In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
--------
Question: SECTION 1. SPECIAL DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE AND RECOVERY PERIOD FOR 
              NONCOMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT PROPERTY.

    (a) In General.--Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) Special Allowance for Noncommercial Airplanes.--
            ``(1) Additional allowance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of any qualified 
                noncommercial aircraft to which this subparagraph 
                applies--
                            ``(i) the depreciation deduction provided 
                        by section 167(a) for the taxable year in which 
                        such property is placed in service shall 
                        include an allowance equal to 50 percent of the 
                        adjusted basis of the qualified noncommercial 
                        aircraft property, and
                            ``(ii) the adjusted basis of the qualified 
                        noncommercial aircraft property shall be 
                        reduced by the amount of such deduction before 
                        computing the amount otherwise allowable as a 
                        depreciation deduction under this chapter for 
                        such taxable year and any subsequent taxable 
                        year.
                    ``(B) Application to aircraft purchased in 2010 or 
                2011.--Subparagraph (A) applies to qualified 
                noncommercial aircraft property placed in service after 
                December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2012, which 
                is--
                            ``(i) acquired by the taxpayer after 
                        December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2012, 
                        but only if no written binding contract for the 
                        acquisition was in effect before January 1, 
                        2010, or
                            ``(ii) acquired by the taxpayer pursuant to 
                        a written binding contract which was entered 
                        into after December 31, 2009, and before 
                        January 1, 2012, and
            ``(2) Recovery period.--For purposes of this section--
                    ``(A) In general.--Qualified noncommercial aircraft 
                to which this subparagraph applies shall be treated as 
                3-year property.
                    ``(B) Application to aircraft purchased before 
                2015.--Subparagraph (A) applies to qualified 
                noncommercial aircraft placed in service after the date 
                of the enactment of this subsection and before January 
                1, 2015, which is--
                            ``(i) acquired by the taxpayer after the 
                        date of the enactment of this subsection and 
                        before January 1, 2015, but only if no written 
                        binding contract for the acquisition was in 
                        effect before such date of the enactment, or
                            ``(ii) acquired by the taxpayer pursuant to 
                        a written binding contract which was entered 
                        into after December 31, 2008, and before 
                        January 1, 2015, and
            ``(3) Qualified noncommercial aircraft property.--For 
        purposes of this subsection--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified 
                noncommercial aircraft property' means any aircraft--
                            ``(i) which is not used in the trade or 
                        business of transporting persons or property,
                            ``(ii) to which this section applies, and
                            ``(iii) the original use of which commences 
                        with the taxpayer after--
                                    ``(I) December 31, 2009, for 
                                purposes of paragraph (1), and
                                    ``(II) the date of the enactment of 
                                this subsection for purposes of 
                                paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Exceptions.--
                            ``(i) Bonus depreciation property under 
                        subsection (k).--The term `qualified 
                        noncommercial aircraft property' shall not 
                        include any property to which subsection (k)(1) 
                        applies.
                            ``(ii) Alternative depreciation property.--
                        The term `qualified noncommercial aircraft 
                        property' shall not include any property to 
                        which the alternative depreciation system under 
                        subsection (g) applies, determined--
                                    ``(I) without regard to paragraph 
                                (7) of subsection (g) (relating to 
                                election to have system apply), and
                                    ``(II) after application of section 
                                280F(b) (relating to listed property 
                                with limited business use).
                            ``(iii) Election out.--If a taxpayer makes 
                        an election under this clause with respect to 
                        any class of property for any taxable year, 
                        this subsection shall not apply to all property 
                        in such class placed in service during such 
                        taxable year.
                    ``(C) Special rule for self-constructed property.--
                In the case of a taxpayer manufacturing, constructing, 
                or producing property for the taxpayer's own use, if 
                the taxpayer begins manufacturing, constructing, or 
                producing the property--
                            ``(i) after December 31, 2009, and before 
                        January 1, 2012, for purposes of paragraph (1), 
                        and
                            ``(ii) after the date of the enactment of 
                        this subsection and before January 1, 2015, for 
                        purposes of paragraph (2),
                the requirements of paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B) (as the 
                case may be) shall be treated as met.
                    ``(D) Deduction allowed in computing minimum tax.--
                For purposes of determining alternative minimum taxable 
                income under section 55, the deduction under subsection 
                (a) for qualified noncommercial aircraft property shall 
                be determined under this section without regard to any 
                adjustment under section 56.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, in taxable years ending after such date.

Answer: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) increased depreciation of qualified noncommercial aircraft property placed in service in 2010 or 2011; and (2) a three-year recovery period for the depreciation of such property placed in service before 2015. Defines "qualified noncommercial aircraft property" as any aircraft that is not used in the trade or business of transporting persons or property and that is first used after 2009. Allows such increased depreciation as an offset against the alternative minimum tax.


Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine 
Support Act of 2017'' or the ``VETS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDING TREATMENT VIA TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1730A the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing 
              treatment via telemedicine
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding 
the licensure of health care professionals, a covered health care 
professional may practice the health care profession of the health care 
professional at any location in any State, regardless of where the 
covered health care professional or the patient is located, if the 
covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide 
treatment to an individual under this chapter.
    ``(b) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply 
to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient 
regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient 
is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such 
treatment.
    ``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health 
care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.).
    ``(d) Covered Health Care Professional Defined.--In this section, 
the term `covered health care professional' means a health care 
professional who--
            ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the 
        authority under sections 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of 
        this title, or title 5;
            ``(2) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care 
        under this chapter;
            ``(3) is required to adhere to all quality standards 
        relating to the provision of telemedicine in accordance with 
        applicable policies of the Department; and
            ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted 
        license, registration, or certification in a State to practice 
        the health care profession of the health care professional.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via 
                            telemedicine.''.
    (c) Report on Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the use of 
        telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans with telemedicine 
                furnished by the Department.
                    (B) The satisfaction of health care providers in 
                providing telemedicine furnished by the Department.
                    (C) The effect of telemedicine furnished by the 
                Department on the following:
                            (i) The ability of veterans to access 
                        health care, whether from the Department or 
                        from non-Department health care providers.
                            (ii) The frequency of use by veterans of 
                        telemedicine.
                            (iii) The productivity of health care 
                        providers.
                            (iv) Wait times for an appointment for the 
                        receipt of health care from the Department.
                            (v) The reduction, if any, in the use by 
                        veterans of in-person services at Department 
                        facilities and non-Department facilities.
                    (D) The types of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                provided during the 1-year period preceding the 
                submittal of the report.
                    (E) The number of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                requested during such period, disaggregated by Veterans 
                Integrated Service Network.
                    (F) Savings by the Department, if any, including 
                travel costs, of furnishing health care 


              

                through the use of telemedicine during such period.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Answer: .  Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017  (Sec. 2) This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state regardless of where the professional or patient is located if the covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide VA medical or health services.   Such authority shall apply to a covered health care professional regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility.   The bill defines &quot;covered health care professional&quot; as a health care professional who: (1) is a VA employee appointed under specified VA authorities or under the civil service; (2) is authorized by the VA to provide health care; (3) is required to adhere to all telemedicine quality standards; and (4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted state license, registration, or certification for such health care profession. The VA shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the VA's use of telemedicine.


Question: SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 24102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), (10), 
        and (11); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (8), and (9) as 
        paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively.

SEC. 2. ENFORCEMENT.

    Section 24103 of such title is amended--
            (1) by repealing subsection (b); and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 24104 of such title is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 24104. Authorization of appropriations
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation for the benefit of Amtrak--
            ``(1) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            ``(2) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
            ``(3) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
            ``(4) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
No funds are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
benefit of Amtrak for any fiscal year after fiscal year 2001.''.

SEC. 4. CHAPTER 243 AMENDMENTS.

    Chapter 243 of such title is amended--
            (1) in the table of sections--
                    (A) by striking the items relating to sections 
                24302 through 24315; and
                    (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
                24301 the following new item:

``24302. Relinquishment of rights to stock, notes, and mortgages.'';
            (2) in section 24301--
                    (A) by repealing subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), 
                (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (n); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection 
                (b);
            (3) by repealing sections 24302 through 25315; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 24302. Relinquishment of rights to stock, notes, and mortgages
    ``The United States relinquishes any rights held by virtue of any 
stock, note of indebtedness, or mortgage issued by or entered into with 
Amtrak.''.

SEC. 5. CHAPTER 245 AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Section 24501(g) Amendment.--Section 24501(g) of such title is 
amended by striking ``Amtrak is exempt'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
``Amtrak Commuter is exempt''.
    (b) Section 24504(c) Repeal.--Section 24504(c) of such title is 
repealed.

SEC. 6. CHAPTERS 247 AND 249 REPEALED.

    Chapters 247 and 249 of such title, and the items relating thereto 
in the table of chapters of subtitle V of such title, are repealed.

SEC. 7. SERVICE DISCONTINUANCE.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 241 of such title is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 24105. Service discontinuance
    ``(a) Wage Continuation or Severance Benefit.--Notwithstanding any 
arrangement in effect before the date of enactment of this section, no 
employee of a rail carrier providing rail passenger transportation 
whose employment is terminated as a result of a discontinuance of 
intercity rail passenger service shall receive any wage continuation or 
severance benefit in excess of 6 months pay. This subsection shall not 
affect the obligations of rail carriers under section 11326 of this 
title.
    ``(b) Transfer.--Notwithstanding any arrangement in effect before 
the date of enactment of this section, a rail carrier providing rail 
passenger transportation may require an employee whose position is 
eliminated as a result of a discontinuance of intercity rail passenger 
service to transfer to any vacant position for which the employee can 
be made qualified on any part of such rail carrier's system. If such 
transfer requires a change in residence or seniority district, the 
employee shall choose--
            ``(1) to transfer to the position and be covered by the 
        collective bargaining agreement applicable to the seniority 
        district to which he is transferred; or
            ``(2) to voluntarily furlough himself at his home location 
        and receive protective benefits not in excess of the amount 
        authorized under subsection (a).
For purposes of this subsection, a transfer shall be considered to 
require a change in residence if the new employment is more than 30 
miles from the employee's place of residence and is farther from that 
residence than was the former work location.''.
    (b) Table of Sections.--The table of sections of chapter 241 of 
such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``24105. Service Discontinuance.''.

SEC. 8. FEDERAL EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ACT.

    The Act entitled ``An Act relating to the liability of common 
carriers by railroad to their employees in certain cases.'', enacted 
April 22, 1908 (45 U.S.C. 51 et seq.; popularly referred to as the 
``Federal Employers' Liability Act'' or the ``Employers' Liability 
Act'') is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
    ``Sec. 11. This Act shall not apply to common carriers to the 
extent they provide rail passenger transportation.''.

SEC. 9. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Employee Protective Arrangements.--Section 11326 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``, and the terms 
established under section 24706(c) of this title''.
    (b) Terminal Facilities.--Section 5567 of title 49, United States 
Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 
55 of such title, are repealed.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATES.

    (a) General Rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
this Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of its enactment.
    (b) Exceptions.--(1) Sections 3, 7, and 8 of this Act shall take 
effect immediately upon enactment.
    (2) The repeal of section 24909 of title 49, United States Code, 
shall take effect on October 1, 1997.

Answer:
Amends Federal transportation law to repeal specified authorities with respect to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), eliminating intercity rail passenger transportation (while retaining Amtrak commuter services). 
Repeals a provision which provides for the judicial review of the discontinuance of a route, a train, or transportation, or the reduction in the frequency of transportation by Amtrak. 
Authorizes appropriations in decreasing amounts over four fiscal years. 
Repeals specified laws that apply to Amtrak operations, abolishing the Board of Directors. 
Declares that the United States relinquishes all rights held in any stock, note of indebtedness, or mortgage issued by or entered into with Amtrak. 
Repeals:  (1) certain provisions which require Amtrak to make an agreement to avoid duplicating employee functions; (2) all authority for operation of the Amtrak route system; and (3) all authority for the Northeast Corridor improvement program. 
Prohibits a rail carrier employee whose employment is terminated as a result of a discontinuance of intercity rail passenger service from receiving any wage continuation or severance benefit in excess of six months pay.  Authorizes a rail carrier to require an employee whose position is eliminated as a result of such discontinuance to transfer to any vacant position for which he or she can be made qualified on any part of the rail carrier's system. 
(Sec. 8) Amends the Federal Employers' Liability Act (or Employers' Liability Act) to declare that it shall not apply to common carriers to the extent they provide rail passenger transportation.