TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Puppies Assisting Wounded 
Servicemembers Act of 2017'' or the ``PAWS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) According to the analysis of veteran suicide published 
        by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2016 and titled 
        ``Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans''--
                    (A) an average of 20 veterans died by suicide each 
                day in 2014;
                    (B) mental health disorders, including major 
                depression and other mood disorders, have been 
                associated with increased risk for suicide;
                    (C) since 2001, the proportion of users of the 
                Veterans Health Administration with mental health 
                conditions or substance use disorders has increased 
                from approximately 27 percent in 2001 to more than 40 
                percent in 2014; and
                    (D) overall, suicide rates are highest among 
                patients with mental health and substance use disorder 
                diagnoses who are in treatment and lower among those 
                who received a mental health diagnoses but were not at 
                risk enough to require enhanced care from a mental 
                health provider.
            (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more 
        effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran 
        suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-
        traumatic stress disorder, and a pilot program and study to 
        assess the benefits of pairing service dogs with veterans 
        suffering from mental health disorders would allow the 
        Department to better determine the efficacy of using service 
        dogs as a nontraditional therapy to ensure the well-being of 
        veterans.
            (3) Pairing a service dog with a veteran costs 
        approximately $25,000, including with respect to training of 
        the service dog as well as training of the veteran with the 
        service dog.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRANTS 
              FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS TO CERTAIN VETERANS 
              WITH SEVERE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

    (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a 
pilot program under which the Secretary provides a $25,000 grant to an 
eligible organization for each veteran referred to that organization 
for a service dog pairing.
    (b) Benefits Provided.--
            (1) In general.--An organization that receives a grant 
        under subsection (a) shall provide the following for each 
        service dog and veteran participating in the pilot program:
                    (A) Coverage of a commercially available veterinary 
                health insurance policy to maintain the health of the 
                dog and keep the dog functioning in the prescribed role 
                for the life of the dog.
                    (B) Hardware, or repairs or replacements for 
                hardware, that are clinically determined to be required 
                by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the 
                veteran with the diagnosed disorder of the veteran.
                    (C) Payments for travel expenses for the veteran to 
                obtain the dog, calculated in the same manner as 
                similar travel expenses provided pursuant to section 
                111 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Other travel expenses.--If a veteran is required to 
        replace a service dog provided pursuant to a grant under this 
        section, the Secretary shall pay for the travel expenses 
        described in paragraph (1)(C) required to obtain a new service 
        dog pursuant to subsection (c)(3), regardless of any other 
        benefits the veteran is receiving for the first service dog 
        under this section.
    (c) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an organization shall--
            (1) be a nonprofit organization that provides trained 
        service dogs--
                    (A) that--
                            (i) is certified by Assistance Dogs 
                        International;
                            (ii) on average, provides one-on-one 
                        training for each service dog and recipient for 
                        30 hours or more over 90 days or more;
                            (iii) provides a wellness verification from 
                        a licensed veterinarian for each service dog;
                            (iv) provides an in-house residential 
                        facility, or other accommodations nearby, in 
                        which service dog recipients stay for a minimum 
                        of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of 
                        training with their new service dog;
                            (v) ensures all service dogs pass the 
                        American Kennel Club Community Canine test and 
                        the ADI Public Access Test prior to permanent 
                        placement with a recipient; and
                            (vi) provides follow-up support service for 
                        the life of the service dog, to include a 
                        contact plan between the veteran and 
                        organization to allow--
                                    (I) the veteran to reach out for 
                                and receive adequate help with the 
                                service dog; and
                                    (II) the organization to 
                                communicate with the veteran to ensure 
                                that the service dog is being properly 
                                cared for; or
                    (B) that meets the Association of Service Dog 
                Providers for Military Veterans Service Dog Agency 
                Standards that cater to the unique needs of veterans 
                with post-traumatic stress disorder;
            (2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount 
        to guarantee the benefits listed under subsection (b)(1);
            (3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog the 
        organization provided to the veteran, if necessary, as 
        determined by the organization and the veteran; and
            (4) submit to the Secretary an application containing such 
        information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary may 
        require.
    (d) Eligible Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        review and approve veterans eligible to participate under this 
        section and shall refer approved veterans to eligible 
        organizations. The period beginning on the date on which a 
        veteran applies to participate under this section and the date 
        on which the Secretary makes an approval determination may not 
        exceed 90 days.
            (2) Initial eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an 
        eligible veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the patient 
        enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under 
        section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, and--
                    (A) has been treated and has completed an 
                established evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic 
                stress disorder yet remains diagnosed with post-
                traumatic stress disorder by a qualified health care 
                provider as rated on the post-traumatic stress disorder 
                checklist (PCL-5);
                    (B) the health care provider or clinical team of 
                the Department of Veterans Affairs that is treating the 
                veteran for such disorder determines based upon medical 
                judgment that the veteran may potentially benefit from 
                a service dog; and
                    (C) agrees to successfully complete training 
                provided by an eligible organization pursuant to 
                subsection (c).
            (3) Ongoing eligibility.--To remain eligible to participate 
        in the pilot program, a veteran shall see the health care 
        provider or clinical team of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        treating the veteran for such a disorder at least every six 
        months to determine, based on a clinical evaluation of 
        efficacy, whether the veteran continues to benefit from a 
        service dog.
            (4) Other cases.--If at any point, the veteran is no longer 
        able or willing to care for the service dog, the organization 
        that provided the service dog and the veteran shall determine 
        the appropriate recourse to ensure the safety of both the 
        veteran and the service dog.
    (e) Relationship to Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits.--The 
provision of a service dog to a veteran under this section is in 
addition to any other hospital care or medical service furnished by the 
Department for that veteran for post-traumatic stress disorder, and an 
improvement in symptoms as a result of the provision of a service dog 
shall not affect the eligibility of the veteran for any other benefit 
under the laws administered by the Secretary.
    (f) Metrics.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure, 
        with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program, 
        the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic 
        compliance of such veterans and changes with respect to the 
        dependence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic 
        medication of such veterans; and
            (2) establish processes to document and track the progress 
        of such veterans under the pilot program in terms of the 
        benefits and improvements noted as a result of the pilot 
        program.
    (g) GAO Briefing and Study.--
            (1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date on 
        which the Secretary commences the pilot program under 
        subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States 
        shall provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the 
        methodology established for the pilot program.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on 
        which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General 
        shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a 
        report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an 
        evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot 
        program with respect to--
                    (A) helping veterans with severe post-traumatic 
                stress disorder return to civilian life;
                    (B) relevant metrics, including reduction in 
                metrics such as reduction in scores under the post-
                traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5), 
                improvement in psychosocial function, and therapeutic 
                compliance; and
                    (C) reducing the dependence of participants on 
                prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the period of fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 
2023, $10,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under this section.
    (i) Offset.--The amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated 
for Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Human Resources and 
Administration for the period of fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 
2023 shall be reduced by $10,000,000.
    (j) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under 
this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. An eligible veteran in possession of 
a service dog furnished under the pilot program as of the termination 
of the pilot program may keep the service dog after the termination of 
the program for the life of the dog.

SOLUTION: Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2017 or the PAWS Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it provides grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing other evidence-based treatment. An organization that receives a grant shall provide for each participating service dog and veteran:  coverage by a commercially available veterinary health insurance policy, hardware clinically determined to be required by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the veteran, payments for travel expenses to obtain the dog, and  travel expenses required to obtain a replacement service dog.  To be eligible for a grant, an organization must: (1) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee such benefits, (2) be certified by Assistance Dogs International, (3) provide one-on-one training for each service dog and recipient for 30 hours or more over 90 days or more, and (4) provide an in-house residential facility or other accommodations nearby in which service dog recipients stay for a minimum of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of training.  The VA shall develop metrics to measure the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance and changes independence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of veterans participating in the program. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the methodology used for the pilot program.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Residential Energy Savings Act of 
2013''.

SEC. 2. STATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES LOAN 
              PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Loans for Residential Building Energy Efficiency Upgrades.--
Part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 367. LOANS FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Consumer-friendly loan repayment approach.--The term 
        `consumer-friendly loan repayment approach' means a loan 
        repayment method that--
                    ``(A) emphasizes convenience for customers;
                    ``(B) is of low cost to consumers; and
                    ``(C) may tie loan repayment to an existing bill of 
                the consumer.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a State or territory of the United States; 
                and
                    ``(B) an Indian tribal government.
            ``(3) Energy advisor program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `energy advisor 
                program' means any program to provide to homeowners or 
                residents advice, information, and support in the 
                identification, prioritization, and implementation of 
                energy efficiency and energy savings measures.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `energy advisor 
                program' includes a program that provides--
                            ``(i) interpretation of energy audit 
                        reports;
                            ``(ii) assistance in the prioritization of 
                        improvements;
                            ``(iii) assistance in finding qualified 
                        contractors;
                            ``(iv) assistance in contractor bid 
                        reviews;
                            ``(v) education on energy conservation, 
                        renewable energy, and energy efficiency;
                            ``(vi) explanations of available incentives 
                        and tax credits;
                            ``(vii) assistance in completion of rebate 
                        and incentive paperwork; and
                            ``(viii) any other similar type of support.
            ``(4) Energy efficiency.--The term `energy efficiency' 
        means a reduction in energy use, including thermal energy for 
        heating.
            ``(5) Energy efficiency upgrade.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `energy efficiency 
                upgrade' means any project or activity carried out on a 
                residential building to increase energy efficiency.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `energy efficiency 
                upgrade' includes the installation or improvement of 
                renewable energy for heating or electricity generation 
                serving a residential building carried out in 
                conjunction with an energy efficiency project or 
                activity.
            ``(6) Residential building.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `residential building' 
                means a building used for residential purposes.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `residential building' 
                includes--
                            ``(i) a single-family residence;
                            ``(ii) a multifamily residence composed not 
                        more than 4 units; and
                            ``(iii) a mixed-use building that includes 
                        not more than 4 residential units.
    ``(b) Establishment of Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program 
        under this part under which the Secretary shall make available 
        to eligible entities loans for the purpose of establishing or 
        expanding programs that provide to residential property owners 
        or tenants financing for energy efficiency upgrades of 
        residential buildings.
            ``(2) No requirement to participate.--No eligible entity 
        shall be required to participate in any manner in the program 
        established under paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a loan under 
        this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
        an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Selection.--In selecting eligible entities to receive 
        loans under this section, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure--
                            ``(i) that both innovative and established 
                        approaches to the challenges of financing 
                        energy efficiency upgrades are supported;
                            ``(ii) regional diversity among recipients, 
                        including participation by rural States and 
                        small States; and
                            ``(iii) significant participation by low- 
                        and medium-income families;
                    ``(B) evaluate applications based primarily on--
                            ``(i) the projected reduction in energy 
                        use;
                            ``(ii) the extent to which Federal funds 
                        are used to leverage additional funding from 
                        State, local, philanthropic, private sector, 
                        and other sources;
                            ``(iii) the creditworthiness of the 
                        eligible entity; and
                            ``(iv) the incorporation of measures, such 
                        as on-bill repayment, for making the loan 
                        repayment system for recipients of financing as 
                        consumer-friendly as practicable; and
                    ``(C) evaluate applications based secondarily on--
                            ``(i) the extent to which the proposed 
                        financing program of the eligible entity 
                        incorporates best practices for such a program, 
                        as determined by the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) whether the eligible entity has 
                        created a plan for evaluating the effectiveness 
                        of the proposed financing program;
                            ``(iii) the extent to which the proposed 
                        financing program incorporates energy advisor 
                        programs and support programs designed to 
                        increase the effectiveness of the program;
                            ``(iv) the projected quantity of renewable 
                        energy to be generated, to the extent that 
                        renewable energy generation will be included;
                            ``(v) the extent to which the proposed 
                        financing program will be coordinated and 
                        marketed with other existing or planned energy 
                        efficiency programs administered by--
                                    ``(I) utilities;
                                    ``(II) State, tribal, territorial, 
                                or local governments; or
                                    ``(III) community development 
                                financial institutions; and
                            ``(vi) such other factors as the Secretary 
                        determines to be appropriate.
    ``(d) Term; Interest.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish terms and 
        interest rates for loans provided to eligible entities under 
        this section in a manner that--
                    ``(A) provides for a high degree of cost recovery; 
                and
                    ``(B) ensures that the loans are competitive with, 
                or superior to, other forms of financing for similar 
                purposes.
            ``(2) Performance incentive.--The Secretary shall establish 
        a performance incentive providing a repayment discount for 
        eligible entities in an amount equal to not more than the value 
        of the interest accrued on the loan provided to the applicable 
        eligible entity under this section, based on performance as 
        evaluated in accordance with the factors described in 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (c)(2).
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall use a loan 
        provided under this section to establish or expand a financing 
        program--
                    ``(A) the purpose of which is to enable residential 
                building owners or tenants to conduct energy efficiency 
                upgrades of residential buildings;
                    ``(B) that may not require any initial capital, 
                excluding fees; and
                    ``(C) that incorporates a consumer-friendly loan 
                repayment approach.
            ``(2) Structure of financing program.--The financing 
        program of an eligible entity may--
                    ``(A) consist--
                            ``(i) primarily or entirely of a financing 
                        program administered by--
                                    ``(I) the applicable State; or
                                    ``(II) a local government, utility, 
                                or other entity; or
                            ``(ii) of a combination of programs 
                        described in clause (i); and
                    ``(B) rely on financing provided by--
                            ``(i) the eligible entity; or
                            ``(ii) a third party, acting through the 
                        eligible entity.
            ``(3) Form of assistance.--Assistance provided by an 
        eligible entity under this subsection may be in the form of--
                    ``(A) a revolving loan fund;
                    ``(B) a credit enhancement structure designed to 
                mitigate the effects of default; or
                    ``(C) a program that--
                            ``(i) adopts any other approach for 
                        providing financing for energy efficiency 
                        upgrades producing significant energy 
                        efficiency gains;
                            ``(ii) produces a high-leverage ratio of 
                        non-Federal funds; and
                            ``(iii) incorporates measures for making 
                        the loan repayment system for recipients of 
                        financing as consumer-friendly as practicable.
            ``(4) Scope of assistance.--Assistance provided by an 
        eligible entity under this subsection may be used to pay for 
        costs associated with carrying out an energy efficiency 
        upgrade, including materials and labor.
    ``(f) Repayment.--An eligible entity shall repay to the Secretary 
the amount of a loan provided under this section, together with--
            ``(1) interest accrued on that amount; and
            ``(2) such fees as the Secretary determines to be necessary 
        to recover any portion of the costs of the program under this 
        section.
    ``(g) Reports.--
            ``(1) Eligible entities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of receipt of the loan, and annually thereafter 
                for the term of the loan, an eligible entity that 
                receives a loan under this section shall submit to the 
                Secretary a report describing the performance of each 
                program and activity carried out using the loan, 
                including anonymized loan performance data.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with eligible entities and other stakeholders (such as 
                lending institutions and the real estate industry), 
                shall establish such requirements for the reports under 
                this paragraph as the Secretary determines to be 
                appropriate--
                            ``(i) to ensure that the reports are clear, 
                        consistent, and straightforward; and
                            ``(ii) taking into account the reporting 
                        requirements for similar programs in which the 
                        eligible entities are participating, if any.
            ``(2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress 
        and make available to the public--
                    ``(A) not less frequently than once each year, a 
                report describing the performance of the program under 
                this section, including a synthesis and analysis of the 
                information provided in the reports submitted to the 
                Secretary under paragraph (1)(A); and
                    ``(B) on termination of the program under this 
                section, an assessment of the success of, and education 
                provided by, the measures carried out by eligible 
                entities during the term of the program.
    ``(h) Maximum Amount.--The Secretary may provide to eligible 
entities a total of not more than $2,000,000,000 in loans under this 
section for the costs of activities described in subsection (e).''.
    (b) Reorganization.--
            (1) In general.--Part D of title III of the Energy Policy 
        and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating sections 362, 363, 364, 365, 
                and 366 as sections 364, 365, 366, 363, and 362, 
                respectively, and moving the sections so as to appear 
                in numerical order;
                    (B) in section 362 (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 367, and'' and inserting ``section 
                        367 (as in effect on the day before the date of 
                        enactment of the State Energy Efficiency 
                        Programs Improvement Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                        6201 note; Public Law 101-440)); and''; and
                            (ii) in each of paragraphs (4) and (6), by 
                        striking ``section 365(e)(1)'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``section 363(e)(1)'';
                    (C) in section 363 (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in subsection (b), by striking ``the 
                        provisions of sections 362 and 364 and 
                        subsection (a) of section 363'' and inserting 
                        ``sections 364, 365(a), and 366''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (g)(1)(A), in the second 
                        sentence, by striking ``section 362'' and 
                        inserting ``section 364''; and
                    (D) in section 365 (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in subsection (a)--
                                    (I) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                                ``section 362,'' and inserting 
                                ``section 364;''; and
                                    (II) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                                ``section 362(b) or (e)'' and inserting 
                                ``subsection (b) or (e) of section 
                                364''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b)(2), in the matter 
                        preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``section 362(b) or (e)'' and inserting 
                        ``subsection (b) or (e) of section 364''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 391 of the Energy 
        Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6371) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(M), by striking ``section 
                365(e)(2)'' and inserting ``section 363(e)(2)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (10), by striking ``section 362 of 
                this Act'' and inserting ``section 364''.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of the 
        Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public 
        Law 94-163) is amended by striking the items relating to part D 
        of title III and inserting the following:

              ``Part D--State Energy Conservation Programs

``Sec. 361. Findings and purpose.
``Sec. 362. Definitions.
``Sec. 363. General provisions.
``Sec. 364. State energy conservation plans.
``Sec. 365. Federal assistance to States.
``Sec. 366. State energy efficiency goals.
``Sec. 367. Loans for residential building energy efficiency 
                            upgrades.''.

SEC. 3. FUNDING.

    (a) Budgetary Effects.--The budgetary effects of this Act, for the 
purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for 
printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate 
Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 
to the vote on passage.
    (b) Advance Appropriations Required.--An authorization of 
appropriations under this Act or an amendment made by this Act shall be 
effective for a fiscal year only to the extent and in the amounts 
provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

SOLUTION: Residential Energy Savings Act of 2013 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a voluntary loan program to provide support to states, U.S. territories, and Indian tribal governments (eligible entities) in establishing or expanding programs that provide to residential property owners or tenants financing for energy efficiency upgrades of residential buildings. Authorizes assistance provided by eligible entities to be in the form of a: (1) revolving loan fund; (2) credit enhancement structure designed to mitigate the effects of default; or (3) program that adopts other approaches for providing financing for upgrades producing significant energy efficiency gains, produces a high-leverage ratio of non-federal funds, and incorporates measures for making the loan repayment system for recipients of financing consumer-friendly. Requires the Secretary to establish a performance incentive providing a repayment discount in an amount equal to no more than the value of the interest accrued on the loan provided, based on performance as evaluated in accordance with specified factors. Makes an authorization of appropriations under this Act effective for a fiscal year only to the extent and in the amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

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

SEC. 3. PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS.

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

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

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

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.

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

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

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

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

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

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The Secretary shall implement this Act as expeditiously as 
practicable and in a manner consistent with the obligations of the 
United States.

SOLUTION:
Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2001 - Requires each participating manufacturer of a covered outpatient drug to make it available for purchase by each pharmacy: (1) in an amount equal to the aggregate amount sold or distributed by the pharmacy to Medicare beneficiaries; and (2) at a price no greater than the manufacturer's average foreign price. Sets forth special provisions with respect to hospice programs.