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 ``Prepare, Ready, Equip, and Prevent 
Areas at Risk of Emergency Wildfires Act of 2015'' or the ``PREPARE Act 
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

    Title II of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 203 the following:

``SEC. 203A. WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of 
        the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
            ``(2) the term `community wildfire protection plan' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests 
        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511);
            ``(3) the term `eligible recipient' means a State or an 
        Indian tribal government;
            ``(4) the term `local multi-hazard mitigation plan' means a 
        mitigation plan developed by a local government under section 
        322(b) that addresses wildfire mitigation;
            ``(5) the term `State mitigation plan' means a mitigation 
        plan developed by a State under section 322(c) that addresses 
        wildfire mitigation; and
            ``(6) the term `tribal mitigation plan' means a mitigation 
        plan developed by a tribal government under section 322(b) that 
        addresses wildfire mitigation.
    ``(b) Establishment of Wildfire Mitigation Grant Program.--The 
President, acting through the Administrator, shall establish a pilot 
program to make grants to eligible recipients for wildfire mitigation.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--A grant under this section may be used by an 
eligible recipient--
            ``(1) to reduce the hazardous fuel load by reducing the use 
        of fuels that may contribute to catastrophic wildfires in high-
        risk areas;
            ``(2) to invest in personnel and organizations to conduct 
        wildfire mitigation;
            ``(3) to invest in vehicles and other equipment to conduct 
        wildfire mitigation;
            ``(4) to mitigate against damage from runoff into waterways 
        and floods caused by erosion from wildfires;
            ``(5) to build essential community collaboration and 
        outline the necessary groundwork systems in anticipation of 
        future fires; and
            ``(6) at the discretion of the Governor of a State or the 
        Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government, and in 
        consultation with the Administrator, for any other wildfire 
        mitigation activities in the State or area under the 
        jurisdiction of the Indian tribal government, as applicable, 
        unless otherwise prohibited by law.
    ``(d) Eligibility for Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Eligibility.--An eligible recipient shall be 
                eligible for assistance under this section if the 
                section 420 grant ratio for the eligible recipient is 
                equal to or greater than 125 percent of the population 
                ratio of the eligible recipient.
                    ``(B) Ratios.--For purposes of subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) the section 420 grant ratio shall be 
                        equal to the quotient of--
                                    ``(I) the number of declarations 
                                for a grant under section 420 received 
                                by the eligible recipient during the 10 
                                years prior to the date on which an 
                                application for assistance is submitted 
                                under this section, divided by
                                    ``(II) the total number of 
                                declarations for a grant under section 
                                420 in the United States during the 10 
                                years prior to the date on which an 
                                application for assistance is submitted 
                                under this section; and
                            ``(ii) the population ratio of the eligible 
                        recipient shall be equal to the quotient of--
                                    ``(I) the population of the State 
                                or the area under the jurisdiction of 
                                the Indian tribal government, as 
                                applicable, based on the most recent 
                                data available from the Bureau of the 
                                Census on the date on which an 
                                application for assistance is submitted 
                                under this section, divided by
                                    ``(II) the population of the United 
                                States, based on the most recent data 
                                available from the Bureau of the Census 
                                on the date on which an application for 
                                assistance is submitted under this 
                                section.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The President may waive the requirement of 
        paragraph (1) if an eligible recipient--
                    ``(A) files a petition for waiver of the 
                requirement of paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) demonstrates that significant environmental 
                changes or shifts in forest health put the eligible 
                recipient at an elevated risk for catastrophic 
                wildfires, as determined by the President.
            ``(3) Local assistance.--The Governor of a State may award 
        funds received under this section, to be used solely for the 
        purposes set forth under subsection (c), to--
                    ``(A) any county or municipality in that State with 
                a community wildfire protection plan or a local multi-
                hazard mitigation plan;
                    ``(B) any Indian tribal government in that State 
                with a tribal mitigation plan; or
                    ``(C) any other entity that is explicitly 
                referenced in and central to, in the determination of 
                the Governor, the design of a community wildfire 
                protection plan or a local multi-hazard mitigation 
                plan.
    ``(e) Criteria for Assistance.--In determining whether to award a 
grant to an eligible recipient under this section, the President 
shall--
            ``(1) give preference to--
                    ``(A) an eligible recipient with a high level of 
                need for assistance based on the best scientific data 
                available;
                    ``(B) an eligible recipient that previously 
                received a grant under this section and effectively 
                used the Federal funds for wildfire mitigation 
                activities in the State or area under the jurisdiction 
                of the Indian tribal government, as applicable, as 
                determined by the President; and
            ``(2) consider environmental conditions in a State or an 
        area under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government, as 
        applicable, including environmental changes, deteriorating 
        forest health, and overall wildfire risk.
    ``(f) Application for Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--To request a grant under this section, 
        an eligible recipient shall submit an application to the 
        Administrator in such form, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Administrator may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--In addition to any other requirements that 
        may be specified by the Administrator, an eligible recipient 
        submitting an application for a grant under this section shall 
        demonstrate that--
                    ``(A) in the case of an eligible recipient that is 
                a State--
                            ``(i) the State has a State mitigation 
                        plan;
                            ``(ii) the State shall provide matching 
                        non-Federal funds equal to not less than 25 
                        percent of the amount of Federal funds made 
                        available under this subsection;
                            ``(iii) a county or municipality that may 
                        receive funds from the grant has a community 
                        wildfire protection plan or a local multi-
                        hazard mitigation plan; and
                            ``(iv) an Indian tribal government that may 
                        receive funds from the grant has a tribal 
                        mitigation plan; and
                    ``(B) in the case of an eligible recipient that is 
                an Indian tribal government--
                            ``(i) the Indian tribal government has a 
                        tribal mitigation plan; and
                            ``(ii) the Indian tribal government shall--
                                    ``(I) provide matching non-Federal 
                                funds equal to not less than 25 percent 
                                of the amount of Federal funds made 
                                available under this subsection; or
                                    ``(II) if the Indian tribal 
                                government is a small impoverished 
                                community, as defined in section 
                                203(a), provide non-matching Federal 
                                funds equal to not less than 10 percent 
                                of the amount of Federal funds made 
                                available under this subsection.
    ``(g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of receipt of a 
grant under this section, the recipient shall submit to the 
Administrator a report, which shall be made publically available, on 
the use of funds made available under the grant.
    ``(h) Funding for Assistance.--
            ``(1) Predisaster mitigation fund.--Subject to the 
        availability of funds in the National Predisaster Mitigation 
        Fund established under section 203(i), the Administrator shall 
        use not less than $20,000,000 and not more than $30,000,000 
        from unobligated amounts in the National Predisaster Mitigation 
        Fund for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021 in carrying out 
        this section.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
        be construed to increase the amount of appropriations 
        authorized for the Department of Homeland Security in any given 
        fiscal year.''.

SEC. 3. WILDFIRE MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Hazard Mitigation Assistance.--Whether or not a major 
disaster is declared, the President may provide hazard mitigation 
assistance in accordance with section 404 in any area affected by a 
fire for which assistance was provided under this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 404(a) (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a))--
                    (A) by inserting before the first period ``, or any 
                area in which assistance was provided under section 
                420''; and
                    (B) in the third sentence, by inserting ``or event 
                under section 420'' after ``major disaster'' each place 
                that term appears; and
            (2) in section 322 (e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1)), by 
        inserting ``or event under section 420'' after ``major 
        disaster'' each place that term appears.

SEC. 4. FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall amend 
subsection (a) of section 206.48 of title 44, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
consider, in evaluating a Governor's request for major disaster 
assistance under the Public Assistance Program, whether--
            (1) post-fire flooding occurred within 5 years, and as a 
        result, of a single wildfire event in the State; and
            (2) the State received fire management assistance under 
        section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) related to the major 
        disaster for which the Governor is requesting assistance under 
        the Public Assistance Program.

SEC. 5. POST-FIRE FUNDING GUIDE.

    (a) Creation and Distribution.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall create and make publically available 
a post-fire recovery funding and resource guide for local communities.
    (b) Involvement by Local Leaders.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall create the guide under subsection (a) 
in collaboration with local leaders who have experienced wildfires in 
their communities and who understand the requirements for the use of 
Federal disaster funds.
    (c) Updates.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall update the guide under subsection (a) as programs and 
resources change.

SOLUTION: Prepare, Ready, Equip, and Prevent Areas at Risk of Emergency Wildfires Act of 2015 or the PREPARE Act of 2015  Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a pilot program to make grants to states or Indian tribal governments for wildfire mitigation. Permits a grant to be used: (1) to reduce the use of fuels that may contribute to catastrophic wildfires in high-risk areas; (2) to invest in personnel, organizations, vehicles, and other equipment to conduct wildfire mitigation; (3) to mitigate against damage from runoff into waterways and floods caused by erosion from wildfires; (4) to build essential community collaboration and outline the necessary groundwork systems in anticipation of future fires; and (5) for other wildlife mitigation activities at the discretion of the governor of a state or the chief executive of an Indian tribal government. Sets forth a grant eligibility requirement based on specified ratios of the relative population of, and the relative number fire management assistance grants received in the previous 10 years by, a prospective recipient. Authorizes the President to waive that requirement if a recipient demonstrates that significant environmental changes or shifts in forest health put the recipient at an elevated risk for catastrophic wildfires. Allows the governor of a state to award grant funds to: (1) any county or municipality with a community wildfire protection plan or a local multi-hazard mitigation plan, (2) any Indian tribal government with a tribal mitigation plan, or (3) any other entity that is explicitly referenced in and central to the design of a community wildfire protection plan or a local multi-hazard mitigation plan. Directs FEMA, in awarding such grants, to: (1) give preference to a recipient that has a high level of need for assistance based on the best scientific data available or that used previous grant funds efficiently and effectively for wildfire mitigation activities, and (2) consider environmental conditions in a state or area. Directs FEMA to use specified unobligated amounts in the National Predisaster Mitigation Fund for each of FY2016-FY2021 in carrying out this Act. Amends the Stafford Act to authorize the President, whether or not a major disaster is declared, to provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was otherwise provided. Directs FEMA to require FEMA, in evaluating a governor's request for major disaster assistance under the Public Assistance Program, to consider whether: (1) post-fire flooding occurred within five years of, and as a result of, a single wildfire event in the state; and (2) the state received fire management assistance related to the major disaster for which the governor is requesting assistance. Directs FEMA to create and make publicly available a post-fire recovery funding and resource guide for local communities.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mandatory Foreclosure Mediation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) Alternative to foreclosure.--The term ``alternative to 
        foreclosure''--
                    (A) means a course of action with respect to a 
                mortgage offered by a servicer to a borrower as an 
                alternative to a covered foreclosure action; and
                    (B) includes a short sale and a deed in lieu of 
                foreclosure.
            (2) Borrower.--The term ``borrower'' means a mortgagor 
        under a mortgage who is in default or at risk of imminent 
        default, as determined by the Secretary through regulations.
            (3) Foreclosure action.--The term ``foreclosure action'' 
        means a judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure.
            (4) Loan modification program.--The term ``loan 
        modification program'' means a program or procedure designed to 
        change the terms of a mortgage in the case of the default, 
        delinquency, or imminent default or delinquency of a mortgagor, 
        including a loan modification program established by a servicer 
        that reduces the principal owed by the mortgagor on the 
        mortgage.
            (5) Mortgage.--The term ``mortgage'' means a federally 
        related mortgage loan, as defined in section 3(1) of the Real 
        Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2602(1)), 
        that is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential 
        real property.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (7) Servicer.--The term ``servicer''--
                    (A) has the same meaning as in section 6(i) of the 
                Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 
                U.S.C. 2605(i)); and
                    (B) includes a person responsible for servicing a 
                pool of mortgages.

SEC. 3. MEDIATION REQUIRED BEFORE FORECLOSURE.

    (a) Initiation of Foreclosure Actions.--A servicer may not initiate 
a foreclosure action against a borrower unless the servicer has--
            (1) made a reasonable effort to initiate mediation 
        proceedings in accordance with the process established in 
        regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (c) to determine 
        whether the borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an 
        alternative to foreclosure; and
            (2) offered the borrower a loan modification or an 
        alternative to foreclosure, if the borrower is eligible for the 
        loan modification or alternative to foreclosure.
    (b) Suspension of Foreclosure Actions.--
            (1) In general.--A servicer shall suspend a foreclosure 
        action that was initiated before the date of enactment of this 
        Act until the servicer--
                    (A) completes a mediation proceeding in accordance 
                with the process established in regulations prescribed 
                pursuant to subsection (c) to determine whether the 
                borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an 
                alternative to foreclosure; and
                    (B) offers the borrower a loan modification or an 
                alternative to foreclosure, if the borrower is eligible 
                for a loan modification or an alternative to 
                foreclosure.
            (2) Suspension.--During the period of the suspension under 
        paragraph (1), a servicer may not--
                    (A) send a notice of foreclosure to a borrower;
                    (B) conduct or schedule a sale of the real property 
                securing the mortgage of the borrower; or
                    (C) cause final judgment to be entered against the 
                borrower.
            (3) Reasonable efforts.--A servicer is not required to 
        suspend a foreclosure action under paragraph (1) if the 
        servicer--
                    (A) makes a reasonable effort to schedule a 
                mediation proceeding to determine whether the borrower 
                is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative 
                to foreclosure; and
                    (B) documents that the borrower has not agreed to a 
                mediation proceeding to determine whether the borrower 
                is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative 
                to foreclosure.
            (4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
        construed to require a servicer to delay an unavoidable 
        foreclosure, such as foreclosure that results from a borrower 
        abandoning the residential real property securing a mortgage.
    (c) Establishment of Mediation Process.--The Secretary shall 
establish through regulations a mediation process to determine whether 
the borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative to 
foreclosure under this section.

SEC. 4. BAR TO FORECLOSURE ACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a violation of this Act 
shall be a bar to a foreclosure action.
    (b) Effect of Subsequent Compliance.--If a servicer is in 
compliance with this Act, the servicer may bring or proceed with a 
foreclosure action, without regard to a prior violation of this Act by 
the servicer.

SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall issue regulations to carry out this Act.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    Each servicer that initiates mediation proceedings under section 3 
shall submit to the Secretary a quarterly report at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information, with respect to such 
proceedings, as the Secretary may require.

SOLUTION: Mandatory Foreclosure Mediation Act - Prohibits a servicer from initiating a foreclosure action against a borrower unless the servicer has: (1) made a reasonable effort to initiate mediation proceedings to determine if the borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative to foreclosure; and (2) offered the borrower, if eligible, such a modification or alternative.

Requires a servicer to suspend a foreclosure action initiated before the enactment of this Act until the servicer: (1) completes such a mediation proceeding; and (2) offers the borrower, if eligible, a modification or alternative.

Prohibits a servicer, during the suspension period, from: (1) sending the borrower a notice of foreclosure, (2) conducting or scheduling a sale of the real property securing the mortgage, or (3) causing final judgment to be entered against the borrower.

Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish such a mediation process.

Declares that a servicer is not required to suspend a foreclosure action if the servicer makes a reasonable effort to schedule a mediation proceeding and documents that the borrower has not agreed to one.

Makes a violation of this Act a bar to a foreclosure action. Allows a servicer in compliance with this Act, however, to bring or proceed with a foreclosure action, regardless of any prior violation.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Energy Veterans' 
Health Initiative Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to advance Department of Energy 
expertise in artificial intelligence and high performance computing in 
order to improve health outcomes for veteran populations by--
            (1) supporting basic research through the application of 
        artificial intelligence, high performance computing, modeling 
        and simulation, machine learning, and large scale data 
        analytics to identify and solve outcome-defined challenges in 
        the health sciences;
            (2) maximizing the impact of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs' health and genomics data housed at the National 
        Laboratories, as well as data from other sources, on science, 
        innovation, and health care outcomes through the use and 
        advancement of artificial intelligence and high-performance 
        computing capabilities of the Department of Energy;
            (3) promoting collaborative research through the 
        establishment of partnerships to improve data sharing between 
        Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher 
        education, and nonprofit institutions;
            (4) establishing multiple scientific computing user 
        facilities to house and provision available data to foster 
        transformational outcomes; and
            (5) driving the development of technology to improve 
        artificial intelligence, high performance computing, and 
        networking relevant to mission applications of the Department 
        of Energy, including modeling, simulation, machine learning, 
        and advanced data analytics.

SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY VETERANS HEALTH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a 
research program in artificial intelligence and high performance 
computing, focused on the development of tools to solve big data 
challenges associated with veteran's healthcare, and to support the 
efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify potential 
health risks and challenges utilizing data on long term healthcare, 
health risks, and genomic data collected from veteran populations. The 
Secretary shall carry out this program through a competitive, merit-
reviewed process, and consider applications from National Laboratories, 
institutions of higher education, multi-institutional collaborations, 
and other appropriate entities.
    (b) Program Components.--In carrying out the program established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary may--
            (1) conduct basic research in modeling and simulation, 
        machine learning, large scale data analytics, and predictive 
        analysis in order to develop novel or optimized algorithms for 
        prediction of disease treatment and recovery;
            (2) develop methods to accommodate large data sets with 
        variable quality and scale, and to provide insight and models 
        for complex systems;
            (3) develop new approaches and maximize the use of 
        algorithms developed through artificial intelligence, machine 
        learning, data analytics, natural language processing, modeling 
        and simulation, and develop new algorithms suitable for high 
        performance computing systems and large biomedical data sets;
            (4) advance existing and construct new data enclaves 
        capable of securely storing data sets provided by the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and 
        other sources; and
            (5) promote collaboration and data sharing between National 
        Laboratories, research entities, and user facilities of the 
        Department by providing the necessary access and secure data 
        transfer capabilities.
    (c) Coordination.--In carrying out the program required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to--
            (1) enter into memoranda of understanding in order to carry 
        out reimbursable agreements with the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs and other entities in order to maximize the 
        effectiveness of Department of Energy research and development 
        to improve veterans' healthcare;
            (2) consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
        other Federal agencies as appropriate; and
            (3) ensure that data storage meets all privacy and security 
        requirements established by the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
        and that access to data is provided in accordance with relevant 
        Department of Veterans Affairs data access policies, including 
        informed consent.
    (d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, 
a report detailing the effectiveness of--
            (1) the interagency coordination between each Federal 
        agency involved in the research program carried out under this 
        section;
            (2) collaborative research achievements of the program; and
            (3) potential opportunities to expand the technical 
        capabilities of the Department.
    (e) Funding.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall devote 
$27,000,000 to carry out the activities authorized under this section 
during fiscal years 2019 through 2023, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, to come from amounts made available for medical and 
prosthetic research. This section shall be carried out using funds 
otherwise appropriated by law after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DATA ANALYTICS, AND COMPUTATIONAL 
              RESEARCH PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program to 
develop tools for big data analytics by utilizing data sets generated 
by Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
research organizations, and industry in order to advance artificial 
intelligence technologies to solve complex, big data challenges. The 
Secretary shall carry out this program through a competitive, merit-
reviewed process, and consider applications from National Laboratories, 
institutions of higher education, multi-institutional collaborations, 
and other appropriate entities.
    (b) Program Components.--In carrying out the pilot program 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary may--
            (1) establish a cross-cutting research initiative to 
        prevent duplication and coordinate research efforts in 
        artificial intelligence and data analytics across the 
        Department;
            (2) conduct basic research in modeling and simulation, 
        artificial intelligence, machine learning, large scale data 
        analytics, natural language processing, and predictive analysis 
        in order to develop novel or optimized predictive algorithms 
        suitable for high performance computing systems and large 
        biomedical data sets;
            (3) develop multivariate optimization models to accommodate 
        large data sets with variable quality and scale in order to 
        visualize complex systems;
            (4) establish multiple scientific computing user facilities 
        to serve as data enclaves capable of securely storing data sets 
        created by Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, 
        nonprofit organizations, or industry at National Laboratories; 
        and
            (5) promote collaboration and data sharing between National 
        Laboratories, research entities, and user facilities of the 
        Department by providing the necessary access and secure data 
        transfer capabilities.
    (c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program under subsection (a), 
including basic research discoveries achieved in the course of the 
program and potential opportunities to expand the technical 
capabilities of the Department through the development of artificial 
intelligence and data analytics technologies.
    (d) Funding.--For purposes of carrying out this section, the 
Secretary of Energy shall devote $52,000,000 to carry out this section, 
which shall include $26,000,000 for each fiscal years 2019 and 2020, 
subject to the availability of appropriations. This section shall be 
carried out using funds otherwise appropriated by law after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. SPENDING LIMITATION.

    No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and this Act and such 
amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for 
such purpose.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

SOLUTION:
Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act (Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research program in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing that is focused on the development of tools to: (1) solve big data challenges associated with veterans' health care, and (2) support the Department of Veterans Affairs in identifying potential health risks and challenges.  (Sec. 5) DOE shall carry out a pilot program to develop tools for big data analytics in order to advance artificial intelligence technologies to solve complex big data challenges.