instruction:
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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Children's Health Insurance for 
Long-Term Development Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this act is to provide health insurance coverage for 
children during the Infant Neurological Risk Exposure Period (INREP). 
The INREP extends through age 3 and encompasses the period of most 
rapid neurological changes in young children. Health coverage will 
improve children's health and, through routine health supervision, 
promote parents' caregiving skills through these critical years.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) 86 percent of children with private health insurance 
        are under-insured with respect to well-child care;
            (2) because the human brain develops rapidly until the age 
        of 3, children need regular screenings and follow-up care to 
        detect neurological abnormalities and ensure normal 
        development;
            (3) regular pediatric visits enable physicians to provide 
        guidance on parental activities, such as reading, that 
        stimulate the brain development of infants; and
            (4) children deserve health care coverage that promotes 
        normal brain and nervous system development.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Beneficiary.--The term ``beneficiary'' has the meaning 
        given such term under section 3(8) of the Employee Retirement 
        Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(8)).
            (2) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who is 
        age 3 or younger.
            (3) Employee health benefit plan.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``employee health benefit 
                plan'' means any employee welfare benefit plan, 
governmental plan, or church plan (as defined under paragraphs (1), 
(32), and (33) of section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security 
Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002 (1), (32), and (33))) that provides or pays 
for health benefits (such as provider and hospital benefits) for 
participants and beneficiaries whether--
                            (i) directly;
                            (ii) through a health plan offered by a 
                        health plan issuer as defined in paragraph (6); 
                        or
                            (iii) otherwise.
                    (B) Rule of construction.--An employee health 
                benefit plan shall not be construed to be a health plan 
                or a health plan issuer.
                    (C) Arrangements not included.--Such term does not 
                include the following, or any combination thereof:
                            (i) Coverage only for accident, or 
                        disability income insurance, or any combination 
                        thereof.
                            (ii) Medicare supplemental health insurance 
                        (as defined under section 1882(g)(1) of the 
                        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(g)(1))).
                            (iii) Coverage issued as a supplement to 
                        liability insurance.
                            (iv) Liability insurance, including general 
                        liability insurance and automobile liability 
                        insurance.
                            (v) Workers' compensation or similar 
                        insurance.
                            (vi) Automobile medical payment insurance.
                            (vii) Coverage for a specified disease or 
                        illness.
                            (viii) Hospital or fixed indemnity 
                        insurance.
                            (ix) Short-term limited duration insurance.
                            (x) Credit-only, dental-only, or vision-
                        only insurance.
                            (xi) A health insurance policy providing 
                        benefits only for long-term care, nursing home 
care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination 
thereof.
            (4) Group purchaser.--The term ``group purchaser'' means 
        any person (as defined in section 3(9) of the Employee 
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(9))) or 
        entity that purchases or pays for health benefits (such as 
        provider or hospital benefits) on behalf of participants or 
        beneficiaries in connection with an employee health benefit 
        plan.
            (5) Health plan.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``health plan'' means any 
                group health plan or individual health plan.
                    (B) Group health plan.--The term ``group health 
                plan'' means any contract, policy, certificate, or 
                other arrangement offered by a health plan issuer to a 
                group purchaser that provides or pays for health 
                benefits (such as provider and hospital benefits) in 
                connection with an employee health benefit plan.
                    (C) Individual health plan.--The term ``individual 
                health plan'' means any contract, policy, certificate, 
                or other arrangement offered by a health plan issuer to 
                individuals that provides or pays for health benefits 
                (such as provider and hospital benefits) and that is 
                not a group health plan.
                    (D) Arrangements not included.--Such term does not 
                include the following, or any combination thereof:
                            (i) Coverage only for accident, or 
                        disability income insurance, or any combination 
                        thereof.
                            (ii) Medicare supplemental health insurance 
                        (as defined under section 1882(g)(1) of the 
                        Social Security Act).
                            (iii) Coverage issued as a supplement to 
                        liability insurance.
                            (iv) Liability insurance, including general 
                        liability insurance and automobile liability 
                        insurance.
                            (v) Workers' compensation or similar 
                        insurance.
                            (vi) Automobile medical payment insurance.
                            (vii) Coverage for a specified disease or 
                        illness.
                            (viii) Hospital or fixed indemnity 
                        insurance.
                            (ix) Short-term limited duration insurance.
                            (x) Credit-only, dental-only, or vision-
                        only insurance.
                            (xi) A health insurance policy providing 
                        benefits only for long-term care, nursing home 
                        care, home health care, community-based care, 
                        or any combination thereof.
                    (E) Certain plans included.--Such term includes any 
                plan or arrangement not described in any clause of 
                subparagraph (D) that provides for benefit payments, on 
                a periodic basis, for--
                            (i) a specified disease or illness; or
                            (ii) a period of hospitalization;
                without regard to the costs incurred or services 
                rendered during the period to which the payments 
                relate.
            (6) Health plan issuer.--The term ``health plan issuer'' 
        means any entity that is licensed (prior to or after the date 
        of enactment of this Act) by a State to offer a health plan.
            (7) Participant.--The term ``participant'' has the meaning 
        given such term under section 3(7) of the Employee Retirement 
        Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(7)).
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' unless otherwise 
        specified means the Secretary of Labor.

SEC. 5. REQUIRED HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a health 
plan or an employee health benefit plan shall ensure that coverage is 
provided with respect to a child who is a beneficiary under such plan 
for all medically necessary health care and related services, 
including--
            (1) appropriate screening services at intervals that meet 
        reasonable standards of medical and dental practice;
            (2) all appropriate immunizations;
            (3) necessary case management, transportation, and 
        scheduling assistance; and
            (4) such other necessary health care, diagnostic services, 
        treatment, and other measures to correct or ameliorate defects 
        and physical and mental illnesses and conditions discovered by 
        the screening services, whether or not such services are 
        covered for participants or policyholders under the plan.
    (b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a health plan or an 
employee health benefit plan shall not be required to provide coverage 
for health care and related services that are not safe, are not 
effective, or are experimental.

SEC. 6. PROHIBITIONS.

    In implementing the requirements of this Act, a health plan or an 
employee health benefit plan may not use a service limitation, 
including a lifetime benefit limit, of the plan to deny medically 
necessary health care and related services described in section 4 to a 
child.

SEC. 7. NOTICE.

    (a) Employee Health Benefit Plan.--An employee health benefit plan 
shall provide conspicuous notice to each participant regarding coverage 
required under this Act not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and as part of its summary plan description.
    (b) Health Plan.--A health plan shall provide notice to each 
policyholder regarding coverage required under this Act. Such notice 
shall be in writing, prominently positioned, and be transmitted--
            (1) in a mailing made within 120 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act by such plan to the policyholder; and
            (2) as part of the annual informational packet sent to the 
        policyholder.

SEC. 8. APPLICABILITY.

    (a) Construction.--
            (1) In general.--A requirement or standard imposed under 
        this Act on a health plan shall be deemed to be a requirement 
        or standard imposed on the health plan issuer. Such 
        requirements or standards shall be enforced by the State 
        insurance commissioner for the State involved or the official 
        or officials designated by the State to enforce the 
        requirements of this Act. In the case of a health plan offered 
        by a health plan issuer in connection with an employee health 
        benefit plan, the requirements or standards imposed under this 
        Act shall be enforced with respect to the health plan issuer by 
        the State insurance commissioner for the State involved or the 
        official or officials designated by the State to enforce the 
        requirements of this Act.
            (2) Limitation.--Except as provided in section 8(c), the 
        Secretary shall not enforce the requirements or standards of 
        this Act as they relate to health plan issuers or health plans. 
        In no case shall a State enforce the requirements or standards 
        of this Act as they relate to employee health benefit plans.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to affect or modify the provisions of section 514 of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1144).

SEC. 9. ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Health Plan Issuers.--Each State shall require that each health 
plan issued, sold, renewed, offered for sale or operated in such State 
by a health plan issuer meet the standards established under this Act. 
A State shall submit such information as required by the Secretary 
demonstrating effective implementation of the requirements of this Act.
    (b) Employee Health Benefit Plans.--With respect to employee health 
benefit plans, the standards established under this Act shall be 
enforced in the same manner as provided for under sections 502, 504, 
506, and 510 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 
U.S.C. 1132, 1134, 1136, and 1140). The civil penalties contained in 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 502(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1132(c) 
(1) and (2)) shall apply to any information required by the Secretary 
to be disclosed and reported under this section.
    (c) Failure To Enforce.--In the case of the failure of a State to 
substantially enforce the standards and requirements set forth in this 
Act with respect to health plans, the Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall enforce the standards 
of this Act in such State. In the case of a State that fails to 
substantially enforce the standards set forth in this Act, each health 
plan issuer operating in such State shall be subject to civil 
enforcement as provided for under sections 502, 504, 506, and 510 of 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1132, 
1134, 1136, and 1140). The civil penalties contained in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of section 502(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1132(c)(1) and (2)) 
shall apply to any information required by the Secretary to be 
disclosed and reported under this section.
    (d) Regulations.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, may promulgate such regulations as may be 
necessary or appropriate to carry out this Act.

SEC. 10. PREEMPTION.

    (a) In General.--The provisions of sections 4, 5, and 6 shall not 
preempt a State law or regulation--
            (1) that provides greater protections to patients or 
        policyholders than those required in this Act; or
            (2) that requires health plans to provide coverage for 
        pediatric care in accordance with guidelines established by the 
        American Academy of Pediatrics or other established 
        professional medical associations.
    (b) Employee Health Benefit Plans.--Nothing in this section affects 
the application of this Act to employee health benefit plans, as 
defined in section 2(3).

SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided for in this Act, the provisions of 
this Act shall apply as follows:
            (1) With respect to health plans, such provisions shall 
        apply to such plans on the first day of the contract year 
        beginning on or after June 1, 1997.
            (2) With respect to employee health benefit plans, such 
        provisions shall apply to such plans on the first day of the 
        first plan year beginning on or after June 1, 1997.
answer:
Children's Health Insurance for Long-Term Development Act of 1996 -   Requires health plans and employee health benefit plans to ensure coverage of all medically necessary health care and related services for children during the Infant Neurological Risk Exposure Period (INREP), which extends through age three and encompasses the period of most rapid neurological changes in young children. Prohibits health plans from using a service limitation, including a lifetime benefit limit, to deny medically necessary health care and related services to a child. 
Sets forth enforcement provisions.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Construction Reform Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONSTRUCTION REFORMS.

    (a) Application of Industry Standards; Assistance.--Section 8103 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections:
    ``(f) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use 
industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying 
out the construction of medical facilities.
    ``(g)(1) The Secretary shall provide to a non-Department Federal 
entity with which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under 
subsection (e)--
            ``(A) design, planning, and construction assistance before 
        the entity issues a request for proposals for the design or 
        construction of the super construction project covered by the 
        agreement;
            ``(B) any documents or information needed for the entity to 
        carry out the responsibilities of the entity with respect to 
        the super construction project; and
            ``(C) upon the request of the entity, any other assistance 
        that the entity determines necessary to carry out such 
        responsibilities.
    ``(2) Any assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be provided 
to the non-Department Federal entity on a non-reimbursable basis.
    ``(h)(1) With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered 
into by a non-Department Federal entity with which the Secretary has 
entered into an agreement under subsection (e) that is estimated at a 
value of less than $250,000, the non-Department Federal entity shall 
issue a final decision regarding such change not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the change is proposed.
    ``(2) With respect to a proposed change to such a contract that is 
estimated at a value of $250,000 or more--
            ``(A) the Secretary may provide to the entity the 
        recommendations of the Secretary regarding such change;
            ``(B) during the 30-day period beginning on the date on 
        which the entity furnishes to the Secretary information 
        regarding such change, the Secretary may issue the final 
        decision regarding such change; and
            ``(C) if the Secretary does not issue a final decision 
        under subparagraph (B), during the 30-day period following the 
        period described in such paragraph, the entity shall issue a 
        final decision regarding such a change no later than 90 days 
        from when the entity furnished information regarding such a 
        change to the Secretary.
    ``(i) The Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the 
Department with responsibilities relating to the construction or 
alteration of medical facilities, including such construction or 
alteration carried out pursuant to contracts or agreements, undergoes a 
program of ongoing professional training and development. Such program 
shall be designed to ensure that employees maintain adequate expertise 
relating to industry standards and best practices for the acquisition 
of design and construction services. The Secretary may provide the 
program under this subsection through a contract or agreement with a 
non-Federal entity or with a non-Department Federal entity.''.
    (b) Limitation on Planning and Design for Super Construction 
Projects.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8104(a) of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4);
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph (3):
    ``(3) The Secretary may not obligate or expend funds for advance 
planning or design for any super construction project, until the date 
that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives notice of such 
obligation or expenditure.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph 
                (1) of this subsection, by adding at the end the 
                following new subparagraph:
            ``(C) The term `super construction project' means a project 
        for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical 
        facility involving a total expenditure of more than 
        $100,000,000, but such term does not include an acquisition by 
        exchange.''.
            (2) Applicability.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
        shall apply with respect to a construction project that is 
        initiated on or after that date.
    (c) Congressional Approval of Certain Projects.--
            (1) Projects that exceed specified amount.--Subsection (c) 
        of section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
        read as follows:
    ``(c)(1) The Secretary may not obligate funds for a major medical 
facility project or a super construction project approved by a law 
described in subsection (a)(2) in an amount that would cause the total 
amount obligated for that project to exceed the amount specified in the 
law for that project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such 
specified amount) by more than 10 percent unless the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation 
of those funds.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall--
            ``(A) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
        department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic 
        audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an 
        external forensic audit of the expenditures relating to any 
        major medical facility or super construction project for which 
        the total expenditures exceed the amount specified in the law 
        for the project by more than 25 percent; and
            ``(B) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
        department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic 
        audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an 
        external audit of the medical center construction project in 
        Aurora, Colorado.''.
            (2) Use of extra amounts.--Subsection (d) of such section 
        is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding 
                clause (i), by striking ``Whenever'' and inserting 
                ``Before''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(3) The Secretary may not obligate any funds described in 
paragraph (1) or amounts described in paragraph (2) before the date 
that is 30 days after the notification submitted under paragraph (1) or 
paragraph (2)(B), as the case may be, unless the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation of 
those funds or amounts.''.
            (3) Notification requirements.--
                    (A) Committees required.--Subsection (d)(1) of such 
                section is amended by striking ``each committee'' and 
                inserting ``the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
                Appropriations of the House of Representatives''.
                    (B) Use of amounts from bid savings.--Subsection 
                (d)(2)(B) of such section is amended by adding at the 
                end the following new clause:
            ``(iv) With respect to the major construction project that 
        is the source of the bid savings--
                    ``(I) the amounts already obligated or available in 
                the project reserve for such project;
                    ``(II) the percentage of such project that has been 
                completed; and
                    ``(III) the amount of such bid savings that is 
                already obligated or otherwise being used for a purpose 
                other than such project.''.
    (d) Quarterly Report on Super Construction Projects.--
            (1) In general.--At the end of subchapter I of chapter 81 
        of title 38, United States Code, add the following new section:
``Sec. 8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects
    ``(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
last day of each fiscal quarter the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives on the super construction projects carried out by the 
Secretary during such quarter. Each such report shall include, for each 
such project--
            ``(1) the budgetary and scheduling status of the project, 
        as of the last day of the quarter covered by the report; and
            ``(2) the actual cost and schedule variances of the 
        project, as of such day, compared to the planned cost and 
        schedules for the project.
    ``(b) Super Construction Project Defined.--In this section, the 
term `super construction project' has the meaning given such term in 
section 8104(a)(4)(C) of this title.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of the chapter is amended by adding at the end of the 
        items relating to such subchapter the following new item:

``8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects.''.
    (e) Accelerated Master Planning for Each Medical Facility of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.--
            (1) Existing facilities.--Not later than December 31, 2016, 
        the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a master plan 
        described in paragraph (3) for each medical facility of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) New facilities.--For each medical facility of the 
        Department for which construction is completed after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a 
        master plan described in paragraph (3) for the facility by not 
        later than the earlier of the following dates:
                    (A) The date on which activation is completed.
                    (B) The date of the formal dedication of the 
                facility.
            (3) Master plan described.--A master plan described in this 
        paragraph is, with respect to a medical facility of the 
        Department, a plan to inform investment decisions and funding 
        requests over a 10-year period for construction projects at 
        such medical facility--
                    (A) to meet the health care needs of a changing 
                veteran population through a combination of health care 
                from the Department and other community resources; and
                    (B) to maximize the best use of the land and 
                structures comprising such medical facility.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 312 the following new section:
``Sec. 312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction
    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Office of Inspector General an 
Assistant Inspector General for Construction. The Assistant Inspector 
General for Construction is responsible for conducting, supervising, 
and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the 
planning, design, contracting, execution, and construction of 
facilities and infrastructure of the Department, including major and 
minor construction projects and leases.
    ``(b) Qualifications.--Each individual appointed as Assistant 
Inspector General for Construction shall be an individual who has 
expertise in construction and facilities management.
    ``(c) Reports.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the appointment of 
an individual as the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and 
every calendar quarter thereafter, the Assistant Inspector General for 
Construction shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report summarizing the activities 
of the Assistant Inspector General for Construction during the 120-day 
period ending on the date of such report.
    ``(2) In addition to the report required in paragraph (1), and the 
requirements contained in section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), the Assistant Inspector General for Construction 
shall promptly provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives the findings of any investigation 
undertaken by the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and 
shall notify the Committees promptly if the Assistant Inspector General 
for Construction identifies any serious or flagrant problem or 
deficiency relating to the administration or operation of any 
construction program of the Department, if, during the course of any 
investigation, the Assistant Inspector General for Construction 
determines that Congress should take immediate action.
    ``(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize 
the public disclosure of information that is--
            ``(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other 
        provision of law;
            ``(B) specifically required by Executive Order to be 
        protected from disclosure in the interest of national defense 
        or national security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or
            ``(C) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
312 the following new item:

``312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 9, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.
answer:
Construction Reform Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out medical facility construction. A super construction project is one for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100 million (but does not include an acquisition by exchange).  The VA shall provide, on a non-reimbursable basis, a non-VA federal entity with: (1) design, planning, and construction assistance; (2) project documents; and (3) other assistance upon request.  With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered into by a non-VA federal entity with which the VA has entered into an agreement that is estimated at a value of less than $250,000, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding such change within 30 days.   With respect to a proposed contract change estimated at a value of $250,000 or more:    the VA may make recommendations to the entity;   the VA may issue the final decision regarding the change within 30 days after the entity proposes it; and   if the VA does not issue a final decision within 60 days after the entity proposes the contract change, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding the change no later than 90 days after it proposes the change.    The VA shall ensure that each VA employee with responsibilities relating to the construction or alteration of medical facilities undergoes ongoing professional training and development.   The VA is prohibited from:    obligating or expending funds for advance planning or design for any super construction project until 60 days after congressional notification,  obligating funds for a major medical facility project or a super construction project by more than 10% of the amount approved by law unless certain congressional committees approve the obligation, or  using bid savings amounts or funds for other than their original purpose before 30 days after notifying those committees unless each committee approves the obligation.   The VA shall enter into a contract with an appropriate non-department federal entity to conduct an external forensic audit of: (1) the medical center construction project in Aurora, Colorado; and (2) the expenditures relating to any major medical facility or super construction project when such expenditures exceed the amount approved by law by more than 25%.  The VA must complete a 10-year master plan for: (1) each existing VA medical facility by December 31, 2016, and (2) each new VA medical facility by not later than the earlier of the date on which activation is completed or the date of the facility's formal dedication.  (Sec. 3) There is established in the Office of Inspector General an Assistant Inspector General for Construction who shall be responsible for conducting, supervising, and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the planning, design, contracting, and construction of VA facilities and infrastructure, including major and minor construction projects and leases.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Even Start Quality Improvement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. RESERVATION FOR SPECIAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1232(b) of Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381a(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(3) Special Training and Technical Assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For the first fiscal year after 
                fiscal year 2002 for which the amount appropriated 
                under section 1002(b)(3) exceeds the amount 
                appropriated under such section for the preceding 
                fiscal year by $8,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall 
                reserve from such excess amount $5,000,000. The 
                Secretary shall use such reserved amount to provide 
                special training, technical assistance, and 
                professional development to eligible entities 
                implementing Even Start programs, and to the staff of 
                such programs, in order to improve the quality of 
                services for eligible participants, and to assist 
                personnel in meeting the professional development 
                requirements described in section 1235(5).
                    ``(B) Grant or contract.--The Secretary shall carry 
                out subparagraph (A) by entering into a grant or 
                contract with not less than 2 eligible organizations 
                with experience and expertise in the provision of 
                training, technical assistance, and professional 
                development to family literacy providers, particularly 
                eligible organizations with experience in the provision 
                of such services to Even Start programs. Such entities 
                may include the National Even Start Association, the 
                National Center for Family Literacy, and the William F. 
                Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy. In 
                awarding grants or contracts under this subparagraph, 
                the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
                organizations that work cooperatively with other 
                eligible organizations.
                    ``(C) Activities.--Activities carried out with 
                amounts reserved under this paragraph shall include--
                            ``(i) training and technical assistance;
                            ``(ii) assistance to personnel in meeting 
                        the professional development requirements 
                        described in section 1235(5); and
                            ``(iii) training and the development of 
                        materials to ensure that instructional programs 
                        are based on scientifically based reading 
                        research.
                    ``(D) Identification of programs.--States shall 
                identify, based on the indicators of program quality 
                developed by the State under section 1240 and other 
                information available to the State, a list of the Even 
                Start programs in the State that are in need of 
                training, technical assistance, and professional 
                development.
                    ``(E) Application for assistance.--Even Start 
                programs identified under subparagraph (D) may submit 
                an application for assistance under this paragraph to 
                the Secretary. Based on need and the quality of the 
                application, the Secretary shall select the programs to 
                be assisted and refer each approved application to an 
                eligible organization described in subparagraph (B) 
                that has expertise and experience in providing the type 
                of assistance required by such Even Start programs.
                    ``(F) Consultation.--In providing services under 
                this paragraph, eligible organizations shall consult 
                with the National Institute of Child Health and Human 
                Development and the National Institute for Literacy for 
                guidance in identifying--
                            ``(i) literacy and reading instructional 
                        approaches and practices that are based on 
                        scientifically based reading research; and
                            ``(ii) best practices for serving adult 
                        learners.''.
    (b) Eligible Organization Defined.--Section 1232(e)(2) of 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381a(e)(2)) 
is amended by inserting ``the National Even Start Association,'' after 
``Center for Family Literacy,''.

SEC. 3. STUDY OF EVEN START PARTICIPANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall contract with a qualified 
entity (such as a private organization, governmental agency, or 
institution of higher education) with experience and expertise in 
family literacy services (as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) to conduct a 
study of--
            (1) children who participated in the program known as the 
        ``William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program'' 
        (authorized, on the date of the enactment of this Act, under 
        subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381-6381k)) and are in the 
        3rd or 4th grade during the study;
            (2) the parents of such children; and
            (3) other adults who participated with such children in 
        such program.
    (b) Assessing Results of Children's Participation.--
            (1) In general.--The study shall assess the impact of 
        participation by such children in such program with respect 
        to--
                    (A) whether or not such children are reading on 
                grade level and otherwise performing on a level equal 
                to or better than their peers;
                    (B) school attendance; and
                    (C) whether or not such children have been retained 
                for more than 1 year in any grade and the reasons for 
                such retention, if applicable.
            (2) Parental consent.--The consent of a child's parent (as 
        defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) shall be obtained prior 
        to commencing any effort to obtain data under paragraph (1) 
        with respect to the child.
    (c) Assessing Results of Adults' Participation.--
            (1) In general.--The study shall also assess the long-term 
        impact of participation by parents (or other adults) in such 
        program, through methods such as--
                    (A) personal interviews; and
                    (B) testing of such individuals for retained or 
                improved literacy skills (but only in cases in which 
                there are baseline test results for an individual 
                available for comparison that were obtained just prior 
                to the individual's commencing or ceasing participation 
                in such program).
            (2) Information included.--The study shall gather 
        information regarding adult participants' current educational 
        and employment endeavors and the perceived impact of 
        participation in such program on the adult's ability to 
        participate in their child's education.
answer:

Even Start Quality Improvement Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to reserve certain funds for grants and contracts to eligible organizations to provide special training, technical assistance, and professional development to eligible entities implementing Even Start programs and to the staff of such programs.Directs the Secretary to contract with a qualified entity with experience and expertise in family literacy services to conduct a study and assess the impact of the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program on children who participated in it and who are in the third or fourth grade during the study, and on their parents and other adults who participated with them.