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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Health Care OverUse Reform Today Act 
(HealthCOURT Act) of 2009''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED QUALITY MEASURES.

    Not later than January 1, 2010, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall submit to Congress a proposal for a formalized process 
for the development of performance-based quality measures that could be 
applied to physicians' services under the Medicare program under title 
XVIII of the Social Security Act. Such proposal shall be in concert and 
agreement with the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement and 
shall only utilize measures agreed upon by each physician specialty 
organization.

SEC. 3. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE BASED ON COMPLIANCE WITH BEST PRACTICE 
              GUIDELINES.

    (a) Selection and Issuance of Best Practices Guidelines.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall 
        provide for the selection and issuance of best practice 
        guidelines (each in this subsection referred to as a 
        ``guideline'') in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
            (2) Development process.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter 
        into a contract with a qualified physician consensus-building 
        organization (such as the Physician Consortium for Performance 
        Improvement), in concert and agreement with physician specialty 
        organizations, to develop guidelines for treatment of medical 
        conditions for application under subsection (b). Under the 
        contract, the organization shall take into consideration any 
        endorsed performance-based quality measures described in 
        section 2. Under the contract and not later than 18 months 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the organization 
        shall submit best practice guidelines for issuance as 
        guidelines under paragraph (3).
            (3) Issuance.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                issue, by regulation, after notice and opportunity for 
                public comment, guidelines that have been recommended 
                under paragraph (2) for application under subsection 
                (b).
                    (B) Limitation.--The Secretary may not issue 
                guidelines unless they have been approved or endorsed 
                by qualified physician consensus-building organization 
                involved and physician specialty organizations.
                    (C) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall broadly 
                disseminate the guidelines so issued.
    (b) Limitation on Damages.--
            (1) Limitation on noneconomic damages.--In any health care 
        lawsuit, no noneconomic damages may awarded with respect to 
        treatment that is within a guideline issued under subsection 
        (a).
            (2) Limitation on punitive damages.--In any health care 
        lawsuit, no punitive damages may be awarded against a health 
        care practitioner based on a claim that such treatment caused 
        the claimant harm if--
                    (A) such treatment was subject to the quality 
                review by a qualified physician consensus-building 
                organization;
                    (B) such treatment was approved in a guideline that 
                underwent full review by such organization, public 
                comment, approval by the Secretary, and dissemination 
                as described in subparagraph (a); and
                    (C) such medical treatment is generally recognized 
                among qualified experts (including medical providers 
                and relevant physician specialty organizations) as 
                safe, effective, and appropriate.
    (c) Use.--
            (1) Introduction as evidence.--Guidelines under subsection 
        (a) may not be introduced as evidence of negligence or 
        deviation in the standard of care in any civil action unless 
        they have previously been introduced by the defendant.
            (2) No presumption of negligence.--There would be no 
        presumption of negligence if a participating physician does not 
        adhere to such guidelines.
    (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
preventing a State from--
            (1) replacing their current medical malpractice rules with 
        rules that rely, as a defense, upon a health care provider's 
        compliance with a guideline issued under subsection (a); or
            (2) applying additional guidelines or safe-harbors that are 
        in addition to, but not in lieu of, the guidelines issued under 
        subsection (a).

SEC. 4. STATE GRANTS TO CREATE ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTH CARE TRIBUNALS.

    Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 399T. STATE GRANTS TO CREATE ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTH CARE 
              TRIBUNALS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to States for the 
development, implementation, and evaluation of administrative health 
care tribunals that comply with this section, for the resolution of 
disputes concerning injuries allegedly caused by health care providers.
    ``(b) Conditions for Demonstration Grants.--To be eligible to 
receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as may be required by the Secretary. A grant shall be 
awarded under this section on such terms and conditions as the 
Secretary determines appropriate.
    ``(c) Representation by Counsel.--A State that receives a grant 
under this section may not preclude any party to a dispute before an 
administrative health care tribunal operated under such grant from 
obtaining legal representation during any review by the expert panel 
under subsection (d), the administrative health care tribunal under 
subsection (e), or a State court under subsection (f).
    ``(d) Expert Panel Review and Early Offer Guidelines.--
            ``(1) In general.--Prior to the submission of any dispute 
        concerning injuries allegedly caused by health care providers 
        to an administrative health care tribunal under this section, 
        such allegations shall first be reviewed by an expert panel.
            ``(2) Composition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The members of each expert panel 
                under this subsection shall be appointed by the head of 
                the State agency responsible for health. Each expert 
                panel shall be composed of no fewer than 3 members and 
                not more than 7 members. At least one-half of such 
                members shall be medical experts (either physicians or 
                health care professionals).
                    ``(B) Licensure and expertise.--Each physician or 
                health care professional appointed to an expert panel 
                under subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) be appropriately credentialed or 
                        licensed in 1 or more States to deliver health 
                        care services; and
                            ``(ii) typically treat the condition, make 
                        the diagnosis, or provide the type of treatment 
                        that is under review.
                    ``(C) Independence.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        each individual appointed to an expert panel 
                        under this paragraph shall--
                                    ``(I) not have a material familial, 
                                financial, or professional relationship 
                                with a party involved in the dispute 
                                reviewed by the panel; and
                                    ``(II) not otherwise have a 
                                conflict of interest with such a party.
                            ``(ii) Exception.--Nothing in clause (i) 
                        shall be construed to prohibit an individual 
                        who has staff privileges at an institution 
                        where the treatment involved in the dispute was 
                        provided from serving as a member of an expert 
                        panel merely on the basis of such affiliation, 
                        if the affiliation is disclosed to the parties 
                        and neither party objects.
                    ``(D) Practicing health care professional in same 
                field.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In a dispute before an 
                        expert panel that involves treatment, or the 
                        provision of items or services--
                                    ``(I) by a physician, the medical 
                                experts on the expert panel shall be 
                                practicing physicians (allopathic or 
                                osteopathic) of the same or similar 
                                specialty as a physician who typically 
                                treats the condition, makes the 
                                diagnosis, or provides the type of 
                                treatment under review; or
                                    ``(II) by a health care 
                                professional other than a physician, at 
                                least two medical experts on the expert 
                                panel shall be practicing physicians 
                                (allopathic or osteopathic) of the same 
                                or similar specialty as the health care 
                                professional who typically treats the 
                                condition, makes the diagnosis, or 
                                provides the type of treatment under 
                                review, and, if determined appropriate 
                                by the State agency, an additional 
                                medical expert shall be a practicing 
                                health care professional (other than 
                                such a physician) of such a same or 
                                similar specialty.
                            ``(ii) Practicing defined.--In this 
                        paragraph, the term `practicing' means, with 
                        respect to an individual who is a physician or 
                        other health care professional, that the 
                        individual provides health care services to 
                        individual patients on average at least 2 days 
                        a week.
                    ``(E) Pediatric expertise.--In the case of dispute 
                relating to a child, at least 1 medical expert on the 
                expert panel shall have expertise described in 
                subparagraph (D)(i) in pediatrics.
            ``(3) Determination.--After a review under paragraph (1), 
        an expert panel shall make a determination as to the liability 
        of the parties involved and compensation.
            ``(4) Acceptance.--If the parties to a dispute before an 
        expert panel under this subsection accept the determination of 
        the expert panel concerning liability and compensation, such 
        compensation shall be paid to the claimant and the claimant 
        shall agree to forgo any further action against the health care 
        providers involved.
            ``(5) Failure to accept.--If any party decides not to 
        accept the expert panel's determination, the matter shall be 
        referred to an administrative health care tribunal created 
        pursuant to this section.
    ``(e) Administrative Health Care Tribunals.--
            ``(1) In general.--Upon the failure of any party to accept 
        the determination of an expert panel under subsection (d), the 
        parties shall have the right to request a hearing concerning 
        the liability or compensation involved by an administrative 
        health care tribunal established by the State involved.
            ``(2) Requirements.--In establishing an administrative 
        health care tribunal under this section, a State shall--
                    ``(A) ensure that such tribunals are presided over 
                by special judges with health care expertise;
                    ``(B) provide authority to such judges to make 
                binding rulings, rendered in written decisions, on 
                standards of care, causation, compensation, and related 
                issues with reliance on independent expert witnesses 
                commissioned by the tribunal;
                    ``(C) establish gross negligence as the legal 
                standard for the tribunal;
                    ``(D) allow the admission into evidence of the 
                recommendation made by the expert panel under 
                subsection (d); and
                    ``(E) provide for an appeals process to allow for 
                review of decisions by State courts.
    ``(f) Review by State Court After Exhaustion of Administrative 
Remedies.--
            ``(1) Right to file.--If any party to a dispute before a 
        health care tribunal under subsection (e) is not satisfied with 
        the determinations of the tribunal, the party shall have the 
        right to file their claim in a State court of competent 
        jurisdiction.
            ``(2) Forfeit of awards.--Any party filing an action in a 
        State court in accordance with paragraph (1) shall forfeit any 
        compensation award made under subsection (e).
            ``(3) Admissibility.--The determinations of the expert 
        panel and the administrative health care tribunal pursuant to 
        subsections (d) and (e) with respect to a State court 
        proceeding under paragraph (1) shall be admissible into 
        evidence in any such State court proceeding.
    ``(g) Definition.--In this section, the term `health care provider' 
has the meaning given such term for purposes of part A of title VII.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for any fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for 
purposes of making grants to States under this section.''.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING HEALTH INSURER LIABILITY.

    It is the sense of Congress that a health insurance issuer should 
be liable for damages for harm caused when it makes a decision as to 
what care is medically necessary and appropriate.

Output: Health Care OverUse Reform Today Act (HealthCOURT Act) of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose to Congress a formalized process for the development of performance-based quality measures that could be applied to physicians' services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Requires the proposal: (1) to be in concert and agreement with the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement; and (2) utilize only measures agreed upon by each physician specialty organization.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the selection and issuance of best practice guidelines for treatment of medical conditions; and (2) contract with a qualified physician consensus-building organization (such as the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement), in concert and agreement with physician specialty organizations, to develop such guidelines.

Prohibits the award of any noneconomic damages in any health care lawsuit with respect to treatment that is within an issued guideline.

Prohibits the award of punitive damages against a health care practitioner in such a lawsuit based on a claim that medical treatment caused the claimant harm if the treatment: (1) was subject to quality review by a qualified physician consensus-building organization; (2) was approved in a guideline that underwent full review by such organization, public comment, the Secretary's approval, and dissemination; and (3) is generally recognized among qualified experts as safe, effective, and appropriate.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to award grants to states for the development, implementation, and evaluation of administrative health care tribunals for the resolution of disputes concerning injuries allegedly caused by health care providers.

Expresses the sense of Congress that a health insurance issuer should be liable for damages for a harm caused when it makes a decision as to what care is medically necessary and appropriate.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO MAKE CHAPTER 12 OF TITLE 11, UNITED STATES 
              CODE, PERMANENT.

    (a) Reenactment.--Chapter 12 of title 11, United States Code, as 
reenacted by section 149 of division C of the Omnibus Consolidated and 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277), 
and amended by this Act, is reenacted.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect on April 1, 
1999.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 302 of the Bankruptcy, Judges, 
United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986 (28 
U.S.C. 581 note) is amended by striking subsection (f).

SEC. 2. FAMILY FISHERMEN.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 101 of title 11, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(7A) `commercial fishing operation' includes--
                    ``(A) the catching or harvesting of fish, shrimp, 
                lobsters, urchins, seaweed, shellfish, or other aquatic 
                species or products; and
                    ``(B) aquaculture activities consisting of raising 
                for market any species or product described in 
                subparagraph (A);'';
            ``(7B) `commercial fishing vessel' means a vessel used by a 
        fisherman to carry out a commercial fishing operation;'';
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
            ``(19A) `family fisherman' means--
                    ``(A) an individual or individual and spouse 
                engaged in a commercial fishing operation--
                            ``(i) whose aggregate debts do not exceed 
                        $1,500,000 and not less than 80 percent of 
                        whose aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts 
                        (excluding a debt for the principal residence 
                        of such individual or such individual and 
                        spouse, unless such debt arises out of a 
                        commercial fishing operation), on the date the 
                        case is filed, arise out of a commercial 
                        fishing operation owned or operated by such 
                        individual or such individual and spouse; and
                            ``(ii) who receive from such commercial 
                        fishing operation more than 50 percent of such 
                        individual's or such individual's and spouse's 
                        gross income for the taxable year preceding the 
                        taxable year in which the case concerning such 
                        individual or such individual and spouse was 
                        filed; or
                    ``(B) a corporation or partnership--
                            ``(i) in which more than 50 percent of the 
                        outstanding stock or equity is held by--
                                    ``(I) 1 family that conducts the 
                                commercial fishing operation; or
                                    ``(II) 1 family and the relatives 
                                of the members of such family, and such 
                                family or such relatives conduct the 
                                commercial fishing operation; and
                            ``(ii)(I) more than 80 percent of the value 
                        of its assets consists of assets related to the 
                        commercial fishing operation;
                            ``(II) its aggregate debts do not exceed 
                        $1,500,000 and not less than 80 percent of its 
                        aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts 
                        (excluding a debt for 1 dwelling which is owned 
                        by such corporation or partnership and which a 
                        shareholder or partner maintains as a principal 
                        residence, unless such debt arises out of a 
                        commercial fishing operation), on the date the 
                        case is filed, arise out of a commercial 
                        fishing operation owned or operated by such 
                        corporation or such partnership; and
                            ``(III) if such corporation issues stock, 
                        such stock is not publicly traded;''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (19A) the following:
            ``(19B) `family fisherman with regular annual income' means 
        a family fisherman whose annual income is sufficiently stable 
        and regular to enable such family fisherman to make payments 
        under a plan under chapter 12 of this title;''.
    (b) Who May Be a Debtor.--Section 109(f) of title 11, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting ``or family fisherman'' after ``family 
farmer''.
    (c)  Chapter 12.--Chapter 12 of title 11, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in the chapter heading, by inserting ``OR FISHERMAN'' 
        after ``FAMILY FARMER'';
            (2) in section 1201, by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes 
of this subsection, a guarantor of a claim of a creditor under this 
section shall be treated in the same manner as a creditor with respect 
to the operation of a stay under this section.
    ``(2) For purposes of a claim that arises from the ownership or 
operation of a commercial fishing operation, a co-maker of a loan made 
by a creditor under this section shall be treated in the same manner as 
a creditor with respect to the operation of a stay under this 
section.'';
            (3) in section 1203, by inserting ``or commercial fishing 
        operation'' after ``farm'';
            (4) in section 1206, by striking ``if the property is 
        farmland or farm equipment'' and inserting ``if the property is 
        farmland, farm equipment, or property of a commercial fishing 
        operation (including a commercial fishing vessel)''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1232. Additional provisions relating to family fishermen
    ``(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as 
provided in subsection (c), with respect to any commercial fishing 
vessel of a family fisherman, the debts of that family fisherman shall 
be treated in the manner prescribed in paragraph (2).
    ``(2)(A) For purposes of this chapter, a claim for a lien described 
in subsection (b) for a commercial fishing vessel of a family fisherman 
that could, but for this subsection, be subject to a lien under 
otherwise applicable maritime law, shall be treated as an unsecured 
claim.
    ``(B) Subparagraph (A) applies to a claim for a lien resulting from 
a debt of a family fisherman incurred on or after the date of enactment 
of this chapter.
    ``(b) A lien described in this subsection is--
            ``(1) a maritime lien under subchapter III of chapter 313 
        of title 46, United States Code, without regard to whether that 
        lien is recorded under section 31343 of title 46, United States 
        Code; or
            ``(2) a lien under applicable State law (or the law of a 
        political subdivision thereof).
    ``(c) Subsection (a) shall not apply to--
            ``(1) a claim made by a member of a crew or a seaman 
        including a claim made for--
                    ``(A) wages, maintenance, or cure; or
                    ``(B) personal injury; or
            ``(2) a preferred ship mortgage that has been perfected 
        under subchapter II of chapter 313 of title 46, United States 
        Code.
    ``(d) For purposes of this chapter, a mortgage described in 
subsection (c)(2) shall be treated as a secured claim.''.
    (d) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) Table of chapters.--In the table of chapters for title 
        11, United States Code, the item relating to chapter 12, is 
        amended to read as follows:

``12. Adjustments of Debts of a Family Farmer or Family         1201''.
                            Fisherman with Regular Annual 
                            Income.
            (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
        12 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new item:

``1232. Additional provisions relating to family fishermen.''.

Output: Amends the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 to reenact permanently chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (Adjustments of Debts of a Family Farmer). 
Amends Federal bankruptcy provisions to include family fishermen as authorized debtors. 
Requires a guarantor of a claim of a creditor to be treated in the same manner as a creditor with respect to the operation of a stay under such provisions.  Treats, with respect to the ownership or operation of a commercial fishing operation, a co-maker of a loan made by a creditor in the same manner as a creditor with respect to such a stay. 
Includes a commercial fishing operation under provisions concerning debtor rights and powers. 
Treats a claim for a lien for a commercial fishing vessel of a family fisherman as an unsecured claim.  States that such treatment shall not apply to: (1) a claim made by a crewmember or seaman for wages or personal injury; or (2) a preferred ship mortgage that has been perfected under provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Cuba Human Rights 
Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Statement of policy.
Sec. 5. United States public diplomacy.
Sec. 6. Religious freedom.
Sec. 7. Trafficking in persons.
Sec. 8. Support for the Cuban people.
Sec. 9. Annual report.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) United States foreign policy towards the Government of 
        Cuba is governed by a variety of Federal laws, including the 
        Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the International Claims 
        Act of 1949, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Cuban 
        Assets Control Regulations of 1963, the International Economic 
        Powers Act of 1977, the Food Security Act of 1985, the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986, the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, the 
        Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996, the 
        Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 
        of 1999, and the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement 
        Act of 2000.
            (2) Since 1961, it has been the stated policy of the United 
        States to institute a commercial and economic embargo against 
        the Government of Cuba, supported and buttressed by the Federal 
        laws referred to in paragraph (1), with the Cuban Assets 
        Control Regulations of 1963 being the principal means through 
        which the United States enforces its embargo against Cuba. 
        These Federal laws and related regulations regulate commerce, 
        trade, travel, and telecommunications with Cuba.
            (3) The Cuban regime, which is effectively synonymous with 
        the Communist Party of Cuba, forbids public challenge to the 
        legitimacy of its single-party rule, and restricts freedom of 
        assembly, association, expression, press, religion, and speech, 
        as well as tightly limits access to the Internet and 
        telecommunications. This includes attempts to jam access to the 
        Internet and the signals of some foreign radio and television 
        stations, including the United States sponsored Radio y 
        Televisioon Martii.
            (4) The Government of Cuba continues to harbor fugitives 
        wanted in the United States, such as Joanne Chesimard, who is 
        on the top of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Most Wanted 
        Terrorist List. Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, was 
        convicted of murdering New Jersey State trooper Werner 
        Foerster. After escaping prison, Chesimard fled to Cuba, where 
        Fidel Castro granted her political asylum. This deplorable 
        failure to extradite has caused ongoing suffering and stress to 
        Mr. Foerster's surviving family and friends.
            (5) The Government of Cuba continues to detain, imprison, 
        place under house arrest, convict, or otherwise restrict its 
        citizens for peacefully expressing any dissenting political 
        views, deny workers the right of free association and the 
        related right to organize and collectively bargain outside the 
        state monopoly on power, and limit freedom of religion, 
        restrict the operations of independent religious organizations, 
        and persecute believers whose religious activities or views the 
        Government of Cuba regards as a potential threat to its 
        monopoly on power.
            (6) The Government of Cuba, through its Office of Religious 
        Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba 
        and the Ministry of Justice, controls all religious activity on 
        the island and often represses religious freedom, including the 
        harassment, beating, detainment, and jailing of individuals 
        involved in religious activities, typically on a weekly basis. 
        The Government of Cuba also unjustly uses treason laws to 
        repress religious freedom by accusing religious peoples of 
        being ``counter-revolutionaries'' and then illegally harassing, 
        beating, detaining, and jailing them.
            (7) Individuals arrested by the Government of Cuba because 
        of their political or religious affiliations and activities are 
        not accorded due legal process as they lack full access to 
        lawyers of their choice, may experience closed trials, have 
        often been detained for years without trial, and have been 
        subjected to the use of torture to admit to crimes that they 
        did not commit or to falsely denounce others.
            (8) Cuba continues to be a destination country for the 
        commercial sexual exploitation of women and young girls in the 
        form of sex tourism, as well as a source country for the forced 
        labor of individuals who subsequently face conditions of debt 
        bondage or forced labor.
            (9) The United Nations Commission on Human Rights and 
        several Latin American countries have passed resolutions 
        condemning the human rights abuses of the Government of Cuba.
            (10) In anticipation of the Summit of the Americas in 
        Panama, on April 8, 2015, persons affiliated with the Castro 
        regime attacked Cuban pro-democracy activists Jorge Luis Garcia 
        Perez ``Antunez'', Yris Perez Aguilera, Juan Carlos Gonzaalez 
        Leyva, Leticia Ramos Herreriia, and Rolando Rodriiguez Lobaina 
        and United States citizens Orlando Gutierrez, Silvia Iriondo, 
        and Gus Monge during a peaceful gathering.
            (11) According to media reports, Colonel Alexis Frutos 
        Weeden, who is the head of Cuban intelligence in Venezuela, was 
        identified as one of the assailants in Panama who attacked the 
        Cuban pro-democracy activists and United States citizens.
            (12) Despite the continued presence of these aggravating 
        circumstances, President Obama recently announced his intention 
        to comprehensively modify and normalize relations between the 
        United State and Cuba, all without the advice and consent of 
        Congress or with any attempt to amend or modify the myriad of 
        Federal laws and regulations that govern the United States-Cuba 
        relationship or the related embargo.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States-Cuba 
relationship should not be changed, nor should any Federal law or 
regulation be amended, until the Government of Cuba ceases violating 
the human rights of the people of Cuba.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It should be the policy of the United States to--
            (1) continue to vigorously oppose and denounce the human 
        rights violations of the Government of Cuba;
            (2) maintain the status quo of Federal law with respect to 
        the Government of Cuba, including sanctions and embargo, on the 
        Government of Cuba so long as it continues to violate the human 
        rights of the people of Cuba, and to deny the Government of 
        Cuba any embassy or consulates in the United States due to 
        security concerns stemming from past illicit espionage 
        activities;
            (3) seek the cooperation of other democratic countries in 
        this policy;
            (4) make clear to other countries that, in determining its 
        relations with them, the United States will take into account 
        their willingness to cooperate in such a policy; and
            (5) not amend the Federal laws and regulations referred to 
        in section 2(1) and not reduce the sanctions against the 
        Government of Cuba until the Government of Cuba ceases 
        violating and, in fact, protects, the human rights of the 
        people of Cuba, including--
                    (A) releasing all political and religious 
                prisoners;
                    (B) respecting the right to freedom of religion, 
                including the right to participate in religious 
                activities and institutions without interference, 
                harassment, or involvement of the Government of Cuba 
                for all of Cuba's religious communities;
                    (C) returning estates and properties confiscated 
                from churches and religious communities;
                    (D) respecting the right to freedom of assembly, 
                association, expression, press, and speech, including 
                releasing all independent journalists, bloggers, and 
                democracy and labor activists;
                    (E) repealing or revising laws that criminalize 
                peaceful dissent, independent media, unsanctioned 
                religious activity, and nonviolent demonstrations and 
                rallies, in accordance with international standards and 
                treaties to which Cuba is a party;
                    (F) allowing Cuban nationals free and open access 
                to United States refugee programs;
                    (G) respecting the human rights of members of all 
                racial and ethnic minorities, including Afro-Cubans, 
                who face discrimination;
                    (H) taking all appropriate steps to end any 
                complicity of officials of the Government of Cuba or 
                companies wholly or partly owned or controlled by the 
                Government of Cuba in human rights violations, 
                including severe forms of trafficking in persons, and 
                vigorously investigating, prosecuting, convicting, and 
                sentencing such officials and the complicit individuals 
                in such companies for such conduct;
                    (I) satisfying, to the satisfaction of the 
                individual claims holders, all claims outstanding under 
                the International Claims Act of 1949 and the Cuban 
                Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996, which 
                now total roughly $7 billion;
                    (J) returning all fugitives from justice convicted 
                in the United States of crimes, including Joanne 
                Chesimard, Guillermo Morales, Victor Manuel Gerena, and 
                Charles Hill; and
                    (K) ceasing the sponsorship of terrorist 
                organizations abroad or otherwise giving support and 
                refuge to such terrorist organizations, including the 
                Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias (FARC) of Colombia, the 
                Basque separatist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), 
                and the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacioon Nacional (FALN) 
                of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

SEC. 5. UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.

    (a) Radio Y Televisioon Martii Transmissions to Cuba.--It is the 
sense of Congress that the United States should take all necessary 
measures to overcome the jamming of all radio and television signals of 
the Radio y Televisioon Martii by the Government of Cuba and that the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors should not cut staffing, funding, or 
broadcast hours for Radio y Televisioon Martii.
    (b) United Nations Human Rights Council.--It is the sense of 
Congress that if the conditions described in section 4 are not met, the 
United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations should 
strongly oppose, and encourage other Member States of the United 
Nations to strongly oppose, Cuba's continued membership on the United 
Nations Human Rights Council which acts as an affront to the legitimacy 
of such Council.

SEC. 6. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

    It is the sense of Congress that if the conditions described in 
subparagraph (B) of section 4(5) are not met, Cuba should be designated 
as a country of particular concern for religious freedom pursuant to 
subsection (b) of section 402 of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442).

SEC. 7. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the annual report to Congress 
required under paragraph (1) of section 110(b) of the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101(b); Public Law 106-386) 
should include an in-depth analysis of the facilitation of or 
involvement in severe forms of human trafficking by any type of 
official of the Government of Cuba or of companies wholly or partially 
owned by the Government of Cuba, including whether such officials or 
companies were involved in providing minors for commercial sex in the 
tourism industry.

SEC. 8. SUPPORT FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE.

    Nothing in this Act may be construed as--
            (1) prohibiting the donation of food to nongovernmental 
        organizations or individuals in Cuba;
            (2) restricting the export of medicine or medical supplies, 
        instruments, or equipment to Cuba as specified in the Cuban 
        Democracy Act of 1992 or any other applicable Federal law;
            (3) abrogating any requirement that the exports described 
        in paragraph (2) be verified in conformity with the Cuban 
        Democracy Act of 1992 or any other applicable federal law; or
            (4) prohibiting or restricting any other form of assistance 
        specified in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, including 
        telecommunications, mail, and support for democracy.

SEC. 9. ANNUAL REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to Congress a report on the following:
            (1) Whether the conditions described in subparagraphs (A) 
        through (K) of section 4(5) have been met, as applicable.
            (2) Efforts by the United States to promote access by the 
        Cuban people to Radio y Televisioon Martii transmissions.
            (3) Lists of persons believed to be imprisoned, detained, 
        or placed under house arrest, tortured, or otherwise persecuted 
        by the Government of Cuba due to their pursuit of 
        internationally recognized human rights. In compiling such 
        lists, the Secretary shall exercise appropriate discretion, 
        including concerns regarding the safety and security of, and 
        benefit to, the persons who may be included on such lists and 
        their families, but if such persons are not identified by name 
        then they shall disclosed in camera to the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives or the Committee on 
        Foreign Relations of the Senate if requested. In addition, the 
        Secretary shall include a list of such persons and their 
        families who may qualify for protections under United States 
        refugee programs.
            (4) A description of the development of the rule of law in 
        Cuba, including information on the following:
                    (A) Progress toward the development of institutions 
                of democratic governance.
                    (B) Processes by which statutes, regulations, 
                rules, and other legal acts of the Government of Cuba 
                are developed and become binding within Cuba.
                    (C) The extent to which statutes, regulations, 
                rules, administrative and judicial decisions, and other 
                legal acts of the Government of Cuba are published and 
                are made accessible to the public.
                    (D) The extent to which administrative and judicial 
                decisions are supported by statements of reasons that 
                are based upon written statutes, regulations, rules, 
                and other legal acts of the Government of Cuba.
                    (E) The extent to which individuals are treated 
                equally under the laws of Cuba without regard to 
                citizenship, race, religion, political opinion, or 
                current or former associations.
                    (F) The extent to which administrative and judicial 
                decisions are independent of political pressure or 
                governmental interference and are reviewed by entities 
                of appellate jurisdiction.
                    (G) The extent to which laws in Cuba are written 
                and administered in ways that are consistent with 
                international human rights standards, including the 
                rights enumerated in the International Covenant on 
                Civil and Political Rights.
    (b) Contacts With Other Organizations.--In preparing the reports 
required under subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall seek out 
and maintain contacts with nongovernmental organizations and human 
rights advocates (including Cuban-Americans and human rights advocates 
in Cuba), in order to receive and evaluate reports and updates from 
such advocates and organizations. The Secretary shall also consult with 
the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom when 
preparing such reports and make all efforts to accommodate the 
Commission's input in the final version of such reports.


Output:  Cuba Human Rights Act of 2015  This bill expresses the sense of Congress that:   the United States-Cuba relationship should not be changed, nor should any federal law or regulation be amended, until the government of Cuba ceases violating the human rights of the people of Cuba;  the United States should overcome the jamming of radio and television signals of the Radio y Television Marti by the government of Cuba, and that the Broadcasting Board of Governors should not cut staffing, funding, or broadcast hours for Radio y Television Marti; if certain human rights conditions are not met the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (U.N.) should oppose and encourage other U.N. members to oppose Cuba's continued membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council; and  the annual trafficking victims report to Congress should include an in-depth analysis of the facilitation of or involvement in severe forms of human trafficking by any official of the government of Cuba or of companies wholly or partially owned by the government of Cuba.   Nothing in this Act may be construed as:   prohibiting the donation of food to nongovernmental organizations or individuals in Cuba;  restricting the export of medicine or medical supplies to Cuba, or abrogating any requirement that such exports be verified in conformity with the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 or any other applicable federal law; or  prohibiting or restricting any other form of assistance specified in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, including telecommunications, mail, and support for democracy.