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

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. CONSERVATION FLEX PROGRAM OPTION.

    (a) Establishment of Program.--The Agricultural Act of 1949 is 
amended by inserting after section 115 (7 U.S.C. 1445k) the following 
new section:
``SEC. 116. CONSERVATION FLEX PROGRAM OPTION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a voluntary 
conservation flex program option to assist producers of agricultural 
commodities in adopting integrated, site-specific farm management plans 
through the reduction of farm program barriers to resource stewardship 
practices and systems.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            ``(1) The term `program' means the conservation flex 
        program option established under this section.
            ``(2) The term `plan' means a site-specific farm management 
        plan prepared by the producer and approved by the Secretary.
            ``(3) The term `alternative crops' means experimental and 
        industrial crops which conserve soil and water.
            ``(4) The term `breeding cattle' means bulls, dams, and 
        heifers held solely for the production of calves, but shall not 
        include weaned calves being grown for slaughter or dairy 
        cattle.
            ``(5) The term `legume' means any legume, including 
        alfalfa, clover, lentils, lupine, medic, peas, soybeans, and 
        vetch grown for use as a forage, green manure, or biomass 
        feedstock, but not including any pulse crop from which the 
        seeds are harvested and sold for purposes other than use as 
        seed for planting.
            ``(6) The term `resource-conserving crop' means legumes, 
        grasses, brassica cover crops and forages, alternative crops, 
        any interseeded or relay-planted combination of such crops, any 
        interseeded or relay-planted combination of such crops and 
        small grains, and such other crops as the Secretary may 
        designate.
            ``(7) The term `resource-conserving crop rotation' means a 
        crop rotation which includes at least one resource-conserving 
        crop and that reduces erosion, maintains or improves soil 
        fertility, tilth and structure, interrupts pest cycles, or 
        conserves water.
            ``(8) The term `rotational grazing' means planting forage, 
        dividing pastures into paddocks, and using grazing rotations to 
        increase forage quality and production, improve vegetative 
        cover, and reduce sediment and nutrient runoff.
            ``(9) The term `small grains' means any small grain, 
        including barley, buckwheat, oats, rye, spelt, and triticale, 
        but not including wheat, except for wheat grown for nonhuman 
        consumption.
            ``(10) The term `special conservation practices' means 
        field borders, contour grass strips, grass waterways, filter 
        strips, grass windbreaks, buffer areas, wildlife habitat 
        plantings, habitat plantings for beneficial organisms that aid 
        in the control of pests, and such other practices as the 
        Secretary may designate.
    ``(c) Eligible Producers.--To be eligible to participate in the 
program, a producer must prepare and submit to the Secretary for 
approval a site-specific farm management plan, which may at the 
producer's option be integrated with any conservation plan developed 
pursuant to section 1212 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3812) and any other conservation or natural resource plan required for 
producer participation in any program within the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary.
    ``(d) Agreements.--Upon the approval of a plan submitted by a 
producer under subsection (c), the Secretary shall enter into an 
agreement with the producer that specifies the crop acreage bases being 
enrolled in the program. The agreement shall be for a period of not 
less than one year, nor more than seven years, as determined by the 
producer. The agreement may be renewed upon the mutual agreement of the 
Secretary and the producer.
    ``(e) Producer Responsibilities Under Agreement.--Under the terms 
of an agreement entered into under subsection (d), a producer shall 
agree--
            ``(1) to actively comply with the terms and conditions of 
        the applicable plan, as approved by the Secretary;
            ``(2) to devote to a resource-conserving crop--
                    ``(A) not less than 15 percent of the crop acreage 
                bases of the producer enrolled under such program; or
                    ``(B) not less than 15 percent of the producer's 
                total crop acres, if the sum of resource-conserving 
                crop acres on non-base acres and total crop acreage 
                bases on the farm does not exceed the county average 
                base-to-cropland ratio; and
            ``(3) to keep such records as the Secretary may reasonably 
        require for purposes of program evaluation.
    ``(f) Requirements of the Plan.--To be approved by the Secretary, a 
plan submitted by a producer must--
            ``(1) specify the crop acreage bases the producer chooses 
        to enroll in the program;
            ``(2) describe the resource-conserving crop rotation, 
        special conservation practices, rotational grazing, or biomass 
        production operations and practices to be implemented and 
        maintained on such acreage during the agreement period which 
        fulfill the purposes of the program;
            ``(3) contain a schedule for the implementation, 
        improvement and maintenance of the resource-conserving crop 
        rotation, special conservation practices, rotational grazing, 
        or biomass operations and practices described in the plan; and
            ``(4) contain such other terms as the Secretary may 
        require.
    ``(g) Program Administration, Certification, and Termination.--
            ``(1) Program administration, technical assistance, and 
        flexibility.--
                    ``(A) Administration.--The program shall be 
                administered by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Technical assistance.--In administering the 
                program, the Secretary, in consultation with the local 
                conservation districts and any State or local 
                authorities deemed appropriate by the Secretary, shall 
                provide technical assistance to a producer in 
                developing and implementing a plan, evaluating the 
                effectiveness of a plan, and assessing the costs and 
                benefits of farming operations and practices. If 
                requested by a producer, the Secretary shall provide 
                technical assistance to help the producer comply with 
                Federal, State, and local requirements designed to 
                protect soil, wetlands, wildlife habitat, the quality 
                of ground water and surface water, or other natural 
                resources.
                    ``(C) Flexibility.--In administering the program, 
                the Secretary shall provide sufficient flexibility for 
                a producer to revise the producer's plan to respond to 
                changes in market conditions, weather, or technology or 
                to adjust and modify the farming operation, except that 
                such revisions must be consistent with the purposes of 
                the program and approved by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Certification.--The Secretary shall certify producer 
        compliance with the terms and conditions of the plan.
            ``(3) Termination.--The Secretary may terminate an 
        agreement entered into with a producer under this program if--
                    ``(A) the producer agrees to such termination; or
                    ``(B) the producer violates the terms and 
                conditions of such agreement.
    ``(h) Program Rules.--
            ``(1) Base and yield protection.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, the Secretary shall not reduce crop acreage 
        bases or farm program payment yields as a result of the 
        planting of a resource-conserving crop.
            ``(2) Payment acres.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of law, the Secretary shall not reduce any farm program loans, 
        payments, or benefits of a program participant as a result of 
        the planting of a resource-conserving crop.
            ``(3) Payment rate.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Secretary shall provide deficiency payments on 
        resource-conserving crop acreage eligible for payments at a 
        rate not less than the projected deficiency payment rate, as 
        determined and announced each year by the Secretary prior to 
        the period during which producers may agree to participate in 
        the program.
            ``(4) Payment acre protection.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, the Secretary shall not reduce the payment 
        acres or the established price for a program participant who 
        has entered into an agreement with the Secretary for a fixed 
        period of time.
            ``(5) Resource-conserving crops on normal flex acreage.--
        Acreage devoted to resource-conserving crops under this program 
        may, at the discretion of the producer, be designated as normal 
        flex acreage.
            ``(6) Adjustments in production adjustment requirements.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall 
        make fair and equitable adjustments in acreage limitation 
        requirements applicable to a producer participating in the 
        program giving due consideration to crop rotation, special 
        conservation practices, rotational grazing, biomass production, 
        and other appropriate factors resulting from the implementation 
        of a plan. If the Secretary determines that the reduction in 
        program crop production on a participating farm referred to in 
        the preceding sentence will equal or exceed any reduction in 
        crop production which, in the absence of participation in the 
        program, would occur as a result of acreage limitation 
        requirements, the Secretary shall waive such acreage limitation 
        requirements for the farm. If the resource conserving crop 
        includes a farm program feed grain crop planted on the base 
        acres of another farm program feed grain crop, the Secretary 
        shall take into account the established or county average yield 
        of the two feed grains for the purposes of making the 
        adjustment or waiver.
            ``(7) Total base acreage flexibility.--Notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law, the Secretary shall allow participants 
        in this program to plant farm program crops and oilseeds in any 
        proportion on a producer's total acreage of farm program crop 
        base and historic oilseeds acreage without affecting farm 
        program payments.
            ``(8) Crop insurance.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of law, acreage devoted to resource-conserving crops under this 
        program shall be eligible for crop insurance pursuant to the 
        Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
            ``(9) Haying and grazing restriction.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall not make any 
                farm program payments to a producer, who is otherwise 
                eligible to receive such payments, for acreage enrolled 
                in the program if the producer, during the consecutive 
                five month period in each State in which haying and 
                grazing of conserving use acres may be prohibited under 
                the provisions of this Act, grazes breeding cattle or 
                nursing calves or harvests and sells hay on payment 
                acres.
                    ``(B) Transition option.--The restriction in 
                subparagraph (A) shall not apply in the case of a 
                producer who agrees to retire all base acreage enrolled 
                in the program at the end of the agreement period.
                    ``(C) Emergency haying and grazing.--The Secretary 
                shall release acreage devoted to resource-conserving 
                crops for emergency haying and grazing as the result of 
                a natural disaster when the Secretary permits unlimited 
                haying and grazing on--
                            ``(i) reduced acreage under this Act;
                            ``(ii) acreage devoted to a conservation 
                        use under this Act;
                            ``(iii) acreage diverted from production 
                        under a land diversion program established 
                        under this Act; or
                            ``(iv) acreage enrolled in the conservation 
                        reserve program under the Food Security Act of 
                        1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.).''.
    (b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 1451 of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5822) is repealed.

Output: Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a voluntary conservation flex program which will permit producers to adopt integrated site-specific farm management plans.  Includes within such plans resource-conserving crops, crop rotation, and rotational grazing.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pension Assistance and Counseling 
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAMS.

    Title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subtitle C as subtitle D;
            (2) by redesignating sections 761 through 764 as sections 
        791 through 794, respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after subtitle B the following:

                    ``Subtitle C--Pension Counseling

``SEC. 761. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Pension and other retirement benefits.--The term 
        `pension and other retirement benefits' means private, civil 
        service, and other public pensions and retirement benefits, 
        including benefits provided under--
                    ``(A) the Social Security program carried out under 
                title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
                seq.);
                    ``(B) the railroad retirement program carried out 
                under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 
                231 et seq.);
                    ``(C) the government retirement benefits programs 
                carried out under--
                            ``(i) the Civil Service Retirement System 
                        set forth in subchapter III of chapter 83 of 
                        title 5, United States Code;
                            ``(ii) the Federal Employees Retirement 
                        System set forth in chapter 84 of title 5, 
                        United States Code;
                            ``(iii) title 10, United States Code; or
                            ``(iv) any other government retirement 
                        system, including any Government pension plan 
                        as such term is defined under section 9502 of 
                        title 31, United States Code; or
                    ``(D) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
                of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
            ``(2) Pension counseling program.--The term `pension 
        counseling program' means a program described in subsection 
        (c).
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish and 
carry out pension counseling projects. In carrying out the projects, 
the Assistant Secretary shall award grants under subsection (c) and 
(d).
    ``(c) Pension Counseling Programs.--
            ``(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects specified 
        in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award grants 
        to eligible entities to establish programs that create or 
        continue a sufficient number of pension assistance and 
        counseling projects to provide outreach, information, 
        counseling, referral, and other assistance regarding pension 
        and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such 
        benefits, to individuals throughout the United States.
            ``(2) Award of grants.--
                    ``(A) Type of entity.--The Assistant Secretary 
                shall award under this subsection--
                            ``(i) grants to State agencies or area 
                        agencies on aging; and
                            ``(ii) grants to nonprofit organizations 
                        with a proven record of providing--
                                    ``(I) services related to 
                                retirement of older individuals; or
                                    ``(II) specific pension counseling.
                    ``(B) Panel.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall use a citizen 
                advisory panel that shall include representatives of 
                business, labor, national senior advocates, and 
                national pension rights advocates.
                    ``(C) Criteria.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Assistant Secretary, after consultation 
                with the panel, shall use as criteria--
                            ``(i) evidence of commitment of an agency 
                        or organization to carry out a proposed pension 
                        counseling program;
                            ``(ii) the ability of the agency or 
                        organization to perform effective outreach to 
                        affected populations, particularly populations 
                        identified as in need of special outreach;
                            ``(iii) reliable information that the 
                        population to be served by the agency or 
                        organization has a demonstrable need for the 
                        services proposed to be provided under the 
                        program; and
                            ``(iv) evidence of ability of the agency or 
                        organization to provide services under the 
                        program on a statewide or regional basis.
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an 
                application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such information as the 
                Assistant Secretary may require, including, at a 
                minimum--
                            ``(i) a plan for the establishment of a 
                        pension counseling program to serve a specific 
                        geographic area; and
                            ``(ii) an assurance that staff members 
                        (including volunteer staff members) have no 
                        conflict of interest in providing the services 
                        described in the plan.
                    ``(B) Plan.--The plan described in subparagraph (A) 
                shall provide for a program that--
                            ``(i) establishes or continues a State or 
                        area pension counseling service;
                            ``(ii) provides counseling (including 
                        direct counseling and assistance to individuals 
                        needing information) and information that may 
                        assist individuals in establishing rights to, 
                        obtaining, and filing claims or complaints 
                        related to, pension and other retirement 
                        benefits;
                            ``(iii) provides information on sources of 
                        pension and other retirement benefits, 
                        including the benefits under programs described 
                        in subsection (a)(1);
                            ``(iv) makes referrals to legal services 
                        and other advocacy programs;
                            ``(v) establishes a system of referral to 
                        Federal, State, and local departments or 
                        agencies related to pension and other 
                        retirement benefits;
                            ``(vi) provides a sufficient number of 
                        staff positions (including volunteer positions) 
                        to ensure information, counseling, referral, 
                        and assistance regarding pension and other 
                        retirement benefits;
                            ``(vii) provides training programs for 
                        staff members, including volunteer staff 
                        members of the programs described in subsection 
                        (a)(1);
                            ``(viii) makes recommendations to the 
                        Administration, the Department of Labor, and 
                        other Federal, State, and local agencies 
                        concerning issues for older individuals related 
                        to pension and other retirement benefits; and
                            ``(ix) establishes or continues to provide 
                        projects to provide outreach, information, 
                        counseling, referral, and other assistance 
                        regarding pension and other retirement 
                        benefits, with particular emphasis on outreach 
                        to women, minorities, and low-income retirees.
    ``(d) Training and Technical Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects described 
        in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award a grant 
        to an eligible entity to establish a training and technical 
        assistance program to provide--
                    ``(A) information and technical assistance to the 
                staffs of entities operating pension counseling 
                programs; and
                    ``(B) assistance to the entities, including 
                assistance in designing program evaluation tools.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--Entities eligible to receive grants 
        under this subsection include nonprofit private organizations 
        with records of providing national information, referral, and 
        advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement 
        benefits.
            ``(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the 
        Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may 
        require.
    ``(e) Pension Assistance Hotline and Interagency Coordination.--The 
Assistant Secretary shall enter into interagency agreements for the 
establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about, 
a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information, 
counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other 
retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits. The Assistant 
Secretary shall also enter into agreements with the Secretary of Labor 
and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the 
provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as the Assistant 
Secretary determines to be appropriate, in order to carry out this 
subsection and to develop a nationwide public-private pension 
assistance system.
    ``(f) Report to Congress.--
            ``(1) Preparation.--The Assistant Secretary shall prepare a 
        report that--
                    ``(A) summarizes the distribution of funds 
                authorized for grants under this section and the 
                expenditure of such funds;
                    ``(B) summarizes the scope and content of training 
                and assistance provided under a program carried out 
                under this section and the degree to which the training 
                and assistance can be replicated;
                    ``(C) outlines the problems that individuals 
                participating in programs funded under this section 
                encountered concerning rights related to pension and 
                other retirement benefits; and
                    ``(D) makes recommendations regarding the manner in 
                which services provided in programs funded under this 
                section can be incorporated into the ongoing programs 
                of State agencies, area agencies on aging, multipurpose 
                senior centers, and other similar entities.
            ``(2) Submission.--Not later than 30 months after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary shall 
        submit the report described in paragraph (1) to the Committee 
        on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
        the Senate.
    ``(g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the funds appropriated under 
subsection (h) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, not more 
than $100,000 may be used by the Administration for administrative 
expenses in carrying out this section.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Repealer.--Section 429J of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3035r) is repealed.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 794 of the 
Older Americans Act of 1965 (as redesignated in section 2(2)) is 
amended by striking ``entities described in section 751(c)'' and 
inserting ``persons and entities described in section 793(b)''.

Output: Specifies that such grants shall be awarded to: (1) State agencies or area agencies on aging; (2) nonprofit organizations with a proven record of providing services related to retirement of older individuals or specific pension counseling; and (3) an eligible entity to establish a training and technical assistance program to provide information and technical assistance to the staffs of entities operating pension counseling programs and assistance to such entities, including assistance in designing program evaluation tools. Makes nonprofit private organizations with records of providing national information, referral, and advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement benefits eligible to receive training and technical assistance grants.
Requires the Assistant Secretary to enter into: (1) interagency agreements for the establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about, a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information, counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits; and (2) agreements with the Secretary of Labor and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as appropriate, in order to carry out this Act and to develop a nationwide public-private pension assistance system.
Authorizes appropriations.
Repeals provisions of the Act that establish pension rights demonstration projects.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING 
              THERAPY.

    (a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
carry out a pilot program for the purpose of assessing the 
effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-
traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of 
training service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
    (b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required by 
subsection (a) shall be carried out at least three and not more than 
five Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers during the five-
year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
program.
    (c) Locations of Pilot Program.--In selecting medical centers for 
the pilot program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
ensure that each medical center selected provides a training area for 
educating veterans with mental health conditions in the art and science 
of service dog training and handling. Such training area shall--
            (1) include a dedicated space that is suitable for grooming 
        and training dogs indoors;
            (2) be wheelchair accessible;
            (3) include classroom or lecture space;
            (4) include office space for staff;
            (5) include a suitable space for storing training 
        equipment;
            (6) provide for periodic use of other training areas for 
        training the dogs with wheelchairs and conducting other 
        exercises;
            (7) include outdoor exercise and toileting space for dogs; 
        and
            (8) provide transportation for weekly field trips to train 
        dogs in other environments.
    (d) Design of Pilot Program.--In carrying out the pilot program 
under this section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) administer the program through the Recreation Therapy 
        Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs under the 
        direction of a certified recreational therapist with sufficient 
        administrative experience to oversee all pilot program sites;
            (2) establish, for purposes of overseeing the training of 
        dogs at medical centers selected for the pilot program, a 
        director of service dog training with a background working in 
        social services, experience in teaching others to train service 
        dogs in a vocational setting, and at least one year of 
        experience working with veterans or active duty service members 
        with post-traumatic stress disorder in a clinical setting;
            (3) ensure that each pilot program site has certified 
        service dog training instructors;
            (4) ensure that in selecting assistance dogs for use in the 
        program, dogs residing in animal shelters or foster homes are 
        looked at as an option, if appropriate, and ensure that all 
        dogs used in the program have adequate temperament and health 
        clearances;
            (5) ensure that each service dog in training participating 
        in the pilot program is taught all essential commands 
        pertaining to service dog skills;
            (6) ensure that each service dog in training lives at the 
        pilot program site or a volunteer foster home in the vicinity 
        of such site while receiving training;
            (7) ensure that the pilot program involves both lecture of 
        service dog training methodologies and practical hands-on 
        training and grooming of service dogs; and
            (8) ensure that the pilot program is designed to--
                    (A) maximize the therapeutic benefits to veterans 
                participating in the program; and
                    (B) provide well-trained service dogs to veterans 
                with disabilities.
    (e) Veteran Eligibility.--A veteran with post-traumatic stress 
disorder or other post-deployment mental health condition may volunteer 
to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a) if the 
Secretary determines that there are adequate program resources 
available for such veteran at the pilot program site. Veterans may 
participate in the pilot program in conjunction with the compensated 
work therapy program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (f) Hiring Preference.--In hiring service dog training instructors 
under the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give 
a preference to veterans who have successfully graduated from post-
traumatic stress disorder or other residential treatment programs and 
who have received adequate certification in service dog training.
    (g) Collection of Data.--The Secretary shall collect data on the 
pilot program required under subsection (a) to determine how effective 
the program is for the veterans participating in the program. Such data 
shall include data to determine how effectively the program assists 
veterans in--
            (1) reducing stigma associated with post-traumatic stress 
        disorder or other post-deployment mental health condition;
            (2) improving emotional regulation;
            (3) improving patience;
            (4) instilling or re-establishing a sense of purpose;
            (5) providing an opportunity to help fellow veterans;
            (6) reintegrating into the community;
            (7) exposing the dog to new environments and in doing so, 
        helping the veteran reduce social isolation and withdrawal;
            (8) building relationship skills, including parenting 
        skills;
            (9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state;
            (10) improving sleep patterns; and
            (11) enabling veterans to decrease the use of pain 
        medication.
    (h) Reports to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), and each 
year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. Each such 
report shall include--
            (1) the number of veterans participating in the pilot 
        program;
            (2) a description of the services carried out by the 
        Secretary under the pilot program;
            (3) the effects that participating in the pilot program has 
        on the following--
                    (A) symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 
                post-deployment adjustment difficulties, including 
                depression, maintenance of sobriety, suicidal 
                ideations, and homelessness;
                    (B) potentially relevant physiological markers that 
                possibly relate to the interactions with the service 
                dogs;
                    (C) family dynamics;
                    (D) insomnia and pain management; and
                    (E) overall well being; and
            (4) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
        the extension or expansion of the pilot program.
    (i) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who provides 
the direct training of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and 
other post-deployment issues in the art and science of service dog 
training and handling.


Output: Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Requires such program to be carried out at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers that can provide training areas for such purposes.