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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity 
Enhancement Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Mental health treatment capacity at community-based 
        outpatient clinics remains inadequate and inconsistent, despite 
        the requirement under section 1706(c) of title 38, United 
        States Code, that every primary care health care facility of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs develop and carry out a plan 
        to meet the mental health care needs of veterans who require 
        such services.
            (2) In 2001, the minority staff of the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate conducted a survey of 
        community-based outpatient clinics and found that there was no 
        established systemwide baseline of acceptable mental health 
        service levels at such clinics.
            (3) In 2004, the Department of Veterans Affairs workgroup 
        on mental health care, which developed and submitted a 
        Comprehensive Mental Health Strategic Plan to the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, found service and funding gaps within the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, and made 
        numerous recommendations for improvements. As of May 2005, 
        Congress had not received a final report on the workgroup's 
        findings.
            (4) In February 2005, the Government Accountability Office 
        reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs had not fully 
        met any of the 24 clinical care and education recommendations 
        made in 2004 by the Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress 
        Disorder of the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health 
        Administration.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

    (a) Strengthening of Performance Measures for Mental Health 
Programs.--Section 1706(b)(6) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(D) The Under Secretary shall include, as goals in the 
performance contracts entered into with Network Directors to prioritize 
mental health services--
            ``(i) establishing appropriate staff-patient ratio levels 
        for various programs (including mental health services at 
        community-based outpatient clinics);
            ``(ii) fostering collaborative environments for providers; 
        and
            ``(iii) encouraging clinicians to conduct mental health 
        consultations during primary care visits.''.
    (b) Inflationary Indexing of Capacity Requirements.--Section 
1706(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(7) For the purposes of meeting and reporting on the capacity 
requirements under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that the 
funding levels allocated for specialized treatment and rehabilitative 
services for disabled veterans are adjusted for inflation each fiscal 
year.''.
    (c) Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.--Section 1706(c) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that not less than 90 percent of 
community-based outpatient clinics have the capacity to provide onsite, 
contract-referral, or tele-mental health services--
            ``(A) for at least 10 percent of all clinic visits by not 
        later than September 30, 2006; and
            ``(B) for at least 15 percent of all clinic visits by not 
        later than September 30, 2007.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall ensure that not less than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph--
            ``(A) each primary care health care facility of the 
        Department has the capacity and resources to provide not less 
        than 5 days of inpatient, residential detoxification services 
        onsite or at a nearby contracted or Department facility; and
            ``(B) a case manager is assigned to coordinate follow up 
        outpatient services at each community-based outpatient 
        clinic.''.
    (d) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than January 31, 2008, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a report to Congress that--
            (1) describes the status and availability of mental health 
        services at community-based outpatient clinics;
            (2) describes the substance of services available at such 
        clinics;
            (3) includes the ratios between mental health staff and 
        patients at such clinics; and
            (4) includes the certification of the Inspector General of 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 4. COOPERATION ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND PREVENTION.

    (a) Agreement.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding--
            (1) to ensure that separating servicemembers receive 
        standardized individual mental health and sexual trauma 
        assessments as part of separation exams; and
            (2) includes the development of shared guidelines on how to 
        conduct the assessments.
    (b) Establishment of Joint VA-DoD Workgroup on Mental Health.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a joint workgroup 
        on mental health, which shall be comprised of not less than 7 
        leaders in the field of mental health appointed from their 
        respective departments.
            (2) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the establishment 
        of the workgroup under paragraph (1), the workgroup shall 
        analyze the feasibility, content, and scope of initiatives 
        related to--
                    (A) combating stigmas and prejudices associated 
                with servicemembers who suffer from mental health 
                disorders or readjustment issues, through the use of 
                peer counseling programs or other educational 
                initiatives;
                    (B) ways in which the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs can make their expertise in treating mental 
                health disorders more readily available to Department 
                of Defense mental health care providers;
                    (C) family and spousal education to assist family 
                members of veterans and servicemembers to recognize and 
                deal with signs of potential readjustment issues or 
                other mental health disorders; and
                    (D) seamless transition of servicemembers who have 
                been diagnosed with mental health disorders from active 
                duty to veteran status (in consultation with the 
                Seamless Transition Task Force and other entities 
                assisting in this effort).
            (3) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2007, the Secretary of 
        Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a 
        report to Congress containing the findings and recommendations 
        of the workgroup established under this subsection.

SEC. 5. PRIMARY CARE CONSULTATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

    (a) Guidelines.--The Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health 
Administration, shall establish systemwide guidelines for screening 
primary care patients for mental health disorders and illnesses.
    (b) Training.--Based upon the guidelines established under 
subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health 
Administration, shall conduct appropriate training for clinicians of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out mental health 
consultations.

SOLUTION: Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity Enhancement Act of 2005 - Requires the Under Secretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include as goals in performance contracts for prioritizing mental health services to veterans: (1) establishing appropriate staff-patient ratio levels; (2) fostering collaborative environments for providers; and (3) encouraging clinicians to conduct mental health consultations during primary care visits.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that not less than 90 percent of Department community-based outpatient clinics have the capacity to provide on-site, contract-referral, or tele-mental health services for at least: (1) ten percent of all clinic visits by no later than September 30, 2006; and (2) 15 percent of all clinic visits by no later than September 30, 2007.

Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure interdepartmental cooperation on mental health awareness and mental illness prevention.

Requires the Under Secretary to establish system-wide guidelines for screening primary care patients for mental health disorders and illnesses.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Northwest Straits Marine 
Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION 
              INITIATIVE ACT.

    The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act (title IV 
of Public Law 105-384; 112 Stat. 3458) is amended--
            (1) in section 402, by striking ``(in this title referred 
        to as the `Commission')'';
            (2) by striking sections 403 and 404;
            (3) by redesignating section 405 as section 410; and
            (4) by inserting after section 402 the following new 
        sections:

``SEC. 403. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the Northwest 
        Straits in Puget Sound in the State of Washington represent a 
        unique resource of enormous environmental and economic value to 
        the people of the United States.
            ``(2) During the 20th century, the environmental health of 
        the Northwest Straits declined dramatically as indicated by 
        impaired water quality, declines in marine wildlife, collapse 
        of harvestable marine species, loss of critical marine 
        habitats, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.
            ``(3) At the start of the 21st century, the Northwest 
        Straits have been threatened by sea level rise, ocean 
        acidification, and other effects of climate change.
            ``(4) In 1998, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
        Initiative Act (title IV of Public Law 105-384) was enacted to 
        tap the unprecedented level of citizen stewardship demonstrated 
        in the Northwest Straits and create a mechanism to mobilize 
        public support and raise capacity for local efforts to protect 
        and restore the ecosystem of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(5) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
        helps the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 
        other Federal agencies with their marine missions by fostering 
        local interest in marine issues and involving diverse groups of 
        citizens.
            ``(6) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
        shares many of the same goals with the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration, including fostering citizen 
        stewardship of marine resources, general ecosystem management, 
        and protecting federally managed marine species.
            ``(7) Ocean literacy and identification and removal of 
        marine debris projects are examples of on-going partnerships 
        between the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
        and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

``SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the 
        Northwest Straits Advisory Commission established by section 
        402.
            ``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            ``(3) Northwest straits.--The term `Northwest Straits' 
        means the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of 
        Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of 
        Snohomish County.

``SEC. 405. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of up to 14 
members who shall be appointed as follows:
            ``(1) One member appointed by a consensus of the members of 
        a marine resources committee established under section 408 for 
        each of the following counties of the State of Washington:
                    ``(A) San Juan County.
                    ``(B) Island County.
                    ``(C) Skagit County.
                    ``(D) Whatcom County.
                    ``(E) Snohomish County.
                    ``(F) Clallam County.
                    ``(G) Jefferson County.
            ``(2) Two members appointed by the Secretary of the 
        Interior in trust capacity and in consultation with the 
        Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission or the Indian tribes 
        affected by this title collectively, as the Secretary of the 
        Interior considers appropriate, to represent the interests of 
        such tribes.
            ``(3) One member appointed by the Governor of the State of 
        Washington to represent the interests of the Puget Sound 
        Partnership.
            ``(4) Four members appointed by the Governor of the State 
        of Washington who--
                    ``(A) are residents of the State of Washington; and
                    ``(B) are not employed by a Federal, State, or 
                local government.
    ``(b) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    ``(c) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson from 
among its members.
    ``(d) Meeting.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson, but not less frequently than quarterly.
    ``(e) Liaison.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting 
        through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and in 
        consultation with the Director of the Commission appointed 
        under section 407(a), shall appoint an employee of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--
                    ``(A) to serve as a liaison between the Commission 
                and the Department of Commerce; and
                    ``(B) to attend meetings and other events of the 
                Commission as a nonvoting participant.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Service of an employee as an appointee 
        under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) shall be limited to service as a liaison and 
                attendance of meetings and other events as a nonvoting 
                participant; and
                    ``(B) does not obligate the employee to perform any 
                duty of the Commission under section 406(b).

``SEC. 406. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Goal.--The goal of the Commission is to protect and restore 
the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits 
region to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use by--
            ``(1) designing and initiating projects that are driven by 
        sound science, local priorities, community-based decisions, and 
        the ability to measure results;
            ``(2) building awareness and stewardship and making 
        recommendations to improve the health of the Northwest Straits 
        marine resources;
            ``(3) maintaining and expanding diverse membership and 
        partner organizations;
            ``(4) expanding partnerships with governments of Indian 
        tribes affected by this title and continuing to foster respect 
        for tribal cultures and treaties; and
            ``(5) recognizing the importance of economic and social 
        benefits that are dependent on marine environments and 
        sustainable marine resources.
    ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are the following:
            ``(1) To provide resources and technical support for marine 
        resources committees established under section 408.
            ``(2) To work with such marine resources committees and 
        appropriate entities of Federal and State governments and 
        Indian tribes affected by this title to develop programs to 
        monitor the overall health of the marine ecosystem of the 
        Northwest Straits.
            ``(3) To identify factors adversely affecting or preventing 
        the restoration of the health of the marine ecosystem and 
        coastal economies of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration and 
        protection recommendations, informed by local priorities, that 
        address such factors.
            ``(5) To assist in facilitating the successful 
        implementation of such recommendations by developing broad 
        support among appropriate authorities, stakeholder groups, and 
        local communities.
            ``(6) To develop regional projects based on such 
        recommendations to protect and restore the Northwest Straits 
        ecosystem.
            ``(7) To serve as a public forum for the discussion of 
        policies and actions of Federal, State, or local government, an 
        Indian tribe affected by this title, or the Government of 
        Canada with respect to the marine ecosystem of the Northwest 
        Straits.
            ``(8) To inform appropriate authorities and local 
        communities about the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits 
        and about issues relating to the marine ecosystem of the 
        Northwest Straits.
            ``(9) To consult with all Indian tribes affected by this 
        title to ensure that the work of the Commission does not 
        violate tribal treaty rights.
    ``(c) Benchmarks.--The Commission shall carry out its duties in a 
manner that promotes the achieving of the benchmarks described in 
subsection (f)(2).
    ``(d) Coordination and Collaboration.--The Commission shall carry 
out the duties described in subsection (b) in coordination and 
collaboration, when appropriate, with Federal, State, and local 
governments and Indian tribes affected by this title.
    ``(e) Regulatory Authority.--The Commission shall have no power to 
issue regulations.
    ``(f) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each year, the Commission shall prepare, 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Natural 
        Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Under 
        Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and make available to the 
        public an annual report describing--
                    ``(A) the activities carried out by the Commission 
                during the preceding year; and
                    ``(B) the progress of the Commission in achieving 
                the benchmarks described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Benchmarks.--The benchmarks described in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) Protection and restoration of marine, 
                coastal, and nearshore habitats.
                    ``(B) Prevention of loss and achievement of a net 
                gain of healthy habitat areas.
                    ``(C) Protection and restoration of marine 
                populations to healthy, sustainable levels.
                    ``(D) Protection of the marine water quality of the 
                Northwest Straits region and restoration of the health 
                of marine waters.
                    ``(E) Collection of high-quality data and promotion 
                of the use and dissemination of such data.
                    ``(F) Promotion of stewardship and understanding of 
                Northwest Straits marine resources through education 
                and outreach.

``SEC. 407. COMMISSION PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

    ``(a) Director.--The Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental 
Assistance Program of the Department of Ecology of the State of 
Washington may, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the 
Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 
appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. The employment of 
the Director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
    ``(b) Staff.--The Director may hire such other personnel as may be 
appropriate to enable the Commission to perform its duties. Such 
personnel shall be hired through the personnel system of the Department 
of Ecology of the State of Washington.
    ``(c) Administrative Services.--If the Governor of the State of 
Washington makes available to the Commission the administrative 
services of the State of Washington Department of Ecology, the 
Commission shall use such services for employment, procurement, grant 
and fiscal management, and support services necessary to carry out the 
duties of the Commission.

``SEC. 408. MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEES.

    ``(a) In General.--The government of each of the counties referred 
to in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of section 405(a)(1) may establish 
a marine resources committee that--
            ``(1) complies with the requirements of this section; and
            ``(2) receives from such government the mission, direction, 
        expert assistance, and financial resources necessary--
                    ``(A) to address issues affecting the marine 
                ecosystems within its county; and
                    ``(B) to work to achieve the benchmarks described 
                in section 406(f)(2).
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each marine resources committee 
        established pursuant to this section shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) members with relevant scientific expertise; 
                and
                    ``(B) members that represent balanced 
                representation, including representation of--
                            ``(i) local governments, including planning 
                        staff from counties and cities with marine 
                        shorelines;
                            ``(ii) affected economic interests, such as 
                        ports and commercial fishers;
                            ``(iii) affected recreational interests, 
                        such as sport fishers; and
                            ``(iv) conservation and environmental 
                        interests.
            ``(2) Tribal members.--With respect to a county referred to 
        in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of section 405(a)(1), each 
        Indian tribe with usual and accustomed fishing rights in the 
        waters of such county and each Indian tribe with reservation 
        lands in such county, may appoint one member to the marine 
        resources committee for such county. Such member may be 
        appointed by the respective tribal authority.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each marine resources committee 
                established pursuant to this section shall select a 
                chairperson from among members by a majority vote of 
                the members of the committee.
                    ``(B) Rotating position.--Each marine resources 
                committee established pursuant to this section shall 
                select a new chairperson at a frequency determined by 
                the county charter of the marine resources committee to 
                create a diversity of representation in the leadership 
                of the marine resources committee.
    ``(c) Duties.--The duties of a marine resources committee 
established pursuant to this section are the following:
            ``(1) To assist in assessing marine resource problems in 
        concert with governmental agencies, tribes, and other entities.
            ``(2) To assist in identifying local implications, needs, 
        and strategies associated with the recovery of Puget Sound 
        salmon and other species in the region of the Northwest Straits 
        listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 
        et seq.) in coordination with Federal, State, and local 
        governments, Indian tribes affected by this title, and other 
        entities.
            ``(3) To work with other entities to enhance the scientific 
        baseline and monitoring program for the marine environment of 
        the Northwest Straits.
            ``(4) To identify local priorities for marine resource 
        conservation and develop new projects to address those needs.
            ``(5) To work closely with county leadership to implement 
        local marine conservation and restoration initiatives.
            ``(6) To coordinate with the Commission on marine ecosystem 
        objectives.
            ``(7) To educate the public and key constituencies 
        regarding the relationship between healthy marine habitats, 
        harvestable resources, and human activities.

``SEC. 409. NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Commission and the 
Director of the State of Washington Department of Ecology, or his or 
her designee, may enter into an agreement with an organization 
described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
establish a nonprofit foundation to support the Commission and the 
marine resources committees established under section 408 in carrying 
out their duties under this Act.
    ``(b) Designation.--The foundation authorized by subsection (a) 
shall be known as the `Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation'.
    ``(c) Receipt of Grants.--The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation may, if eligible, apply for, accept, and use grants awarded 
by Federal agencies, States, local governments, regional agencies, 
interstate agencies, corporations, foundations, or other persons to 
assist the Commission and the marine resources committees in carrying 
out their duties under this Act.
    ``(d) Transfer of Funds.--The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation may transfer funds to the Commission or the marine resources 
committees to assist them in carrying out their duties under this 
Act.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 7, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.

SOLUTION: Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to define "Northwest Straits" as the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish County, Washington.

Sets forth the membership of the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, to appoint an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to serve as a liaison between the Commission and the Department of Commerce and to attend the Commission's meetings and events as a nonvoting participant. States the goal of the Commission as the protection and restoration of the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits region in Washington to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use. Enumerates the duties of the Commission and establishes benchmarks for its work. Requires the Commission to submit annual reports to Congress and the Under Secretary on its activities and its progress in achieving specified benchmarks.

Authorizes the Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program of Washington's Department of Ecology, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, to appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. Requires the Director to be confirmed by the Commission.

Provides for the establishment of marine resources committees in specified counties of Washington.

Authorizes the Director of the Commission and the Director of the State of Washington Department of Ecology to establish the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Foundation as a nonprofit foundation to support the Commission and the marine resources committees established by this Act.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog 
and Accountability Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is statutorily 
        obligated to provide to individuals who served in the Armed 
        Forces and sustained an injury as a direct result of such 
        service with health care, disability compensation, and related 
        resources.
            (2) Disability compensation payments are intended to 
        provide relief for some of the socioeconomic and other losses 
        veterans experience as a result of service-connected diseases 
        and injuries.
            (3) A recent review by the Government Accountability Office 
        found that the backlog of disability claims at the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs has more than tripled since 2009 and the 
        average length of time to complete a claim has increased from 
        161 days in 2009 to 260 days in 2012.
            (4) In August 2012, approximately 568,043 claims or two-
        thirds of all compensation rating claims are backlogged.
            (5) The Government Accountability Office found that delays 
        in obtaining service and medical records for veterans who 
        served in the National Guard or Reserve is a significant factor 
        in lengthening the claims process for these veterans even 
        though they make up 43 percent of veterans who served during 
        the Global War on Terrorism.
            (6) The Government Accountability Office found that if a 
        veteran submits a disability claim and reports receiving 
        disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to help the 
        veteran obtain relevant Federal records, including medical 
        records from the Social Security Administration to process the 
        claim.
            (7) There is an interagency agreement between the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security 
        Administration, but the protocols of the Department and the 
        response time of the Administration can take a year before the 
        Department has obtained the requested information.
            (8) The Government Accountability Office found that 
        approximately 50 percent of claims processing staff have been 
        in their current role for less than two years and are not yet 
        proficient in their duties requiring supervision and review 
        from more experienced claims processing staff, diverting them 
        from their claims processing responsibilities.
            (9) Veterans and their families have already selflessly and 
        willingly sacrificed for our nation and faced numerous 
        hardships; they should not have to continue to face undue and 
        avoidable hardships after their service as they seek the 
        benefits they earned.
            (10) On March 24, 2013, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        Eric K. Shinseki stated in an interview on State of the Union 
        television show, ``no veteran should have to wait for claims as 
        they are today. We have a fix for this. We're open for 
        business. And we will end the backlog in 2015.''.
            (11) On April 15, 2013, the Secretary, in written testimony 
        before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, again 
        stated that the ``VA remains focused on eliminating the 
        disability claims backlog in 2015 and processing all claims 
        within 125 days at a 98-percent accuracy level.''.
            (12) On April 19, 2013, the Secretary again stated in a New 
        York Times article titled ``V.A. Aims to Reduce Its Backlog of 
        Claims'', that the Department will ``eliminate the backlog by 
        2015.''.
            (13) Numerous congressional inquiries for progress reports 
        and detailed information regarding the disability claims 
        backlog remain unanswered, while the Secretary continues to 
        state the claims backlog will be eliminated by 2015, claims 
        processing accuracy will be increased to 98 percent, and claims 
        processing will take no longer than 125 days as a direct result 
        of the ``Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims 
        Backlog'' of the Department.
            (14) The Government Accountability Office found that the 
        ``Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims Backlog'' 
        of the Department does not adequately articulate how the 
        Department will meet its goals, and planning documents that the 
        Department provided does not meet the established criteria of 
        the Government Accountability Office for sound planning, 
        potentially leading to concerns about the ability of the 
        Department to reduce claims backlogs.

SEC. 3. TIMELINE AND METRICS TO RESOLVE BACKLOG OF DISABILITY CLAIMS.

    (a) Implementation of Strategic Plan To Eliminate the Compensation 
Claims Backlog.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement the 
Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims Backlog, published 
by the Secretary on January 25, 2013, to ensure that by Memorial Day 
(May 25), 2015, each claim for disability compensation under the laws 
administered by the Secretary (in this Act referred to as a ``claim'') 
is approved or denied by not later than 125 days after the date on 
which the claim is submitted with an accuracy rate of 98 percent.
    (b) Supplemental Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to Congress a supplemental report to the Strategic Plan to 
Eliminate the Compensation Claims Backlog that includes the following:
            (1) Specific measures, procedures, and metrics to assess 
        the implementation of the plan pursuant to subsection (a).
            (2) A detailed timeline to implement each initiative 
        contained in the Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation 
        Claims Backlog.

SEC. 4. EXPEDITION OF TRANSFER OF CERTAIN RECORDS.

    (a) SSA Records.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter 
into an agreement with the Commissioner of the Social Security 
Administration to ensure that the Commissioner transfers to the 
Secretary disability or medical records of the Commissioner that the 
Secretary will use to evaluate a claim by not later than 30 days after 
the Secretary requests such records.
    (b) DOD Records.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter 
into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the 
Secretary of Defense transfers to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
medical records of members or former members of the Armed Forces that 
the Secretary will use to evaluate a claim by not later than 30 days 
after the Secretary requests such records.
    (c) National Guard Records.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
Secretary of Defense shall jointly--
            (1) submit to Congress a plan to reduce to 30 days the 
        amount of time needed to provide members of the National Guard 
        and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the medical records 
        of such members, including by partnering with appropriate 
        officials of Federal or State departments or agencies; and
            (2) implement such plan.

SEC. 5. CLAIMS PROCESSORS TRAINING.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish a training program to provide newly hired claims processors 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs with training for a period of not 
less than three years. In carrying out such program, the Secretary 
shall identify successful claims processors of the Department who can 
assist in the training of newly hired claims processors.
    (b) Ability to Process Claims.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
training program established under subsection (a) without increasing 
the amount of time in which claims are processed by the Department.

SEC. 6. REPORTS BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and each 90-day period thereafter, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
report on the progress of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 
implementing the Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims 
Backlog pursuant to section 3(a).
    (b) Matters Included.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) Whether the Secretary is meeting the timeline of the 
        Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims Backlog.
            (2) An analysis of the implementation by the Secretary of 
        such plan.
            (3) Administrative or regulatory recommendations of the 
        Comptroller General with respect to improving the ability of 
        the Secretary to carry out section 3(a).

SOLUTION:
Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement the Strategic Plan to Eliminate the Compensation Claims Backlog (Plan) to ensure that, by Memorial Day (May 25) 2015, each VA disability claim is approved or denied within 125 days after its submission, with an accuracy rate of 98%. Requires a supplemental report from the Secretary to Congress on specific measures to assess implementation of the Plan and a detailed timeline to implement each initiative contained in the Plan. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that such Commissioner and DOD Secretary transfer to the VA disability or medical records the VA Secretary will use to evaluate a disability claim by not later than 30 days after the VA Secretary requests such records.  Requires the two Secretaries to submit to Congress, and implement, a plan to reduce to 30 days the time needed to provide members of the National Guard and the VA Secretary with the medical records of such members. Requires the VA Secretary to establish a three-year training program for newly-hired VA claims processors. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress every 90 days on the Secretary's progress in implementing the Plan.