TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. CAREERS TO CLASSROOMS.

    Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating part E as part F;
            (2) by redesignating sections 2401 and 2402 as sections 
        2601 and 2602, respectively; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

                    ``PART G--CAREERS TO CLASSROOMS

``SEC. 2401. CAREERS TO CLASSROOMS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Alternative certification program.--The term 
        `alternative certification program' means a State-approved 
        program that--
                    ``(A) provides the education and training necessary 
                to enable an individual to be eligible for teacher 
                certification in the State within a reduced period of 
                time, compared to the time typically required to 
                receive such certification; and
                    ``(B) relies upon an individual's experience, 
                expertise, academic qualifications, or other factors in 
                lieu of traditional course work for eligibility to 
                receive a degree in the field of education.
            ``(2) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' 
        means an individual--
                    ``(A) who has submitted an application described in 
                subsection (d) to be a certified teacher through a 
                State-approved alternative certification program in an 
                elementary school or secondary school;
                    ``(B) who has an associate, baccalaureate, or 
                advanced degree from an accredited institution of 
                higher education;
                    ``(C) who--
                            ``(i) has substantial, demonstrable career 
                        experience and competence in mathematics, 
                        natural science, computer science, engineering, 
                        foreign language or another field of expertise 
                        determined by the State to be a field for which 
                        there is a significant shortage of qualified 
                        teachers and teacher applicants in that State; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) within 5 years of the date on which 
                        the individual submits an application described 
                        in subparagraph (A)--
                                    ``(I) has received a baccalaureate 
                                or advanced degree from an accredited 
                                institution of higher education in a 
                                field of expertise described in clause 
                                (i); and
                                    ``(II)(aa) has graduated with at 
                                least a 3.0 grade point average (or 
                                equivalent average on a different 
                                scale) in the major or graduate program 
                                for which the individual obtained the 
                                degree;
                                    ``(bb) has graduated at least in 
                                the top 50 percent of the individual's 
                                undergraduate or graduate class;
                                    ``(cc) can demonstrate a high level 
                                of competence through a high level of 
                                academic performance in core academic 
                                coursework and through successful 
                                passage of academic subject tests 
                                required by the State under its 
                                alternative certification program; and
                                    ``(dd) meets any additional 
                                academic or other standards or 
                                qualifications established by the 
                                State;
                    ``(D) in the case of an individual receiving a 
                stipend under this section, who agrees to, in good 
                faith, seek employment and to consider offers of 
                employment in the individual's subject matter of 
                expertise in a high need elementary or secondary school 
                within that State; and
                    ``(E) who meets any additional teacher 
                certification or other requirements that may be 
                established by the State.
            ``(3) High need elementary or secondary school.--The term 
        `high need elementary or secondary school' means a school--
                    ``(A)(i) in which the percentage of students from 
                families below the Federal poverty level (as determined 
                by the Secretary) is 20 percent or more; and
                    ``(ii) that the State determines has experienced a 
                significant period in which teacher vacancies have 
                remained unfilled due to greater than normal difficulty 
                in recruiting or retaining qualified teachers;
                    ``(B) is within the top quartile of schools 
                statewide with regard to the number of unfilled, 
                available teacher positions; or
                    ``(C) is located in an area, other than a 
                metropolitan statistical area, that the State 
                determines has a high percentage of students from low-
                income families or is one that has experienced greater 
                than normal difficulty in recruiting or retaining 
                teachers.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--The Secretary may award, on a 
competitive basis, grants to States to enable such States to carry out 
the following activities:
            ``(1) Teacher recruitment, education, training, referral, 
        placement, and retention activities to place eligible 
        individuals as certified teachers in public schools through 
        State-approved alternative certification programs.
            ``(2) To award stipends (in an amount not to exceed the 
        lesser of $5,000 per person or an amount equal to the total 
        costs of the types described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (8), 
        and (9) of section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        incurred by the eligible individual in obtaining alternative 
        certification under this section) to eligible individuals who--
                    ``(A) are enrolled in a State authorized 
                alternative certification program; and
                    ``(B) agree to--
                            ``(i) seek certification through teacher 
                        certification programs in that State; and
                            ``(ii) teach in a high need school in that 
                        State;
        with a preference being given to individuals who are deemed 
        financially in need of such assistance by the State.
            ``(3) To provide grants, in a manner prescribed by the 
        State, in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per eligible 
        individual, per year, to high need elementary or secondary 
        schools to offset the teacher mentoring, alternative 
        certification, and other direct costs associated with accepting 
        eligible individuals under this section.
            ``(4) To develop, or to award grants to accredited 
        institutions of higher education for the development of, 
        alternative certification programs, with preference given to 
        programs tailored to eligible individuals under this section.
            ``(5) Other activities determined by the State to be 
        reasonably necessary to carry-out the purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Criteria for Awarding of Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this section a State shall--
                    ``(A) submit to the Secretary an application that 
                contains--
                            ``(i) a description of the manner in which 
                        the State will carry out activities under this 
                        section; and
                            ``(ii) a description of the alternative 
                        certification program of the State or a 
                        description of the manner in which the State is 
                        attempting to implement an alternative 
                        certification program;
                    ``(B) provide assurances to the Secretary that the 
                State will submit to the Secretary, at the end of the 
                grant period, a report on how the activities carried 
                out with funds made available under the grant were 
                utilized, including a description of--
                            ``(i) the manner in which the funds were 
                        used to increase the number of qualified 
                        teachers hired in the State;
                            ``(ii) the manner in which the funds 
                        improved teacher quality;
                            ``(iii) the number of teachers hired under 
                        the grant;
                            ``(iv) the professional experience and 
                        field of expertise of each teacher hired under 
                        the grant; and
                            ``(v) the manner in which the funds were 
                        used to meet other objectives of this section 
                        or other objectives of the State with regard to 
                        teacher hiring, quality, retention, and student 
                        performance;
                    ``(C) provide assurances that amounts received 
                under the grant will be used to supplement and not 
                supplant other Federal, State, and local funds expended 
                to provide services for individuals and entities 
                eligible to receive funds under this section; and
                    ``(D) provide assurances to the Secretary that 
                amounts received under the grants will be expended 
                within 3 years of the receipt of such funds and agree 
                to return unused funds to the Secretary.
            ``(2) Preference.--The Secretary shall give preference in 
        the awarding of grants under this section to States that have 
        developed, or that are developing, alternative certification 
        programs that--
                    ``(A) rapidly place quality certified teachers into 
                the classroom;
                    ``(B) emphasize subject matter content; and
                    ``(C) lead to the certification and placement of a 
                large number of teachers in relation to the number of 
                public elementary school and secondary school teachers 
                in the State.
            ``(3) Limitations.--A grant under this section may be made 
        for a period of up to 3 years, and may not exceed $10,000,000 
        per year.
            ``(4) Geographic diversity.--To the extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall award grants under this section to support 
        programs in different geographic regions of the United States.
    ``(d) Application by Eligible Individuals.--To be eligible to 
participate as an eligible individual under this section, an individual 
shall submit an application to the State, or to an entity or individual 
designated by the State to receive such applications. Such application 
shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the academic, professional, and 
        other qualifications of the individual, including the academic 
        or professional subject matter expertise of the individual;
            ``(2) a description of the subject matter area, and, if 
        applicable, the grade level, in which the individual desires to 
        teach;
            ``(3)(A) a description of whether the individual is seeking 
        a stipend under this section (if offered by the State); and
            ``(B) if the individual is seeking such a stipend, a 
        description of the willingness of the individual to teach in a 
        high need elementary or secondary school for at least 2 years 
        under this section; and
            ``(4) any other information or documentation that may be 
        required by the State.
    ``(e) Stipends.--
            ``(1) Counted for eligibility purposes.--A stipend received 
        by an eligible individual under this section shall be taken 
        into account in determining the eligibility of the individual 
        for Federal student-based financial assistance.
            ``(2) Repayment.--The recipient of a stipend under this 
        section shall repay amounts received under such stipend to the 
        State from which the stipend was received if--
                    ``(A) the recipient fails to complete the 
                applicable alternative certification program;
                    ``(B) the recipient rejects a bona fide offer of 
                employment during the 1-year period beginning on the 
                date on which the individual completes the applicable 
                alternative certification program; or
                    ``(C) the recipient fails to teach for at least 2 
                years in a public elementary school or secondary school 
                within that State during the 5-year period beginning on 
                the date on which the individual completes the 
                applicable alternative certification program.
            ``(3) Additional procedures.--A State that receives a grant 
        under this section may establish additional procedures and 
        rules with respect to the reimbursement of the State of any 
        stipend funds under paragraph (2), and shall retain such 
        reimbursed funds to carry out activities under this section.
            ``(4) Exceptions.--Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not apply 
        during the period of time in which an eligible individual is--
                    ``(A) pursuing a full-time course of study;
                    ``(B) serving on active duty as a member of the 
                Armed Forces;
                    ``(C) temporarily totally disabled for a period of 
                time not to exceed 3 years;
                    ``(D) not able to secure employment for a period of 
                not more than 12 months by reason of the care required 
                by a spouse who is disabled; or
                    ``(E) otherwise exempted from the requirements of 
                such paragraphs as may be provided by the Secretary.
    ``(f) Public Awareness.--The Secretary shall disseminate and 
otherwise make available information concerning the program under this 
section, including--
            ``(1) through the posting of a website on the Internet to 
        enable interested persons to easily find information and 
        application material for participation in activities under this 
        section, that contains a nationwide, publicly searchable data 
        bank of all State programs and all available public elementary 
        and secondary teaching positions the Secretary is able to 
        practicably ascertain, and a means by which individuals may 
        apply to, or inquire of, multiple States' alternative 
        certification programs under this section;
            ``(2) providing information to every State about the 
        program under this section, including the criteria for State 
        and individual eligibility; and
            ``(3) conducting other activities, either directly or 
        through contract with other appropriate entities, to broaden 
        awareness and participation in the program under this section.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 
in fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2003 through 2007.''.

SOLUTION: Careers to Classrooms Act of 2001 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a Careers to Classrooms program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to States for: (1) teacher recruitment, education, training, referral, placement, and retention activities to place eligible individuals as certified teachers in public schools through State-approved alternative certification programs; (2) stipends for eligible individuals enrolled in programs who agree to seek certification through teacher certification programs in that State and teach in a high-need school in that State, with preference for those individuals needing such assistance; (3) grants to high-need elementary or secondary schools to offset the teacher mentoring, alternative certification, and other direct costs associated with accepting eligible individuals under this Act; (4) grants to accredited institutions of higher education to develop alternative certification programs, with preference given to programs tailored to eligible individuals; and (5) other activities determined by the State to be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires preference for such grants to be given to States that have developed, or are developing, alternative certification programs that: (1) rapidly place quality certified teachers into the classroom; (2) emphasize subject matter content; and (3) lead to the certification and placement of a large number of teachers in relation to the number of public elementary school and secondary school teachers in the State.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Workforce Reduction Act of 
2010''.

SEC. 2. REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

    Section 3101 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Each Executive agency'' and inserting 
        ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), each Executive 
        agency''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Reduction in Number of Employees.--
            ``(1) Hiring freeze.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        during fiscal year 2011 and each succeeding fiscal year for 
        which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (in 
        such manner as the Director determines to be appropriate) 
        projects a Federal budget deficit, the head of an Executive 
        agency may not appoint any individual to a position in the 
        agency.
            ``(2) Permitting appointments from federal workforce hiring 
        pool.--
                    ``(A) Establishment of pool.--The President shall 
                establish a Federal workforce hiring pool consisting of 
                positions which may be allocated among all Executive 
                agencies.
                    ``(B) Procedures.--The head of an Executive agency 
                may appoint an individual to a position in the agency 
                if--
                            ``(i) there is a position available in the 
                        Federal workforce hiring pool;
                            ``(ii) the head of the Executive agency 
                        submits a request to the President for the 
                        allocation of a position in the Federal 
                        workforce hiring pool to the agency for 
                        purposes of making an appointment; and
                            ``(iii) the President approves the request.
                    ``(C) Process and criteria for approving 
                requests.--The President shall promulgate regulations--
                            ``(i) setting forth the process by which 
                        the head of an Executive agency may make a 
                        request under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) setting forth the criteria by which 
                        the President shall determine on a competitive 
                        basis whether to approve a request by the head 
                        of an Executive agency under this subsection.
                    ``(D) Number of positions in pool.--
                            ``(i) Initial number.--As of the first day 
                        of fiscal year 2011, the number of positions in 
                        the Federal workforce hiring pool shall equal 
                        zero.
                            ``(ii) Changes to initial number.--After 
                        the first day of fiscal year 2011, the number 
                        of positions in the Federal workforce hiring 
                        pool--
                                    ``(I) shall increase by .50 for 
                                each full-time-equivalent position in 
                                any Executive agency which subsequently 
                                becomes vacant; and
                                    ``(II) shall decrease by 1.0 for 
                                each request for a full-time equivalent 
                                position which is approved by the 
                                President under this subsection.
            ``(3) Waiver in case of emergency or need to protect 
        national security.--The President may waive this subsection 
        with respect to the hiring of an employee for a position upon a 
        determination by the President that--
                    ``(A) the existence of a state of war or other 
                national security concern so requires; or
                    ``(B) the existence of an extraordinary emergency 
                threatening life, health, safety, or property so 
                requires.
            ``(4) Action through opm.--The President shall carry out 
        this subsection through the Director of the Office of Personnel 
        Management, who shall consult with the Director of the Office 
        of Management and Budget.
            ``(5) Reports to congress.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
                end of each quarter of a fiscal year, the President 
                shall provide Congress with a report containing a list 
                of each appointment approved by the President under 
                this subsection during the quarter, broken down by 
                executive agency.
                    ``(B) Information included.--The list contained in 
                a report provided to Congress under subparagraph (A) 
                shall include a description of the position associated 
                with each approved appointment, but shall not provide 
                any information that may be used to identify the 
                individual appointed to the position.
                    ``(C) Public dissemination.--The President shall 
                make each report provided to Congress under 
                subparagraph (A) available to the public by posting the 
                report on the official public website of the Executive 
                Office of the President in a searchable, sortable, and 
                downloadable manner.
            ``(6) Exclusion of certain executive agencies.--This 
        subsection does not apply to--
                    ``(A) the Department of Defense;
                    ``(B) the Department of Homeland Security; or
                    ``(C) the Department of Veterans' Affairs.''.

SOLUTION: Federal Workforce Reduction Act of 2010 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from appointing any individual to a position in the agency in any fiscal year for which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projects a federal budget deficit. Makes an exception if: (1) there is a position available in the federal workforce hiring pool (to be established by the President); and (2) the President approves an agency head's request for the allocation of a position in the pool to the agency.

Sets the number of positions in the hiring pool at zero as of the first day of FY2011, after which the number shall: (1) increase by .50 for each full time-equivalent position in any agency which subsequently becomes vacant; and (2) decrease by 1.0 for each request for a full time-equivalent position that is approved by the President. Authorizes the President to waive this limitation upon determining that such waiver is required by the existence of a state of war, other national security concern, or an extraordinary emergency threatening life, health, safety, or property.

 Exempts the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
Employment Discrimination Resolution and Adjudication Act''.

SEC. 2. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting at the end of subchapter I the following new 
section:
``Sec. 516. Equal employment responsibilities
    ``(a) The Secretary shall provide that the employment 
discrimination complaint resolution system within the Department be 
established and administered so as to encourage timely and fair 
resolution of concerns and complaints. The Secretary shall take steps 
to ensure that the system is administered in an objective, fair, and 
effective manner and in a manner that is perceived by employees and 
other interested parties as being objective, fair, and effective.
    ``(b) The Secretary shall provide--
            ``(1) that employees responsible for counseling functions 
        associated with employment discrimination and for receiving, 
        investigating, and processing complaints of employment 
        discrimination shall be supervised in those functions by, and 
        report to, an Assistant Secretary or a Deputy Assistant 
        Secretary for complaint resolution management; and
            ``(2) that employees performing employment discrimination 
        complaint resolution functions at a facility of the Department 
        shall not be subject to the authority, direction, and control 
        of the Director of the facility with respect to those 
        functions.
    ``(c) The Secretary shall ensure that all employees of the 
Department receive adequate education and training for the purposes of 
this section and section 319 of this title.
    ``(d) The Secretary shall impose appropriate disciplinary measures, 
as authorized by law, in the case of employees of the Department who 
engage in unlawful employment discrimination, including retaliation 
against an employee asserting rights under an equal employment 
opportunity law.
    ``(e) The number of employees of the Department whose duties 
include equal employment opportunity counseling functions as well as 
other, unrelated functions may not exceed 40 full-time equivalent 
employees. Any such employee may be assigned equal employment 
opportunity counseling functions only at Department facilities in 
remote geographic locations (as determined by the Secretary). The 
Secretary may waive the limitation in the preceding sentence in 
specific cases.
    ``(f) The provisions of this section shall be implemented in a 
manner consistent with procedures applicable under regulations 
prescribed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 515 the 
following new item:

``516. Equal employment responsibilities.''.
    (b) Reports on Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall submit to Congress reports on the implementation and operation of 
the equal employment opportunity system within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. The first such report shall be submitted not later 
than April 1, 1998, and subsequent reports shall be submitted not later 
than January 1, 1999, and January 1, 2000. Each such report shall set 
forth the actions taken by the Secretary to implement section 516 of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and other 
actions taken by the Secretary in relation to the equal employment 
opportunity system within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 3. DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT ADJUDICATION AUTHORITY IN THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 319. Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication
    ``(a)(1) There is in the Department an Office of Employment 
Discrimination Complaint Adjudication. There is at the head of the 
Office a Director.
    ``(2) The Director shall be a career appointee in the Senior 
Executive Service.
    ``(3) The Director reports directly to the Secretary or the Deputy 
Secretary concerning matters within the responsibility of the Office.
    ``(b)(1) The Director is responsible for making the final agency 
decision within the Department on the merits of any employment 
discrimination complaint filed by an employee, or an applicant for 
employment, with the Department. The Director shall make such decisions 
in an impartial and objective manner.
    ``(2) No person may make any ex parte communication to the Director 
or to any employee of the Office with respect to a matter on which the 
Director has responsibility for making a final agency decision.
    ``(c) Whenever the Director has reason to believe that there has 
been retaliation against an employee by reason of the employee 
asserting rights under an equal employment opportunity law, the 
Director shall report the suspected retaliatory action directly to the 
Secretary or Deputy Secretary, who shall take appropriate action 
thereon.
    ``(d)(1) The Office shall employ a sufficient number of attorneys 
and other personnel as are necessary to carry out the functions of the 
Office. Attorneys shall be compensated at a level commensurate with 
attorneys employed by the Office of General Counsel.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the Director is furnished 
sufficient resources in addition to personnel under paragraph (1) to 
enable the Director to carry out the functions of the Office in a 
timely manner.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall ensure that any performance appraisal of 
the Director of the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint 
Adjudication or of any employee of the Office does not take into 
consideration the record of the Director or employee in deciding cases 
for or against the Department.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``319. Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication.''.
    (b) Reports on Implementation.--The Director of the Office of 
Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (established by section 319 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a)) shall submit to the Secretary and to 
Congress reports on the implementation and the operation of that 
office. The first such report shall be submitted not later than April 
1, 1998, and subsequent reports shall be submitted not later than 
January 1, 1999, and January 1, 2000.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Sections 516 and 319 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
sections 2 and 3 of this Act, shall take effect 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. INDEPENDENT PANEL TO REVIEW EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND 
              SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROCEDURES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a panel to review 
the equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment practices and 
procedures within the Department of Veterans Affairs and to make 
recommendations on improvements to those practices and procedures.
    (b) Panel Functions Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity and 
Sexual Harassment.--The panel shall assess the culture of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in relationship to the issues of equal 
employment opportunity and sexual harassment, determine the effect of 
that culture on the operation of the Department overall, and provide 
recommendations as necessary to change that culture. As part of the 
review, the panel shall do the following:
            (1) Determine whether laws relating to equal employment 
        opportunity and sexual harassment, as those laws apply to the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and regulations and policy 
        directives of the Department relating to equal employment 
        opportunity and sexual harassment have been consistently and 
        fairly applied throughout the Department and make 
        recommendations to correct any disparities.
            (2) Review practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
        relevant studies, and private sector training and reporting 
        concepts as those practices, studies, and concepts pertain to 
        equal employment opportunity, sexual misconduct, and sexual 
        harassment policies and enforcement.
            (3) Provide an independent assessment of the Report on the 
        Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint Process Review Task 
        Force of the Department.
    (c) Composition.--(1) The panel shall be composed of six members, 
appointed as follows:
            (A) Three members shall be appointed jointly by the 
        chairman and ranking minority party member of the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
            (B) Three members shall be appointed jointly by the 
        chairman and ranking minority party member of the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
    (2) The members of the panel shall choose one of the members to 
chair the panel.
    (d) Qualifications.--Members of the panel shall be appointed from 
among private United States citizens with knowledge and expertise in 
one or more of the following:
            (1) Extensive prior military experience, particularly in 
        the area of personnel policy management.
            (2) Extensive experience with equal employment opportunity 
        complaint procedures, either within Federal or State government 
        or in the private sector.
            (3) Extensive knowledge of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, and particularly knowledge of personnel practices 
        within the Department.
    (e) Reports.--(1) Not later than six months after the members of 
the panel are appointed, the panel shall submit an interim report on 
its findings and conclusions to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
the Senate and House of Representatives.
    (2) Not later than one year after establishment of the panel, the 
panel shall submit a final report to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives. The final report 
shall include an assessment of the equal employment opportunity system 
and the culture within the Department of Veterans Affairs, with 
particular emphasis on sexual harassment. The panel shall include in 
the report recommendations to improve the culture within the 
Department.
    (f) Pay and Expenses of Members.--(1) Each member of the panel 
shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of 
the duties of the panel.
    (2) The members of the panel shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
business in the performance of services for the panel.
    (g) Administrative Support.--The Chairman may hire such staff as 
necessary to accomplish the duties outlined under this title.
    (h) Funding.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, upon the 
request of the panel, make available to the panel such amounts as the 
panel may require, not to exceed $400,000, to carry out its duties 
under this title.
    (i) Termination of Panel.--The panel shall terminate 60 days after 
the date on which it submits its final report under subsection (e)(2).

            Passed the House of Representatives October 6, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.

SOLUTION:
Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Discrimination Resolution and Adjudication Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide that the employment discrimination complaint resolution system within the Department of Veterans Affairs be established and administered so as to encourage timely and fair resolution of concerns and complaints and that the system is administered in an objective, fair, and effective manner as perceived by Department employees.  Directs the Secretary to impose appropriate disciplinary measures for Department employees who engage in unlawful employment discrimination, including retaliation against employees asserting equal employment opportunity (EEO) rights.  Limits to 40 the number of Department employees whose duties include EEO counseling functions as well as other unrelated functions.  Allows such splitting of functions only at Department facilities located in remote geographic locations.  Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress reports on the implementation and operation of the EEO system within the Department. 
Establishes in the Department an Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication headed by a Director who shall be responsible for making final agency decisions on the merits of any unlawful employment discrimination complaints filed by a Department employee.  Requires the Director to report to the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs when the Director has reason to believe that there has been retaliation against an employee asserting EEO rights.  Requires the Director to submit to the Secretary and the Congress reports on the implementation and operation of the Office. 
Establishes an independent panel to review and report to the veterans' committees on the EEO and sexual harassment practices and procedures within the Department and to make recommendations on improvements.