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

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Readjustment Counseling Service 
Amendments of 1995''.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE IN THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph (7):
            ``(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.''.
    (b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service shall have 
the organizational structure and administrative structure of that 
service as such structures were in existence on January 1, 1993.
    (c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise the organizational structure 
or the administrative structure of the Readjustment Counseling Service 
until--
            (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
        report containing a full and complete statement of the proposed 
        alteration or revision; and
            (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which 
        the report is received by the committees.
    (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph (1)(B), 
there shall be excluded any day on which either House of Congress is 
not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 calendar days 
to a day certain.
    (d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each budget 
submitted to Congress by the President under section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code, shall set forth the amount requested in the budget 
for the operation of the Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal 
year covered by the budget and shall set forth separately the amount 
requested for administrative oversight of the activities of the service 
(including the amount requested for funding of the Advisory Committee 
on Readjustment of Veterans).

SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

    (a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
            (2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) 
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified 
        psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a 
        diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology 
        from an authority approved by the American Psychological 
        Association and has successfully undergone an internship 
        approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of a 
        master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse 
        holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric 
        nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by 
        the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical 
        experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the 
        Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental 
        health care counseling service (as determined by the 
        Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment 
        Counseling Service.''.
    (b) Status of Director.--Section 7306(a)(3) of such title is 
amended by striking out ``eight'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
``nine''.
    (c) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the Readjustment 
Counseling Service shall report to the Under Secretary for Health of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Associate Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health for Clinical Programs.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND 
              CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.

    (a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1712A 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in 
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall furnish 
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to 
civilian life.
    ``(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph 
is any veteran who--
            ``(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or
            ``(ii) served on active military, naval, or air service in 
        a theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period 
        of war or in any other area during a period in which 
        hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph) 
        occurred in such area.
    ``(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a veteran referred 
to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may furnish 
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to 
civilian life.
    ``(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
term `hostilities' means an armed conflict in which the members of the 
Armed Forces are subjected to danger comparable to the danger to which 
members of the Armed Forces have been subjected in combat with enemy 
armed forces during a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
    ``(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall include a 
general mental and psychological assessment of a covered veteran to 
ascertain whether such veteran has mental or psychological problems 
associated with readjustment to civilian life.''.
    (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.
    (b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
    ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling services 
described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the surviving 
parents, spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who is 
killed during service on active military, naval, or air service in a 
theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or 
in any other area during a period in which hostilities (as defined in 
subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in such area.
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services referred to 
in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents, spouse, and children of any 
member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or 
from a condition (as determined by the Secretary) incurred in or 
aggravated by such service.''.
    (c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--Subsection (e) 
of such section is amended by striking out ``subsections (a) and (b)'' 
each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a), 
(b), and (c)''.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the 
following:
``Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans
    ``(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee on the 
Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
`Committee').
    ``(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 members 
appointed by the Secretary from among veterans who--
            ``(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional 
        achievement; and
            ``(B) have experience with the provision of veterans 
        benefits and services by the Department.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members appointed to 
the Committee include persons from a wide variety of geographic areas 
and ethnic backgrounds, persons from veterans service organizations, 
and women.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay 
and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of 
service may not exceed 2 years. The Secretary may reappoint any member 
for additional terms of service.
    ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and 
seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the 
Department of benefits and services to veterans in order to assist 
veterans in the readjustment to civilian life.
    ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this 
subsection, the Committee shall--
            ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs 
        of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
            ``(ii) provide information relating to the nature and 
        character of psychological problems arising from service in the 
        Armed Forces;
            ``(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness 
        of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the 
        Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to civilian 
        life; and
            ``(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate 
        means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in 
        the future.
    ``(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the 
Committee shall take into special account veterans of the Vietnam era, 
and the readjustment needs of such veterans.
    ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall 
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the 
Department that relate to the readjustment of veterans to civilian 
life. Each such report shall include--
            ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect 
        to readjustment to civilian life;
            ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the 
        Department designed to meet such needs; and
            ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for 
        administrative and legislative action) as the Committee 
        considers appropriate.
    ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of 
the report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning 
the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other 
reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted 
to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all 
reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary 
since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to 
that section.
    ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the 
activities of the Committee under this section.
    ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such 
title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712B 
the following:

``1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.''.
    (b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) of 
section 1712C of such title (as added by subsection (a)), the members 
of the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War 
Veterans on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the original 
members of the advisory committee recognized under such section.
    (2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under such subsection (a)(2). 
The Secretary shall carry out such appointments as soon after such date 
as is practicable. The Secretary may make such appointments from among 
such original members.

SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER PILOT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran 
Resource Center program established pursuant to the amendment made by 
section 105 of the Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 
1985 (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a 
schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of, the implementation of 
the program at or through all Department of Veterans Affairs 
readjustment counseling centers.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Department of Veterans 
Affairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the same meaning given 
the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

    (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the feasibility and desirability of the 
collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics (including rural 
mobile clinics) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as current leases 
for such centers and clinics expire.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Covered Matters.--The report under this section shall include 
an assessment of the following:
            (1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers and 
        outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary before the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, including the effects of such 
        collocation on the quality of care provided at such centers and 
        clinics.
            (2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity of such 
        centers to carry out their primary mission.
            (3) The extent to which such collocation will impair the 
        operational independence or administrative integrity of such 
        centers.
            (4) The feasibility of combining the services provided by 
        such centers and clinics in the course of the collocation of 
        such centers and clinics.
            (5) The advisability of the collocation of centers and 
        clinics of significantly different size.
            (6) The effect of the locations (including urban and rural 
        locations) of the centers and clinics on the feasibility and 
        desirability of such collocation.
            (7) The amount of any costs savings to be achieved by 
        Department as a result of such collocation.
            (8) The desirability of such collocation in light of plans 
        for the provision of health care services by the Department 
        under national health care reform.
            (9) Any other matters that the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.

SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 
a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to 
eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers. The Secretary 
shall carry out the pilot program in accordance with this section.
    (b) Services.--(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall provide the services referred to in paragraph (2) at not less 
than 10 readjustment counseling centers in existence on the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory services and 
health care screening services by such personnel as the Secretary 
considers appropriate at each readjustment counseling center under the 
pilot program. The Secretary shall assign not less than one-half of a 
full-time employee equivalent at each such center in order to provide 
such services under the pilot program.
    (3) In determining the location of the readjustment counseling 
centers at which to provide services under the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall select centers that are located in a variety of 
geographic areas and that serve veterans of a variety of economic, 
social, and ethnic backgrounds.
    (c) Period of Operation.--(1) The Secretary shall commence the 
provision of health-related services at readjustment counseling centers 
under the pilot program not later than 4 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after the date on 
which the Secretary commences the provision of services under paragraph 
(1).
    (d) Report.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the pilot program established under this section. The report shall 
include the following:
            (A) A description of the program, including information 
        on--
                    (i) the number of veterans provided basic 
                ambulatory services and health care screening services 
                under the pilot program;
                    (ii) the number of such veterans referred to 
                Department of Veterans Affairs general health-care 
                facilities in order to provide such services to such 
                veterans; and
                    (iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs of the pilot program.
            (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services 
        provided to veterans under the pilot program.
            (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of 
        improving the pilot program, and an estimate of the cost to the 
        Department of implementing such recommendations.
            (D) An assessment of the desirability of expanding the type 
        or nature of services provided under the pilot program in light 
        of plans for the provision of health care services by the 
        Department under national health care reform.
            (E) An assessment of the extent to which the provision of 
        services under the pilot program impairs the operational or 
        administrative independence of the readjustment counseling 
        centers at which such services are provided.
            (F) An assessment of the effect of the location of the 
        centers on the effectiveness for the Department and for 
        veterans of the services provided under the pilot program.
            (G) Such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            (1) The term ``Department of Veterans Affairs general 
        health-care facility'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means any veteran 
        eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or 
        (3) of section 1712(a) of such title.
            (3) The term ``readjustment counseling center'' has the 
        same meaning given the term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) 
        of such title.
                                 
S 403 IS----2
[EX A]: Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1995 - Includes a Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) as part of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from altering or revising the organizational structure of RCS until the Secretary has notified specified congressional committees and 60 days have elapsed since such notification.  Requires RCS budget information to be included annually in the President's budget submitted to the Congress. 
Outlines eligibility requirements for one of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health in the Department, including at least three years of clinical experience and two years of administrative experience in RCS or other comparable mental health care counseling service.  Makes such a qualified person the director of RCS. 
Increases from eight to nine the authorized number of Assistant Under Secretaries for Health. 
Directs the Secretary to furnish readjustment counseling to any veteran who:  (1) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or (2) served on active duty in a theater of combat during a period of war (currently, only after May 7, 1975) in any area in which hostilities occurred.  Authorizes the Secretary to furnish such assistance to any other veteran upon request.   Directs the Secretary to provide counseling to survivors and dependents of members of the armed forces killed while performing such duty.  Allows the Secretary to provide such counseling to the survivors and dependents of other members killed during active duty or from a condition incurred in or aggravated by such service. 
Establishes in the Department the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans to perform advisory services with respect to veterans' readjustment, taking into special account Vietnam era veterans.  Requires specified reports from the Advisory Committee and the Secretary. 
Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans' affairs committees: (1) a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program; and (2) on the feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics of the Department as current leases for such centers and clinics expire. 
Directs the Secretary to carry out and report to the Congress on a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mercury Pollution Reduction Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) mercury and mercury compounds are highly toxic to 
        humans, ecosystems, and wildlife;
            (2) as many as 10 percent of women in the United States of 
        childbearing age have mercury in their bloodstreams at a level 
        that could pose risks to their unborn babies, and hundreds of 
        thousands of children born annually in the United States are at 
        risk of neurological problems relating to mercury exposure in 
        utero;
            (3) the most significant source of mercury exposure to 
        people in the United States is ingestion of mercury-
        contaminated fish;
            (4) the long-term solution to mercury pollution is to 
        minimize global mercury use and releases of mercury to 
        eventually achieve reduced contamination levels in the 
        environment, rather than reducing fish consumption, since 
        uncontaminated fish represents a critical and healthy source of 
        nutrition for people worldwide;
            (5) mercury pollution is a transboundary pollutant that--
                    (A) is deposited locally, regionally, and globally; 
                and
                    (B) affects bodies of water near industrial areas, 
                such as the Great Lakes, as well as bodies of water in 
                remote areas, such as the Arctic Circle;
            (6) of the approximately 30 plants in the United States 
        that produce chlorine, only 7 use the obsolete ``mercury cell'' 
        chlor-alkali process, and 4 have not yet committed to phasing 
        out mercury use;
            (7)(A) less than 5 percent of the total quantity of 
        chlorine and caustic soda produced in the United States comes 
        from the chlor-alkali plants described in paragraph (6) that 
        use the mercury cell chlor-alkali process;
            (B) cost-effective alternatives are available and in use in 
        the remaining 95 percent of chlorine and caustic soda 
        production; and
            (C) other countries, including Japan, have already banned 
        the mercury cell chlor-alkali process;
            (8) the chlor-alkali industry acknowledges that--
                    (A) mercury can contaminate products manufactured 
                at mercury cell facilities; and
                    (B) the use of some of those products results in 
                the direct and indirect release of mercury;
            (9) despite those quantities of mercury known to have been 
        used or to be in use, neither the chlor-alkali industry nor the 
        Environmental Protection Agency is able--
                    (A) to adequately account for the disposition of 
                the mercury used at those facilities; or
                    (B) to accurately estimate current mercury 
                emissions; and
            (10) it is critically important that the United States work 
        aggressively toward the minimization of supply, demand, and 
        releases of mercury, both domestically and internationally.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    Congress declares that the United States should develop policies 
and programs that will--
            (1) reduce mercury use and emissions within the United 
        States;
            (2) reduce mercury releases from the reservoir of mercury 
        currently in use or circulation within the United States; and
            (3) reduce exposures to mercury, particularly exposures of 
        women of childbearing age and young children.

SEC. 4. USE OF MERCURY IN CHLORINE AND CAUSTIC SODA MANUFACTURING.

    (a) In General.--Title I of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 
U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 6 the 
following:

``SEC. 6A. USE OF MERCURY IN CHLORINE AND CAUSTIC SODA MANUFACTURING.

    ``(a) Definition of Chlor-alkali Facility.--In this section, the 
term `chlor-alkali facility' means a facility used for the manufacture 
of chlorine or caustic soda using a mercury cell process.
    ``(b) Prohibition.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        subsection, it shall be unlawful to manufacture chlorine or 
        caustic soda using mercury cells at any facility in the United 
        States.
            ``(2) Notice.--The owner or operator of any existing chlor-
        alkali facility shall notify the Administrator no later than 
        June 30, 2012, whether it will--
                    ``(A) replace its chlor-alkali facility with a new 
                manufacturing facility that does not use mercury; or
                    ``(B) cease operations.
            ``(3) Closure.--A chlor-alkali facility for which a closure 
        notice is filed under paragraph (2)(B) shall cease 
        manufacturing chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells no 
        later than June 30, 2013.
            ``(4) Replacement.--A chlor-alkali facility for which a 
        replacement notice is filed under paragraph (2)(A) may continue 
        to manufacture chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells 
        until all of the permitting, financing, engineering, and 
        construction of a non-mercury replacement facility is complete, 
        or June 30, 2015, whichever is earlier.
    ``(c) Export Ban.--Effective on the date of the enactment of this 
section, the export of any elemental mercury or the sale of elemental 
mercury for purposes of export, including compounds and mixtures 
containing elemental mercury, by the owner or operator of a chlor-
alkali facility is prohibited.
    ``(d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects the 
ability of the owner or operator of any chlor-alkali facility to store 
elemental mercury in accordance with section 5(g)(2) of the Mercury 
Export Ban Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 6939f).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) The table of contents of the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 note) is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 6 the following:

``Sec. 6A. Use of mercury in chlorine and caustic soda 
                            manufacturing.''.
    (2) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 15 of such Act are each 
amended by striking ``or 6'' and inserting ``, 6 or 6A''.
[EX A]: Mercury Pollution Reduction Act - Declares that the United States should develop policies and programs that will reduce: (1) mercury use and emissions; (2) mercury releases from the reservoir of mercury currently in use or circulation; and (3) exposures to mercury, particularly of women of childbearing age and young children.

Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit: (1) the manufacture of chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells at any facility in the United States; and (2) the export of any elemental mercury or the sale of elemental mercury for purposes of export, including compounds and mixtures containing elemental mercury, by the owner or operator of a chlor-alkali facility.

Requires the owner or operator of any existing chlor-alkali facility to notify the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) no later than June 30, 2012, on whether the owner or operator will replace its chlor-alkali facility with a new manufacturing facility that does not use mercury or cease operations. Requires a chlor-alkali facility for which a closure notice is filed to cease manufacturing chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells no later than June 30, 2013. Authorizes a chlor-alkali facility for which a replacement notice is filed to continue to manufacture chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells until all of the permitting, financing, engineering, and construction of a non-mercury replacement facility is complete or June 30, 2015, whichever is earlier.

Provides that this Act does not affect the ability of the owner or operator of any chlor-alkali facility to store elemental mercury in accordance with the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Public Health 
Protections in Major Disasters and Emergencies Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. PROTECTION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS IN A DISASTER 
              AREA.

    Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act is amended by inserting after section 408 (42 U.S.C. 
5174) the following:

``SEC. 409. PROTECTION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS IN DISASTER 
              AREA.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
            ``(1) Individual.--The term `individual' includes--
                    ``(A) a worker or volunteer who responded to 
                Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita or responds to a 
                major disaster or emergency, including--
                            ``(i) a police officer;
                            ``(ii) a firefighter;
                            ``(iii) an emergency medical technician;
                            ``(iv) any participating member of an urban 
                        search and rescue team; and
                            ``(v) any other relief or rescue worker or 
                        volunteer that the President determines to be 
                        appropriate;
                    ``(B) a worker who responds to a disaster by 
                assisting in the cleanup or restoration of critical 
                infrastructure in and around a disaster area;
                    ``(C) a person whose place of residence is in a 
                disaster area;
                    ``(D) a person who is employed in or attends 
                school, child care, or adult day care in a building 
                located in a disaster area; and
                    ``(E) any other person that the President 
                determines to be appropriate.
            ``(2) Medical institution.--The term `medical institution' 
        includes a hospital facility (as such term is defined in 
        section 391 of the Energy Policy Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 
        6371) and an accredited public or nonprofit school of medicine.
            ``(3) Program.--The term `program' means a program 
        described in subsection (b) that is carried out for a disaster 
        area.
            ``(4) Substance of concern.--The term `substance of 
        concern' means a chemical or other substance that is associated 
        with potential acute or chronic human health effects, the risk 
        of exposure to which could potentially be increased as the 
        result of a disaster, as determined by the President.
    ``(b) Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the President determines that 1 or 
        more substances of concern are being, or have been, released in 
        an area declared to be a major disaster area under this Act, 
        the President may carry out a program for the protection, 
        assessment, monitoring, and study of the health and safety of 
        individuals to ensure that--
                    ``(A) the individuals are adequately informed about 
                and protected against potential health impacts of any 
                substance of concern and potential mental health 
                impacts in a timely manner;
                    ``(B) the individuals are monitored and studied 
                over time, including through baseline and follow-up 
                clinical health examinations, for--
                            ``(i) any short- and long-term health 
                        impacts of any substance of concern; and
                            ``(ii) any mental health impacts;
                    ``(C) the individuals receive health care referrals 
                as needed and appropriate; and
                    ``(D) information from any such monitoring and 
                studies is used to prevent or protect against similar 
                health impacts from future disasters.
            ``(2) Activities.--A program under paragraph (1) may 
        include such activities as--
                    ``(A) collecting and analyzing environmental 
                exposure data;
                    ``(B) developing and disseminating information and 
                educational materials;
                    ``(C) performing baseline and follow-up clinical 
                health and mental health examinations and taking 
                biological samples;
                    ``(D) establishing and maintaining an exposure 
                registry;
                    ``(E) studying the short- and long-term human 
                health impacts of any exposures through epidemiological 
                and other health studies; and
                    ``(F) providing assistance to individuals in 
                determining eligibility for health coverage and 
                identifying appropriate health services.
            ``(3) Timing.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
        activities under any program established under paragraph (1) 
        (including baseline health examinations) shall be commenced in 
        a timely manner that will ensure the highest level of public 
        health protection and effective monitoring.
            ``(4) Participation in registries and studies.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Participation in any registry or 
                study that is part of a program under paragraph (1) 
                shall be voluntary.
                    ``(B) Protection of privacy.--The President shall 
                take appropriate measures to protect the privacy of any 
                participant in a registry or study described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(5) Cooperative agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The President may carry out a 
                program under paragraph (1) through a cooperative 
                agreement with a medical institution, including a local 
                health department, or a consortium of medical 
                institutions.
                    ``(B) Selection criteria.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, the President shall select to carry out a 
                program under paragraph (1) a medical institution or a 
                consortium of medical institutions that--
                            ``(i) is located near--
                                    ``(I) the disaster area with 
                                respect to which the program is carried 
                                out; and
                                    ``(II) any other area in which 
                                there reside groups of individuals that 
                                worked or volunteered in response to 
                                the disaster; and
                            ``(ii) has appropriate experience in the 
                        areas of environmental or occupational health, 
                        toxicology, and safety, including experience 
                        in--
                                    ``(I) developing clinical protocols 
                                and conducting clinical health 
                                examinations, including mental health 
                                assessments;
                                    ``(II) conducting long-term health 
                                monitoring and epidemiological studies;
                                    ``(III) conducting long-term mental 
                                health studies; and
                                    ``(IV) establishing and maintaining 
                                medical surveillance programs and 
                                environmental exposure or disease 
                                registries.
            ``(6) Involvement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In establishing and maintaining 
                a program under paragraph (1), the President shall 
                involve interested and affected parties, as 
                appropriate, including representatives of--
                            ``(i) Federal, State, and local government 
                        agencies;
                            ``(ii) groups of individuals that worked or 
                        volunteered in response to the disaster in the 
                        disaster area;
                            ``(iii) local residents, businesses, and 
                        schools (including parents and teachers);
                            ``(iv) health care providers; and
                            ``(v) other organizations and persons.
                    ``(B) Committees.--Involvement under subparagraph 
                (A) may be provided through the establishment of an 
                advisory or oversight committee or board.
            ``(7) Privacy.--The President shall carry out each program 
        under paragraph (1) in accordance with regulations relating to 
        privacy promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health 
        Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 
        11320d-2 note; Public Law 104-191).
    ``(c) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the establishment of a 
program under subsection (b)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, the 
President, or the medical institution or consortium of such 
institutions having entered into a cooperative agreement under 
subsection (b)(5), shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Labor, the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on programs and studies carried out 
under the program.''.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT ON HURRICANE KATRINA AND 
              RITA DISASTER AREA HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
              AND MONITORING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly enter into a contract 
with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and prepare a 
report on disaster area health and environmental protection and 
monitoring.
    (b) Expertise.--The report under subsection (a) shall be prepared 
with the participation of individuals who have expertise in--
            (1) environmental health, safety, and medicine;
            (2) occupational health, safety, and medicine;
            (3) clinical medicine, including pediatrics;
            (4) toxicology;
            (5) epidemiology;
            (6) mental health;
            (7) medical monitoring and surveillance;
            (8) environmental monitoring and surveillance;
            (9) environmental and industrial hygiene;
            (10) emergency planning and preparedness;
            (11) public outreach and education;
            (12) State and local health departments;
            (13) State and local environmental protection departments;
            (14) functions of workers that respond to disasters, 
        including first responders;
            (15) public health and family services;
            (16) environmental justice; and
            (17) health and health care disparities.
    (c) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall provide advice 
and recommendations regarding protecting and monitoring the health and 
safety of individuals potentially exposed to any chemical or other 
substance associated with potential acute or chronic human health 
effects as the result of a disaster, including advice and 
recommendations regarding--
            (1) the establishment of protocols for the monitoring of 
        and response to chemical or substance releases in a disaster 
        area for the purpose of protecting public health and safety, 
        including--
                    (A) chemicals or other substances for which samples 
                should be collected in the event of a disaster, 
                including a terrorist attack;
                    (B) chemical- or substance-specific methods of 
                sample collection, including sampling methodologies and 
                locations;
                    (C) chemical- or substance-specific methods of 
                sample analysis;
                    (D) health-based threshold levels to be used and 
                response actions to be taken in the event that 
                thresholds are exceeded for individual chemicals or 
                other substances;
                    (E) procedures for providing monitoring results 
                to--
                            (i) appropriate Federal, State, and local 
                        government agencies;
                            (ii) appropriate response personnel; and
                            (iii) the public;
                    (F) responsibilities of Federal, State and local 
                agencies for--
                            (i) collecting and analyzing samples;
                            (ii) reporting results; and
                            (iii) taking appropriate response actions; 
                        and
                    (G) capabilities and capacity within the Federal 
                Government to conduct appropriate environmental 
                monitoring and response in the event of a disaster, 
                including a terrorist attack; and
            (2) other issues as specified by the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. PREDISASTER HAZARD MITIGATION.

    Section 203(m) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133(m)) is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2008'' and inserting ``September 30, 2010''.

SEC. 5. PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANTS; USE OF ALLOTMENTS.

    Section 1904(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300w-3(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (G)--
                    (A) by striking ``through (F)'' and inserting 
                ``through (G)''; and
                    (B) by redesignating such subparagraph as 
                subparagraph (H); and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (F), the following:
                    ``(G) Community outreach and education programs and 
                other activities designed to address and prevent health 
                and health care disparities.''.
[EX A]:
Strengthening Public Health Protections in Major Disasters and Emergencies Act of 2007 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to carry out a program for the protection, assessment, monitoring, and study of the health and safety of individuals who responded to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita or who respond to a major disaster or emergency, if chemicals or substances associated with potential acute or chronic human health effects were or are released in a major disaster area.

Makes participation voluntary. Requires the President to take appropriate measures to protect the privacy of registry or study participants. Authorizes the President to carry out such a program through a cooperative agreement with a medical institution (including a local health department) or a consortium of medical institutions. Requires the President to carry out such a program in accordance with certain privacy regulations.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enter jointly into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study and report on disaster area health and environmental protection and monitoring.

 Extends through September 30, 2010, the President's authority to establish a program to provide technical and financial assistance to state and local governments for the implementation of cost-effective predisaster hazard mitigation measures.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize payments from allotments made to a state for community outreach and education programs and other activities designed to prevent health and health care disparities.