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

    This Act may be cited as the ``Iraq Congressional Oversight 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On October 16, 2002, the Authorization for Use of 
        Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-
        243) was enacted into law.
            (2) On March 19, 2003, the President, pursuant to the 
        authorities provided to the President by Public Law 107-243, 
        committed United States Armed Forces to combat operations in 
        Iraq.
            (3) On April 9, 2003, Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime 
        fell to Coalition Forces.
            (4) On April 16, 2003, the Emergency Wartime Supplemental 
        Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11) was enacted into 
        law, which included $2,500,000,000 for the relief and 
        reconstruction of Iraq.
            (5) On May 12, 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority 
        (CPA) subsumed the Organization for Reconstruction and 
        Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), and citing United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003) and the laws of war, 
        vested itself with executive, legislative, and judicial 
        authority over the Iraqi government until such time as the 
        Iraqi government gained its sovereignty.
            (6) On November 6, 2003, the Emergency Supplemental 
        Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of 
        Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 (Public Law 108-106) was enacted 
        into law, which included an additional $18,400,000,000 for the 
        relief and reconstruction of Iraq.
            (7) On June 28, 2004, the new Iraqi government gained its 
        sovereignty.
            (8) On January 30, 2005, the Iraqi people successfully 
        elected their first interim National Assembly.
            (9) On March 16, 2005, the 275-member interim Iraqi 
        National Assembly convened to appoint an interim national 
        government and to begin the drafting of a constitution.
            (10) On September 18, 2005, the interim Iraqi National 
        Assembly completed negotiations on the draft constitution.
            (11) On October 15, 2005, the Iraqi people approved the 
        draft constitution by a national referendum.
            (12) On November 30, 2005, the President, through the 
        National Security Council, issued the National Strategy for 
        Victory in Iraq.
            (13) On December 15, 2005, the people of Iraq voted to 
        elect the first permanent National Assembly in accordance with 
        the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq.
            (14) On March 16, 2006, the newly-elected National Assembly 
        convened for their first session.
            (15) On May 20, 2006, the Iraqi Prime Minister-designee 
        named a cabinet, except for the posts of Minister of Defense 
        and Minister of Interior, and the Prime Minister-designee and 
        the cabinet received a vote of confidence from the National 
        Assembly.
            (16) On June 7, 2006, Iraq's National Assembly approved the 
        individuals that the Iraqi Prime Minister nominated for 
        Minister of Defense, Minister of Interior, and National 
        Security Advisor, completing the formation of Iraq's first 
        permanent democratic government.

SEC. 3. STATEMENTS OF POLICY.

    Congress makes the following statements of policy:
            (1) Congress remains supportive of and inspired by the 
        service and sacrifice made by and dedication and commitment to 
        a democratic, stable, and prosperous Iraq displayed by members 
        of the United States Armed Forces and civilian personnel in 
        Iraq and by personnel serving world-wide in support of 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (2) Congress remains supportive of and inspired by the 
        service and sacrifice made by and dedication and commitment to 
        a democratic, stable, and prosperous Iraq displayed by the 
        military and civilian personnel of Coalition countries serving 
        in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Iraqi patriots 
        working toward a better future for their country and the 
        children of Iraq.
            (3) Congress recognizes the complex and interdependent 
        nature of the challenges associated with the political, 
        security, infrastructure, and economic development of and 
        governance capacity building at and between the national, 
        national capital city, regional, provincial, provincial capital 
        city, and strategic municipal levels of government within Iraq.
            (4) Congress recognizes the achievements to date made by 
        the United States Armed Forces, Coalition Forces, Iraqi 
        Security Forces, and civilian personnel toward the political, 
        security, infrastructure, and economic development of Iraq.
            (5) Congress recognizes the issuance of the President's 
        National Strategy for Victory in Iraq on November 30, 2005.
            (6) Congress supports the formation of a democratic, 
        pluralistic, federal, and united Government of Iraq.
            (7) Congress urges elected Iraqis to maintain their 
        commitment to and preserve a national unity government.
            (8) Congress remains deeply concerned about insurgent 
        attacks and threats against United States Armed Forces, 
        Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forces, and civilians in Iraq.
            (9) Congress is concerned about the increase of ethnic and 
        sectarian violence in Iraq following the February 22, 2006, 
        bombing of the Askariya mosque in Samarra, Iraq, and about 
        continued ethnic and sectarian tensions across Iraq and within 
        its cities.
            (10) Congress is concerned about the increasing power that 
        unauthorized politically-aligned militias wield in Iraq, their 
        destabilizing effect on security in Iraq, and the challenges 
        they present to the development of professional Iraqi Security 
        Forces.
            (11) Congress urges the Government of Iraq to continue to 
        pursue policies to promote the development of--
                    (A) a market-based economy in Iraq that increases 
                private-sector employment opportunities for Iraqi 
                workers;
                    (B) private-sector investment opportunities for 
                domestic and international investors; and
                    (C) a government budget process that reflects an 
                appropriate level of investment in the development of 
                and the continued operations and maintenance for Iraq's 
                national infrastructure.
            (12) Congress notes that the National Strategy for Victory 
        in Iraq is not specific regarding vital measures or other 
        benchmarks in Iraq's political, security, infrastructure, and 
        economic development that need to be met to signal to Congress 
        and the American people that victory in Iraq has been achieved 
        and the majority of United States Armed Forces currently 
        deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom can be redeployed to their 
        peacetime duty stations.
            (13) Congress notes the findings of the reports pursuant to 
        the section entitled ``Measuring Stability and Security in 
        Iraq'' of House Conference Report 109-72 accompanying H.R. 
        1268, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, 
        the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (Public Law 
        109-13), submitted by the Secretary of Defense (in consultation 
        with other appropriate members of the National Security 
        Council) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 
        Majority Leader of the Senate, and the congressional defense 
        committees that identifies security, economic, and Iraqi 
        Security Force training performance standards and goals, 
        accompanied by a notional timetable for achieving these goals.
            (14) Congress notes the report submitted pursuant to the 
        United States Policy in Iraq Act (section 1227 of the National 
        Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-
        163); 119 Stat. 3465-3467), and the current military mission 
        and the diplomatic, political, economic, and military measures 
        that are being or have been undertaken to successfully complete 
        or support that mission.
            (15) Congress reaffirms the findings of the section 
        entitled ``Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq'' of House 
        Conference Report 109-72 and of section 1227 of the National 
        Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, and notes the 
        advantages of consolidating various reports into a single 
        report, from the President, that reflects the requirements of 
        both laws referenced in paragraphs (13) and (14) and that 
        includes the requirements of section 4 of this Act.
            (16) Congress is concerned that the reports submitted to 
        Congress pursuant to the section entitled ``Measuring Stability 
        and Security in Iraq'' of House Conference Report 109-72 and of 
        section 1227 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
        Fiscal Year 2006, do not provide sufficient content, 
        information, data, and analysis for Congress to comprehensively 
        evaluate the mission in Iraq.
            (17) Congress urges that the reports transmitted pursuant 
        to section 4 of this Act be organized and written to provide 
        content, information, data, and analysis on the mission in Iraq 
        as it pertains to the political, security, infrastructure, and 
        economic development of and governance capacity building at and 
        between the national, national capital city, regional, 
        provincial, provincial capital city, and strategic municipal 
        levels of government within Iraq.
            (18) It is the duty of Congress under Article I, Section 8 
        of the United States Constitution to ``raise and support 
        Armies,'' and that by requiring the President to report to 
        Congress on Operation Iraqi Freedom, Congress is better able to 
        carry out this constitutional duty.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the President shall, in accordance with, in support of, 
and to more clearly define the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq, 
transmit to Congress a report that--
            (1) consolidates the requirements of the section entitled 
        ``Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq'' of House 
        Conference Report 109-72 accompanying H.R. 1268, Emergency 
        Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on 
        Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (Public Law 109-13) and the 
        United States Policy in Iraq Act (section 1227 of the National 
        Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-
        163); 119 Stat. 3465-3467) by containing the information 
        required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the 
        requirements of such provisions of law;
            (2) identifies the specific or vital measures or other 
        benchmarks that define the terms of completion of and 
        conditions for victory for Operation Iraqi Freedom and their 
        correlation with the strategic objectives and lines of action 
        outlined in the appendix of the National Strategy for Victory 
        in Iraq;
            (3) describes the nature and substance of the programs 
        implemented to achieve such strategic objectives and lines of 
        action; and
            (4) analyzes using metrics the effectiveness of such 
        programs toward achieving the specific vital measures or other 
        benchmarks required to be identified by paragraph (2).
    (b) Update.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall transmit to Congress 
        an update of the report required by subsection (a) not less 
        than once every 120 days after the date on which the President 
        transmits the report required by such subsection until such 
        time as Operation Iraqi Freedom has been completed.
            (2) Contents.--Each update of the report--
                    (A) may reflect adjustments to the specific or 
                vital measures or other benchmarks identified pursuant 
                to subsection (a)(2), or to the nature or substance of 
                the programs described in subsection (a)(3), as 
                realties, circumstances, and events in Iraq change or 
                evolve; and
                    (B) shall include detailed justifications as to why 
                adjustments to such specific or vital measures or other 
                benchmarks, or to the nature or substance of such 
                programs, were made.
    (c) Additional Requirements.--The report required by subsection (a) 
and updates of the report required by subsection (b) shall be--
            (1) organized and written to provide content, data, 
        information, and analysis on the complex interdependent nature 
        of the challenges associated with the political, security, 
        infrastructure, and economic development of and governance 
        capacity building at and between the national, national capital 
        city, regional, provincial, provincial capital city, and 
        strategic municipal levels of government within Iraq; and
            (2) accompanied by a comprehensive all-source intelligence 
        analysis of Iraq that includes information by and from the 
        national, national capital city, regional, provincial, 
        provincial capital city, and strategic municipal levels of 
        government within Iraq.
    (d) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) and updates of the 
report required by subsection (b) shall be transmitted in unclassified 
form but may contain a classified annex.
answer:
Iraq Congressional Oversight Enhancement Act - Directs the President to transmit periodically to Congress a consolidated, comprehensive report on the implementation of the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Water Technology Acceleration Act of 
2016''.

SEC. 2. INNOVATION IN CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.

    (a) Innovative Water Technologies.--Section 603 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (11)(B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) for the deployment of innovative water technologies, 
        including--
                    ``(A) green technologies, including manufactured 
                technology and natural systems, to address nonpoint 
                source pollution from agriculture;
                    ``(B) resource recovery in water and wastewater 
                treatment systems, including--
                            ``(i) energy conservation and production;
                            ``(ii) water reuse and recycling; and
                            ``(iii) recovery of valuable materials, 
                        such as nutrients from wastewater streams; and
                    ``(C) green infrastructure and other innovative 
                technologies, such as real-time system monitoring and 
                peak wet weather treatment technology, to reduce sewer 
                and storm water overflows due to wet weather events in 
                urban areas.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator shall carry out 
technical assistance programs to facilitate and encourage the provision 
of financial assistance for the purposes described in subsection 
(c)(12).
    ``(k) Report.--Each year, the Administrator shall submit to 
Congress a report that describes--
            ``(1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State 
        water pollution control revolving funds to deploy innovative 
        water technologies;
            ``(2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative 
        water technologies; and
            ``(3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future 
        infrastructure investments from emerging technologies.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 607 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1387) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as 
        subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting 
        appropriately;
            (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so 
        redesignated), by striking ``There is'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--There are''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Innovative water technologies.--In addition to any 
        other funds made available to carry out this title and 
        notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to make 
        additional allotments under this title to States to provide 
        financial assistance solely for purposes described in section 
        603(c)(12) $100,000,000 for each fiscal year.''.

SEC. 3. INNOVATION IN DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.

    Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) in the first sentence--
                            (i) by striking ``only''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``Except'' and inserting 
                        the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--Except'';
                    (B) in the second sentence, by striking 
                ``Financial'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Financial assistance.--Financial'';
                    (C) in the third sentence, by striking ``The 
                funds'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(C) Loans to public water systems.--The funds'';
                    (D) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``The 
                funds'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(D) Innovative water technologies.--The funds may 
                be used for the deployment of innovative water 
                technologies, including technologies to improve water 
                quality and technologies to improve real-time water 
                quality information of water users.
                    ``(E) Limitation.--The funds''; and
                    (E) in the fifth sentence, by striking ``Of the 
                amount'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(F) Public water systems serving fewer than 
                10,000 persons.--Of the amount'';
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) for the deployment of innovative water technologies, 
        including technologies to improve water quality and 
        technologies to improve real-time water quality information of 
        water users.'';
            (3) by striking subsection (m) and inserting the following:
    ``(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any other 
funds made available to carry out this section and notwithstanding any 
other provision of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Administrator to make additional allotments under this section to 
States to provide financial assistance solely for the deployment of 
innovative water technologies, including technologies to improve water 
quality and technologies to improve real-time water quality information 
of water users, $100,000,000 for each fiscal year.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(s) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator shall carry out 
technical assistance programs to facilitate and encourage the provision 
of financial assistance for the deployment of innovative water 
technologies, including technologies to improve water quality and 
technologies to improve real-time water quality information of water 
users.
    ``(t) Report.--Each year, the Administrator shall submit to 
Congress a report that describes--
            ``(1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State 
        drinking water revolving funds to deploy innovative water 
        technologies;
            ``(2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative 
        water technologies; and
            ``(3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future 
        infrastructure investments from emerging technologies.''.

SEC. 4. INNOVATIVE WATER TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a public utility, including publicly owned 
                treatment works and clean water systems;
                    (B) a municipality;
                    (C) a private entity, including a farmer or 
                manufacturer;
                    (D) an institution of higher education;
                    (E) a research institution or foundation;
                    (F) a State;
                    (G) a regional organization; or
                    (H) a nonprofit organization.
    (b) Grant Program Authorized.--The Administrator shall carry out a 
grant program for purposes described in subsection (c) to accelerate 
the development of innovative water technologies that address pressing 
water challenges.
    (c) Grants.--In carrying out the program under subsection (b), the 
Administrator shall make to eligible entities grants that--
            (1) finance projects that--
                    (A) are public-private partnerships; and
                    (B) deploy, test, and improve emerging water 
                technologies;
            (2) fund entities that provide technical assistance to 
        deploy innovative water technologies more broadly, especially--
                    (A) to increase adoption of innovative water 
                technologies in--
                            (i) municipal water and wastewater 
                        treatment systems; or
                            (ii) areas served by private wells; and
                    (B) in a manner that reduces ratepayer or community 
                costs over time, including the cost of future capital 
                investments; or
            (3) specifically target investments that, as determined by 
        the Administrator--
                    (A) improve water quality of a water source;
                    (B) improve water quality through the improvement 
                of the safety and security of a drinking water delivery 
                system;
                    (C) minimize contamination of drinking water, 
                including contamination by lead, bacteria, and 
                nitrates;
                    (D) improve the quality and timeliness and decrease 
                the cost of drinking water tests, especially 
                technologies that can be deployed within water systems 
                and at individual faucets to provide accurate real-time 
                tests of water quality, especially with respect to 
                lead, bacteria, and nitrate content;
                    (E) treat edge-of-field runoff to improve water 
                quality;
                    (F) treat agricultural, municipal, and industrial 
                wastewater;
                    (G) manage urban storm water runoff;
                    (H) conserve water; or
                    (I) address urgent water quality and human health 
                needs.
    (d) Priority Funding.--In making grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall give priority to projects that have the potential--
            (1) to provide substantial cost savings across a sector 
        (such as municipal or agricultural waste treatment); or
            (2) to significantly improve human health or the 
        environment.
    (e) Cost-Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of activities 
carried out using a grant made under this section shall be not more 
than 70 percent.
    (f) Limitation.--The maximum amount of a grant provided to a 
project under this section shall be $5,000,000.
    (g) Report.--Each year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress 
and make publicly available on the website of the Administrator a 
report that describes any advancements during the previous year in 
development of innovative water technologies made as a result of 
funding provided under this section.
    (h) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $50,000,000 for each fiscal year.
answer:
Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to accelerate the testing, deployment, and commercialization of innovative water technologies.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)must evaluate the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technology and provide technical assistance to facilitate financial assistance tohelp communities use new technology.The new technology is designed to help communities address wastewater, storm runoff, and drinking water challenges. Additionally, the EPA must carry out a grant program to accelerate the testing and deployment of innovative water technologies that address water challenges. Priority funding must be given to projects that have the potential to: (1)provide substantial cost savings across a sector, or (2)significantly improve human health or the environment.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Health Care Quality 
Assurance Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the 
        largest health care network in the United States, including 172 
        hospitals, 73 home care programs, more than 800 community-based 
        outpatient clinics, and numerous other specialized care 
        facilities.
            (2) There are approximately 25,000,000 veterans in the 
        United States, including approximately 19,300,000 veterans of a 
        period of war.
            (3) The number of veterans seeking medical care in 
        Department medical facilities is increasing nationwide.
            (4) The fiscal year 1997 medical care caseload of the 
        Department was 2,700,000. The fiscal year 1999 medical care 
        caseload of the Department was projected to increase by 160,000 
        cases over the fiscal year 1998 caseload, and is projected to 
        increase by an additional 54,000 cases in fiscal year 2000, 
        resulting in a total caseload of 3,600,000 in fiscal year 2000.
            (5) The number of outpatient visits at Department medical 
        facilities in fiscal year 2000 is projected to increase by 
        2,500,000 over the number of such visits in fiscal year 1999, 
        to a total of 38,300,000 visits in fiscal year 2000.
            (6) The average age of veterans is increasing. The increase 
        in the average age of veterans is expected to result in 
        additional demands for health care services, including more 
        frequent and long-term health needs.
            (7) The Department is attempting to meet increasing demand 
        for medical care without substantial increases in 
        appropriations, mainly through efforts to increase efficiency.
            (8) The need to treat more veterans without substantial 
        increases in available resources has resulted in serious 
        concerns about the potential for loss of quality of care and of 
        patient satisfaction.
            (9) Many of the regional networks and hospitals 
        administered by the Veterans Health Administration report that 
        timely access to high quality health care may be jeopardized by 
        inadequate funding.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON MAXIMIZATION AND EFFICIENT USE OF HEALTH 
              CARE RESOURCES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
should--
            (1) require the directors of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs health care networks to systematically share 
        information on means of maximizing resources and increasing 
        efficiency without compromising quality of care and patient 
        satisfaction;
            (2) require exchange and mentoring programs among and 
        between such networks in order to facilitate the sharing of 
        such information;
            (3) provide incentives to such networks to increase 
        efficiency and meet uniform quality and patient satisfaction 
        goals; and
            (4) institute a formal oversight process to ensure that--
                    (A) all such networks meet uniform efficiency 
                goals; and
                    (B) efforts to increase efficiency are equitable 
                between and among such networks and their facilities.

SEC. 4. QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDITS BY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 312 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(c)(1) In addition to the other responsibilities of the Inspector 
General under this section, the Inspector General shall also conduct an 
audit of the quality of health care furnished by each health care 
network, and by each health care facility, of the Department.
    ``(2) Each audit under paragraph (1) shall measure the following:
            ``(A) The quality of health care furnished by the 
        Department.
            ``(B) The satisfaction of patients with the health care 
        furnished by the Department.
            ``(C) Resource and financial management.
            ``(D) The extent to which the funds allocated to health 
        care programs of the Department are adequate to support such 
        programs.
    ``(3) An audit shall be conducted under paragraph (1) for each 
health care network, and for each health care facility, not less often 
than once every three years.
    ``(4) The Inspector General may make such recommendations to the 
Secretary regarding means of improving the quality of health care 
furnished to veterans as the Inspector General considers appropriate as 
a result of the audits under this subsection.''.

SEC. 5. INFORMATION ON EFFICIENCY, QUALITY, AND PATIENT SATISFACTION IN 
              PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) Dissemination and Sharing of Information on Efficient Provision 
of Health Care.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through 
the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
shall provide for the dissemination and sharing within and among 
Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks of information 
designed to ensure that all Department medical care centers meet 
uniform efficiency standards in the provision of health care to 
veterans.
    (2) The Secretary shall meet the requirement in paragraph (1) 
through the publication of guidance materials and best practice 
summaries and by such other means as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
    (b) Efficiency Goals and Quality and Patient Satisfaction 
Standards.--(1) The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 
Health, shall issue on an annual basis efficiency goals and quality and 
patient satisfaction standards in the provision of health care to 
veterans for each Department health care facility. The efficiency goals 
and quality and patient satisfaction standards for each such facility 
shall be consistent with such goals and standards as the Secretary 
shall establish for the Department as a whole.
    (2)(A) The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, submit to Congress 
a report on the extent to which each Department health care facility 
met the efficiency goals and quality and patient satisfaction standards 
for such facility under paragraph (1) during the preceding year.
    (B) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall set forth a comparison 
between the performance of each Department health care facility with 
respect to the efficiency goals and quality and satisfaction standards 
for such facility for the year involved and the average performance of 
all Department health care facilities with respect to such goals and 
standards for such year. The comparison shall be stated in a manner 
which permits a clear and understandable comparison of the performance 
of each facility with the average performance of all such facilities.

SEC. 6. OFFICE OF HEALTH CARE QUALITY ASSURANCE.

    (a) Establishment.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 7322. Office of Health Care Quality Assurance
    ``(a) In General.--There shall be within the Department an office 
to be known as the `Office of Health Care Quality Assurance' (in this 
section referred to as the `Office'). The Office shall be located for 
administrative purposes within the Office of the Under Secretary for 
Health.
    ``(b) Director.--The head of the Office is the Director of Health 
Care Quality Assurance.
    ``(c) Staff and Support.--The Under Secretary for Health shall 
provide the Office with such staff and other support as may be 
necessary for the Office to carry out effectively its functions under 
this section.
    ``(d) Functions.--The functions of the Office are as follows:
            ``(1) To ensure the implementation of any recommendations 
        of the Inspector General of the Department as a result of 
        audits conducted by the Inspector General under section 312(c) 
        of this title.
            ``(2) To collect and ensure the dissemination of 
        information on initiatives, programs, policies, procedures, 
        strategies, and best practices that have been proven to 
        increase efficiency and resource utilization without 
        undermining quality or patient satisfaction in the furnishing 
        of health care to veterans.
            ``(3) To take such other actions relating to the assurance 
        of quality in the furnishing of health care by the Veterans 
        Health Administration as the Under Secretary for Health 
        considers appropriate.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of such 
title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7321 
the following new item:

``7322. Office of Health Care Quality Assurance.''.
    (b) Placement in Office of Under Secretary for Health.--Section 
7306(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
        paragraph (9):
            ``(9) The Director of Health Care Quality Assurance, who 
        shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Health for the 
        operation of the Office of Health Care Quality Assurance.''.
    (c) Sense of Congress on Director as Advocate for Veterans.--It is 
the sense of Congress that the Director of the Office of Health Care 
Quality Assurance should act as an advocate for veterans in carrying 
out activities under section 7322 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a).

SEC. 7. REPORT ON EFFICIENCIES IN PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE BY THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than six months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to Congress a report on efficiencies in the furnishing of health care 
to veterans in the health care networks and facilities of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Elements.--The report shall include the following:
            (1) A survey of each health care network of the Department, 
        including a summary of the efforts of each network to increase 
        efficiency in the furnishing of health care to veterans.
            (2) An assessment of the extent to which such networks, and 
        the facilities within such networks, are or are not 
        implementing uniform, Department-wide policies to increase 
        efficiency in the furnishing of health care to veterans.
answer:

Requires the Department's Inspector General, at least every three years, to audit the quality of health care furnished by each Department health care network and facility.
Directs the Secretary to provide for the dissemination and sharing with Department health care networks of information designed to ensure efficiency in the provision of health care to veterans. Requires the Secretary to: (1) annually issue efficiency goals and quality and patient satisfaction standards for each Department health care facility; and (2) report annually to Congress on the extent to which the Department met such goals and standards.
Establishes within the Department the Office of Health Care Quality Assurance, headed by a Director, to ensure the establishment and implementation of efficiency goals and quality and patient satisfaction standards throughout the Department. Expresses the sense of Congress that such Director should act as an advocate for veterans in receiving quality health care.
Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on efficiencies in the furnishing of health care to veterans in Department health care networks and facilities.