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

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) After two terrorist attacks it is time to fix the 
        communications system for the New York City Fire Department.
            (2) During its response to the 1993 bombing of the World 
        Trade Center in New York City, the New York City Fire 
        Department's radios did not work in the twin towers of the 
        World Trade Center. The resulting lack of communication 
        complicated operations but did not result in the death of any 
        firefighter.
            (3) Eight years later, on September 11, 2001, the World 
        Trade Center was attacked again and the fire department's radio 
        system failed again.
            (4) Soon before the collapse of Tower One of the World 
        Trade Center, fire department officials tried in vain to radio 
        firefighters to evacuate the building.
            (5) The firefighters' radio system failed the firefighters 
        in Tower One and as a result many were not able to receive this 
        warning. The failure of the radio system was largely 
        responsible for the death of many of the 343 firefighters who 
        died in the collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers.
            (6) Since September 11, 2001, the fire department has taken 
        steps to improve the communications system that failed them. 
        However, many tall buildings in New York City have not 
        installed repeaters that are needed to boost signals, and the 
        signals are often lost in high-rise buildings and underground.
            (7) In August 2003, New York City experienced a blackout. 
        During the blackout the fire department's radio system was 
        again found not to work reliably during emergency situations or 
        in high buildings.
            (8) The dispatch system currently used by the New York City 
        Fire Department was acquired in the early 1970s and hampers the 
        ability of the department to fully communicate with its 
        firefighters and provide appropriate detailed information about 
        the buildings and locations to which they respond.
            (9) Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 
        executive branch officials have repeatedly warned that future 
        terror attacks are not a matter of if, but when. The Secretary 
        of Homeland Security has identified New York City as one of the 
        main terrorist targets.
            (10) With New York City remaining a top terrorist target, 
        such communications system should be a national priority.
            (11) A new state-of-the-art communications system and 
        upgrades to the critical information dispatch system for the 
        New York City Fire Department should be--
                    (A) seamless from the receipt of a 911 call to the 
                dispatch of the firefighter; and
                    (B) interoperable with other public safety offices 
                within the City of New York.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO PROCURE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR NEW YORK CITY 
              FIRE DEPARTMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, by not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, procure 
development and provision of a communications system for the New York 
City Fire Department, including appropriate radios for the entire 
department and upgrades to the critical information dispatch system of 
the department.
    (b) Requirements.--
            (1) Radios.--Radios procured pursuant to this section must 
        be capable of operating in all locations, and under all 
        conditions, in which firefighters can reasonably be expected to 
        work in responding to an emergency in New York City.
            (2) Supplemental communication device.--Any communications 
        system procured pursuant to this section must include provision 
        to each firefighter of a supplemental radio communication 
        device that--
                    (A) allows the firefighter to transmit audio and 
                radio emergency notification warning signals to other 
                firefighters whenever the firefighter is in distress 
                and in immediate need of assistance; and
                    (B) has the capability to operate automatically in 
                a passive mode by transmitting audio and radio messages 
                that will relay the firefighter's identification and 
                location if the firefighter--
                            (i) becomes incapacitated and motionless; 
                        and
                            (ii) is unable to physically transmit a 
                        call for help.
            (3) Dispatch system.--Upgrades to the critical information 
        dispatch system procured pursuant to this section must--
                    (A) allow the fire department to communicate with 
                firefighters in all locations, and under all 
                conditions, in which firefighters can reasonably be 
                expected to work in responding to an emergency in New 
                York City, including all high-rise buildings and 
                subways;
                    (B) provide useful, detailed data concerning all 
                likely terrorist target locations in the City of New 
                York; and
                    (C) be capable of providing to responding 
                firefighters, instantaneously, details about particular 
                buildings and other locations to assist them in making 
                decisions about how to mitigate a terrorist attack and 
                save lives and property.
    (c) Testing.--Radios, any dispatch system upgrades, and 
supplemental communication devices procured pursuant to this section 
must have been tested to ensure they will operate in all locations and 
under all conditions in which firefighters can reasonably be expected 
to work in responding to an emergency in New York City.
    (d) Coordination.--In carrying out this section the Secretary shall 
coordinate with the City of New York to ensure that the communications 
system procured under this section is--
            (1) compatible with the plans of the City of New York to 
        upgrade its 911 system; and
            (2) interoperable with other public safety communications 
        systems.
    (e) Progress Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress a 
report on progress made in carrying out this section, on--
            (1) February 26, 2008; and
            (2) September 11, 2008.

A: 9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to procure development and provision of a communications system for the New York City Fire Department, including appropriate radios and upgrades to the Department's critical information dispatch system that allow communication in all locations and under all conditions in which firefighters can reasonably be expected to work, including all high-rise buildings and subways.

Directs that any communications system procured include provision to each firefighter of a supplemental radio communication device that: (1) allows the firefighter to transmit emergency notification warning signals to other firefighters; and (2) has the capability to operate automatically by transmitting messages that will relay an incapacitated firefighter's identification and location.

Requires that upgrades procured: (1) provide useful, detailed data concerning all likely terrorist target locations in the city; and (2) be capable of providing to responding firefighters, instantaneously, details about particular buildings and other locations to assist in making decisions about how to mitigate a terrorist attack.

Requires that: (1) radios, any dispatch system upgrades, and supplemental communication devices procured be tested; and (2) the Secretary coordinate with the city to ensure that the communications system procured is compatible with city plans to upgrade its 911 system and interoperable with other public safety communications systems.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Home Health Rebasing Relief 
and Reassessment Act''.

SEC. 2. RELIEF AND REASSESSMENT OF THE REBASING OF MEDICARE HOME HEALTH 
              PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT AMOUNTS.

    (a) Suspension of Rebasing.--Section 1895(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395fff(b)(3)(A)(iii)) is amended--
            (1) in subclause (I), in the first sentence, by striking 
        ``subclause (II)'' and inserting ``subclauses (II) and (III)'';
            (2) in subclause (II), in the first sentence, by striking 
        ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``Subject to subclause (III), 
        the Secretary''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
                                    ``(III) Special rule.--Subclauses 
                                (I) and (II) shall not apply for the 
                                12-month period beginning on the date 
                                of the enactment of this subclause. For 
                                periods beginning after the period 
                                described in the previous sentence, the 
                                Secretary shall apply such subclauses 
                                as if the previous sentence had not 
                                been enacted.''.
    (b) Revision of Home Health Outlier Adjustment.--Section 
1895(b)(5)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395fff(b)(5)(A)) 
is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting ``(or, in the case of 
each of the years 2015 through 2023, 2.25 percent)'' after ``2.5 
percent''.
    (c) Study and Report.--
            (1) Study.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services, in consultation with representatives of 
                Medicare home health agencies and beneficiaries, shall 
                conduct a study on alternative methods for determining 
                the appropriate adjustment under section 
                1895(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1395(b)(3)(A)(iii)), including methods offered 
                by stakeholders. Such study shall include an analysis 
                of each of the following:
                            (i) The projected impact on Medicare 
                        beneficiary access to care during each of 2014 
                        through 2017 of applying section 1895(b)(3) 
                        during each of such years without application 
                        of subparagraph (A)(iii) of such section, 
                        compared to the projected impact on such access 
                        during each of such years of applying such 
                        section during each of such years with 
                        application of such subparagraph.
                            (ii) The number and share of home health 
                        agencies that are projected to experience 
                        negative Medicare margins by 2017, including 
                        the location, size, and type of such agencies.
                            (iii) With respect to home health agencies 
                        described in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) the total number, average age, 
                                average income, and average number of 
                                activities of daily living of the 
                                Medicare beneficiaries such agencies 
                                serve;
                                    (II) the number of staff such 
                                agencies employ;
                                    (III) the number and location of 
                                counties in which such agencies serve 
                                as the sole provider of Medicare home 
                                health services; and
                                    (IV) to the extent practicable, the 
                                payer mix of such agencies.
                            (iv) The impact of the adjustment on small 
                        home health agencies, as defined by the United 
                        States Small Business Administration small 
                        business size standards, consistent with the 
                        principles of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
                        which requires Federal agencies, including the 
                        Department of Health and Human Services, to 
                        fully consider during the rulemaking process 
                        the economic impact of regulatory provisions, 
                        as well as less burdensome regulatory 
                        alternatives, to small entities.
                            (v) Any other areas determined appropriate 
                        by the Secretary.
                    (B) Requirement for alternative methods and other 
                considerations.--For purposes of the analysis under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) the alternative methods described in 
                        such subparagraph shall cover each of the years 
                        in which the rebasing adjustment under such 
                        section 1895(b)(3)(A)(iii) is to be applied; 
                        and
                            (ii) the Secretary shall include a 
                        cumulative analysis of other Medicare home 
                        health reimbursement reductions established by 
                        statute or regulation, consistent with the 
                        requirements of Executive Order 13563.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall submit to Congress a report on the study 
        conducted under paragraph (1), together with such 
        recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate based 
        on the findings of such study. Such report shall include--
                    (A) a determination by the Secretary as to whether, 
                as a result of the findings of such study, the 
                Secretary intends to use the authority under section 
                1871 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395hh) to 
                modify the adjustment described in paragraph (1)(A) and 
                the extent of any such modification; and
                    (B) in the case the Secretary determines not to use 
                such authority, the rationale for such determination.

A: Medicare Home Health Rebasing Relief and Reassessment Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the system for prospective payments for home health services, to suspend for a 12-month period a specified adjustment to (rebasing of) Medicare home health prospective payment amounts. Revises the home health outlier adjustment to equal not to exceed 2.25% (currently, 2.5%) for 2015 through 2023. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study alternative methods for determining the appropriate adjustment for 2014 and subsequent years to the prospective payment for home health services, including methods offered by stakeholders.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Savings in Construction Act of 
1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 was enacted in order 
        to set forth the policy of the United States to convert to the 
        metric system. Section 3 of that Act requires that each Federal 
        agency use the metric system of measurements in its 
        procurement, grants, and other business-related activities, 
        unless that use is likely to cause significant cost or loss of 
        markets to United States firms, such as when foreign 
        competitors are producing competing products in non-metric 
        units.
            (2) In accordance with that Act and Executive Order 12770, 
        of July 25, 1991, Federal agencies increasingly construct new 
        Federal buildings in round metric dimensions. As a result, 
        companies that wish to bid on Federal construction projects 
        increasingly are asked to supply materials or products in round 
        metric dimensions.
            (3) While the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 currently 
        provides an exemption to metric usage when impractical or when 
        such usage will cause economic inefficiencies, amendments are 
        warranted to ensure that the use of specific metric components 
        in metric construction projects do not increase the cost of 
        Federal buildings to the taxpayers.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 4 of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C. 205c) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
            (2) by striking ``Commerce.'' in paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``Commerce;''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) `full and open competition' has the same meaning as 
        defined in section 403(6) of title 41, United States Code;
            ``(6) `total installed price' means the price of purchasing 
        a product or material, trimming or otherwise altering some or 
        all of that product or material, if necessary to fit with other 
        building components, and then installing that product or 
        material into a Federal facility;
            ``(7) `hard-metric' means measurement, design, and 
        manufacture using the metric system of measurement, but does 
        not include measurement, design, and manufacture using English 
        system measurement units which are subsequently reexpressed in 
        the metric system of measurement;
            ``(8) `cost or pricing data or price analysis' has the 
        meaning given such terms in section 304A of the Federal 
        Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 
        254b); and
            ``(9) `Federal facility' means any public building (as 
        defined under section 13 of the Public Buildings Act of 1959 
        (40 U.S.C. 612) and shall include any Federal building or 
        construction project--
                    ``(A) on lands in the public domain;
                    ``(B) on lands used in connection with Federal 
                programs for agriculture research, recreation, and 
                conservation programs;
                    ``(C) on or used in connection with river, harbor, 
                flood control, reclamation, or power projects;
                    ``(D) on or used in connection with housing and 
                residential projects;
                    ``(E) on military installations (including any 
                fort, camp, post, naval training station, airfield, 
                proving ground, military supply depot, military school, 
                or any similar facility of the Department of Defense);
                    ``(F) on installations of the Department of Veteran 
                Affairs used for hospital or domiciliary purposes; or
                    ``(G) on lands used in connection with Federal 
                prisons,
        but does not include (i) any Federal Building or construction 
        project the exclusion of which the President deems to be 
        justified in the public interest, or (ii) any construction 
        project or building owned or controlled by a State government, 
        local government, Indian tribe, or any private entity.''.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION IN ACQUISITION OF FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    (a) The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C. 205 et sec.) is 
amended by inserting after section 13 the following new section:

``SEC. 14. IMPLEMENTATION IN ACQUISITION OF CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AND 
              MATERIALS FOR FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--Construction services and materials for Federal 
facilities shall be procured in accordance with the policies and 
procedures set forth in chapter 137 of title 10, United States Code, 
section 2377 of title 10, United States Code, title III of the Federal 
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et 
seq.), and section 3(2) of this Act. Determination of a design method 
shall be based upon preliminary market research as required under 
section 2377(c) of title 10, United States Code, and section 314B(c) of 
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 
264b(c)). If the requirements of this Act conflict with the provisions 
of section 2377 of title 10, United States Code, or section 314B of the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, then the 
provisions of 2377 or 314B shall take precedence.
    ``(b) Concrete Masonry Units.--In carrying out the policy set forth 
in section 3 (with particular emphasis on the policy set forth in 
paragraph (2) of that section) a Federal agency may require that 
specifications for the acquisition of structures or systems of concrete 
masonry be expressed under the metric system of measurement, but may 
not incorporate specifications, that can only be satisfied by hard-
metric versions of concrete masonry units, in a solicitation for design 
or construction of a Federal facility within the United States or its 
territories, or a portion of said Federal facility, unless the head of 
the agency determines in writing that--
            ``(1) hard-metric specifications are necessary in a 
        contract for the repair or replacement of parts of Federal 
        facilities in existence or under construction upon the 
        effective date of the Savings in Construction Act of 1996; or
            ``(2) the following 2 criteria are met:
                    ``(A) the application requires hard-metric concrete 
                masonry units to coordinate dimensionally into 100 
                millimeter building modules; and
                    ``(B) the total installed price of hard-metric 
                concrete masonry units is estimated to be equal to or 
                less than the total installed price of using non-hard-
                metric concrete masonry units. Total installed price 
                estimates shall be based, to the extent available, on 
                cost or pricing data or price analysis, using actual 
                hard-metric and non-hard-metric offers received for 
                comparable existing projects. The head of the agency 
                shall include in the writing required in this 
                subsection an explanation of the factors used to 
                develop the price estimates.
    ``(c) Recessed Lighting Fixtures.--In carrying out the policy set 
forth in section 3 (with particular emphasis on the policy set forth in 
paragraph (2) of that section) a Federal agency may require that 
specifications for the acquisition of structures or systems of recessed 
lighting fixtures be expressed under the metric system of measurement, 
but may not incorporate specifications, that can only be satisfied by 
hard-metric versions of recessed lighting fixtures, in a solicitation 
for design or construction of a Federal facility within the United 
States or its territories unless the head of the agency determines in 
writing that--
            ``(1) the predominant voluntary industry consensus 
        standards include the use of hard-metric for the items 
        specified; or
            ``(2) hard-metric specifications are necessary in a 
        contract for the repair or replacement of parts of Federal 
        facilities in existence or under construction upon the 
        effective date of the Savings in Construction Act of 1996; or
            ``(3) the following 2 criteria are met:
                    ``(A) the application requires hard-metric recessed 
                lighting fixtures to coordinate dimensionally into 100 
                millimeter building modules; and
                    ``(B) the total installed price of hard-metric 
                recessed lighting fixtures is estimated to be equal to 
                or less than the total installed price of using non-
                hard-metric recessed lighting fixtures. Total installed 
                price estimates shall be based, to the extent 
                available, on cost or pricing data or price analysis, 
                using actual hard-metric and non-hard-metric offers 
                received for comparable existing projects. The head of 
                the agency shall include in the writing required in 
                this subsection an explanation of the factors used to 
                develop the price estimates.
    ``(d) Limitation.--The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of 
this section shall not apply to Federal contracts to acquire 
construction products for the construction of facilities outside of the 
United States and its territories.
    ``(e) Expiration.--The provisions contained in subsections (b) and 
(c) of this section shall expire 10 years from the effective date of 
the Savings in Construction Act of 1996.''.

SEC. 5. OMBUDSMAN.

    Section 14 of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, as added by 
section 4 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(f) Agency Ombudsman.--(1) The head of each executive agency that 
awards construction contracts within the United States and its 
territories shall designate a senior agency official to serve as a 
construction metrication ombudsman who shall be responsible for 
reviewing and responding to complaints from prospective bidders, 
subcontractors, suppliers, or their designated representatives related 
to--
            ``(A) guidance or regulations issued by the agency on the 
        use of the metric system of measurement in contracts for the 
        construction of Federal buildings; and
            ``(B) the use of the metric system of measurement for 
        services and materials required for incorporation in individual 
        projects to construct Federal buildings.
The construction metrication ombudsman shall be independent of the 
contracting officer for construction contracts.
    ``(2) The ombudsman shall be responsible for ensuring that the 
agency is not implementing the metric system of measurement in a manner 
that is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or 
loss of markets to United States firms in violation of the policy 
stated in section 3(2), or is otherwise inconsistent with guidance 
issued by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the 
Interagency Council on Metric Policy while ensuring that the goals of 
the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 are observed.
    ``(3) The ombudsman shall respond to each complaint in writing 
within 60 days and make a recommendation to the head of the executive 
agency for an appropriate resolution thereto. In such a recommendation, 
the ombudsman shall consider--
            ``(A) whether the agency is adequately applying the 
        policies and procedures in this section;
            ``(B) whether the availability of hard-metric products and 
        services from United States firms is sufficient to ensure full 
        and open competition; and
            ``(C) the total installed price to the Federal Government.
    ``(4) After the head of the agency has rendered a decision 
regarding a recommendation of the ombudsman, the ombudsman shall be 
responsible for communicating the decision to all appropriate policy, 
design, planning, procurement, and notifying personnel in the agency. 
The ombudsman shall conduct appropriate monitoring as required to 
ensure the decision is implemented, and may submit further 
recommendations, as needed. The head of the agency's decision on the 
ombudsman's recommendations, and any supporting documentation, shall be 
provided to affected parties and made available to the public in a 
timely manner.
    ``(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede the 
bid protest process established under subchapter V of chapter 35 of 
title 31, United States Code.''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    (a) Effective Date.--This Act and the amendments made by this Act 
shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Savings Provisions.--This Act shall not apply to contracts 
awarded and solicitations issued on or before the effective date of 
this Act, unless the head of a Federal agency makes a written 
determination in his or her sole discretion that it would be in the 
public interest to apply one or more provisions of this Act or its 
amendments to these existing contracts or solicitations.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.

A:
Savings in Construction Act of 1996 - Amends the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to define specified terms, including:  (1) full and open competition; (2) total installed price; (3) hard-metric; (4) cost or pricing data or price analysis; and (5) Federal facility. 
Requires the implementation of such Act in the acquisition of construction services and materials for Federal facilities.  Directs that if the requirements of this Act conflict with specified Federal procurement provisions, then such provisions shall take precedence.  Sets forth exceptions with respect to the implementation of such Act concerning concrete masonry units and recessed lighting fixtures. Requires the agency head to determine in writing according to specified criteria that specifications can only be satisfied by hard-metric versions. 
Requires the head of each agency that awards construction contracts within the United States and its territories to designate a senior agency official as a construction metrication ombudsman to, among other things, be:  (1) responsible for reviewing and responding to complaints from prospective bidders, subcontractors, suppliers, or their designated representatives concerning use of the metric system of measurement in contracts for the construction of Federal buildings; (2) independent of the contracting officer for construction contracts; and (3) responsible for ensuring that the agency is not implementing the metric system of measurement in a manner that is either impractical, likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to U.S. firms, or inconsistent with specified guidelines while ensuring that the goals of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 are observed.
****