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 Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering Our Future Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO COURTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 13712(b) of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 629b) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible for a grant under this 
section:
            ``(1) Application.--A highest State court shall submit to 
        the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and 
        including such information and assurances as the Secretary 
        shall require.
            ``(2) Measures of court performance.--There shall be in 
        effect in the State such laws and procedures as are necessary 
        to ensure that the courts of the State measure the following 
        with respect to children under the jurisdiction of the courts:
                    ``(A) The percentage of children who do not have a 
                subsequent petition of maltreatment filed in court 
                after the initial such petition is filed.
                    ``(B) The percentage of children who are the 
                subject of additional allegations of maltreatment 
                within 12 months after the original petition was 
                closed.
                    ``(C) The percentages of children who reach legal 
                permanency within 6 months after removal, within 12 
                months thereafter, within 18 months thereafter, and 
                within 24 months thereafter.
                    ``(D) The percentage of children who do not reach 
                permanency in the foster care system.
                    ``(E) The percentages of children who re-enter 
                foster care pursuant to court order within 12 months 
                after being returned to their families, and within 24 
                months thereafter.
                    ``(F) The percentages of children who return to 
                foster care pursuant to court order within 12 months 
                after being adopted or placed with an individual or 
                couple who are permanent guardians, and within 24 
                months thereafter.
                    ``(G) The percentages of children who are 
                transferred among 1, 2, 3, or more placements while 
                under court jurisdiction, distinguishing, where 
                possible, between placements in and out of a child's 
                own home from multiple placements in a variety of 
                environments.
                    ``(H) The percentage of cases in which both parents 
                receive written service of process within the required 
                time standards or where notice of hearing has been 
                waived by parties.
                    ``(I) The percentage of cases in which there is 
                documentation that timely and proper notice is given to 
                parties in advance of the next hearing.
                    ``(J) The percentage of cases in which children who 
                have attained 10 years of age receive notice of the 
                legal proceedings in their dependency case; the 
                percentage of cases in which children who have attained 
                10 years of age are present in court and afforded an 
                opportunity to be heard in their own cases; and the 
                percentage of cases in which children have legal 
                representation.
                    ``(K) The percentage of cases in which the court 
                reviews case plans within established time guidelines.
                    ``(L) The percentage of children receiving legal 
                counsel, guardians ad litem, or court-appointed special 
                advocates before the preliminary protective hearing or 
                equivalent, with separate measures of the percentages 
                of each type of representation and of whether the 
                representation was received within established time 
                guidelines, within 5 days after the adoption petition 
                is filed, within 6 through 10 days after the filing, 
                and within more than 10 days after the filing.
                    ``(M) The percentage of cases in which counsel for 
                parents are appointed before the preliminary protective 
                hearing or equivalent, with separate measures of the 
                percentages in which such appointments are made within 
                established time guidelines, within 5 days after the 
                adoption petition is filed, within 6 through 10 days 
                after the filing, and within more than 10 days after 
                the filing.
                    ``(N) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for children is appointed on or before the 
                first court appearance, and the percentage of cases in 
                which legal counsel for children changes, and the 
                number of changes involved.
                    ``(O) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for parents changes, and the number of changes 
                involved.
                    ``(P) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for parents, children, and agencies are present 
                at each hearing.
                    ``(Q) The percentages of children for whom all 
                hearings are heard by 1 or more judicial officers, and 
                the number of judicial officers hearing the case.
                    ``(R) The average and median times from filing the 
                original petition to adjudication.
                    ``(S) The average and median times from filing the 
                original petition to disposition.
                    ``(T) The percentages of cases that are adjudicated 
                within 30 days after the filing of the dependency 
                petition, within 60 days thereafter, and within 90 days 
                thereafter.
                    ``(U) The percentages of cases that receive a 
                disposition within 10 days after the dependency 
                adjudication, within 30 days thereafter, and within 90 
                days thereafter.
                    ``(V) The percentage of cases where children are 
                successfully served in the home and not detained; the 
                average and median times to reunification; and the 
                percentage of cases where children are not successfully 
                reunified.
                    ``(W) The average and median times from the filing 
                of the original petition to permanent placement.
                    ``(X) The average and median times from the filing 
                of the original petition to finalized termination of 
                parental rights.
                    ``(Y) The percentages of cases for which the 
                termination petition is filed within 3 months after the 
                dependency disposition, within 6 months thereafter, 
                within 12 months thereafter, and within 18 months 
                thereafter.
                    ``(Z) The percentage of cases that receive a 
                termination order within 30 days after the filing of 
                the termination petition, within 90 days thereafter, 
                within 120 days thereafter, and within 180 days 
                thereafter.
                    ``(AA) The percentages of cases for which an 
                adoption petition is filed within 1 month after the 
                termination order, within 3 months thereafter, and 
                within 6 months thereafter.
                    ``(BB) The percentages of cases for which the 
                adoption is finalized within 1 month after the adoption 
                petition is filed, within 3 months thereafter, within 6 
                months thereafter, and within 12 months thereafter.
                    ``(CC) The percentage of hearings (by hearing type) 
                not completed within timeframes set forth in statute or 
                court rules, including, where possible, the reason for 
                noncompletion.''.
    (b) Student Loan Repayment for Family Law, Dependency, and Domestic 
Relations Attorneys.--
            (1) In general.--The Higher Education Act of 1965 is 
        amended by inserting after section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) the 
        following new section:

``SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR FAMILY LAW, DEPENDENCY, AND DOMESTIC 
              RELATIONS ATTORNEYS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage 
qualified individuals to enter and continue employment as family law, 
dependency, and domestic relations attorneys.
    ``(b) Loan Forgiveness.--
            ``(1) Loan forgiveness authorized.--The Secretary is 
        authorized to forgive, in accordance with this section and the 
        agreement described in subsection (e), the student loan debt of 
        an eligible borrower in the amount specified in subsection (d) 
        and for the period specified in such agreement.
            ``(2) Method of loan forgiveness.--To provide the loan 
        forgiveness authorized in paragraph (1), the Secretary is 
        authorized to carry out a program--
                    ``(A) through the holder of the loan, to assume the 
                obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a loan 
                made under part B of this title; and
                    ``(B) to cancel a qualified loan amount for a loan 
                made under part D of this title.
    ``(c) Eligible Borrower.--The Secretary is authorized to provided 
loan forgiveness under this section to any individual who--
            ``(1) is employed full-time as a family law, dependency, or 
        domestic relations attorney; and
            ``(2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower 
        seeks forgiveness.
    ``(d) Loan Forgiveness Amount.--The Secretary may, from funds 
appropriated under subsection (l), forgive the loan obligation of an 
eligible borrower in accordance with such terms, limitations, and 
conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by such borrower and the 
Secretary in the agreement described in subsection (e), except that the 
amount paid by the Secretary under this section shall not exceed--
            ``(1) $6,000 in any calendar year for any borrower; or
            ``(2) $50,000 in the aggregate for any borrower.
    ``(e) Loan Forgiveness Agreement.--
            ``(1) Terms of agreement.--The Secretary shall not provide 
        loan forgiveness to an eligible borrower unless the borrower 
        enters into a written agreement with the Secretary which 
        provides that--
                    ``(A) the borrower shall remain employed full-time 
                as a family law, dependency, or domestic relations 
                attorney for a period of service specified in the 
                agreement (but not less than 3 years), unless 
                involuntarily separated from that employment;
                    ``(B) if the borrower is involuntarily separated 
                from the employment described in subparagraph (A) on 
                account of misconduct, or voluntarily separates from 
                that employment, before the end of the period specified 
                in the agreement, the borrower shall repay the 
                Secretary the amount of any benefits received by such 
                borrower under this section;
                    ``(C) if the borrower is required to repay an 
                amount to the Secretary under subparagraph (B) and 
                fails to repay such amount, a sum equal to such amount 
                shall be recoverable by the Government from the 
                borrower (or such borrower's estate, if applicable) by 
                such method as is provided by law for the recovery of 
                amounts owing to the Government;
                    ``(D) the Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, 
                a right of recovery under this subsection if it is 
                shown that recovery would be against equity and good 
                conscience or against the public interest; and
                    ``(E) the Secretary shall provide loan forgiveness 
                under this section for the period of the agreement, 
                subject to the availability of appropriations.
            ``(2) Agreement renewal.--Upon completion by an eligible 
        borrower of the period of service required under the agreement 
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may renew such 
        agreement with the eligible borrower for a successive period of 
        service to be specified in the renewed agreement (which may be 
        less than 3 years).
    ``(f) Repayments by Borrowers.--Any amount repaid by, or recovered 
from, a borrower (or a borrower's estate) under subsection (e)(1)(B) 
shall be credited to the appropriation account from which the loan 
forgiveness amount involved was originally paid. Any amount so credited 
shall be merged with other sums in such account and shall be available 
for the same purposes and period, and subject to the same limitations 
(if any), as the sums with which the amount was merged.
    ``(g) Application for Loan Forgiveness.--An eligible borrower 
desiring loan forgiveness under this section shall submit a complete 
and accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(h) Priority.--The Secretary shall provide loan forgiveness under 
this section on a first-come, first-served basis, and subject to the 
availability of appropriations.
    ``(i) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
section.
    ``(j) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
authorize the refunding of any repayment of any loan made by a borrower 
prior to the date on which the Secretary entered into an agreement with 
the borrower under subsection (e).
    ``(k) Definition.--In this section the term `family law, 
dependency, or domestic relations attorney' means an attorney who works 
in the field of family law, dependency, or domestic relations, 
including juvenile justice, truancy, child abuse or neglect, adoption, 
domestic relations, child support, paternity, and other areas which 
fall under the field of family law, dependency, or domestic relations 
law as determined by State law.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal 
years.''.
            (2) Cancellation of loans.--
                    (A) Amendment.--Section 465(a)(2)(F) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(F)) is 
                amended by inserting ``, or as a full-time family law, 
                dependency, or domestic relations attorney (as defined 
                in section 428L)'' after ``agencies''.
                    (B) Effective date.--The amendment made by this 
                paragraph shall apply to--
                            (i) eligible loans made before, on, or 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act; and
                            (ii) service as a family law, dependency, 
                        or domestic relations attorney that is provided 
                        on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (C) Construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
                be construed to authorize the refunding of any 
                repayment of a loan made by a borrower prior to the 
                date on which the borrower became eligible for 
                cancellation under section 465(a) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)).
    (c) GAO Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a study that compares States with respect 
        to each of the following:
                    (A) The legal representation provided for children.
                    (B) Children's participation in their own cases.
                    (C) Preparation of dependency court judges.
                    (D) Case tracking and performance measurement.
                    (E) Statewide collaborative foster care councils.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 
        a written report that contains the results of the study 
        required by paragraph (1).
    (d) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Court Accountability for 
Improved Child Outcomes.--It is the sense of the Congress that State 
judicial leadership should use the measures of court performance 
described in section 13712(b)(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1993 (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) to ensure 
accountability by every court for improved outcomes for children, and 
to inform decisions about allocating resources across the court system.
    (e) Sense of the Congress With Respect to the Organization of State 
Dependency Courts.--It is the sense of the Congress that State courts 
should be organized to enable children and parents to have legal 
representation and participate in a meaningful way in their own court 
proceedings.
    (f) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Building the Pool of 
Attorneys Qualified to Handle Cases in Dependency Courts.--It is the 
sense of the Congress that law schools, bar associations, and law firms 
should help build the pool of qualified attorneys available to children 
and parents in dependency courts.
    (g) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Training, Caseloads, and 
Compensation of Attorneys for Children.--It is the sense of the 
Congress that attorneys for children should have adequate training, 
reasonable caseloads, and receive reasonable and adequate compensation.

Ex Output:
Fostering Our Future Act of 2006 - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to require, for grants to the highest state courts for foster care proceedings, that the state in which the courts are located has laws and procedures in effect that will ensure that the courts measure their performance with respect to children under the court's jurisdiction.

 Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to forgive the student loan debt of a borrower who: (1) enters a written agreement with the Secretary to remain employed full-time as a family law, dependency, or domestic relations attorney for at least three years; and (2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness. Limits the amount that the Secretary may pay to no more than $6,000 in any year for any borrower or $50,000 in the aggregate for any borrower. Authorizes the Secretary to renew such agreements.

 Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a comparative study of state dependency courts and foster care systems.

 Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to: (1) court accountability for improved child outcomes; (2) the organization of state dependency courts; (3) building the pool of attorneys qualified to handle cases in dependency courts; and (4) training, caseloads, and compensation of attorneys for children.


Ex Input:
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

Ex Output:
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.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission of the Federal 
Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Commission of 
the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to examine the 
Federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural 
disasters in Puerto Rico, including the Federal Government's 
consideration of the following aspects:
            (1) Federal preparedness activities prior to Hurricanes 
        Irma and Maria, including Federal plans for the 2017 hurricane 
        season and decisionmaking regarding prepositioning contracts 
        and supplies.
            (2) Federal response activities during Hurricanes Irma and 
        Maria, including Federal coordination, distribution of 
        assistance, and contracting.
            (3) Federal recovery activities after Hurricanes Irma and 
        Maria, including Federal efforts to obtain accurate accounting 
        of the death toll, damage impacts, and long-term rebuilding 
        assistance for survivors.

SEC. 3. CONSIDERATIONS.

    To carry out its examination, the Commission shall take into 
consideration the Federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts 
in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions that were impacted by 
the 2017 hurricane season, as well as the following issues:
            (1) The impact and destruction of Hurricane Irma, Hurricane 
        Maria, the resulting landslides, and flooding.
            (2) The adequacy of the death toll methodology and 
        processes, and whether previous death counts and mortality 
        estimates slowed or otherwise affected Federal response 
        efforts.
            (3) The Federal emergency and contingency plans in place 
        before the 2017 hurricane season.
            (4) The Federal preparedness guidelines issued ahead of the 
        2017 hurricane season.
            (5) The vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic situation 
        on Federal preparedness.
            (6) The implications of Puerto Rico's reliance on imported 
        oil for power generation.
            (7) The adequacy of the telecommunications network in 
        Puerto Rico.
            (8) The capacity of the local government and Federal 
        Government to quickly mobilize and respond to disasters and 
        emergencies in Puerto Rico.
            (9) The impact of the uncertainty in long-term Federal 
        health care funding on medical and emergency readiness.
            (10) The implication of Puerto Rico's treatment under the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on readiness.
            (11) The adequacy of available data and its effects on the 
        Federal response.
            (12) The geographic, ecological, and infrastructure issues 
        that could have affected response efforts.
            (13) A comparison of response efforts in other United 
        States jurisdictions vis-a-vis efforts in Puerto Rico for the 
        2017 hurricane season.

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION AND COMPENSATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of 
whom two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
Senate, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of 
Representatives, and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of 
the Senate.
    (b) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Commission, by majority vote, shall 
choose a Chair and Vice Chair.
    (c) Qualifications and Restrictions.--
            (1) In general.--Individuals shall be selected for 
        appointment on the Commission solely on the basis of their 
        professional qualifications, experience, and expertise in 
        relevant fields, including disaster response and emergency 
        preparedness.
            (2) Restrictions.--Individuals may not be an officer or 
        employee of the Federal Government or any State, or a current 
        elected official of the local government.
    (d) Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--All members of the Commission shall be 
        appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Presidential authority.--The President shall have no 
        authority to terminate the appointment of any member of the 
        commission.
    (e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
vacancy occurs.
    (f) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Members of the Commission may be 
        compensated for travel expenses necessary to conduct the work 
        and services for the Commission.
            (2) Travel expenditures.--Members shall be allowed travel 
        expenditures, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
        same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--With a majority vote of the Commission, 
        members may recruit personnel to assist with the Commission's 
        work, including the creation of the report.
            (2) Personnel.--Any such personnel may include private 
        citizens, employees or detailees of the Federal Government, or 
        employees of the territorial government.

SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Quorum.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
        which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--Each subsequent meeting shall 
        occur upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its members.
            (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
        meetings.
    (b) Public Meetings.--The Commission shall host not less than 10 
public meetings in locations that are accessible to individuals of 
every municipality with elected officials, local community leaders, 
academic institutions, for-profit and non-for-profit organizations, and 
individuals in Puerto Rico to the extent appropriate.
    (c) Written Input.--The Commission shall allow participants both in 
Puerto Rico and the mainland to provide written input to be included in 
an appendix of the final report.
    (d) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may hold hearings, take 
        testimony, and receive evidence for its investigation.
            (2) Protection of information.--Any public hearings of the 
        Commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the 
        protection of information provided to or developed for or by 
        the Commission as required by any applicable statute, 
        regulation, or Executive order.
    (e) Subpoenas.--The Commission may issue subpoenas requiring the 
attendance and testimony of witnesses, and requiring the submission of 
data, books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, 
electronic files, metadata, tapes, and materials of any nature relating 
to any matter under investigation.
    (f) Information From Agencies.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics.
    (g) GSA Services.--The Administrator of General Services shall 
provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative 
support and other services for the performance of the Commission's 
functions.
    (h) Federal Assistance From Other Agencies.--Departments and 
agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission such 
services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they 
may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
    (i) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the United States.

SEC. 6. REPORTS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and 
Congress a final report on the causes and circumstances surrounding the 
natural disasters in Puerto Rico, including preparedness and immediate 
response, and providing recommendations to guard against future natural 
disasters outside of the continental United States, which shall contain 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations as have been agreed to by a 
majority of Commission members and shall--
            (1) be made available to the public in the English and 
        Spanish languages;
            (2) include findings for the issues described in section 2; 
        and
            (3) include--
                    (A) the number and nature of complaints filed to 
                the Inspectors General for Federal agencies responsible 
                in the aftermath of the 2017 natural disasters;
                    (B) details on Federal procurement and acquisition 
                practices in the aftermath of the 2017 natural 
                disasters;
                    (C) details on disaster mitigation protocols given 
                cultural and language differences; and
                    (D) disaster response processes taking into account 
                demographics (age, race, gender, income) and the impact 
                on segments of the population with disabilities.
    (b) Appendix.--An appendix to the final report shall include 
written input of participants in Puerto Rico and the mainland.
    (c) Interim Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall provide to Congress an 
interim report.

SEC. 7. SUNSET.

    The Commission shall terminate on the day that is 90 days after the 
date on which the final report is submitted.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out this 
Act, to remain available until expended.

Ex Output:

National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018 This bill establishes a National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico to examine the federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural disasters in Puerto Rico. The commission shall take into consideration the federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions impacted by the 2017 hurricane season, and consider other issues, including the impact and destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic situation on preparedness, the implications of Puerto Rico's reliance on imported oil for power generation, and the adequacy of the telecommunications network in Puerto Rico.