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 Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering Our Future Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO COURTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 13712(b) of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 629b) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible for a grant under this 
section:
            ``(1) Application.--A highest State court shall submit to 
        the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and 
        including such information and assurances as the Secretary 
        shall require.
            ``(2) Measures of court performance.--There shall be in 
        effect in the State such laws and procedures as are necessary 
        to ensure that the courts of the State measure the following 
        with respect to children under the jurisdiction of the courts:
                    ``(A) The percentage of children who do not have a 
                subsequent petition of maltreatment filed in court 
                after the initial such petition is filed.
                    ``(B) The percentage of children who are the 
                subject of additional allegations of maltreatment 
                within 12 months after the original petition was 
                closed.
                    ``(C) The percentages of children who reach legal 
                permanency within 6 months after removal, within 12 
                months thereafter, within 18 months thereafter, and 
                within 24 months thereafter.
                    ``(D) The percentage of children who do not reach 
                permanency in the foster care system.
                    ``(E) The percentages of children who re-enter 
                foster care pursuant to court order within 12 months 
                after being returned to their families, and within 24 
                months thereafter.
                    ``(F) The percentages of children who return to 
                foster care pursuant to court order within 12 months 
                after being adopted or placed with an individual or 
                couple who are permanent guardians, and within 24 
                months thereafter.
                    ``(G) The percentages of children who are 
                transferred among 1, 2, 3, or more placements while 
                under court jurisdiction, distinguishing, where 
                possible, between placements in and out of a child's 
                own home from multiple placements in a variety of 
                environments.
                    ``(H) The percentage of cases in which both parents 
                receive written service of process within the required 
                time standards or where notice of hearing has been 
                waived by parties.
                    ``(I) The percentage of cases in which there is 
                documentation that timely and proper notice is given to 
                parties in advance of the next hearing.
                    ``(J) The percentage of cases in which children who 
                have attained 10 years of age receive notice of the 
                legal proceedings in their dependency case; the 
                percentage of cases in which children who have attained 
                10 years of age are present in court and afforded an 
                opportunity to be heard in their own cases; and the 
                percentage of cases in which children have legal 
                representation.
                    ``(K) The percentage of cases in which the court 
                reviews case plans within established time guidelines.
                    ``(L) The percentage of children receiving legal 
                counsel, guardians ad litem, or court-appointed special 
                advocates before the preliminary protective hearing or 
                equivalent, with separate measures of the percentages 
                of each type of representation and of whether the 
                representation was received within established time 
                guidelines, within 5 days after the adoption petition 
                is filed, within 6 through 10 days after the filing, 
                and within more than 10 days after the filing.
                    ``(M) The percentage of cases in which counsel for 
                parents are appointed before the preliminary protective 
                hearing or equivalent, with separate measures of the 
                percentages in which such appointments are made within 
                established time guidelines, within 5 days after the 
                adoption petition is filed, within 6 through 10 days 
                after the filing, and within more than 10 days after 
                the filing.
                    ``(N) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for children is appointed on or before the 
                first court appearance, and the percentage of cases in 
                which legal counsel for children changes, and the 
                number of changes involved.
                    ``(O) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for parents changes, and the number of changes 
                involved.
                    ``(P) The percentage of cases in which legal 
                counsel for parents, children, and agencies are present 
                at each hearing.
                    ``(Q) The percentages of children for whom all 
                hearings are heard by 1 or more judicial officers, and 
                the number of judicial officers hearing the case.
                    ``(R) The average and median times from filing the 
                original petition to adjudication.
                    ``(S) The average and median times from filing the 
                original petition to disposition.
                    ``(T) The percentages of cases that are adjudicated 
                within 30 days after the filing of the dependency 
                petition, within 60 days thereafter, and within 90 days 
                thereafter.
                    ``(U) The percentages of cases that receive a 
                disposition within 10 days after the dependency 
                adjudication, within 30 days thereafter, and within 90 
                days thereafter.
                    ``(V) The percentage of cases where children are 
                successfully served in the home and not detained; the 
                average and median times to reunification; and the 
                percentage of cases where children are not successfully 
                reunified.
                    ``(W) The average and median times from the filing 
                of the original petition to permanent placement.
                    ``(X) The average and median times from the filing 
                of the original petition to finalized termination of 
                parental rights.
                    ``(Y) The percentages of cases for which the 
                termination petition is filed within 3 months after the 
                dependency disposition, within 6 months thereafter, 
                within 12 months thereafter, and within 18 months 
                thereafter.
                    ``(Z) The percentage of cases that receive a 
                termination order within 30 days after the filing of 
                the termination petition, within 90 days thereafter, 
                within 120 days thereafter, and within 180 days 
                thereafter.
                    ``(AA) The percentages of cases for which an 
                adoption petition is filed within 1 month after the 
                termination order, within 3 months thereafter, and 
                within 6 months thereafter.
                    ``(BB) The percentages of cases for which the 
                adoption is finalized within 1 month after the adoption 
                petition is filed, within 3 months thereafter, within 6 
                months thereafter, and within 12 months thereafter.
                    ``(CC) The percentage of hearings (by hearing type) 
                not completed within timeframes set forth in statute or 
                court rules, including, where possible, the reason for 
                noncompletion.''.
    (b) Student Loan Repayment for Family Law, Dependency, and Domestic 
Relations Attorneys.--
            (1) In general.--The Higher Education Act of 1965 is 
        amended by inserting after section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) the 
        following new section:

``SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR FAMILY LAW, DEPENDENCY, AND DOMESTIC 
              RELATIONS ATTORNEYS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage 
qualified individuals to enter and continue employment as family law, 
dependency, and domestic relations attorneys.
    ``(b) Loan Forgiveness.--
            ``(1) Loan forgiveness authorized.--The Secretary is 
        authorized to forgive, in accordance with this section and the 
        agreement described in subsection (e), the student loan debt of 
        an eligible borrower in the amount specified in subsection (d) 
        and for the period specified in such agreement.
            ``(2) Method of loan forgiveness.--To provide the loan 
        forgiveness authorized in paragraph (1), the Secretary is 
        authorized to carry out a program--
                    ``(A) through the holder of the loan, to assume the 
                obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a loan 
                made under part B of this title; and
                    ``(B) to cancel a qualified loan amount for a loan 
                made under part D of this title.
    ``(c) Eligible Borrower.--The Secretary is authorized to provided 
loan forgiveness under this section to any individual who--
            ``(1) is employed full-time as a family law, dependency, or 
        domestic relations attorney; and
            ``(2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower 
        seeks forgiveness.
    ``(d) Loan Forgiveness Amount.--The Secretary may, from funds 
appropriated under subsection (l), forgive the loan obligation of an 
eligible borrower in accordance with such terms, limitations, and 
conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by such borrower and the 
Secretary in the agreement described in subsection (e), except that the 
amount paid by the Secretary under this section shall not exceed--
            ``(1) $6,000 in any calendar year for any borrower; or
            ``(2) $50,000 in the aggregate for any borrower.
    ``(e) Loan Forgiveness Agreement.--
            ``(1) Terms of agreement.--The Secretary shall not provide 
        loan forgiveness to an eligible borrower unless the borrower 
        enters into a written agreement with the Secretary which 
        provides that--
                    ``(A) the borrower shall remain employed full-time 
                as a family law, dependency, or domestic relations 
                attorney for a period of service specified in the 
                agreement (but not less than 3 years), unless 
                involuntarily separated from that employment;
                    ``(B) if the borrower is involuntarily separated 
                from the employment described in subparagraph (A) on 
                account of misconduct, or voluntarily separates from 
                that employment, before the end of the period specified 
                in the agreement, the borrower shall repay the 
                Secretary the amount of any benefits received by such 
                borrower under this section;
                    ``(C) if the borrower is required to repay an 
                amount to the Secretary under subparagraph (B) and 
                fails to repay such amount, a sum equal to such amount 
                shall be recoverable by the Government from the 
                borrower (or such borrower's estate, if applicable) by 
                such method as is provided by law for the recovery of 
                amounts owing to the Government;
                    ``(D) the Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, 
                a right of recovery under this subsection if it is 
                shown that recovery would be against equity and good 
                conscience or against the public interest; and
                    ``(E) the Secretary shall provide loan forgiveness 
                under this section for the period of the agreement, 
                subject to the availability of appropriations.
            ``(2) Agreement renewal.--Upon completion by an eligible 
        borrower of the period of service required under the agreement 
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may renew such 
        agreement with the eligible borrower for a successive period of 
        service to be specified in the renewed agreement (which may be 
        less than 3 years).
    ``(f) Repayments by Borrowers.--Any amount repaid by, or recovered 
from, a borrower (or a borrower's estate) under subsection (e)(1)(B) 
shall be credited to the appropriation account from which the loan 
forgiveness amount involved was originally paid. Any amount so credited 
shall be merged with other sums in such account and shall be available 
for the same purposes and period, and subject to the same limitations 
(if any), as the sums with which the amount was merged.
    ``(g) Application for Loan Forgiveness.--An eligible borrower 
desiring loan forgiveness under this section shall submit a complete 
and accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(h) Priority.--The Secretary shall provide loan forgiveness under 
this section on a first-come, first-served basis, and subject to the 
availability of appropriations.
    ``(i) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
section.
    ``(j) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
authorize the refunding of any repayment of any loan made by a borrower 
prior to the date on which the Secretary entered into an agreement with 
the borrower under subsection (e).
    ``(k) Definition.--In this section the term `family law, 
dependency, or domestic relations attorney' means an attorney who works 
in the field of family law, dependency, or domestic relations, 
including juvenile justice, truancy, child abuse or neglect, adoption, 
domestic relations, child support, paternity, and other areas which 
fall under the field of family law, dependency, or domestic relations 
law as determined by State law.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal 
years.''.
            (2) Cancellation of loans.--
                    (A) Amendment.--Section 465(a)(2)(F) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(F)) is 
                amended by inserting ``, or as a full-time family law, 
                dependency, or domestic relations attorney (as defined 
                in section 428L)'' after ``agencies''.
                    (B) Effective date.--The amendment made by this 
                paragraph shall apply to--
                            (i) eligible loans made before, on, or 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act; and
                            (ii) service as a family law, dependency, 
                        or domestic relations attorney that is provided 
                        on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (C) Construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
                be construed to authorize the refunding of any 
                repayment of a loan made by a borrower prior to the 
                date on which the borrower became eligible for 
                cancellation under section 465(a) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)).
    (c) GAO Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a study that compares States with respect 
        to each of the following:
                    (A) The legal representation provided for children.
                    (B) Children's participation in their own cases.
                    (C) Preparation of dependency court judges.
                    (D) Case tracking and performance measurement.
                    (E) Statewide collaborative foster care councils.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 
        a written report that contains the results of the study 
        required by paragraph (1).
    (d) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Court Accountability for 
Improved Child Outcomes.--It is the sense of the Congress that State 
judicial leadership should use the measures of court performance 
described in section 13712(b)(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1993 (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) to ensure 
accountability by every court for improved outcomes for children, and 
to inform decisions about allocating resources across the court system.
    (e) Sense of the Congress With Respect to the Organization of State 
Dependency Courts.--It is the sense of the Congress that State courts 
should be organized to enable children and parents to have legal 
representation and participate in a meaningful way in their own court 
proceedings.
    (f) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Building the Pool of 
Attorneys Qualified to Handle Cases in Dependency Courts.--It is the 
sense of the Congress that law schools, bar associations, and law firms 
should help build the pool of qualified attorneys available to children 
and parents in dependency courts.
    (g) Sense of the Congress With Respect to Training, Caseloads, and 
Compensation of Attorneys for Children.--It is the sense of the 
Congress that attorneys for children should have adequate training, 
reasonable caseloads, and receive reasonable and adequate compensation.

Ex Output:
Fostering Our Future Act of 2006 - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to require, for grants to the highest state courts for foster care proceedings, that the state in which the courts are located has laws and procedures in effect that will ensure that the courts measure their performance with respect to children under the court's jurisdiction.

 Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to forgive the student loan debt of a borrower who: (1) enters a written agreement with the Secretary to remain employed full-time as a family law, dependency, or domestic relations attorney for at least three years; and (2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness. Limits the amount that the Secretary may pay to no more than $6,000 in any year for any borrower or $50,000 in the aggregate for any borrower. Authorizes the Secretary to renew such agreements.

 Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a comparative study of state dependency courts and foster care systems.

 Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to: (1) court accountability for improved child outcomes; (2) the organization of state dependency courts; (3) building the pool of attorneys qualified to handle cases in dependency courts; and (4) training, caseloads, and compensation of attorneys for children.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fracturing Regulations are Effective 
in State Hands Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) hydraulic fracturing is a commercially viable practice 
        that has been used in the United States for more than 60 years 
        in more than 1,000,000 wells;
            (2) the Ground Water Protection Council, a national 
        association of State water regulators that is considered to be 
        a leading groundwater protection organization in the United 
        States, released a report entitled ``State Oil and Natural Gas 
        Regulations Designed to Protect Water Resources'' and dated May 
        2009 finding that the ``current State regulation of oil and gas 
        activities is environmentally proactive and preventive'';
            (3) that report also concluded that ``[a]ll oil and gas 
        producing States have regulations which are designed to provide 
        protection for water resources'';
            (4) a 2004 study by the Environmental Protection Agency, 
        entitled ``Evaluation of Impacts to Underground Sources of 
        Drinking Water by Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane 
        Reservoirs'', found no evidence of drinking water wells 
        contaminated by fracture fluid from the fracked formation;
            (5) a 2009 report by the Ground Water Protection Council, 
        entitled ``State Oil and Natural Gas Regulations Designed to 
        Protect Water Resources'', found a ``lack of evidence'' that 
        hydraulic fracturing conducted in both deep and shallow 
        formations presents a risk of endangerment to ground water;
            (6) a January 2009 resolution by the Interstate Oil and Gas 
        Compact Commission stated ``The states, who regulate 
        production, have comprehensive laws and regulations to ensure 
        operations are safe and to protect drinking water. States have 
        found no verified cases of groundwater contamination associated 
        with hydraulic fracturing.'';
            (7) on May 24, 2011, before the Oversight and Government 
        Reform Committee of the House of Representatives, Lisa Jackson, 
        the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
        testified that she was ``not aware of any proven case where the 
        fracking process itself has affected water'';
            (8) in 2011, Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey 
        stated, ``We have not seen evidence of any adverse effect as a 
        result of the use of the chemicals that are part of that 
        fracking technology.'';
            (9)(A) activities relating to hydraulic fracturing (such as 
        surface discharges, wastewater disposal, and air emissions) are 
        already regulated at the Federal level under a variety of 
        environmental statutes, including portions of--
                    (i) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
                U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);
                    (ii) the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et 
                seq.); and
                    (iii) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); 
                but
            (B) Congress has continually elected not to include the 
        hydraulic fracturing process in the underground injection 
        control program under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
        300f et seq.);
            (10) in 2011, the Secretary of the Interior announced the 
        intention to promulgate new Federal regulations governing 
        hydraulic fracturing on Federal land;
            (11) a February 2012 study by the Energy Institute at the 
        University of Texas at Austin, entitled ``Fact-Based Regulation 
        for Environmental Protection in Shale Gas Development'', found 
        that ``[n]o evidence of chemicals from hydraulic fracturing 
        fluid has been found in aquifers as a result of fracturing 
        operations''; and
            (12) on October 1, 2014, the Ground Water Protection 
        Council and State Oil and Gas Regulatory Exchange released a 
        report entitled ``State Oil and Gas Regulations Designed to 
        Protect Water Resources'' that describes the cutting edge of 
        State-based oil and gas regulations, concluding that ``In step 
        with dramatic industry growth over the past five years, states 
        have substantially improved groundwater protection laws and 
        regulations governing oil and natural gas production.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF FEDERAL LAND.

    In this Act, the term ``Federal land'' means--
            (1) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal 
        Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));
            (2) National Forest System land;
            (3) land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of 
        Reclamation; and
            (4) land under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers.

SEC. 4. STATE AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--A State shall have the sole authority to 
promulgate or enforce any regulation, guidance, or permit requirement 
regarding the treatment of a well by the application of fluids under 
pressure to which propping agents may be added for the expressly 
designed purpose of initiating or propagating fractures in a target 
geologic formation in order to enhance production of oil, natural gas, 
or geothermal production activities on or under any land within the 
boundaries of the State.
    (b) Federal Land.--The treatment of a well by the application of 
fluids under pressure to which propping agents may be added for the 
expressly designed purpose of initiating or propagating fractures in a 
target geologic formation in order to enhance production of oil, 
natural gas, or geothermal production activities on Federal land shall 
be subject to the law of the State in which the land is located.

Ex Output:
Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act  This bill gives states the sole authority to promulgate or enforce any regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing on or under any land within their boundaries. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. Hydraulic fracturing on federal land must comply with the law of the state in which the land is located.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND 
              INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

    (a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2016, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), 
the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2016, for the payment of 
disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation under 
the provisions specified in subsection (b).
    (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be increased 
pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
            (1) Wartime disability compensation.--Each of the dollar 
        amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the 
        dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title.
            (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount under section 
        1162 of such title.
            (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving 
        spouse.--Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) 
        through (d) of section 1311 of such title.
            (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children.--
        Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of 
        such title.
    (c) Determination of Increase.--
            (1) Percentage.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
        dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by 
        the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts 
        payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 2016, as a 
        result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 415(i)).
            (2) Rounding.--Each dollar amount increased under paragraph 
        (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the next 
        lower whole dollar amount.
    (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust 
administratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection 
(a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under 
section 10 of Public Law 85-857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received 
compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.
    (e) Publication of Adjusted Rates.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in 
subsection (b), as increased under this section, not later than the 
date on which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be 
published by reason of a determination made under section 215(i) of 
such Act during fiscal year 2017.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION OF DECEASED VETERANS TO VETERANS' CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 2308 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any 
amount paid pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, the cost of 
transportation of the deceased veteran described in paragraph (1) or 
(2) of subsection (b) for burial in a national cemetery or a covered 
veterans' cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the cost of 
transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran's last 
place of residence in which burial space is available.
    ``(2) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any amount paid 
pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, the cost of 
transportation of the deceased veteran described in subsection (b)(3) 
for burial in a national cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the 
cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran's 
last place of residence in which burial space is available.''.
    (b) Covered Veterans' Cemetery Defined.--Section 2308 of such title 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Covered Veterans' Cemetery Defined.--In this section, the 
term `covered veterans' cemetery' means, with respect to a deceased 
veteran described in subsection (b), a veterans' cemetery owned by a 
State or a tribal organization (as defined in section 3765(4) of this 
title) in which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2308 of such title is amended in 
the section heading by adding at the end the following: ``or a 
veterans' cemetery''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by striking the item relating to section 2308 
and inserting the following new item:

``2308. Transportation of deceased veterans to a national cemetery or a 
                            veterans' cemetery.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEADSTONES, MARKERS, AND 
              MEDALLIONS FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.

    Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(5)(A) In carrying out this subsection with respect to a deceased 
individual described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall furnish, 
upon request, a headstone or marker under paragraph (1) or a medallion 
under paragraph (4) that signifies the deceased's status as a Medal of 
Honor recipient.
    ``(B) If the Secretary furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion 
under paragraph (1) or (4) for a deceased individual described in 
subparagraph (C) that does not signify the deceased's status as a Medal 
of Honor recipient, the Secretary shall, upon request, replace such 
headstone, marker, or medallion with a headstone, marker, or medallion, 
as the case may be, that so signifies the deceased's status as a Medal 
of Honor recipient.
    ``(C) A deceased individual described in this subparagraph is a 
deceased individual who--
            ``(i) served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917;
            ``(ii) is eligible for a headstone or marker furnished 
        under paragraph (1) or a medallion furnished under paragraph 
        (4) (or would be so eligible for such headstone, marker, or 
        medallion but for the date of the death of the individual); and
            ``(iii) was awarded the Medal of Honor (including 
        posthumously).''.

SEC. 5. EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 112(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after ``conditions,'' the following: ``persons 
eligible for burial in a national cemetery by reason of paragraph (2), 
(3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of this title,''.
    (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply 
with respect to the death of a person eligible for burial in a national 
cemetery by reason of paragraph (2), (3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of 
title 38, United States Code, occurring before, on, or after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. BURIAL PLOTS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR INDIVIDUALS 
              AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

    (a) Reservation.--Of the number of in-ground burial plots available 
at Arlington National Cemetery as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the Army shall reserve 100 such plots to inter 
deceased individuals who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
    (b) Termination.--The requirement under subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date on which the Secretary of the Army to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs and the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the interment 
and inurnment capacity of Arlington National Cemetery that includes--
            (1) the estimated date that the Secretary determines the 
        cemetery will reach maximum interment and inurnment capacity; 
        and
            (2) in light of the unique and iconic meaning of the 
        cemetery to the United States, recommendations for legislative 
        actions and nonlegislative options that the Secretary 
        determines necessary to ensure that the maximum interment and 
        inurnment capacity of the cemetery is not reached until well 
        into the future, including such actions and options with 
        respect to--
                    (A) redefining eligibility criteria for interment 
                and inurnment in the cemetery; and
                    (B) considerations for additional expansion 
                opportunities beyond the current boundaries of the 
                cemetery.

SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VETERAN 
              ENGAGEMENT TEAM EVENTS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Pilot program.--Beginning not later than October 1, 
        2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a 
        three-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall carry 
        out events, to be known as ``Veteran Engagement Team events''. 
        The Secretary shall ensure that such events are carried out--
                    (A) during the first year during which the 
                Secretary carries out the pilot program, at least once 
                a month in a location within the jurisdiction of each 
                of 10 regional offices of the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs, including at least two regional offices in 
                each of the five districts of the Veterans Benefits 
                Administration under the organization of such 
                Administration in effect as of the date of the 
                enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) during each of the second and third years 
                during which the Secretary carries out the pilot 
                program, at least once a month in a location within the 
                jurisdiction of each of 15 regional offices of the 
                Department, including at least three regional offices 
                in each such district.
            (2) Veteran engagement team events.--During each Veteran 
        Engagement Team event, the Secretary shall provide assistance 
        to veterans in completing and adjudicating claims for 
        disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 
        States Code, and for pension under chapter 15 of such title. 
        The Secretary shall ensure that--
                    (A) all Veteran Engagement Team events occur during 
                the normal business hours of the sponsoring regional 
                office;
                    (B) the events are carried out at different 
                locations within the jurisdiction of each regional 
                office and at least 50 miles from any regional office;
                    (C) a sufficient number of physicians (to be 
                available for opinions only), veteran service 
                representatives and rating veteran service 
                representatives, and other personnel are available at 
                the events to initiate, update, and finalize the 
                completion and adjudication of claims;
                    (D) veterans service organizations have access to 
                the events for purposes of providing assistance to 
                veterans; and
                    (E) a veteran who is unable to complete and 
                adjudicate a claim at an event is informed of what 
                additional information or actions are needed to 
                finalize the claim.
    (b) Location.--In selecting locations for Veteran Engagement Team 
events under this section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) coordinate with veteran service organizations and State 
        and local veterans agencies; and
            (2) seek to select locations that are community-based and 
        easily accessible.
    (c) Transfer of Personnel.--
            (1) Physicians.--The Secretary may not permanently transfer 
        any physician employed by the Veterans Health Administration 
        for the purpose of staffing a Veteran Engagement Team event.
            (2) Payment of salaries.--Any amount payable to an employee 
        of the Department for work performed at a Veteran Engagement 
        Team event is payable only from amounts otherwise available for 
        the payment of the salary of the employee. No additional 
        amounts are authorized to be appropriated under this section 
        for the payment of salaries for Department employee.
    (d) Other Authorities.--In carrying out the pilot program under 
this section, the Secretary may--
            (1) coordinate with States, local governments, nonprofit 
        organizations, and private sector entities to use facilities to 
        host Veteran Engagement Team events for no or minimal costs; 
        and
            (2) accept, on a without compensation basis, services 
        provided by non-Department physicians in rendering medical 
        opinions relating to claims for compensation and pension.
    (e) Customer Satisfaction Surveys.--In carrying out the pilot 
program under this section, the Secretary shall collect and analyze 
information about the customer satisfaction of veterans who have 
received assistance at an Veteran Engagement Team event.
    (f) Reports.--Not later than April 30, 2017, and annually 
thereafter beginning on October 1, 2017, for the duration of the 
program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
implementation and effectiveness of the events. Such report shall 
include--
            (1) the number and types of claims completed and 
        adjudicated at the events;
            (2) the number and types of claims for which assistance was 
        sought at the events that were not completed or adjudicated at 
        the events and the reasons such claims were not completed or 
        adjudicated; and
            (3) an analysis of the customer satisfaction of veterans 
        who have received assistance at an event based on the 
        information collected under subsection (e).

Ex Output:

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2016, the amounts for the payment of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date (rounded to the next lower dollar amount if the amount is not a whole dollar amount).  The VA may adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons receiving benefits pursuant to public laws administered by the VA on December 31, 1958 (that are still in effect) who have not received service-connected disability or death compensation.   The VA shall publish such increased amounts in the Federal Register. (Sec. 3) The VA may pay the cost of transporting a deceased veteran:   who died as the result of a service-connected disability, or who died while in receipt of disability compensation, to a national cemetery or a state- or tribal-owned veterans' cemetery in which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried, or  who has no next of kin or other person claiming the body to a national cemetery in which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried.   Such payment shall not exceed the cost of transportation to the national cemetery nearest to the veteran's last place of residence in which burial space is available. (Sec. 4) The VA shall furnish at a private cemetery, upon request, a headstone, marker, or medallion that signifies the status of an eligible veteran who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917, as a Medal of Honor recipient.  If the VA furnished a headstone, marker, or medallion for a deceased veteran that does not signify his or her status as a Medal of Honor recipient, the VA shall, upon request, replace that headstone, marker, or medallion with one that signifies such status.  (Sec. 5) The bill authorizes award of the Presidential Memorial Certificate to certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and certain deceased members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. (Sec. 6) The Department of the Army shall reserve 100 in-ground burial plots at Arlington National Cemetery for interment of deceased Medal of Honor recipients. Such requirement shall terminate when the Army submits a report on the cemetery's interment and inurnment capacity that includes: (1) the estimated date of achieving maximum capacity; and (2) recommendations to ensure that such capacity is not reached until well into the future, including actions to redefine interment eligibility and considerations for cemetery expansion. (Sec. 7) The VA, beginning not later than October 1, 2016, shall carry out a three-year pilot program under which the VA shall carry out Veteran Engagement Team events to assist veterans in completing VA disability and pension claims.  Such events shall be carried out:   during the first year, at least once a month within the jurisdiction of each of 10 VA regional offices, including at least 2 regional offices in each of the 5 districts of the Veterans Benefits Administration;  during each of the second and third years, at least once a month within the jurisdiction of each of 15 VA regional offices, including at least 3 regional offices in each district;  at different locations within each regional office's jurisdiction and at least 50 miles from any regional office;  during the sponsoring regional office's normal business hours; and   with a sufficient number of physicians (to be available for opinions only), veteran service and rating representatives, and other appropriate claims personnel to initiate, update, and finalize the completion and adjudication of claims.    The VA shall: (1) collect and analyze event-satisfaction information from attending veterans, and (2) report annuallys on event implementation.  The VA may not permanently transfer any Veterans Health Administration physician to staff an event.