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Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness for Homeowners Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. ORIGINATIONS OF CONSUMER CREDIT TRANSACTIONS SECURED BY THE 
              CONSUMER'S PRINCIPAL DWELLING.

    (a) In General.--The Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 129 the following new section:
``Sec. 129A. Originations of consumer credit transactions secured by 
              the consumer's principal dwelling
    ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions shall apply:
            ``(1) Fully indexed rate.--The term `fully indexed rate' 
        equals the index rate prevailing at the time a consumer credit 
        transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling is 
        originated, plus the margin that will apply after the 
        expiration of an introductory interest rate.
            ``(2) Mortgage broker.--The term `mortgage broker' means 
        any person who is defined as a mortgage broker under applicable 
        State law.
    ``(b) Requirements for Originators.--
            ``(1) Ability to pay.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No creditor or mortgage broker 
                may make, provide, or arrange for any consumer credit 
                transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling 
                without verifying the consumer's reasonable ability to 
                pay the scheduled payments of the following, as 
                applicable: principal; interest; real estate taxes; 
                homeowner's insurance, assessments, and mortgage 
                insurance premiums.
                    ``(B) Variable interest rate.--In the case of any 
                consumer credit transaction secured by a consumer's 
                principal dwelling for which the applicable annual 
                percentage rate may vary over the life of the credit, 
                the reasonable ability to pay shall be determined, for 
                purposes of this paragraph, on the basis of a fully 
                indexed rate plus 200 basis points and a repayment 
                schedule which achieves full amortization over the life 
                of the extension of credit.
                    ``(C) Verification of consumer income and financial 
                resources.--In the case of any consumer credit 
                transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling, 
                the income and financial resources of the consumer 
                shall be verified for purposes of this paragraph by tax 
                returns, payroll receipts, bank records, or other 
                similarly reliable documents.
                    ``(D) Other criteria.--No provision of this 
                paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting reliance on 
                criteria other than a consumer's income and financial 
                resources to establish the reasonable ability of the 
                consumer to repay any consumer credit transaction 
                secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, to the 
                extent such other criteria are also verified through 
                reasonably reliable methods and documentation.
                    ``(E) Consumer statement is insufficient proof.--A 
                statement by a consumer of the consumer's income or 
                financial resources shall not be sufficient to 
                establish the existence of any income or financial 
                resources when verifying the reasonable ability of the 
                consumer to repay any consumer credit transaction 
                secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, for 
                purposes of this paragraph.
            ``(2) Prohibition on steering.--No creditor or mortgage 
        broker may make, provide, or arrange for any consumer credit 
        transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling that is 
        of a lower investment grade if--
                    ``(A) the consumer's credit score; or
                    ``(B) comparable underwriting data, in any case in 
                which the creditor or mortgage broker does not utilize 
                credit scoring or a credit score for the consumer is 
                unavailable,
        indicates that the borrower may qualify for a consumer credit 
        transaction, available from or through the creditor or mortgage 
        broker, that is of a higher investment grade.
            ``(3) Prohibition on prepayment penalties for arms.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of any consumer 
                credit transaction secured by a consumer's principal 
                dwelling that provides for variable rates of interest 
                on the credit extended under the transaction, the 
                transaction may not contain terms under which a 
                consumer must pay a prepayment penalty for paying all 
                or part of the principal before the date on which the 
                principal is due.
                    ``(B) Exclusion for jumbo mortgages.--Subparagraph 
                (A) shall not apply to any consumer credit transaction 
                secured by a consumer's principal dwelling the 
                principal amount (as defined in subsection (c)(2)) of 
                which exceeds the maximum dollar amount limitation (for 
                a residence of the applicable size) on the amount of 
                the principal obligation of a mortgage for a 1- to 4-
                family residence that may be purchased by the Federal 
                Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as then in effect 
                pursuant to section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan 
                Mortgage Corporation Act.
    ``(c) Limitation on Financed Points, Charges, and Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--No creditor or mortgage broker may, in 
        connection with any consumer credit transaction secured by the 
        consumer's principal dwelling, include in the principal amount 
        of such transaction any portion of any qualified finance charge 
        in excess of the amount which is equal to 5 percent of the 
        principal amount of the transaction.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                    ``(A) Qualified finance charge.--The term 
                `qualified finance charge' means the sum of--
                            ``(i) the finance charge as determined 
                        under section 106, minus any interest and time 
                        price differential; and
                            ``(ii) all compensation paid to a mortgage 
                        broker from any source in connection with this 
                        transaction.
                    ``(B) Principal amount.--The term `principal 
                amount' means--
                            ``(i) in the case of any consumer credit 
                        transaction under an open end credit plan 
                        secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, 
                        the maximum amount of credit that may be 
                        extended under the terms of such plan as 
                        determined without taking into account any 
                        amount included in determining the finance 
                        charge under section 106; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of any other consumer 
                        credit transaction secured by a consumer's 
                        principal dwelling, the amount financed (as 
                        defined in section 138(a)(2)).
            ``(3) Prohibition on excessive finance charges.--No 
        creditor or mortgage broker may, in connection with any 
        consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal 
        dwelling, impose or receive any amount included in determining 
        the qualified finance charge for such transaction that exceeds 
        the amount which is equal to 5 percent of the principal amount 
        of the transaction.
            ``(4) Exception.--This subsection shall not apply to any 
        consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal 
        dwelling that is ensured or guaranteed by the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs, or the Farmers Home Administration.
    ``(d) Mortgage Broker Duties of Agency.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any mortgage broker acting to obtain or 
        arrange for any consumer credit transaction secured by the 
        consumer's principal dwelling shall be considered to have an 
        agency relationship with the consumer in all cases by operation 
        of law and shall comply with the following duties:
                    ``(A) Mortgage brokers shall act in the consumer's 
                best interest and in the utmost good faith toward each 
                consumer and shall not compromise a consumer's right or 
                interest in favor of another's right or interest, 
                including a right or interest of the mortgage broker.
                    ``(B) A mortgage broker shall not accept, give, or 
                charge any undisclosed compensation or realize any 
                undisclosed remuneration, either through direct or 
                indirect means, that inures to the benefit of the 
                mortgage broker on an expenditure made for the 
                consumer.
                    ``(C) Mortgage brokers shall carry out all lawful 
                instructions given by the consumer.
                    ``(D) Mortgage brokers shall disclose to consumers 
                all material facts of which the mortgage broker has 
                knowledge which might reasonably affect the consumer's 
                rights, interests, or ability to receive the consumer's 
                intended benefit from the consumer credit transaction, 
                but not facts which are reasonably susceptible to the 
                knowledge of the consumer.
                    ``(E) Mortgage brokers shall use reasonable care in 
                performing duties.
                    ``(F) Mortgage brokers shall account to a consumer 
                for all the consumer's money and property received as 
                agent.
            ``(2) Scope.--The duty of agency between mortgage broker 
        and consumer applies when the mortgage broker is acting in the 
        capacity of mortgage broker providing mortgage brokerage 
        services with respect to any consumer credit transaction 
        secured by the consumer's principal dwelling for which the 
        broker is not the creditor.
            ``(3) Rules of construction.--
                    ``(A) Fees for services rendered.--No provision of 
                this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting a 
                mortgage broker from contracting for or collecting a 
                fee for services rendered which had been disclosed to 
                the consumer in advance of the provision of such 
                services.
                    ``(B) Duty of broker.--No provision of this 
                subsection shall be construed as requiring a mortgage 
                broker--
                            ``(i) to obtain or arrange for any consumer 
                        credit transaction secured by the consumer's 
                        principal dwelling on behalf of a consumer that 
                        contains terms or conditions not available to 
                        the mortgage broker in the mortgage broker's 
                        usual course of business; or
                            ``(ii) to obtain or arrange for any 
                        consumer credit transaction secured by the 
                        consumer's principal dwelling from a creditor 
                        with whom the mortgage broker does not have a 
                        business relationship.
    ``(e) Independent Verification of Consumer Counseling Before 
Refinancing Special Mortgages.--
            ``(1) In general.--No creditor or mortgage broker may make, 
        provide, or arrange for any consumer credit transaction secured 
        by the consumer's principal dwelling all or a portion of the 
        proceeds of which are used to fully or partially pay off a 
        special mortgage unless the borrower has obtained a written 
        certification from an authorized independent loan counselor 
        that the borrower has received counseling on the advisability 
        of the transaction.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                    ``(A) Special mortgage.--The term `special 
                mortgage' means any consumer credit transaction secured 
                by the consumer's principal dwelling that was 
                originated, subsidized, funded, or guaranteed by or 
                through a State, tribal, or local government, or 
                nonprofit organization, that bears 1 or more of the 
                following nonstandard payment terms which substantially 
                benefit the consumer:
                            ``(i) Payments vary with income.
                            ``(ii) Payments of principal or interest 
                        are not required or can be deferred under 
                        specified conditions.
                            ``(iii) Principal or interest is forgivable 
                        under specified conditions.
                            ``(iv) Either no interest or an annual 
                        interest rate of 2 percent or less is charged 
                        in connection with the loan.
                    ``(B) Authorized loan counselor.--The term 
                `authorized independent loan counselor' means any 
                nonprofit, third-party individual or organization 
                providing homebuyer education programs, foreclosure 
                prevention services, mortgage loan counseling, or 
                credit counseling that is certified by the Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development, or certified by any 
                State housing agency or nonprofit organization 
                designated by such Secretary, for such purposes.
    ``(f) Minimum Financial Requirements for Mortgage Brokers.--No 
mortgage broker may obtain or arrange for any consumer credit 
transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling unless at all 
times the mortgage broker--
            ``(1) maintains a minimum net worth, net of intangibles, of 
        at least $500,000, as determined in accordance with generally 
        accepted accounting principles; or
            ``(2) maintains a surety bond or irrevocable letter of 
        credit in the amount of $50,000.
    ``(g) Enforcement.--For purposes of providing a cause of action for 
any failure by a mortgage broker to comply with any requirement imposed 
under this section, section 130(a) shall be applied with respect to any 
such failure--
            ``(1) by substituting `mortgage broker' for `creditor' each 
        place such term appears in such section; and
            ``(2) by treating all qualified finance charges (as defined 
        in subsection (c)(2)(A)) incurred in the origination of any 
        consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal 
        dwelling as actual damages sustained by the consumer as a 
        result of the failure.
    ``(h) Exclusion of Reverse Mortgages.--This section shall not apply 
with respect to any consumer mortgage transaction that constitutes a 
reverse mortgage.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Truth in Lending Act 
is amended--
            (1) in section 103 (u) (15 U.S.C. 1602(u)), by striking 
        ``and the disclosures required by section 129(a)'' and 
        inserting ``and the provisions of section 129 and 129A''; and
            (2) in section 130 (15 U.S.C. 1640), by inserting ``or 
        129A'' after section 129 each place such term appears.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 2 of the 
Truth in Lending Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 129 the following new item:

``129A. Originations of consumer credit transactions secured by the 
                            consumer's principal dwelling.''.

Ex Output:
Fairness for Homeowners Act of 2007 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit any creditor or mortgage broker from making, providing, or arranging for any consumer credit transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling without verifying the consumer's reasonable ability to make the scheduled payments of principal, interest (including variable interest), real estate taxes, homeowner's insurance, assessments, and mortgage insurance premiums.

Prescribes criteria for determining the reasonable ability to make such payments.

Prohibits steering (arranging for a lower investment grade credit transaction if the consumer qualifies for a higher investment grade transaction) and prepayment penalties for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) that are not jumbo mortgages.

Limits financed points, finance charges, and fees to 5% of a transaction's principal, unless the transaction is ensured or guaranteed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Farmers Home Administration.

Specifies duties of agency for mortgage brokers acting to obtain or arrange for any consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling.

Requires creditors and mortgage brokers to obtain independent verification that a borrower seeking to refinance a special mortgage has received counseling on the transaction's advisability. Defines "special mortgage" as one that: (1) was originated, subsidized, funded, or guaranteed by or through a state, tribal, or local government, or nonprofit organization; and (2) bears one or more specified nonstandard payment terms which substantially benefit the consumer.

Prescribes minimum financial requirements for mortgage brokers.

Excludes reverse mortgages from coverage by this Act.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Dr. Chris 
Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                      TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Stays; probationary employees.
Sec. 103. Prohibited personnel practices.
Sec. 104. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against 
          whistleblowers.
Sec. 105. Suicide by employees.
Sec. 106. Training for supervisors.
Sec. 107. Information on whistleblower protections.

           TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES

Sec. 201. Prevention of unauthorized access to medical records of 
          employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Outreach on availability of mental health services available 
          to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 203. Protocols to address threats against employees of the 
          Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 204. Comptroller General of the United States study on 
          accountability of chiefs of police of Department of Veterans 
          Affairs medical centers.

                      TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY

    SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
    In this title--
        (1) the term ``agency''--
            (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an entity 
        that is an agency, as defined under section 2302 of title 5, 
        United States Code, without regard to whether one or more 
        portions of title 5 of the United States Code are inapplicable 
        to the entity; and
            (B) does not include any entity that is an element of the 
        intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the 
        National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));
        (2) the term ``employee'' means an employee (as defined in 
    section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) of an agency; and
        (3) the term ``personnel action'' has the meaning given that 
    term under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code.
    SEC. 102. STAYS; PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES.
    (a) Request by Special Counsel.--Section 1214(b)(1) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(E) If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay under 
this subsection, the head of the agency employing the employee shall 
give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by the employee.''.
    (b) Probationary Employees.--Section 1221 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay to an 
employee in probationary status under subsection (c), the head of the 
agency employing the employee shall give priority to a request for a 
transfer submitted by the employee.''.
    (c) Study Regarding Retaliation Against Probationary Employees.--
The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 
and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives a report discussing retaliation against employees in 
probationary status.
    SEC. 103. PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICES.
    Section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``or'' at the end;
        (2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; or''; and
        (3) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
        ``(14) access the medical record of another employee or an 
    applicant for employment as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance 
    of, any conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (13).''.
    SEC. 104. DISCIPLINE OF SUPERVISORS BASED ON RETALIATION AGAINST 
      WHISTLEBLOWERS.
    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 7515. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against 
    whistleblowers
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `agency'--
            ``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an 
        entity that is an agency, as defined under section 2302, 
        without regard to whether any other provision of this chapter 
        is applicable to the entity; and
            ``(B) does not include any entity that is an element of the 
        intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the 
        National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));
        ``(2) the term `prohibited personnel action' means taking or 
    failing to take an action in violation of paragraph (8), (9), or 
    (14) of section 2302(b) against an employee of an agency; and
        ``(3) the term `supervisor' means an employee who would be a 
    supervisor, as defined under section 7103(a), if the entity 
    employing the employee was an agency.
    ``(b) Proposed Disciplinary Actions.--
        ``(1) In general.--If the head of the agency employing a 
    supervisor, an administrative law judge, the Merit Systems 
    Protection Board, the Special Counsel, a judge of the United 
    States, or the Inspector General of the agency employing a 
    supervisor determines that the supervisor has committed a 
    prohibited personnel action, the head of the agency employing the 
    supervisor, in accordance with the procedures required under 
    paragraph (2)--
            ``(A) for the first prohibited personnel action committed 
        by a supervisor--
                ``(i) shall propose suspending the supervisor for a 
            period of not less than 3 days; and
                ``(ii) may, in addition to a suspension described in 
            clause (i), propose any other action, including a reduction 
            in grade or pay, that the head of the agency determines 
            appropriate; and
            ``(B) for the second prohibited personnel action committed 
        by a supervisor, shall propose removing the supervisor.
        ``(2) Procedures.--
            ``(A) Notice.--A supervisor against whom an action is 
        proposed to be taken under paragraph (1) is entitled to written 
        notice--
                ``(i) stating the specific reasons for the proposed 
            action; and
                ``(ii) informing the supervisor of the right of the 
            supervisor to review the material which is relied on to 
            support the reasons for the proposed action.
            ``(B) Answer and evidence.--
                ``(i) In general.--A supervisor who is notified under 
            subparagraph (A) that the supervisor is the subject of a 
            proposed action under paragraph (1) is entitled to 14 days 
            following such notification to answer and furnish evidence 
            in support of the answer.
                ``(ii) No evidence furnished; insufficient evidence.--
            After the end of the 14-day period described in clause (i), 
            if a supervisor does not furnish evidence as described in 
            clause (i) or if the head of the agency determines that 
            such evidence is not sufficient to reverse the proposed 
            action, the head of the agency shall carry out the action.
            ``(C) Scope of procedures.--An action carried out under 
        this section--
                ``(i) except as provided in clause (ii), shall be 
            subject to the same requirements and procedures (including 
            regarding appeals) as an action under section 7503, 7513, 
            or 7543; and
                ``(ii) shall not be subject to--

                    ``(I) paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 7503(b);
                    ``(II) paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and 
                subsection (c) of section 7513; or
                    ``(III) paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) 
                and subsection (c) of section 7543.

        ``(3) Delegation.--
            ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (B), the 
        head of an agency may delegate any authority or responsibility 
        under this subsection.
            ``(B) Nondelegability of determination regarding prohibited 
        personnel action.--If the head of an agency is responsible for 
        determining whether a supervisor has committed a prohibited 
        personnel action for purposes of paragraph (1), the head of the 
        agency may not delegate that responsibility.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``7515. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against 
          whistleblowers.''.
    SEC. 105. SUICIDE BY EMPLOYEES.
    (a) Referral.--The head of an agency shall refer to the Special 
Counsel, along with any information known to the agency regarding the 
circumstances described in paragraphs (2) and (3), any instance in 
which the head of the agency has information indicating--
        (1) an employee of the agency committed suicide;
        (2) prior to the death of the employee, the employee made any 
    disclosure of information which reasonably evidences--
            (A) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or
            (B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse 
        of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public 
        health or safety; and
        (3) after a disclosure described in paragraph (2), a personnel 
    action was taken against the employee.
    (b) Office of Special Counsel Review.--For any referral to the 
Special Counsel under subsection (a), the Special Counsel shall--
        (1) examine whether any personnel action was taken because of 
    any disclosure of information described in subsection (a)(2); and
        (2) take any action the Special Counsel determines appropriate 
    under subchapter II of chapter 12 of title 5, United States Code.
    SEC. 106. TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS.
    In consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General 
of the agency (or senior ethics official of the agency for an agency 
without an Inspector General), the head of each agency shall provide 
training regarding how to respond to complaints alleging a violation of 
whistleblower protections (as defined in section 2307 of title 5, 
United States Code, as added by section 107) available to employees of 
the agency--
        (1) to employees appointed to supervisory positions in the 
    agency who have not previously served as a supervisor; and
        (2) on an annual basis, to all employees of the agency serving 
    in a supervisory position.
    SEC. 107. INFORMATION ON WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
    (a) Existing Provision.--
        (1) In general.--Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, 
    is amended--
            (A) by striking subsection (c); and
            (B) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as 
        subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.
        (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--
            (A) Section 4505a(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``section 2302(d)'' and inserting ``section 
        2302(c)''.
            (B) Section 5755(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking ``section 2302(d)'' and inserting ``section 
        2302(c)''.
            (C) Section 110(b)(2) of the Whistleblower Protection 
        Enhancement Act of 2012 (5 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended by 
        striking ``section 2302(f)(1) or (2)'' and inserting ``section 
        2302(e)(1) or (2)''.
            (D) Section 1217(d)(3) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 
        U.S.C. 3657(d)(3)) is amended by striking ``section 2302(d)'' 
        and inserting ``section 2302(c)''.
            (E) Section 1233(b) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 
        U.S.C. 3673(b)) is amended by striking ``section 2302(d)'' and 
        inserting ``section 2302(c)''.
    (b) Provision of Information.--Chapter 23 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 2307. Information on whistleblower protections
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `agency'--
            ``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), has the 
        meaning given that term in section 2302; and
            ``(B) does not include any entity that is an element of the 
        intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the 
        National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));
        ``(2) the term `new employee' means an individual--
            ``(A) appointed to a position as an employee of an agency 
        on or after the date of enactment of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick 
        Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017; and
            ``(B) who has not previously served as an employee; and
        ``(3) the term `whistleblower protections' means the 
    protections against and remedies for a prohibited personnel 
    practice described in paragraph (8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), 
    or (D) of paragraph (9), or paragraph (14) of section 2302(b).
    ``(b) Responsibilities of Head of Agency.--The head of each agency 
shall be responsible for the prevention of prohibited personnel 
practices, for the compliance with and enforcement of applicable civil 
service laws, rules, and regulations, and other aspects of personnel 
management, and for ensuring (in consultation with the Special Counsel 
and the Inspector General of the agency) that employees of the agency 
are informed of the rights and remedies available to them under this 
chapter and chapter 12, including--
        ``(1) information regarding whistleblower protections available 
    to new employees during the probationary period;
        ``(2) the role of the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit 
    Systems Protection Board with regard to whistleblower protections; 
    and
        ``(3) how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is 
    specifically required by law or Executive order to be kept 
    classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of 
    foreign affairs to the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an 
    agency, Congress, or other agency employee designated to receive 
    such disclosures.
    ``(c) Timing.--The head of each agency shall ensure that the 
information required to be provided under subsection (b) is provided to 
each new employee of the agency not later than 6 months after the date 
the new employee begins performing service as an employee.
    ``(d) Information Online.--The head of each agency shall make 
available information regarding whistleblower protections applicable to 
employees of the agency on the public website of the agency, and on any 
online portal that is made available only to employees of the agency if 
one exists.
    ``(e) Delegees.--Any employee to whom the head of an agency 
delegates authority for personnel management, or for any aspect 
thereof, shall, within the limits of the scope of the delegation, be 
responsible for the activities described in subsection (b).''.
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``2307. Information on whistleblower protections.''.

           TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES

    SEC. 201. PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS OF 
      EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    (a) Development of Plan.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (A) develop a plan to prevent access to the medical records 
        of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs by employees 
        of the Department who are not authorized to access such 
        records;
            (B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the 
        plan developed under subparagraph (A); and
            (C) upon request, provide a briefing to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress with respect to the plan developed under 
        subparagraph (A).
        (2) Elements.--The plan required under paragraph (1) shall 
    include the following:
            (A) A detailed assessment of strategic goals of the 
        Department for the prevention of unauthorized access to the 
        medical records of employees of the Department.
            (B) A list of circumstances in which an employee of the 
        Department who is not a health care provider or an assistant to 
        a health care provider would be authorized to access the 
        medical records of another employee of the Department.
            (C) Steps that the Secretary will take to acquire new or 
        implement existing technology to prevent an employee of the 
        Department from accessing the medical records of another 
        employee of the Department without a specific need to access 
        such records.
            (D) Steps the Secretary will take, including plans to issue 
        new regulations, as necessary, to ensure that an employee of 
        the Department may not access the medical records of another 
        employee of the Department for the purpose of retrieving 
        demographic information if that demographic information is 
        available to the employee in another location or through 
        another format.
            (E) A proposed timetable for the implementation of such 
        plan.
            (F) An estimate of the costs associated with implementing 
        such plan.
    (b) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
        (1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
    and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
        (2) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the 
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
    SEC. 202. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
      AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a program of 
outreach to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to inform 
those employees of any mental health services, including telemedicine 
options, that are available to them.
    SEC. 203. PROTOCOLS TO ADDRESS THREATS AGAINST EMPLOYEES OF THE 
      DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure protocols are in 
effect to address threats from individuals receiving health care from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs directed towards employees of the 
Department who are providing such health care.
    SEC. 204. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY ON 
      ACCOUNTABILITY OF CHIEFS OF POLICE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
      AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS.
    The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study 
to assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command 
structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs police officers at 
medical centers of the Department.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.

Ex Output:
 (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 4, 2017 .  Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY (Sec. 102) This bill directs federal agencies (excluding any entity that is an element of the intelligence community) to give priority to an employee transfer request if the Merit Systems Protections Board (MSPB) grants a stay of a personnel action at the request of: (1) the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if the OSC determines the personnel action was taken, or is to be taken, as a result of a prohibited personnel practice; or (2) the employee if the individual is in probationary status and seeks corrective action. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall report to Congress on retaliation against employees in probationary status. (Sec. 103) The bill: (1) prohibits any employee who has the authority to take a personnel action to access the medical records of another employee or applicant for employment, (2) authorizes disciplinary action against supervisors for retaliation against whistleblowers.  (Sec. 105) Agencies must: (1) refer information about employee suicides to the OSC, (2) train supervisors on responding to complaints alleging whistleblower protections violations, (3) provide information regarding whistleblower protections to new employees during probationary periods, (4) inform employees of the role of the OSC and the MSPB with regard to whistleblower protection, and (5) make information about such protections available on agency websites.  TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES (Sec. 201) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must: (1) submit a plan to prevent unauthorized access to the medical records of VA employees; (2) conduct an outreach program to inform its employees of available mental health services, including telemedicine options; and (3) ensure protocols are in effect to address threats against VA employees providing health care.  (Sec. 204) The GAO shall assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command structure of the VA police officers at VA medical centers.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement Act 
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING VIOLATIONS AS PREDICATE OFFENSES UNDER 
              RACKETEERING AND MONEY LAUNDERING STATUTES.

    (a) Travel Act.--Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``or (3)'' and inserting ``(3)''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``of this title and (ii)'' and 
                inserting the following: ``of this title, or (4) any 
                act that is a criminal violation of section 9(a)(1) of 
                the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
                1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African Elephant 
                Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 7(a) of 
                the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 
                U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or threatened 
                species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or 
                substances involved in the violation and relevant 
                conduct, as applicable, have a total value of more than 
                $10,000 and (ii)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Use of Amounts From Fines, Forfeitures, and Restitution 
Relating to Wildlife Trafficking Violations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
        transfer to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
        Commerce, for use in accordance with paragraph (2), the amounts 
        received as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or 
        restitution to the Federal Government for any violation under 
        this section that is based on an unlawful activity described in 
        subsection (b)(i)(4).
            ``(2) Funds.--Of the amounts transferred under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
        Commerce shall use such amounts as each Secretary determines 
        necessary for the benefit of the species impacted by the 
        applicable violation, to the extent practicable, by depositing 
        the amounts into any fund that is created or authorized under 
        Federal law for conservation purposes.''.
    (b) Money Laundering.--Section 1956 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(7)--
                    (A) in subsection (E), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subsection (F), by adding ``or'' at the end; 
                and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) any act that is a criminal violation of 
                section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
                (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the African 
                Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or section 
                7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 
                1994 (16 U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or 
                threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, 
                items, or substances involved in the violation and 
                relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of 
                more than $10,000;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Use of Amounts From Civil Penalties, Fines, Forfeitures, and 
Restitution Relating to Wildlife Trafficking Violations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
        transfer to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
        Commerce, for use in accordance with paragraph (2), the amounts 
        received as civil penalties, fines, forfeitures of property or 
        assets, or restitution to the Federal Government for any 
        violation under this section that is based on specified 
        unlawful activity described in subsection (c)(7)(G).
            ``(2) Funds.--Of the amounts transferred under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
        Commerce shall use such amounts as each Secretary determines 
        necessary for the benefit of the species impacted by the 
        applicable violation, to the extent practicable, by depositing 
        the amounts into any fund that is created or authorized under 
        Federal law for conservation purposes.''.
    (c) RICO.--Chapter 96 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 1961(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``or (G)'' and inserting ``(G)''; 
                and
                    (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end 
                the following: ``, or (H) any act that is a criminal 
                violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species 
                Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)), section 2203 of the 
                African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4223), or 
                section 7(a) of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation 
                Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5305a(a)), if the endangered or 
                threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, 
                items, or substances involved in the violation and 
                relevant conduct, as applicable, have a total value of 
                more than $10,000''; and
            (2) in section 1963, by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Use of Amounts From Fines, Forfeitures, and Restitution 
Relating to Wildlife Trafficking Violations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
        transfer to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
        Commerce, for use in accordance with paragraph (2), the amounts 
        received as fines, forfeitures of property or assets, or 
        restitution to the Federal Government for any violation of 
        section 1962 that is based on racketeering activity described 
        in section 1961(1)(H).
            ``(2) Funds.--Of the amounts transferred under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
        Commerce shall use such amounts as each Secretary determines 
        necessary for the benefit of the species impacted by the 
        applicable violation, to the extent practicable, by depositing 
        the amounts into any fund that is created or authorized under 
        Federal law for conservation purposes.''.
    (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Use of amounts from fines.--Section 1402(b)(1)(A) of 
        the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(b)(1)(A)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) sections 1952(e), 1956(j), and 
                        1963(n) of title 18, United States Code; and''.
            (2) Use of amounts from forfeitures.--Section 524(c)(4)(A) 
        of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting before 
        ``or the Postmaster General'' the following: ``the Secretary of 
        the Treasury pursuant to section 1952(e), 1956(j), or 1963(n) 
        of title 18,''.

Ex Output:

Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement Act of 2015 This bill applies provisions of the federal criminal code concerning money laundering and racketeering to wildlife trafficking violations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the African Elephant Conservation Act, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, if the endangered or threatened species of fish or wildlife, products, items, or substances involved in the violation and relevant conduct have a total value of more than $10,000. Violators would be subject to increased fines and years of imprisonment. The amounts generated from penalties for those wildlife violations must be used for the benefit and conservation of impacted species.