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 ``Fairness to Local Contractors Act''.

SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF STATE ENFORCEMENT OF STATE TAX, EMPLOYMENT, AND 
              LICENSING LAWS AGAINST CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS.

    (a) Requirement for State Tax Clearance From Potential Construction 
Contractors.--
            (1) Defense contracts.--Section 2305(b) of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(10) In order to be considered a responsible bidder or offeror 
for a contract for the construction of a public building, facility, or 
work, a bidder or offeror shall submit with the bid or offer a tax 
clearance from the State in which the contract is to be performed. For 
purposes of this paragraph, a tax clearance is a document from an 
appropriate State agency indicating that the bidder or offeror is in 
compliance with all the tax laws of the State in which the contract is 
to be performed.''.
            (2) Civilian agency contracts.--Section 303B of title III 
        of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 
        (41 U.S.C. 253b) is amended by adding at the end the following 
        new subsection:
    ``(n) Tax Clearance.--In order to be considered a responsible 
bidder or offeror for a contract for the construction of a public 
building, facility, or work, a bidder or offeror shall submit with the 
bid or offer a tax clearance from the State in which the contract is to 
be performed. For purposes of this paragraph, a tax clearance is a 
document from an appropriate State agency indicating that the bidder or 
offeror is in compliance with all the tax laws of the State in which 
the contract is to be performed.''.
    (b) Requirement To Withhold Final Contract Payment Until Receipt of 
State Tax Clearance and Certification of Compliance With Employment 
Laws From Contractor.--
            (1) Defense contracts.--Section 2307 of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(j) Requirement To Withhold Final Payment.--(1) The head of an 
agency shall withhold final payment under a contract for the 
construction of a public building, facility, or work until the 
contractor submits to the agency both of the following:
            ``(A) A tax clearance from the State in which the contract 
        is or was performed.
            ``(B) A certification stating that the contractor is in 
        compliance (or was in compliance during the performance of the 
        contract) with all applicable State laws that require employers 
        to make payments to or for the benefit of employees, including 
        laws relating to unemployment insurance, workers compensation, 
        health insurance, and disability insurance.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a tax clearance is a 
document from an appropriate State agency indicating that the 
contractor is or was in compliance with all the tax laws of the State 
in which the contract is or was performed.''.
            (2) Civilian agency contracts.--Section 305 of title III of 
        the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 
        (41 U.S.C. 255) is amended by adding at the end the following 
        new subsection:
    ``(h) Requirement To Withhold Final Payment.--(1) The head of an 
executive agency shall withhold final payment under a contract for the 
construction of a public building, facility, or work until the 
contractor submits to the agency both of the following:
            ``(A) A tax clearance from the State in which the contract 
        is or was performed.
            ``(B) A certification stating that the contractor is in 
        compliance (or was in compliance during the performance of the 
        contract) with all applicable State laws that require employers 
        to make payments to or for the benefit of employees, including 
        laws relating to unemployment insurance, workers compensation, 
health insurance, and disability insurance.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a tax clearance is a 
document from an appropriate State agency indicating that the 
contractor is or was in compliance with all the tax laws of the State 
in which the contract is or was performed.''.
    (c) Authority To Withhold Payment to Contractor of Amounts 
Necessary To Meet State Tax Obligations.--
            (1) Defense contracts.--Section 2307 of title 10, United 
        States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
        following new subsection:
    ``(k) Authority To Withhold Payment To Meet State Tax 
Obligations.--The head of an agency may withhold, from any payment due 
to a contractor under a contract made by the agency for the 
construction of a public building, facility, or work, an amount 
considered necessary by the head of the agency to pay to the State in 
which the contract is being performed the amount of the contractor's 
State tax liability that is attributable to the contract. The head of 
the agency that so withholds a payment may, upon request of the State 
in which the contract is being performed and with such documentation as 
the head of the agency considers necessary, pay such tax liability 
amount directly to the State from the withheld payment. Any amount of a 
withheld payment that exceeds the actual State tax liability amount 
shall be paid to the contractor.''.
            (2) Civilian agency contracts.--Section 305 of title III of 
        the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 
        (41 U.S.C. 255) is further amended by adding at the end the 
        following new subsection:
    ``(i) Authority To Withhold Payment To Meet State Tax 
Obligations.--The head of an executive agency may withhold, from any 
payment due to a contractor under a contract made by the agency for the 
construction of a public building, facility, or work, an amount 
considered necessary by the head of the agency to pay to the State in 
which the contract is being performed the amount of the contractor's 
State tax liability that is attributable to the contract. The head of 
the executive agency that so withholds a payment may, upon request of 
the State in which the contract is being performed and with such 
documentation as the head of the agency considers necessary, pay such 
tax liability amount directly to the State from the withheld payment. 
Any amount of a withheld payment that exceeds the actual State tax 
liability amount shall be paid to the contractor.''.
    (d) Requirement for Construction Contractors To Obtain Applicable 
State Licenses.--
            (1) Defense contracts.--(A) Chapter 141 of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 2410n. Construction contracts: requirement to obtain applicable 
              State licenses
    ``The Secretary of Defense shall require, in any contract entered 
into by the Secretary for the construction of a public building, 
facility, or work which is to be performed in a State that requires 
persons performing the type of work to be performed under the contract 
to be licensed, that the contractor be so licensed.''.
    (B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``2410n. Construction contracts: requirement to obtain applicable State 
                            licenses.''.
            (2) Civilian agency contracts.--Title III of the Federal 
        Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 
        et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 318. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS: REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN APPLICABLE 
              STATE LICENSES.

    ``The head of an executive agency shall require, in any contract 
entered into by the agency for the construction of a public building, 
facility, or work which is to be performed in a State that requires 
persons performing the type of work to be performed under the contract 
to be licensed, that the contractor be so licensed.''.
    (e) Requirement To Explain Hawaii Excise Tax in Federal Acquisition 
Regulation.--The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be revised to 
contain provisions explaining the general excise tax law of the State 
of Hawaii.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply 
with respect to contracts entered into after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
[EX A]: Fairness to Local Contractors Act - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and defense contract law to require a bidder or offeror, to be considered a responsible bidder or offeror for the construction of a public building, facility, or work, to submit a tax clearance (a document stating that such entity is in compliance with all State tax laws) from the State in which the contract is to be performed. Requires the head of a Federal or defense agency to withhold the final payment under such a contract until the contractor submits both a tax clearance and a certification of compliance with all State laws concerning payments to employees under a contract, including unemployment insurance, workers compensation, health insurance, and disability insurance.

Authorizes the head of a Federal or defense agency to: (1) withhold from any contractor payments amounts necessary to pay any State tax liability attributable to the contract; and (2) pay such amount directly to such State.

Directs the Secretary of Defense or agency head to require a contractor to be licensed if the State in which a construction contract is to be performed requires a license.

Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to explain the general excise tax law of Hawaii.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prescription Drug Fairness for 
Seniors Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Manufacturers of prescription drugs engage in price 
        discrimination practices that compel many older Americans to 
        pay substantially more for prescription drugs than consumers in 
        foreign nations and the drug manufacturers' most favored U.S. 
        customers, such as health insurers, health maintenance 
        organizations, and the Federal Government.
            (2) Older Americans who buy their own prescription drugs 
        often pay twice as much for prescription drugs as consumers in 
        foreign nations and the drug manufacturers' most favored U.S. 
        customers. In some cases, older Americans pay 10 times more for 
        prescription drugs than such customers.
            (3) The discriminatory pricing by major drug manufacturers 
        sustains their high profits (for example, $27,300,000,000 in 
        1999), but causes financial hardship and impairs the health and 
        well-being of millions of older Americans. Many older Americans 
        are forced to choose between buying their food and buying their 
        medicines.
            (4) Foreign nations and U.S. federally funded health care 
        programs use purchasing power to obtain prescription drugs at 
        low prices. Medicare beneficiaries are denied this benefit and 
        cannot obtain their prescription drugs at the lower prices 
        available to such nations and programs.
            (5) Implementation of the policy set forth in this Act will 
        reduce prices for brand name prescription drugs for many 
        Medicare beneficiaries by an average of 40 percent.
            (6) In addition to substantially lowering the costs of 
        prescription drugs for older Americans, implementation of the 
        policy set forth in this Act will significantly improve the 
        health and well-being of older Americans and lower the costs to 
        the Federal taxpayer of the Medicare program.
            (7) Older Americans who are terminally ill and receiving 
        hospice care services represent some of the most vulnerable 
        individuals in our nation. Making prescription drugs available 
        to Medicare beneficiaries under the care of Medicare-certified 
        hospices will assist in extending the benefits of lower 
        prescription drug prices to those most vulnerable and in need.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to protect Medicare 
beneficiaries from discriminatory pricing by drug manufacturers and to 
make prescription drugs available to Medicare beneficiaries at 
substantially reduced prices.

SEC. 3. PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS.

    (a) In General.--Each participating manufacturer of a covered 
outpatient drug shall make available for purchase by each pharmacy such 
covered outpatient drug in the amount described in subsection (b) at 
the price described in subsection (c).
    (b) Description of Amount of Drugs.--The amount of a covered 
outpatient drug that a participating manufacturer shall make available 
for purchase by a pharmacy is an amount equal to the aggregate amount 
of the covered outpatient drug sold or distributed by the pharmacy to 
Medicare beneficiaries.
    (c) Description of Price.--The price at which a participating 
manufacturer shall make a covered outpatient drug available for 
purchase by a pharmacy is a price no greater than the manufacturer's 
average foreign price.
    (d) Enforcement.--The United States shall debar a manufacturer of 
drugs or biologicals that does not comply with the provisions of this 
Act.

SEC. 4. SPECIAL PROVISION WITH RESPECT TO HOSPICE PROGRAMS.

    For purposes of determining the amount of a covered outpatient drug 
that a participating manufacturer shall make available for purchase by 
a pharmacy under section 3, there shall be included in the calculation 
of such amount the amount of the covered outpatient drug sold or 
distributed by a pharmacy to a hospice program. In calculating such 
amount, only amounts of the covered outpatient drug furnished to a 
Medicare beneficiary enrolled in the hospice program shall be included.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.

    The Secretary shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to 
implement this Act.

SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF ACT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
report to the Congress regarding the effectiveness of this Act in--
            (1) protecting Medicare beneficiaries from discriminatory 
        pricing by drug manufacturers, and
            (2) making prescription drugs available to Medicare 
        beneficiaries at substantially reduced prices.
    (b) Consultation.--In preparing such reports, the Secretary shall 
consult with public health experts, affected industries, organizations 
representing consumers and older Americans, and other interested 
persons.
    (c) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall include in such reports 
any recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate for changes in 
this Act to further reduce the cost of covered outpatient drugs to 
Medicare beneficiaries.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Average foreign price.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``average foreign price'' 
                means, with respect to a covered outpatient drug, the 
                average price that the manufacturer of the drug 
                realizes on the sale of drugs with the same active 
                ingredient or ingredients that are consumed in covered 
                foreign nations, taking into account--
                            (i) any rebate, contract term or condition, 
                        or other arrangement (whether with the 
                        purchaser or other persons) that has the effect 
                        of reducing the amount realized by the 
                        manufacturer on the sale of the drugs; and
                            (ii) adjustments for any differences in 
                        dosage, formulation, or other relevant 
                        characteristics of the drugs.
                    (B) Exempt transactions.--The Secretary may, by 
                regulation, exempt from the calculation of the average 
                foreign price of a drug those prices realized by a 
                manufacturer in transactions that are entered into for 
                charitable purposes, for research purposes, or under 
                other unusual circumstances, if the Secretary 
                determines that the exemption is in the public interest 
                and is consistent with the purposes of this Act.
            (2) Covered foreign nation.--The term ``covered foreign 
        nation' means Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the 
        United Kingdom.
            (3) Covered outpatient drug.--The term ``covered outpatient 
        drug'' has the meaning given that term in section 1927(k)(2) of 
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-8(k)(2)).
            (4) Debar.--The term ``debar'' means to exclude, pursuant 
        to established administrative procedures, from Government 
        contracting and subcontracting for a specified period of time 
        commensurate with the seriousness of the failure or offense or 
        the inadequacy of performance.
            (5) Hospice program.--The term ``hospice program'' has the 
        meaning given that term under section 1861(dd)(2) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)).
            (6) Medicare beneficiary.--The term ``Medicare 
        beneficiary'' means an individual entitled to benefits under 
        part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled 
        under part B of such title, or both.
            (7) Participating manufacturer.--The term ``participating 
        manufacturer'' means any manufacturer of drugs or biologicals 
        that, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, enters 
        into a contract or agreement with the United States for the 
        sale or distribution of covered outpatient drugs to the United 
        States.
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The Secretary shall implement this Act as expeditiously as 
practicable and in a manner consistent with the obligations of the 
United States.
[EX A]: Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2001 - Requires each participating manufacturer of a covered outpatient drug to make it available for purchase by each pharmacy: (1) in an amount equal to the aggregate amount sold or distributed by the pharmacy to Medicare beneficiaries; and (2) at a price no greater than the manufacturer's average foreign price. Sets forth special provisions with respect to hospice programs.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine 
Support Act of 2017'' or the ``VETS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDING TREATMENT VIA TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1730A the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing 
              treatment via telemedicine
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding 
the licensure of health care professionals, a covered health care 
professional may practice the health care profession of the health care 
professional at any location in any State, regardless of where the 
covered health care professional or the patient is located, if the 
covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide 
treatment to an individual under this chapter.
    ``(b) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply 
to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient 
regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient 
is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such 
treatment.
    ``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health 
care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.).
    ``(d) Covered Health Care Professional Defined.--In this section, 
the term `covered health care professional' means a health care 
professional who--
            ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the 
        authority under sections 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of 
        this title, or title 5;
            ``(2) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care 
        under this chapter;
            ``(3) is required to adhere to all quality standards 
        relating to the provision of telemedicine in accordance with 
        applicable policies of the Department; and
            ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted 
        license, registration, or certification in a State to practice 
        the health care profession of the health care professional.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via 
                            telemedicine.''.
    (c) Report on Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the use of 
        telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans with telemedicine 
                furnished by the Department.
                    (B) The satisfaction of health care providers in 
                providing telemedicine furnished by the Department.
                    (C) The effect of telemedicine furnished by the 
                Department on the following:
                            (i) The ability of veterans to access 
                        health care, whether from the Department or 
                        from non-Department health care providers.
                            (ii) The frequency of use by veterans of 
                        telemedicine.
                            (iii) The productivity of health care 
                        providers.
                            (iv) Wait times for an appointment for the 
                        receipt of health care from the Department.
                            (v) The reduction, if any, in the use by 
                        veterans of in-person services at Department 
                        facilities and non-Department facilities.
                    (D) The types of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                provided during the 1-year period preceding the 
                submittal of the report.
                    (E) The number of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                requested during such period, disaggregated by Veterans 
                Integrated Service Network.
                    (F) Savings by the Department, if any, including 
                travel costs, of furnishing health care 


              

                through the use of telemedicine during such period.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.
[EX A]:
.  Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017  (Sec. 2) This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state regardless of where the professional or patient is located if the covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide VA medical or health services.   Such authority shall apply to a covered health care professional regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility.   The bill defines &quot;covered health care professional&quot; as a health care professional who: (1) is a VA employee appointed under specified VA authorities or under the civil service; (2) is authorized by the VA to provide health care; (3) is required to adhere to all telemedicine quality standards; and (4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted state license, registration, or certification for such health care profession. The VA shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the VA's use of telemedicine.