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 ``Firefighters Special Operation Task 
Force Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR FIREFIGHTING TASK FORCES.

    The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 37. ASSISTANCE FOR FIREFIGHTING TASK FORCES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Critical infrastructure.--The term `critical 
        infrastructure' has the meaning given that term in section 
        1016(e) of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 
        (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)).
            ``(2) Firefighting personnel.--The term `firefighting 
        personnel' has the meaning given that term in section 33(a).
            ``(3) Incident response.--The term `incident response' 
        means a response by a task force or task force unit to--
                    ``(A) a terrorist attack, including such an attack 
                that utilizes a weapon of mass destruction;
                    ``(B) a release of a hazardous material;
                    ``(C) a natural disaster; or
                    ``(D) any other emergency for which a response by a 
                fire service is appropriate.
            ``(4) Member.--The term `member', with respect to a task 
        force, means a fire service that is a party to the cooperative 
        agreement establishing the task force.
            ``(5) Task force.--The term `task force' means 2 or more 
        fire services that collectively consist of at least 50 
        firefighting personnel, operating pursuant to a cooperative 
        agreement for the purpose of coordinating incident response 
        among such fire services.
    ``(b) Grant Authority.--The Administrator may award not more than 
100 grants for task forces each fiscal year for the purposes described 
in subsection (c).
    ``(c) Purposes.--A grant awarded under this section shall be used--
            ``(1) to provide salary and benefits to hire firefighting 
        personnel or rehire firefighting personnel who have been laid 
        off to provide services to the task force, including salary and 
        benefits;
            ``(2) to pay expenses related to the participation of 
        firefighting personnel in appropriate training courses;
            ``(3) to provide training related to incident response to 
        firefighting personnel;
            ``(4) to obtain appropriate equipment, including 
        firefighting vehicles or support systems for members of the 
        task force;
            ``(5) to improve the ability of a member of a task force to 
        communicate with a local police department or hospital, or with 
        any other appropriate governmental or private sector entity; 
        and
            ``(6) to ensure the compatibility and interoperability of 
        training and equipment with those obtained by other task 
        forces.
    ``(d) Application Guidance.--The Administrator shall make available 
to potential applicants for assistance under this section a description 
of a model task force configuration, which shall include--
            ``(1) an administrative unit, consisting of 2 chief 
        officers, 2 captains, and 2 lieutenants, to coordinate training 
        programs, logistics, and maintenance of equipment, which shall 
        operate at least 40 hours per week;
            ``(2) a command unit, consisting of 1 chief officer serving 
        as the task force commander and 1 firefighter serving as 
        communications coordinator, which shall operate at all times;
            ``(3) at least 1 hazardous materials company, consisting of 
        1 company officer and 5 firefighters, which shall operate at 
        all times;
            ``(4) at least 1 rescue company, consisting of 1 company 
        officer and 5 firefighters, which shall operate at all times; 
        and
            ``(5) 6 squad companies, each consisting of 1 company 
        officer and 5 firefighters, which shall operate at all times, 
        and which may serve, as appropriate, as a hazardous materials 
        company or rescue company as described in paragraphs (3) and 
        (4).
    ``(e) Application Requirements.--Each task force desiring 
assistance under this section shall submit an application to the 
Administrator at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Administrator may reasonably require. In order to 
qualify for a grant, an applicant's proposal shall provide for--
            ``(1) prompt incident response;
            ``(2) a unified command system;
            ``(3) common training and equipment for task force members;
            ``(4) maximum coverage in the task force region, taking 
        into account population, business centers, vital 
        infrastructures, transportation corridors, and government 
        centers; and
            ``(5) preservation during the life of the grant of the 
        overall personnel level for each fire service, at least at the 
        level in effect at the time the application was submitted.
    ``(f) Selection Priority.--In selecting a task force to receive 
assistance under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to 
task forces that serve a geographic area that--
            ``(1) has a high population density; or
            ``(2) is located not more than 50 miles from--
                    ``(A) a facility that produces nuclear power;
                    ``(B) a large facility that produces, treats, or 
                refines chemicals or petroleum products;
                    ``(C) a business district of national significance; 
                or
                    ``(D) a location with one or more critical 
                infrastructures.
    ``(g) Matching Requirement.--The Administrator may provide 
assistance to a Task Force under this section for a fiscal year only if 
the task force agrees to obtain from non-Federal sources for such 
fiscal year at least 55 percent of the costs of the task force. The 
non-Federal contributions may be in-kind contributions, including 
personnel, personnel overtime, vehicles, equipment, administrative 
costs, fuel, maintenance, contractor services, and rental space.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section such sums 
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2016.''.
[A]: Firefighters Special Operation Task Force Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration to award up to 100 grants for task forces (two or more fire services that collectively consist of at least 50 firefighting personnel, operating under a cooperative agreement to coordinate incident response) each fiscal year for: (1) salary and benefits to hire firefighting personnel; (2) training; (3) equipment or support systems; (4) communications between task force members and a local police department or hospital or with any other appropriate governmental or private sector entity; and (5) compatibility and interoperability of training and equipment.

Requires the Administrator to give priority to task forces serving geographic areas that have a high population density or that are located within 50 miles of: (1) a nuclear power facility; (2) a large facility that produces, treats, or refines chemicals or petroleum products; (3) a business district of national significance; or (4) a location with one or more critical infrastructures.

Requires grantees to obtain non-federal matching funds of at least 55% of the amount awarded by the Administrator for each fiscal year.


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Readjustment Counseling Service 
Amendments of 1995''.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE IN THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph (7):
            ``(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.''.
    (b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service shall have 
the organizational structure and administrative structure of that 
service as such structures were in existence on January 1, 1993.
    (c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise the organizational structure 
or the administrative structure of the Readjustment Counseling Service 
until--
            (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
        report containing a full and complete statement of the proposed 
        alteration or revision; and
            (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which 
        the report is received by the committees.
    (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph (1)(B), 
there shall be excluded any day on which either House of Congress is 
not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 calendar days 
to a day certain.
    (d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each budget 
submitted to Congress by the President under section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code, shall set forth the amount requested in the budget 
for the operation of the Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal 
year covered by the budget and shall set forth separately the amount 
requested for administrative oversight of the activities of the service 
(including the amount requested for funding of the Advisory Committee 
on Readjustment of Veterans).

SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

    (a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
            (2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) 
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified 
        psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a 
        diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology 
        from an authority approved by the American Psychological 
        Association and has successfully undergone an internship 
        approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of a 
        master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse 
        holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric 
        nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by 
        the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical 
        experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the 
        Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental 
        health care counseling service (as determined by the 
        Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment 
        Counseling Service.''.
    (b) Status of Director.--Section 7306(a)(3) of such title is 
amended by striking out ``eight'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
``nine''.
    (c) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the Readjustment 
Counseling Service shall report to the Under Secretary for Health of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Associate Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health for Clinical Programs.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND 
              CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.

    (a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1712A 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in 
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall furnish 
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to 
civilian life.
    ``(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph 
is any veteran who--
            ``(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or
            ``(ii) served on active military, naval, or air service in 
        a theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period 
        of war or in any other area during a period in which 
        hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph) 
        occurred in such area.
    ``(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a veteran referred 
to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may furnish 
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to 
civilian life.
    ``(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
term `hostilities' means an armed conflict in which the members of the 
Armed Forces are subjected to danger comparable to the danger to which 
members of the Armed Forces have been subjected in combat with enemy 
armed forces during a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
    ``(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall include a 
general mental and psychological assessment of a covered veteran to 
ascertain whether such veteran has mental or psychological problems 
associated with readjustment to civilian life.''.
    (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.
    (b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
    ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling services 
described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the surviving 
parents, spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who is 
killed during service on active military, naval, or air service in a 
theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or 
in any other area during a period in which hostilities (as defined in 
subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in such area.
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services referred to 
in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents, spouse, and children of any 
member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or 
from a condition (as determined by the Secretary) incurred in or 
aggravated by such service.''.
    (c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--Subsection (e) 
of such section is amended by striking out ``subsections (a) and (b)'' 
each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a), 
(b), and (c)''.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the 
following:
``Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans
    ``(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee on the 
Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
`Committee').
    ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 members 
appointed by the Secretary from among veterans who--
            ``(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional 
        achievement; and
            ``(B) have experience with the provision of veterans 
        benefits and services by the Department.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members appointed to 
the Committee include persons from a wide variety of geographic areas 
and ethnic backgrounds, persons from veterans service organizations, 
and women.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay 
and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of 
service may not exceed 2 years. The Secretary may reappoint any member 
for additional terms of service.
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and 
seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the 
Department of benefits and services to veterans in order to assist 
veterans in the readjustment to civilian life.
    ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
subsection, the Committee shall--
            ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
        of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
            ``(ii) provide information relating to the nature and 
        character of psychological problems arising from service in the 
        Armed Forces;
            ``(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
        of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the 
        Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to civilian 
        life; and
            ``(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
        means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in 
        the future.
    ``(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the 
Committee shall take into special account veterans of the Vietnam era, 
and the readjustment needs of such veterans.
    ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the 
Department that relate to the readjustment of veterans to civilian 
life. Each such report shall include--
            ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect 
        to readjustment to civilian life;
            ``(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 the receipt of each report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit 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.
    ``(d)(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.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such 
title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712B 
the following:

``1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.''.
    (b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) of 
section 1712C of such title (as added by subsection (a)), the members 
of the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War 
Veterans on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the original 
members of the advisory committee recognized under such section.
    (2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under such subsection (a)(2). 
The Secretary shall carry out such appointments as soon after such date 
as is practicable. The Secretary may make such appointments from among 
such original members.

SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER PILOT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran 
Resource Center program established pursuant to the amendment made by 
section 105 of the Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 
1985 (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a 
schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of, the implementation of 
the program at or through all Department of Veterans Affairs 
readjustment counseling centers.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Department of Veterans 
Affairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the same meaning given 
the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

    (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the feasibility and desirability of the 
collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics (including rural 
mobile clinics) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as current leases 
for such centers and clinics expire.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Covered Matters.--The report under this section shall include 
an assessment of the following:
            (1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers and 
        outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary before the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, including the effects of such 
        collocation on the quality of care provided at such centers and 
        clinics.
            (2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity of such 
        centers to carry out their primary mission.
            (3) The extent to which such collocation will impair the 
        operational independence or administrative integrity of such 
        centers.
            (4) The feasibility of combining the services provided by 
        such centers and clinics in the course of the collocation of 
        such centers and clinics.
            (5) The advisability of the collocation of centers and 
        clinics of significantly different size.
            (6) The effect of the locations (including urban and rural 
        locations) of the centers and clinics on the feasibility and 
        desirability of such collocation.
            (7) The amount of any costs savings to be achieved by 
        Department as a result of such collocation.
            (8) The desirability of such collocation in light of plans 
        for the provision of health care services by the Department 
        under national health care reform.
            (9) Any other matters that the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.

SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 
a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to 
eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers. The Secretary 
shall carry out the pilot program in accordance with this section.
    (b) Services.--(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall provide the services referred to in paragraph (2) at not less 
than 10 readjustment counseling centers in existence on the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory services and 
health care screening services by such personnel as the Secretary 
considers appropriate at each readjustment counseling center under the 
pilot program. The Secretary shall assign not less than one-half of a 
full-time employee equivalent at each such center in order to provide 
such services under the pilot program.
    (3) In determining the location of the readjustment counseling 
centers at which to provide services under the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall select centers that are located in a variety of 
geographic areas and that serve veterans of a variety of economic, 
social, and ethnic backgrounds.
    (c) Period of Operation.--(1) The Secretary shall commence the 
provision of health-related services at readjustment counseling centers 
under the pilot program not later than 4 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after the date on 
which the Secretary commences the provision of services under paragraph 
(1).
    (d) Report.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the pilot program established under this section. The report shall 
include the following:
            (A) A description of the program, including information 
        on--
                    (i) the number of veterans provided basic 
                ambulatory services and health care screening services 
                under the pilot program;
                    (ii) the number of such veterans referred to 
                Department of Veterans Affairs general health-care 
                facilities in order to provide such services to such 
                veterans; and
                    (iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs of the pilot program.
            (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services 
        provided to veterans under the pilot program.
            (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of 
        improving the pilot program, and an estimate of the cost to the 
        Department of implementing such recommendations.
            (D) An assessment of the desirability of expanding the type 
        or nature of services provided under the pilot program in light 
        of plans for the provision of health care services by the 
        Department under national health care reform.
            (E) An assessment of the extent to which the provision of 
        services under the pilot program impairs the operational or 
        administrative independence of the readjustment counseling 
        centers at which such services are provided.
            (F) An assessment of the effect of the location of the 
        centers on the effectiveness for the Department and for 
        veterans of the services provided under the pilot program.
            (G) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            (1) The term ``Department of Veterans Affairs general 
        health-care facility'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means any veteran 
        eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or 
        (3) of section 1712(a) of such title.
            (3) The term ``readjustment counseling center'' has the 
        same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
        of such title.
                                 
S 403 IS----2
[A]: Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1995 - Includes a Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) as part of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from altering or revising the organizational structure of RCS until the Secretary has notified specified congressional committees and 60 days have elapsed since such notification.  Requires RCS budget information to be included annually in the President's budget submitted to the Congress. 
Outlines eligibility requirements for one of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health in the Department, including at least three years of clinical experience and two years of administrative experience in RCS or other comparable mental health care counseling service.  Makes such a qualified person the director of RCS. 
Increases from eight to nine the authorized number of Assistant Under Secretaries for Health. 
Directs the Secretary to furnish readjustment counseling to any veteran who:  (1) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or (2) served on active duty in a theater of combat during a period of war (currently, only after May 7, 1975) in any area in which hostilities occurred.  Authorizes the Secretary to furnish such assistance to any other veteran upon request.   Directs the Secretary to provide counseling to survivors and dependents of members of the armed forces killed while performing such duty.  Allows the Secretary to provide such counseling to the survivors and dependents of other members killed during active duty or from a condition incurred in or aggravated by such service. 
Establishes in the Department the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans to perform advisory services with respect to veterans' readjustment, taking into special account Vietnam era veterans.  Requires specified reports from the Advisory Committee and the Secretary. 
Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans' affairs committees: (1) a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program; and (2) on the feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics of the Department as current leases for such centers and clinics expire. 
Directs the Secretary to carry out and report to the Congress on a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers.


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Scientific Integrity Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF FEDERAL AGENCY.

    In this Act, the term ``Federal agency'' has the meaning given the 
term ``agency'' in section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) independent, impartial science and the scientific 
        process should inform and guide public policy decisions on a 
        wide range of issues, including improvement of public health, 
        protection of the environment, and protection of national 
        security;
            (2) the public must be able to trust the science and 
        scientific process informing public policy decisions;
            (3) science, the scientific process, and the communication 
        of science should be free from political, ideological, or 
        financial influence; and
            (4) policies and procedures that ensure the reliable 
        conduct and communication of publicly funded science are 
        critical to ensuring public trust.

SEC. 4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.

    Except as provided in section 552(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, the head of each Federal agency that funds or conducts scientific 
research shall--
            (1) promote and maximize the communication and open 
        exchange of data and findings to other agencies, policymakers, 
        and the public of research conducted by a scientist employed or 
        contracted by a Federal agency that funds or conducts 
        scientific research; and
            (2) prevent the intentional or unintentional suppression or 
        distortion of the data and findings described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 5. PRINCIPLES.

    Section 1009(a) of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 6620(a)) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Principles.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Scientific Integrity Act, the Director of the 
        Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with 
        the head of each Federal agency that funds or conducts 
        scientific research, shall develop and issue an overarching set 
        of principles--
                    ``(A) to ensure the communication and open exchange 
                of data and findings to other agencies, policymakers, 
                and the public of research conducted by a scientist 
                employed or contracted by a Federal agency that funds 
                or conducts scientific research; and
                    ``(B) to prevent the intentional or unintentional 
                suppression or distortion of the data or findings 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Exchange of data and findings.--In order to promote 
        the sharing of data and findings, as appropriate, the 
        principles shall--
                    ``(A) encourage the open exchange of data and 
                findings of research undertaken by a scientist employed 
                or contracted by a Federal agency that funds or 
                conducts scientific research;
                    ``(B) be consistent with existing Federal laws, 
                including chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code 
                (commonly known as the `Bayh-Dole Act'); and
                    ``(C) take into consideration the policies of peer-
                reviewed scientific journals in which Federal 
                scientists may currently publish findings.''.

SEC. 6. SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
U.S.C. 6620) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(b) Scientific Integrity Policies.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of the Scientific Integrity Act, the head of each 
Federal agency that funds or conducts scientific research shall--
            ``(1) develop and enforce a scientific integrity policy, 
        including procedures, regarding the release of data and 
        findings to other agencies, policymakers, and the public of 
        research conducted by a scientist employed or contracted by 
        that Federal agency; and
            ``(2) submit the scientific integrity policy to the 
        Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and 
        Congress.
    ``(c) Requirements.--A scientific integrity policy under subsection 
(b) shall--
            ``(1) be consistent with the principles established under 
        subsection (a);
            ``(2) specifically address what is and what is not 
        permitted or recommended under that policy, including 
        procedures;
            ``(3) be specifically designed for the Federal agency;
            ``(4) be applied uniformly throughout the Federal agency; 
        and
            ``(5) be widely communicated and readily accessible to the 
        public and all employees and contractors of the Federal agency.
    ``(d) Contents.--At a minimum, each scientific integrity policy 
under subsection (b) shall ensure that--
            ``(1) the scientific conclusions and personnel actions 
        regarding scientists are not made based on political 
        considerations;
            ``(2) the selection and retention of candidates for science 
        and technology positions in the Federal agency are based 
        primarily on the candidate's expertise, scientific credentials, 
        experience, and integrity;
            ``(3) scientists adhere to the highest ethical standards of 
        honesty and professionalism in conducting their research and 
        disseminating their findings;
            ``(4) the appropriate rules, procedures, and safeguards are 
        in place to ensure the integrity of the scientific process 
        within the Federal agency, including procedures--
                    ``(A) that allow for a scientist to review public 
                release of materials that cite work from that scientist 
                or otherwise claim to represent the scientist's 
                scientific opinion; and
                    ``(B) to identify, evaluate the merits of, and 
                address instances in which the scientific process or 
                the integrity of scientific and technological 
                information may be compromised;
            ``(5) scientific or technological information considered in 
        policy decisions is subject to well-established scientific 
        processes, including peer review where appropriate;
            ``(6) except as provided in section 552(b) of title 5, 
        United States Code, each Federal agency makes publicly 
        available scientific or technological findings that are 
        considered or relied upon in policy decisions and regulatory 
        proposals;
            ``(7) technical staff are able to ensure the technical 
        content of scientific documents, reports, press releases, and 
        fact sheets accurately represents the relevant scientific data 
        and conclusions; and
            ``(8) procedures, including any applicable whistleblower 
        protections, are in place as are necessary to ensure the 
        integrity of scientific and technological information and 
        processes on which the Federal agency relies in its 
        decisionmaking or otherwise uses.
    ``(e) Application.--A scientific integrity policy shall apply to 
each employee or contractor who conducts, handles, communicates, or 
supervises federally funded scientific research for the Federal agency 
or for a federally funded research and development center sponsored by 
the Federal agency.
    ``(f) Dissemination of Scientific Integrity Policies and 
Procedures.--The head of each Federal agency that funds or conducts 
scientific research shall--
            ``(1) make the scientific integrity policy available to the 
        public on the Federal agency's website;
            ``(2) disseminate the scientific integrity policy to each 
        new employee and contractor; and
            ``(3) develop and require training on the scientific 
        integrity policy for each employee or contractor who conducts, 
        handles, communicates, or supervises scientific research for 
        the Federal agency.
    ``(g) Definition of Federal Agency.--In this section, the term 
`Federal agency' has the meaning given the term `agency' in section 
551(1) of title 5, United States Code.''.
    (b) Existing Scientific Integrity Policies.--Notwithstanding 
section 1009(b) of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 6620(b)), as 
amended by this Act, a scientific integrity policy that was in effect 
on the day before the date of enactment of this Act may satisfy the 
requirements of section 1009 of that Act if the head of a Federal 
agency that funds or conducts scientific research--
            (1) makes a written determination that the policy satisfies 
        the requirements of that section; and
            (2) submits the written determination and the policy to the 
        Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and 
        Congress.

SEC. 7. NAPA REVIEW.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall enter 
into an agreement with the National Academy of Public Administration--
            (1) to study the effectiveness of the scientific integrity 
        policies under section 1009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
        U.S.C. 6620), as added by section 6 of this Act--
                    (A) in promoting the communication and open 
                exchange of data and findings to other agencies, 
                policymakers, and the public of research conducted by 
                scientists employed or contracted by a Federal agency; 
                and
                    (B) in preventing the intentional or unintentional 
                suppression or distortion of the data and findings 
                described in subparagraph (A); and
            (2) to recommend any improvements to the scientific 
        integrity policies to achieve the purposes described in 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
[A]:
Scientific Integrity Act This bill requires, subject to the exemptions for disclosures of information under the Freedom of Information Act, each federal agency that funds or conducts scientific research to: (1) promote and maximize the communication and open exchange of data and findings to other agencies, policymakers, and the public of research conducted by a scientist employed or contracted by such an agency; and (2) prevent the intentional or unintentional suppression or distortion of such data and findings. The bill amends the America COMPETES Act to revise provisions relating to the release of data and results of research conducted by scientists employed at all federal civilian agencies that fund or conduct scientific research.  Each federal agency that funds or conducts scientific research shall: (1) develop and enforce a specified scientific integrity policy, including procedures, regarding the release of data and findings to other agencies, policymakers, and the public of research conducted by a scientist employed or contracted by that agency; and (2) submit it to Congress and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).  Such a policy shall apply to employees and contractors who conduct, handle, communicate, or supervise federally funded scientific research for a federal agency or for a federally funded research and development center sponsored by that agency.  A federal agency that funds or conducts scientific research shall: (1) disseminate its policy to new employees and contractors, and (2) develop and require training on its policy for employees and contractors regarding scientific research for that agency.  The OSTP shall enter into an agrement with the National Academy of Public Administration to study the effectiveness of the scientific integrity policies developed pursuant to this bill.