which may include clinical research, to develop valid 
        scientific evidence regarding comparative clinical 
        effectiveness, outcomes, and appropriateness of prescription 
        drugs, medical devices, and procedures. In conducting or 
        supporting such research, particular consideration shall be 
        given to treatments that involve high volume, high cost, or 
        high risk to patients.
            (2) Systematic reviews.--
                    (A) In general.--The Director of the Agency for 
                Healthcare Research and Quality shall conduct or 
                support systematic reviews of existing evidence 
                regarding comparative clinical effectiveness, outcomes, 
                and appropriateness of prescription drugs, medical 
                devices, and procedures. In conducting or supporting 
                such reviews, particular consideration shall be given 
                to treatments that involve high volume, high cost, or 
                high risk to patients.
                    (B) Better clinician and patient information on 
                safety.--Within 12 months of the date of the enactment 
                of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services, in consultation with the Director of the 
                Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the 
                Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Director of the 
                National Institutes of Health, shall develop a 
                coordinated plan for research on the most appropriate 
                methods for measuring and comparing adverse events 
                associated with pharmaceuticals and other medical and 
                surgical treatments so that clinicians and patients can 
                evaluate the comparative safety as well as the 
                comparative clinical effectiveness of the alternative 
                treatment options.
    (b) Annual Report.--Each year the Director of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality shall prepare a report on the results 
of the research, studies, and analyses conducted under this section and 
submit the report to the following:
            (1) The Congress.
            (2) The Secretary of Defense.
            (3) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
            (4) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (5) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & 
        Medicaid Services.
            (6) The Director of the Indian Health Service.
            (7) The Director of the National Institutes of Health.
            (8) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
    (c) Reports for Practitioners.--As soon as possible, but not later 
than a year after the completion of any systemic review conducted 
pursuant to subsection (a)(2), the Director of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality shall--
            (1) prepare a report on the results of such systemic review 
        for the purpose of informing health care practitioners; and
            (2) identify treatment options for which comparative 
        clinical effectiveness judgments could not be reached due to 
        insufficient evidence and make such identifications available 
        to the Director of the National Institutes of Health and other 
        entities funding research.
    (d) Information for Patients.--The Director of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality shall create a version of each report 
prepared for practitioners under subsection (c)(1) in a form that is 
easily understood by the individuals receiving the treatments involved.
    (e) Availability.--The Director of the Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality--
            (1) shall publish on the Agency's Internet site, and 
        through other means that will facilitate access by 
        practitioners, each report prepared under subsection (b), (c), 
        or (d); and
            (2) make the information in such reports available to the 
        public through easily accessible and searchable electronic 
        mechanisms, and in hard copy formats as appropriate.
    (f) Accountability.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall implement activities in a manner 
that makes publicly available all scientific evidence relied upon and 
the methodologies employed, provided such evidence and method are not 
protected from public disclosure by section 1905 of title 18, United 
States Code, or other applicable law, so that the results of the 
research, analyses, or syntheses involved can be evaluated and 
replicated.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health $100,000,000 
for fiscal year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
2008 and each subsequent fiscal year.
[EX A]:
Prescription Drug Comparative Effectiveness Act of 2006 - Requires the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to conduct or support reviews of existing evidence and research to develop evidence regarding comparative clinical effectiveness, outcomes, and appropriateness of prescription drugs, medical devices, and procedures.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a coordinated plan for research on methods for measuring and comparing adverse events associated with pharmaceuticals and other medical and surgical treatments so that clinicians and patients can evaluate the comparative safety and clinical effectiveness of the alternative treatment options.

Provides for information developed from such reviews to be made available to practitioners and patients.