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

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Food Tracking Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. TRACEABILITY OF FOOD.

    The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) in section 301, by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(jj) The failure to comply with any requirement of section 414A 
(relating to the traceability of food).''; and
            (2) in chapter IV, by inserting after section 414 the 
        following:

``SEC. 414A. TRACEABILITY OF FOOD.

    ``(a) Establishment of System.--Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a 
traceability system described in subsection (b) for all stages of 
manufacturing, processing, packaging, and distribution of food.
    ``(b) Description of System.--The traceability system required by 
subsection (a) shall require each article of food shipped in interstate 
commerce to be identified in a manner that enables the Secretary to 
retrieve the history, use, and location of the article through a 
recordkeeping and audit system, a secure, online database, or 
registered identification.
    ``(c) Records.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may require that each 
        person required to identify an article of food pursuant to 
        subsection (b) maintain accurate records, as prescribed by the 
        Secretary, regarding the purchase, sale, and identification of 
        the article.
            ``(2) Access.--Each person described in paragraph (1) 
        shall, at all reasonable times, on notice by a duly authorized 
        representative of the Secretary, allow the representative to 
        access to each place of business of the person to examine and 
        copy the records described in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Duration.--Each person described in paragraph (1) 
        shall maintain records as required under this subsection for 
        such period of time as the Secretary prescribes.
    ``(d) False Information.--No person shall falsify or misrepresent 
to any other person or to the Secretary, any information as to any 
location at which any article of food was held.
    ``(e) Alteration or Destruction of Records.--No person shall, 
without authorization from the Secretary, alter, detach, or destroy any 
records or other means of identification prescribed by the Secretary 
for use in determining the location at which any article of food was 
held.
    ``(f) Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) In general.--In order to assist the Secretary in 
        implementing the traceability system under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary shall convene an advisory committee (referred to in 
        this subsection as the `Committee').
            ``(2) Membership.--The Committee shall consist of 13 
        members appointed by the Secretary which shall include--
                    ``(A) an equitable number of food safety and 
                tracking technology experts, representatives of the 
                food industry, and consumer advocates; and
                    ``(B) officials from the Center for Food Safety and 
                Applied Nutrition and the Office of Regulatory Affairs 
                of the Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture 
                Marketing Service of the Department of Agriculture.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall appoint a 
        Chairperson of the Committee.
            ``(4) Meeting.--The Committee shall convene not later than 
        180 days after the date of enactment of this section and 
        periodically thereafter at the call of the Chairperson.
            ``(5) Report of committee.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this section, the Committee shall 
                submit to the Secretary and the Office of the 
                Commissioner a report that describes the 
                recommendations regarding the most practicable approach 
                to providing for the traceability of food, including 
                the most efficient means of implementing the traceback 
                of contaminated foods.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--In developing the report 
                under subparagraph (A), the Committee shall consider 
                the following approaches to providing for the 
                traceability of food:
                            ``(i) A national database or registry 
                        operated by the Food and Drug Administration.
                            ``(ii) Electronic records identifying each 
                        prior sale, purchase, or trade of the food and 
                        its ingredients, and establishing that the food 
                        and its ingredients were grown, prepared, 
                        handled, manufactured, processed, distributed, 
                        shipped, warehoused, imported, and conveyed 
                        under conditions to ensure the safety of the 
                        food. The records would include an electronic 
                        statement with the date of, and the names and 
                        addresses of all parties to, each prior sale, 
                        purchase, or trade, and any other information 
                        as appropriate.
                            ``(iii) Standardized tracking numbers on 
                        all shipments. These numbers would identify the 
                        country of origin, the unique facility 
                        registration number, date of production, and 
                        lot number (if applicable).
                            ``(iv) Recall performance standards for 
                        each food or commodity type.
                            ``(v) Safeguards for the combining, 
                        repacking, or otherwise mixing of items of 
                        food, particularly fresh produce.
                            ``(vi) Other approaches that enable the 
                        reliable tracking of food and food products.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2011.''.
Example Output: Food Tracking Improvement Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit failing to comply with any requirement of this Act.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish a traceability system for all stages of manufacturing, processing, packaging, and distribution of food; and (2) convene an advisory committee to assist in implementing the system. Requires the system to identify each article of food shipped in interstate commerce in a manner that enables the Secretary to retrieve the history, use, and location of the article through a recordkeeping and audit system, a secure, online database, or registered identification.

Authorizes the Secretary to direct each person required to identify an article of food to maintain accurate records regarding the purchase, sale, and identification of the article. Requires each such person to allow authorized representatives of the Secretary to examine and copy records. Prohibits any person from: (1) falsifying or misrepresenting information as to the location at which any article of food was held; or (2) altering, detaching, or destroying any records or other means of identification for use in determining such a location.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine 
Support Act of 2017'' or the ``VETS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDING TREATMENT VIA TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1730A the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing 
              treatment via telemedicine
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding 
the licensure of health care professionals, a covered health care 
professional may practice the health care profession of the health care 
professional at any location in any State, regardless of where the 
covered health care professional or the patient is located, if the 
covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide 
treatment to an individual under this chapter.
    ``(b) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply 
to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient 
regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient 
is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such 
treatment.
    ``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health 
care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.).
    ``(d) Covered Health Care Professional Defined.--In this section, 
the term `covered health care professional' means a health care 
professional who--
            ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the 
        authority under sections 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of 
        this title, or title 5;
            ``(2) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care 
        under this chapter;
            ``(3) is required to adhere to all quality standards 
        relating to the provision of telemedicine in accordance with 
        applicable policies of the Department; and
            ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted 
        license, registration, or certification in a State to practice 
        the health care profession of the health care professional.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via 
                            telemedicine.''.
    (c) Report on Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the use of 
        telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans with telemedicine 
                furnished by the Department.
                    (B) The satisfaction of health care providers in 
                providing telemedicine furnished by the Department.
                    (C) The effect of telemedicine furnished by the 
                Department on the following:
                            (i) The ability of veterans to access 
                        health care, whether from the Department or 
                        from non-Department health care providers.
                            (ii) The frequency of use by veterans of 
                        telemedicine.
                            (iii) The productivity of health care 
                        providers.
                            (iv) Wait times for an appointment for the 
                        receipt of health care from the Department.
                            (v) The reduction, if any, in the use by 
                        veterans of in-person services at Department 
                        facilities and non-Department facilities.
                    (D) The types of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                provided during the 1-year period preceding the 
                submittal of the report.
                    (E) The number of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                requested during such period, disaggregated by Veterans 
                Integrated Service Network.
                    (F) Savings by the Department, if any, including 
                travel costs, of furnishing health care 


              

                through the use of telemedicine during such period.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.
Example Output: .  Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017  (Sec. 2) This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state regardless of where the professional or patient is located if the covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide VA medical or health services.   Such authority shall apply to a covered health care professional regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility.   The bill defines &quot;covered health care professional&quot; as a health care professional who: (1) is a VA employee appointed under specified VA authorities or under the civil service; (2) is authorized by the VA to provide health care; (3) is required to adhere to all telemedicine quality standards; and (4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted state license, registration, or certification for such health care profession. The VA shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the VA's use of telemedicine.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Violence Against Women Veterans 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to better integrate the medical, 
housing, mental health, and other benefits provided by the Department 
of Veterans Affairs (in this Act referred to as the ``Department'') 
with existing community-based domestic violence and sexual assault 
services--
            (1) to provide a more efficient and coordinated network of 
        support for veterans experiencing domestic violence or sexual 
        assault; and
            (2) to better understand the impact of domestic violence 
        and sexual assault on veterans, particularly female veterans.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM TO ASSIST VETERANS WHO EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR 
              SEXUAL ASSAULT.

    (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this 
Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a program to 
assist veterans that have experienced or are experiencing domestic 
violence or sexual assault in accessing benefits from the Department, 
including coordinating access to medical treatment centers, housing 
assistance, and other benefits from the Department.
    (b) Partnership.--The Secretary shall carry out the program under 
subsection (a) in partnership with--
            (1) domestic violence shelters and programs;
            (2) rape crisis centers;
            (3) State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions; 
        and
            (4) such other health care or other service providers that 
        serve domestic violence or sexual assault victims as determined 
        by the Secretary, particularly those providing emergency 
        services or housing assistance.
    (c) Authorized Activities.--In carrying out the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct the following activities:
            (1) Training for community-based domestic violence or 
        sexual assault service providers on--
                    (A) identifying veterans who have been victims of 
                domestic violence or sexual assault;
                    (B) coordinating with local service providers of 
                the Department; and
                    (C) connecting veterans with appropriate housing, 
                mental health, medical, and other financial assistance 
                or benefits from the Department.
            (2) Assistance to service providers to ensure access of 
        veterans to domestic violence and sexual assault emergency 
        services, particularly in underserved areas, including services 
        for members of Indian tribes.
            (3) Such other outreach and assistance as the Secretary 
        determines necessary for the provision of assistance under 
        subsection (a).
    (d) Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach Coordinators.--
            (1) In general.--In order to effectively assist veterans 
        who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, the 
        Secretary may establish local coordinators to provide outreach 
        under the program required by subsection (a).
            (2) Local coordinator knowledge.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that each coordinator established under paragraph (1) is 
        knowledgeable about--
                    (A) the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual 
                assault, including safety concerns, legal protections, 
                and the need for the provision of confidential 
                services;
                    (B) veteran eligibility for Department services and 
                benefits relevant to recovery from domestic violence 
                and sexual assault, particularly emergency housing 
                assistance, mental health care, other health care, and 
                disability benefits; and
                    (C) local community resources addressing domestic 
                violence and sexual assault.
            (3) Local coordinator assistance.--Each coordinator 
        established under paragraph (1) shall assist domestic violence 
        shelters and rape crisis centers in providing services to 
        veterans.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON VETERANS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 
              OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation 
with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, shall establish a national task force (in this section 
referred to as the ``Task Force'') to develop a comprehensive national 
program, including by integrating facilities, services, and benefits of 
the Department into existing networks of community-based domestic 
violence and sexual assault services, to address domestic violence and 
sexual assault among veterans.
    (b) Consultation With Stakeholders.--In carrying out this section, 
the Task Force shall consult with--
            (1) representatives from not fewer than 3 national 
        organizations and State coalitions with demonstrated expertise 
        in domestic violence prevention, response, or advocacy; and
            (2) representatives from not fewer than 3 national 
        organizations and State coalitions, particularly those 
        representing underserved or ethnic minority communities, with 
        demonstrated expertise in sexual assault prevention, response, 
        or advocacy.
    (c) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall include the 
following:
            (1) To review existing services and policies of the 
        Department and develop a comprehensive national program to 
        address domestic violence and sexual assault prevention, 
        response, and treatment.
            (2) To review the feasibility and advisability of 
        establishing an expedited process to secure emergency, 
        temporary benefits, including housing or other benefits, for 
        veterans who are experiencing domestic violence or sexual 
        assault.
            (3) To review and make recommendations regarding the 
        feasibility and advisability of establishing dedicated, 
        temporary housing assistance for veterans experiencing domestic 
        violence or sexual assault.
            (4) To identify any requirements regarding domestic 
        violence assistance or sexual assault response and services 
        that are not being met by the Department and make 
        recommendations on how the Department can meet such 
        requirements.
            (5) To review and make recommendations regarding the 
        feasibility and advisability of providing direct services or 
        contracting for community-based services for veterans in 
        response to a sexual assault, including through the use of 
        sexual assault nurse examiners, particularly in underserved or 
        remote areas, including services for members of Indian tribes.
            (6) To review the availability of counseling services 
        provided by the Department and through peer network support, 
        and to provide recommendations for the enhancement of such 
        services, to address--
                    (A) the perpetration of domestic violence and 
                sexual assault; and
                    (B) the recovery of veterans, particularly female 
                veterans, from domestic violence and sexual assault.
            (7) To review and make recommendations to expand services 
        available for veterans at risk of perpetrating domestic 
        violence.
    (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually 
thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary and Congress a 
report on the activities of the Task Force, including any 
recommendations for legislative or administrative action.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL BASELINE STUDY ON PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND 
              SEXUAL ASSAULT AMONG VETERANS AND SPOUSES OF VETERANS.

    The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall 
conduct a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem 
of domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans and spouses of 
veterans.
Example Output:
Violence Against Women Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program to assist veterans who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault in accessing benefits from the VA, including by coordinating access to medical treatment centers, housing assistance, and other benefits. The VA shall carry out the program in partnership with specified health care or other service providers that serve domestic violence or sexual assault victims. The VA may: (1) conduct training for community-based domestic violence or sexual assault service providers on identifying veterans who have been victims, coordinating with local VA service providers, and connecting veterans with appropriate VA housing, mental health, medical, and other financial assistance or benefits; and (2) provide assistance to service providers to ensure veterans access to domestic violence and sexual assault emergency services. The VA may establish local coordinators to provide outreach under such program and ensure that each coordinator is knowledgeable about:  the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, including safety concerns, legal protections, and the need for confidential services;  veteran eligibility for VA services and benefits relevant to recovery from domestic violence and sexual assault; and  local community resources addressing domestic violence and sexual assault.  Each coordinator shall assist domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers in providing services to veterans.  The VA shall: (1) establish a national task force to develop a comprehensive national program to address domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans, and (2) conduct a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans and spouses of veterans.