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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Government Shutdowns Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--If, as a result of a failure to enact a regular or 
continuing appropriation Act or joint resolution, there is a lapse in 
appropriations for any projects or activities of the Federal Government 
that were conducted in the previous fiscal year, and for which 
appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in such 
fiscal year, there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other 
revenues, receipts, and funds, such amounts as may be necessary for 
continuing such projects or activities (including the costs of direct 
loans and loan guarantees), at the current rate for operations and 
under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
appropriation Act or Acts that provided funds for the project or 
activity for the previous fiscal year.
    (b) Continuation Period.--Appropriations and funds made available 
and authority granted for a project or activity pursuant to this Act 
shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs:
            (1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for such 
        project or activity;
            (2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriation 
        Act for such fiscal year without any provision for such project 
        or activity; or
            (3) the last day of the fiscal year for which such 
        appropriations and funds are made available or such authority 
        is granted for such project or activity pursuant to subsection 
        (a).

SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

    (a) Extent and Manner.--Appropriations made by section 2(a) shall 
be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided by 
the applicable appropriation Act.
    (b) Coverage.--Appropriations made and authority granted pursuant 
to this Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for 
any project or activity during the period for which funds or authority 
for such project or activity are available under this Act.

SEC. 4. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) No New Starts.--No appropriation or funds made available or 
authority granted pursuant to section 2(a) shall be used to initiate or 
resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or 
other authority were not available during the previous fiscal year.
    (b) Apportionment Timing.--Appropriations made and funds made 
available by or authority granted pursuant to this Act may be used 
without regard to the time limitations for submission and approval of 
apportionments set forth in section 1513 of title 31, United States 
Code, but nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other 
provision of law governing the apportionment of funds.
    (c) High Rates for Operation.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of this Act, except section 2(b), for those programs that would 
otherwise have high rates for operation or complete distribution of 
appropriations in the period for which appropriations for such programs 
are made available under this Act because of distributions of funding 
to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high initial 
rates for operation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no 
grants shall be awarded for such programs funded by this Act that would 
impinge on final funding prerogatives.
    (d) Limited Funding Actions.--This Act shall be implemented so that 
only the most limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall 
be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and 
activities.
    (e) Prevention of Furloughs.--Amounts made available under section 
2(a) for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each 
department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations 
necessary to avoid furloughs within such department or agency, 
consistent with the applicable appropriation Act for the previous 
fiscal year, except that such authority provided under this section 
shall not be used until after the department or agency has taken all 
necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related 
administrative expenses.
    (f) Pay for Members of the Armed Forces.--During a period in which 
appropriations are made available under this Act for the pay of members 
of the Armed Forces, the rate of pay for such members shall not be 
decreased by reason of this Act.
    (g) Application of Certain Authorization Requirements.--Funds 
appropriated by this Act may be obligated and expended notwithstanding 
section 10 of Public Law 91-672 (22 U.S.C. 2412), section 15 of the 
State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2680), 
section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 
1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 6212), and section 504(a)(1) of the National 
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)).

SEC. 5. ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

    Expenditures made pursuant to this Act shall be charged to the 
applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in 
which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is 
contained is enacted into law.

SEC. 6. ENTITLEMENTS AND OTHER MANDATORY PROGRAMS.

    (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget 
authority was provided in previous appropriation Acts, and for 
activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, activities shall 
be continued at the rate to maintain program levels under current law, 
under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
appropriation Act for the previous fiscal year, to be continued through 
the date on which appropriations for such programs under this Act 
expire (as specified in section 2(b)).
    (b) Notwithstanding section 2(b)(3), obligations for mandatory 
payments due on or about the first day of any month that begins after 
the first month in which appropriations for such programs are made 
under this Act but not later than 30 days after the date on which 
appropriations for such programs under this Act expire (as specified in 
section 2(b)(3)) may continue to be made, and funds shall be available 
for such payments.
Stop Government Shutdowns Act - Appropriates amounts for continuing federal projects and activities at the current rate for operations and under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable appropriation Act or Acts that provided funds for them for the previous fiscal year if, as a result of a failure to enact a regular or continuing appropriation Act or joint resolution, there is a lapse in appropriations for such projects or activities.

 Makes appropriations, funds, and authority granted in this Act available until the earliest of: (1) the enactment into law of an appropriation for the project or activity concerned, (2) the enactment into law of the applicable appropriation Act for such fiscal year without any provision for such project or activity, or (3) the last day of the fiscal year for which such appropriations and funds are made available or such authority is granted for such project or activity.

Prohibits appropriations or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to this Act from being used to initiate or resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during the previous fiscal year.

Authorizes the use of appropriations or funds made available or authority granted without regard to specified time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments requirements; but declares that nothing in this Act may be construed to waive any other provision of law governing the apportionment of funds.

Prescribes requirements for: (1) denial of high rates for operation or complete distribution of appropriations in the lapsed-appropriations period, (2) the most limited funding action for continuation of projects and activities, and (3) apportionment of funds for civilian personnel compensation and benefits as necessary to avoid furloughs. Prohibits any decrease in the pay for members of the Armed Forces during a lapsed-appropriations period.

Requires expenditures made pursuant to this Act to be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever an appropriations bill is subsequently enacted into law.

Continues at a specified maintenance rate, through the date on which appropriations for such programs under this Act expires, certain activities with respect to entitlements and other mandatory payments whose budget authority was provided in previous appropriations Acts, as well as for activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation 
                            Act of 2002.
Sec. 3. Entitlement to additional weeks of temporary extended 
                            unemployment compensation.
Sec. 4. Application of revised rate of insured unemployment.
Sec. 5. Additional TEUC extended benefit period trigger.
Sec. 6. Additional weeks of benefits for workers in high unemployment 
                            States.
Sec. 7. Effective date.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION 
              ACT OF 2002.

    (a) Six-Month Extension of Program.--Section 208 of the Temporary 
Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 
Stat. 30) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 208. APPLICABILITY.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), an agreement entered 
into under this title shall apply to weeks of unemployment--
            ``(1) beginning after the date on which such agreement is 
        entered into; and
            ``(2) ending before July 1, 2003.
    ``(b) Transition.--In the case of an individual who is receiving 
temporary emergency unemployment compensation for the week which 
immediately precedes July 1, 2003, temporary emergency unemployment 
compensation shall continue to be payable to such individual for any 
week thereafter from the account from which such individual received 
compensation for the week which includes such termination date. No 
compensation shall be payable by reason of the preceding sentence for 
any week beginning after October 14, 2003.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take 
effect as if included in the enactment of the Temporary Extended 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 
21).

SEC. 3. ENTITLEMENT TO ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF TEMPORARY EXTENDED 
              UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

    Paragraph (1) of section 203(b) of the Temporary Extended 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 
21) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--The amount established in an account 
        under subsection (a) shall be equal to 26 times the 
        individual's weekly benefit amount for the benefit year.''.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF REVISED RATE OF INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT.

    Section 207 of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act 
of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 21) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In this title, the terms'' and inserting 
        the following: ``In this title:
            ``(1) General definitions.--The terms''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(2) Adjusted insured unemployment rate.--For weeks of 
        unemployment beginning on or after the date of enactment of the 
        Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002, the term `rate 
        of insured unemployment' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 203(e)(1) of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment 
        Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note), except that 
        individuals exhausting their right to regular compensation 
        during the most recent 3 calendar months for which data are 
        available before the close of the period for which such rate is 
        being determined shall be taken into account as if they were 
        individuals filing claims for regular compensation for each 
        week during the period for which such rate is being 
        determined.''.

SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL TEUC EXTENDED BENEFIT PERIOD TRIGGER.

    (a) In General.--Section 203(c) of the Temporary Extended 
Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 
21) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Additional extended benefit period trigger.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Effective with respect to 
                compensation for weeks of unemployment beginning on or 
                after the date of enactment of the Emergency 
                Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002, an agreement 
                under this title shall provide that, in addition to any 
                other extended benefit period trigger, for purposes of 
                beginning or ending any extended benefit period under 
                this section--
                            ``(i) there is a State `on' indicator for a 
                        week if--
                                    ``(I) the average rate of total 
                                unemployment in such State (seasonally 
                                adjusted) for the period consisting of 
                                the most recent 3 months for which data 
                                for all States are published before the 
                                close of such week equals or exceeds 6 
                                percent; and
                                    ``(II) the average rate of total 
                                unemployment in such State (seasonally 
                                adjusted) for the 3-month period 
                                referred to in clause (i) equals or 
                                exceeds 110 percent of such average 
                                rate for either (or both) of the 
                                corresponding 3-month periods ending in 
                                the 2 preceding calendar years; and
                            ``(ii) there is a State `off' indicator for 
                        a week if either the requirements of subclause 
                        (I) or (II) of clause (i) are not satisfied.
                    ``(B) No effect on other determinations.--
                Notwithstanding the provisions of any agreement 
                described in subparagraph (A), any week for which there 
                would otherwise be a State `on' indicator shall 
                continue to be such a week and shall not be determined 
                to be a week for which there is a State `off' 
                indicator.
                    ``(C) Determinations made by the secretary.--For 
                purposes of this subsection, determinations of the rate 
                of total unemployment in any State for any period (and 
                of any seasonal adjustment) shall be made by the 
                Secretary.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 203(c)(1) of the Temporary 
Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 
Stat. 21) is amended by inserting ``or (3)'' after ``paragraph (2)''.

SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF BENEFITS FOR WORKERS IN HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT 
              STATES.

    Section 203(c)(1) of the Temporary Extended Unemployment 
Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 30) is amended 
by striking ``an amount equal to the amount originally established in 
such account (as determined under subsection (b)(1))'' and inserting 
``7 times the individual's weekly benefit amount for the benefit 
year''.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by 
this Act shall apply with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on 
or after the date of enactment this Act.
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA, which is title II of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, PL107-147) to extend the TEUCA program through weeks of unemployment ending before July 1, 2003 (currently January 1, 2003).Entitles eligible individuals in all States to a total of 26 weeks of TEUCA compensation (13 weeks beyond the current 13 weeks).Provides an additional seven weeks of TEUCA benefits for workers in high unemployment States (entitling them to a total of 33, which is 20 weeks beyond the current 13).Applies a revised adjusted insured unemployment rate State trigger. Sets an additional TEUCA benefit period State trigger based on total unemployment rate.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

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

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

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

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