		II
		109th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 3701
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			July 20, 2006
			Mr. Smith (for himself
			 and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To determine successful methods to provide protection
		  from catastrophic health expenses for individuals who have exceeded health
		  insurance lifetime limits, to provide catastrophic health insurance coverage
		  for uninsured individuals, and for other purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Catastrophic Health Coverage
			 Promotion Act.
		2.Demonstration
			 projects
			(a)In
			 generalNot later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
			 this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act
			 as the Secretary) shall establish not more than 6 demonstration
			 projects in accordance with the provisions of this section to provide—
				(1)in conjunction
			 with the program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395
			 et seq.), health insurance coverage for individuals who—
					(A)are not eligible
			 for benefits under Medicare or Medicaid program and who have exceeded $10,500
			 in out-of-pocket health care costs in a year, or an adjusted amount based on
			 the average out-of-pocket costs of individuals with catastrophic illnesses in a
			 State for the year, but in no case less than $8,000 and not more than $15,000
			 in out-of-pocket health care costs during such year; or
					(B)were receiving
			 benefits under Medicare or Medicaid but who have exhausted their eligibility
			 for such benefits and any additional private health insurance coverage;
			 and
					(2)in conjunction
			 with the program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
			 seq.), health insurance coverage for catastrophic health care expenses,
			 including prevention benefits, to individuals who do not have health insurance
			 coverage.
				(b)Design of
			 demonstration projectsThe Secretary shall ensure that the
			 demonstration projects carried out under this section are conducted in a manner
			 that will, to the greatest extent practicable, allow for comparisons of the
			 information resulting from the evaluations of such programs under subsection
			 (e).
			(c)Number and
			 requirements for demonstration projects
				(1)NumberThe
			 Secretary shall establish, in accordance with this subsection—
					(A)not less than 2
			 demonstration projects to provide health insurance coverage under subsection
			 (a)(1);
					(B)not less than 2
			 demonstration projects to provide catastrophic coverage under subsection
			 (a)(2); and
					(C)if funds remain
			 available after complying with subparagraphs (A) and (B), additional
			 demonstration projects under subsection (a).
					(2)Requirements
			 for projects under subsection (a)(1)In designing the
			 demonstration projects under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall—
					(A)use State risk
			 pools;
					(B)use reinsurance
			 mechanisms for small businesses;
					(C)use public or
			 private arrangements for the provision of affordable health insurance coverage
			 to cover catastrophic health care expenses; and
					(D)use any
			 combination of such arrangements.
					(3)Requirements
			 for projects under subsection (a)(2)
					(A)In
			 generalIn designing the demonstration projects under subsection
			 (a)(2) the Secretary shall—
						(i)use
			 a catastrophic health insurance product administered by private health plans
			 that shall—
							(I)be sold in both
			 the individual and small group insurance markets;
							(II)offer a
			 deductible of not less than $5,000 for an individual and $7,500 for a family, a
			 deductible that is indexed to the individual's or family's income level, or an
			 adjusted deductible amount based on the average out-of-pocket costs of
			 individuals or families, but in no case lower than $2,500 for an individual and
			 $5,000 for a family;
							(III)include
			 preventive health services based on recommendations made by the United States
			 Preventive Task Force, including not less than 1 primary care provider's office
			 visit; and
							(IV)require
			 reasonable co-insurance as determined by the State administering the
			 demonstration project, in consultation with the Secretary;
							(ii)subsidize such
			 catastrophic coverage to provide an affordable product and may provide
			 subsidies on sliding scale, to offer a more affordable product for individuals
			 in the individual and group market earning below 200 percent of the Federal
			 poverty level; and
						(iii)consider
			 subsidizing the cost of such catastrophic coverage for small businesses that do
			 not offer employer-sponsored insurance by using reinsurance mechanisms or other
			 public and private partnerships.
						(B)EligibilityAn
			 individual or small business shall be eligible to participate in a
			 demonstration project under subsection (a)(2) only if—
						(i)such individual
			 did not have health insurance coverage within the 1-year period immediately
			 prior to applying for coverage under the demonstration project; or
						(ii)such small
			 business did not offer employer-sponsored health insurance coverage within such
			 1-year period.
						(d)Duration;
			 Evaluation
				(1)DurationThe
			 Secretary shall complete the demonstration projects established under this
			 section not later than 6 and 1/2 years after the date of
			 enactment of this Act.
				(2)EvaluationDuring
			 the 18-month period beginning after the date that is 5 years after the date the
			 demonstration projects have all been established under this section, the
			 Secretary shall complete an evaluation of such demonstration projects
			 established to determine—
					(A)the ability of
			 individuals and small businesses to access health insurance coverage;
					(B)the length of
			 time individuals participated in and maintained such coverage;
					(C)with respect to
			 each geographic area of a demonstration project—
						(i)the
			 impact on the amount of charity or other uncompensated care provided by health
			 care providers who participated in the demonstration projects;
						(ii)the impact on
			 insurance rates in the commercial market; and
						(iii)the impact on
			 the number of medical related bankruptcies; and
						(D)if additional
			 information is needed and whether the projects should be continued or modified,
			 as the Secretary determines appropriate.
					(e)Application;
			 Site selection
				(1)ApplicationA
			 State may submit an application to the Secretary to participate in any of the
			 demonstration projects established under this section at such time, in such
			 manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
				(2)In
			 generalIn selecting States to participate in a demonstration
			 project, the Secretary shall—
					(A)consider the
			 current structure of a State’s programs to assist individuals with catastrophic
			 health care costs and individuals that do not have health insurance
			 coverage;
					(B)determine what
			 parameters for the demonstration project will be least intrusive to the State’s
			 existing such structures; and
					(C)consider the
			 overall health status of the State, the age demographics of individuals with
			 high health care costs and of individuals who do not have health insurance
			 coverage, and the historical health care costs and efficiency of the State’s
			 health care system.
					(3)Specific
			 siteThe Secretary shall select as a demonstration project site
			 the State in which (according to the Hospital Referral Region of Residence,
			 1994–1995, as listed in the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care 1998) the largest
			 metropolitan areas of the State had the lowest percentage of Medicare
			 beneficiary deaths in a hospital when compared to the largest metropolitan
			 areas of each other State and the percentage of enrollees who experienced
			 intensive care during the last 6 months of life was 21.5 percent.
				(f)Funding
				(1)In
			 generalNotwithstanding sections 1901, 1903(a)(1) and 1923 of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396, 1396a(a)(13)(A)(iv), 1396b(a)(1),
			 1396r–4), the Secretary shall expend not less than $50,000,000 of the total
			 amount of unexpended State DSH allotments under section 1923 of such Act for
			 each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 for purposes of carrying out the
			 demonstration projects authorized under this section.
				(2)Use of other
			 funding sourcesA State may contribute other public funds (other
			 than otherwise obligated Federal funds), and an employer may contribute private
			 funds, to a demonstration project funded under this section.
				(g)Reports to
			 congress
				(1)Preliminary
			 reportNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this
			 Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and
			 the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a preliminary
			 report on the progress made in the demonstration projects established under
			 this section.
				(2)Interim
			 reportNot later than 30 months after the implementation of the
			 demonstration projects established under this section, the Secretary, in
			 consultation with the participants in such demonstration projects, shall submit
			 to the Committees described in paragraph (1), an interim report on such
			 demonstration projects.
				(3)Final
			 reportNot later than the date on which all demonstration
			 projects established under this section end, the Secretary shall submit to the
			 Committees described in paragraph (1) a final report on such demonstration
			 projects that includes the results of the evaluation conducted under subsection
			 (f) and recommendations for appropriate legislative changes.


114 HR 444 IH: Expanding Care for Veterans Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-01-21
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 444
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 21, 2015
			Ms. Brownley of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

		A BILL
		To expand the research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine to
			 veterans, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Expanding Care for Veterans Act. 2.Expansion of research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine to veterans (a)Development of plan To expand research, education, and deliveryNot later than six months after the effective date specified in subsection (f), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to expand materially and substantially the scope of research and education on, and delivery and integration of, complementary and alternative medicine services into the health care services provided to veterans.
 (b)ElementsThe plan required by subsection (a) shall provide for the following: (1)Research on the following:
 (A)The comparative effectiveness of various complementary and alternative medicine therapies. (B)Approaches to integrating complementary and alternative medicine services into other health care services provided by the Department.
 (2)Education and training for health care professionals of the Department on the following: (A)Complementary and alternative medicine services selected by the Secretary for purposes of the plan.
 (B)Appropriate uses of such services. (C)Integration of such services into the delivery of health care to veterans.
 (3)Research, education, and clinical activities on complementary and alternative medicine at centers of innovation at Department medical centers.
 (4)Identification or development of metrics and outcome measures to evaluate the provision and integration of complementary and alternative medicine services into the delivery of health care to veterans.
 (5)Integration and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine services with other health care services provided by the Department.
				(c)Consultation
 (1)In generalIn carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the following: (A)The Director of the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health.
 (B)The Commissioner of Food and Drugs. (C)Institutions of higher education, private research institutes, and individual researchers with extensive experience in complementary and alternative medicine and the integration of complementary and alternative medicine practices into the delivery of health care.
 (D)Nationally recognized providers of complementary and alternative medicine. (E)Such other officials, entities, and individuals with expertise on complementary and alternative medicine as the Secretary considers appropriate.
 (2)Scope of consultationThe Secretary shall undertake consultation under paragraph (1) in carrying out subsection (a) with respect to the following:
 (A)To develop the plan. (B)To identify specific complementary and alternative medicine practices that, on the basis of research findings or promising clinical interventions, are appropriate to include as services to veterans.
 (C)To identify barriers to the effective provision and integration of complementary and alternative medicine services into the delivery of health care to veterans, and to identify mechanisms for overcoming such barriers.
 (d)FundingThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
 (e)Complementary and alternative medicine definedIn this section, the term complementary and alternative medicine shall have the meaning given that term in regulations the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes of this section, which shall, to the degree practicable, be consistent with the meaning given such term by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
 (f)Effective dateThis section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
			3.Program on integration of complementary and alternative medicine within Department of Veterans
			 Affairs medical centers
 (a)Program requiredThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (1)carry out, through the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a program to assess the feasibility and advisability of integrating the delivery of complementary and alternative medicine services selected by the Secretary with other health care services provided by the Department for veterans with mental health conditions, chronic pain conditions, other chronic conditions, and such other conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate; and
 (2)in developing the program, identify and resolve barriers to the provision of complementary and alternative medicine services selected by the Secretary and the integration of those services with other health care services provided by the Department.
 (b)Duration of programThe program shall be carried out during the three-year period beginning on the effective date specified in subsection (j).
			(c)Locations
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall carry out the program at not fewer than 15 separate Department medical centers. (2)Polytrauma centersNot less than two of the medical centers designated under paragraph (1) shall be located at polytrauma rehabilitation centers of the Department.
 (3)Selection of locationsIn carrying out the program, the Secretary shall select locations that include the following areas: (A)Rural areas.
 (B)Areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military installation. (C)Areas representing different geographic locations, such as census tracts established by the Bureau of the Census.
 (d)Provision of servicesUnder the program, the Secretary shall provide covered services to covered veterans by integrating complementary and alternative medicine services with other services provided by the Department at the medical centers designated under subsection (c)(1).
 (e)Covered veteransFor purposes of the program, a covered veteran is any veteran who— (1)has a mental health condition diagnosed by a clinician of the Department;
 (2)experiences chronic pain; or (3)has a chronic condition being treated by a clinician of the Department.
				(f)Covered services
 (1)In generalFor purposes of the program, covered services are services consisting of complementary and alternative medicine as selected by the Secretary.
 (2)Administration of servicesCovered services shall be administered under the program as follows: (A)Covered services shall be administered by clinicians employed by the Secretary for purposes of this section who, to the extent practicable, shall provide services consisting of complementary and alternative medicine, including those clinicians who solely provide such services.
 (B)Covered services shall be included as part of the Patient Aligned Care Teams initiative of the Office of Patient Care Services, Primary Care Program Office, in coordination with the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation.
 (C)Covered services shall be made available to both— (i)covered veterans with mental health conditions, pain conditions, or chronic conditions described in subsection (e) who have received conventional treatments from the Department for such conditions; and
 (ii)covered veterans with mental health conditions, pain conditions, or chronic conditions described in subsection (e) who have not received conventional treatments from the Department for such conditions.
 (g)Voluntary participationThe participation of a veteran in the program shall be at the election of the veteran and in consultation with a clinician of the Department.
			(h)Reports to Congress
 (1)Quarterly reportsNot later than 90 days after the date of the commencement of the program and not less frequently than once every 90 days thereafter for the duration of the program, the Secretary 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 efforts of the Secretary to carry out the program, including a description of the outreach conducted by the Secretary to veterans and community organizations to inform such organizations about the program.
				(2)Final report
 (A)In generalNot later than 180 days after the completion of the program, the Secretary 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 program.
 (B)ContentsThe report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i)The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program, including with respect to—
 (I)the utilization and efficacy of the complementary and alternative medicine services established under the program;
 (II)an assessment of the benefit of the program to covered veterans in mental health diagnoses, pain management, and treatment of chronic illness; and
 (III)the comparative effectiveness of various complementary and alternative medicine therapies. (ii)Barriers identified under subsection (a)(2) that were not resolved.
 (iii)Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the program as the Secretary considers appropriate.
 (i)Complementary and alternative medicine definedIn this section, the term complementary and alternative medicine shall have the meaning given that term in section 2(e) of this Act. (j)Effective dateThis section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
			4.Studies of barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in
			 providing, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by
			 the Department of Veterans Affairs
			(a)Studies required
 (1)In generalThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct comprehensive studies of the barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in providing, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
				(2)Studies conducted
 (A)VeteransIn conducting the study of veterans, the Secretary shall— (i)survey veterans who seek or receive hospital care or medical services furnished by the Department, as well as veterans who do not seek or receive such care or services;
 (ii)administer the survey to a representative sample of veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service Network; and
 (iii)ensure that the sample of veterans surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to be statistically significant.
 (B)Administrators and cliniciansIn conducting the study of clinicians and administrators, the Secretary shall— (i)survey administrators of the Department who are involved in the provision of health care services;
 (ii)survey clinicians that have provided complementary and alternative medicine services through the program established under section 3 of this Act, after those clinicians have provided those services through such program for at least 90 days; and
 (iii)administer the survey to administrators under clause (i)— (I)before the introduction of complementary and alternative medicine services through such program; and
 (II)not earlier than 90 days after the introduction of complementary and alternative medicine services through such program.
							(b)Elements of studies
 (1)VeteransIn conducting the study of veterans required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall study the following:
 (A)The perceived barriers associated with obtaining complementary and alternative medicine services from the Department.
 (B)The satisfaction of veterans with complementary and alternative medicine services in primary care. (C)The degree to which veterans are aware of eligibility requirements for, and the scope of services available under, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the Department.
 (D)The effectiveness of outreach to veterans on the availability of complementary and alternative medicine for veterans.
 (E)Such other barriers as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2)Administrators and cliniciansIn conducting the study of administrators and clinicians required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall study the following:
 (A)The extent of the integration of complementary and alternative medicine services within the services provided by the Department.
 (B)The perception by administrators and clinicians of the structural and attitudinal barriers to the delivery of high quality complementary and alternative medicine services by the Department.
 (C)Strategies that have been used to reduce or eliminate such barriers and the results of such strategies.
 (D)The satisfaction of administrators and clinicians regarding the integration of complementary and alternative medicine services within the services provided by the Department.
 (E)The perception by administrators and clinicians of the value of specific complementary and alternative medicine services for inpatient and outpatient veteran populations.
 (c)Discharge by contractThe Secretary shall enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to carry out the studies required by this section.
			(d)Mandatory review of data by the National Research Advisory Council
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall ensure that the head of the National Research Advisory Council reviews the results of the studies conducted under this section.
 (2)Submittal of findingsThe head of the National Research Advisory Council shall submit findings with respect to the studies to the Under Secretary for Health and to other pertinent program offices within the Department with responsibilities relating to health care services for veterans.
				(e)Reports
 (1)Report on implementationNot later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the status of the implementation of this section.
				(2)Report on study
 (A)In generalNot later than 45 days after the date of the completion of the study, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study required by subsection (a).
 (B)ContentsThe report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i)Recommendations for such administrative and legislative proposals and actions as the Secretary considers appropriate.
 (ii)The findings of the head of the National Research Advisory Council and of the Under Secretary for Health.
 (f)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2016 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $2,000,000 to carry out this section.
 (g)Complementary and alternative medicine definedIn this section, the term complementary and alternative medicine shall have the meaning given that term in section 2(e) of this Act. 5.Program on use of wellness programs as complementary approach to mental health care for veterans and family members of veterans (a)Program required (1)In generalThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program through the award of grants to public or private nonprofit entities to assess the feasibility and advisability of using wellness programs to complement the provision of mental health care to veterans and family members eligible for counseling under section 1712A(a)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code.
 (2)Matters to be addressedThe program shall be carried out so as to assess the following: (A)Means of improving coordination between Federal, State, local, and community providers of health care in the provision of mental health care to veterans and family members described in paragraph (1).
 (B)Means of enhancing outreach, and coordination of outreach, by and among providers of health care referred to in subparagraph (A) on the mental health care services available to veterans and family members described in paragraph (1).
 (C)Means of using wellness programs of providers of health care referred to in subparagraph (A) as complements to the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs of mental health care to veterans and family members described in paragraph (1).
 (D)Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) are effective in enhancing the quality of life and well-being of veterans and family members described in paragraph (1).
 (E)Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) are effective in increasing the adherence of veterans described in paragraph (1) to the primary mental health services provided such veterans by the Department.
 (F)Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) have an impact on the sense of well-being of veterans described in paragraph (1) who receive primary mental health services from the Department.
 (G)Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) are effective in encouraging veterans receiving health care from the Department to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
 (b)DurationThe Secretary shall carry out the program for a period of three years beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
 (c)LocationsThe Secretary shall carry out the program at facilities of the Department providing mental health care services to veterans and family members described in subsection (a)(1).
			(d)Grant proposals
 (1)In generalA public or private nonprofit entity seeking the award of a grant under this section shall submit an application therefor to the Secretary in such form and in such manner as the Secretary may require.
 (2)Application contentsEach application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A)A plan to coordinate activities under the program, to the extent possible, with the Federal, State, and local providers of services for veterans to enhance the following:
 (i)Awareness by veterans of benefits and health care services provided by the Department. (ii)Outreach efforts to increase the use by veterans of services provided by the Department.
 (iii)Educational efforts to inform veterans of the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle. (B)A statement of understanding from the entity submitting the application that, if selected, such entity will be required to report to the Secretary periodically on standardized data and other performance data necessary to evaluate individual outcomes and to facilitate evaluations among entities participating in the program.
 (C)Other requirements that the Secretary may prescribe. (e)Grant uses (1)In generalA public or private nonprofit entity awarded a grant under this section shall use the award for purposes prescribed by the Secretary.
 (2)Eligible veterans and familyIn carrying out the purposes prescribed by the Secretary in paragraph (1), a public or private nonprofit entity awarded a grant under this section shall use the award to furnish services only to individuals specified in section 1712A(a)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code.
				(f)Reports
				(1)Periodic reports
 (A)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the commencement of the program, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the program.
 (B)Report elementsEach report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i)The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program during the 180-day period preceding the report.
 (ii)An assessment of the benefits of the program to veterans and their family members during the 180-day period preceding the report.
 (2)Final reportNot later than 180 days after the end of the program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report detailing the recommendations of the Secretary as to the advisability of continuing or expanding the program.
 (g)Wellness definedIn this section, the term wellness has the meaning given that term in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.


116 S3650 IS: Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act
U.S. Senate
2020-05-07
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3650IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 7, 2020Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Udall, and Ms. McSally) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian AffairsA BILLTo amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to deem employees of urban Indian organizations as part of the Public Health Service for certain purposes, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act.2.Deeming urban Indian organizations and employees to be a part of the Public Health Service for the purposes of certain claims for personal injuryTitle V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:519.Deeming urban Indian organizations and employees to be a part of the Public Health Service for the purposes of certain claims for personal injurySection 102(d) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5321(d)) shall apply to—(1)an urban Indian organization to the same extent and in the same manner as that section applies to an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, and an Indian contractor; and(2)the employees of an urban Indian organization to the same extent and in the same manner as that section applies to employees of an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, and an Indian contractor..


116 HRES 400 IH: Supporting efforts to strengthen democracy in Hungary and its alliance with the United States.
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-05-23
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 400IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 23, 2019Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Hastings, and Ms. Kaptur) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedRESOLUTIONSupporting efforts to strengthen democracy in Hungary and its alliance with the United States.

 Whereas 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the 30th anniversary of historic transitions in Hungary, including the dismantling of the one-party Communist regime and the barbed wire fences that separated Hungary from its neighbors;
 Whereas 2019 is also the 75th anniversary of the deportation by Hungarian authorities of 437,402 Hungarian Jews on 147 trains in just 56 days between May 15 and July 9, 1944, which was preceded by the passage of anti-Jewish laws beginning in 1920 and the deportation of more than 20,000 Jews in 1941;
 Whereas the United States and Hungary have a shared history dating to the times of 19th century Hungarian statesman Lajos Kossuth, whose bust graces the halls of the United States Congress, and Hungarians have immigrated to the United States since its founding, enriching the national fabric of the United States;
 Whereas, in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the United States and Hungary committed to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as the only system of government of our nations; Whereas Hungary joined the visa waiver program in 2008, enabling Hungarians to visit the United States without a visa, further strengthening ties between the two countries;
 Whereas Hungarians voted in a national referendum in 1997 to join NATO, and the United States supported Hungary’s accession to NATO, building the common alliance between the two countries;
 Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty states that all members of NATO are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law;
 Whereas NATO member states have collectively identified corruption and poor governance, including within member states, as security challenges which undermine democracy, the rule of law and economic development, demonstrating a shared understanding of the link between democratic values and international security;
 Whereas democracies with transparent governments, the rule of law, free media, and engaged citizens are more naturally resistant to malign influence by the Russian Federation;
 Whereas the Government of Hungary has rehabilitated fascist-era ideologies, facilitated or amplified anti-Semitic messages, and trivialized the Holocaust;
 Whereas according to the Department of State’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices, Hungary has passed a series of laws modifying the judicial system, restricting the Constitutional Court, altering the rules for electing Constitutional Court justices, and vesting the President of the National Office for the Judiciary, a position appointed by the Parliament, with significant decisionmaking power;
 Whereas the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Election Observation Missions to Hungary’s 2014 and 2018 elections concluded that the governing party enjoyed an undue advantage because of restrictive campaign regulations, biased media coverage and campaign activities that blurred the separation between political party and the state;
 Whereas, in 2014, at least six Hungarian officials were determined to be ineligible for visas to visit the United States because of suspected corruption, while fraud and corruption has enabled at least 85 criminals to obtain Hungarian passports and enter or attempt to enter the United States, and Hungary has given refuge to some individuals convicted of corruption in other countries;
 Whereas, in 2017, Hungary adopted a law on nongovernmental organizations that, according to the Department of State, unfairly burdens a targeted group of Hungarian civil society organizations, many of which focus on fighting corruption and protecting human rights and civil liberties;
 Whereas, in 2018, more than 400 media publications, websites, television channels, and radio stations in Hungary, already concentrated in the hands of a few owners, were donated, without compensation, by their owners to a central holding company which, according to a subsequently passed law, is exempt from competition oversight;
 Whereas, in 2018, the Department of State expressed disappointment that the Government of Hungary did not conclude an agreement that would allow Central European University (CEU) to continue its United States-accredited programs and stated that the United States values the role that CEU and other American educational institutions play in building connections between the Hungarian and American people and strengthening the transatlantic bond;
 Whereas, in 2018, Hungary adopted a law to establish new administrative courts with jurisdiction over elections and corruption overseen by a politically appointed minister; and
 Whereas the Government of Hungary has announced a decision to grant diplomatic immunity to representatives of the International Investment Bank, a bank with ties to Russian intelligence services, and allow the bank to open a headquarters in Hungary: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)expresses deep concern that the Government of Hungary has taken steps to weaken democratic institutions, undermine free elections, and limit civil society and a free press in Hungary, to the detriment of the Hungarian people and United States-Hungary relations;
 (2)expresses deep concern that the decision by the Government of Hungary to allow the International Investment Bank to open a headquarters in Hungary would provide the Government of the Russian Federation an additional platform to conduct malign influence operations within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
 (3)urges the Secretary of State to bolster efforts in Hungary to combat corruption, counter malign influence by the Russian Federation, strengthen independent media, encourage a vibrant civil society and utilize fully the annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices as a vehicle to identify challenges in this area;
 (4)urges the Secretary of State to support educational and cultural exchange programs with civil society leaders and youth in Hungary in order to inspire and equip the next generation of democratic leaders;
 (5)urges the Secretary of Homeland Security to review Hungary’s travel document security in order to ensure the integrity of the United States visa waiver program; and
 (6)expresses its support for the shared principles of democracy and collective security to which the United States and Hungary have committed in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and notes that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an alliance meant above all to safeguard basic freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2318
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 7, 2009
			Ms. Baldwin (for
			 herself, Mr. Obey,
			 Mr. Kagen,
			 Ms. Moore of Wisconsin,
			 Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin,
			 Mr. Kind, Mr. Sensenbrenner, and
			 Mr. Petri) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Financial Services

		A BILL
		To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in
		  commemoration of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., in recognition of his important
		  contributions to the Progressive movement, the State of Wisconsin, and the
		  United States.

		1.Short TitleThis Act may be cited as the Robert
			 M. La Follette, Sr. Commemorative Coin Act.
		2.FindingsThe Congress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)Robert M. La Follette, Sr., better known as
			 “Fighting Bob” La Follette, was born more than 150 years ago, on June 14, 1855,
			 in Primrose, Wisconsin.
			(2)Fighting Bob was
			 elected to 3 terms in the United States House of Representatives, 3 terms as
			 Governor of Wisconsin, and 4 terms as a United States Senator.
			(3)Fighting Bob
			 founded the Progressive wing of the Republican Party.
			(4)Fighting Bob was a
			 lifelong supporter of civil rights and women’s suffrage, earning respect and
			 support from such distinguished Americans as Frederick Douglass and Harriet
			 Tubman Upton.
			(5)Fighting Bob
			 helped to make the “Wisconsin Idea” a reality at the Federal and State level,
			 instituting election reforms, environmental conservation, railroad rate
			 regulation, increased education funding, and business regulation.
			(6)Fighting Bob was a
			 principal advocate for the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the
			 United States, which calls for the election of United States Senators by
			 popular vote.
			(7)Fighting Bob
			 delivered an historic speech, “Free Speech in Wartime”, opposing the public
			 persecution of those who sought to hold their Government accountable.
			(8)Fighting Bob
			 played a key role in exposing the corruption during the Teapot Dome Scandal.
			(9)Fighting Bob and
			 his wife, Belle Case La Follette, founded La Follette’s Weekly, now renamed The
			 Progressive, a monthly magazine for the Progressive community.
			(10)Fighting Bob ran
			 for the presidency on the Progressive ticket in 1924, winning more than 17
			 percent of the popular vote.
			(11)The Library of
			 Congress recognized Fighting Bob in 1985 by naming the Congressional Research
			 Service reading room in the Madison Building in honor of both Robert M. La
			 Follette, Sr., and his son, Robert M. La Follette, Jr., for their shared
			 commitment to the development of a legislative research service to support the
			 United States Congress.
			(12)Fighting Bob was
			 honored in 1929 with 1 of 2 statues representing the State of Wisconsin in
			 National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol.
			(13)Fighting Bob was
			 chosen as 1 of “Five Outstanding Senators” by the Special Committee on the
			 Senate Reception Room in 1957.
			(14)A portrait of
			 Fighting Bob was unveiled in the Senate Reception Room in March 1959.
			(15)Fighting Bob was
			 revered by his supporters for his unwavering support of his ideals, and for his
			 tenacious pursuit of a more just and accountable Government.
			3.Coin
			 specifications
			(a)$1 Silver
			 coinsThe Secretary of the
			 Treasury (in this Act referred to as the “Secretary”) shall mint and issue not
			 more than 500,000 $1 coins in commemoration of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., each
			 of which shall—
				(1)weigh 26.73 grams;
				(2)have a diameter of
			 1.500 inches; and
				(3)contain 90 percent
			 silver and 10 percent copper.
				(b)Legal
			 tenderThe coins minted under
			 this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United
			 States Code.
			(c)Numismatic
			 itemsFor purposes of
			 sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under
			 this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
			4.Design of
			 coins
			(a)Design
			 requirements
				(1)In
			 generalThe design of the
			 coins minted under this Act shall be developed in consultation with artists
			 from the State of Wisconsin, and shall be emblematic of the life and
			 accomplishments of Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
				(2)Designation and
			 inscriptionsOn each coin
			 minted under this Act, there shall be—
					(A)a designation of the value of the coin;
					(B)an inscription of
			 the year in which the coin is minted; and
					(C)inscriptions of
			 the words “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, “United States of America”, and “E
			 Pluribus Unum”.
					(b)SelectionThe design for the coins minted under this
			 Act shall be—
				(1)selected by the Secretary, after
			 consultation with artists from the State of Wisconsin and the Commission of
			 Fine Arts; and
				(2)reviewed by the
			 Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
				5.Issuance of
			 coins
			(a)Quality of
			 coinsCoins minted under this
			 Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
			(b)Mint
			 facilityOnly 1 facility of
			 the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the
			 coins minted under this Act.
			(c)Period for
			 issuanceThe Secretary may
			 issue coins minted under this Act only during the calendar year beginning on
			 January 1, 2011.
			6.Sale of
			 coins
			(a)Sale
			 priceThe coins minted under
			 this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—
				(1)the face value of the coins;
				(2)the surcharge
			 provided in subsection (b) with respect to such coins; and
				(3)the cost of
			 designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of
			 machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
				(b)SurchargesAll sales of coins minted under this Act
			 shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.
			(c)Bulk
			 salesThe Secretary shall
			 make bulk sales of the coins minted under this Act at a reasonable
			 discount.
			(d)Prepaid
			 orders
				(1)In
			 generalThe Secretary shall
			 accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance
			 of such coins.
				(2)DiscountSale prices with respect to prepaid orders
			 under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
				7.Distribution of
			 surchargesSubject to section
			 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the
			 Secretary from the sale of coins minted under this Act shall be deposited into
			 the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
		8.Financial
			 assurances
			(a)No net cost to
			 the governmentThe Secretary
			 shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that minting and issuing
			 coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the United States
			 Government.
			(b)Payment for
			 coinsA coin shall not be
			 issued under this Act unless the Secretary has received—
				(1)full payment for the coin;
				(2)security
			 satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the United States for full payment;
			 or
				(3)a
			 guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the Secretary from a depository
			 institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
			 Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration Board.


116 HR 7380 IH: HBCU Capital Finance Debt Relief Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-06-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7380IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 26, 2020Ms. Adams (for herself, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Clay, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborA BILLTo cancel the obligation of historically black colleges and universities to repay certain capital financing loans, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the HBCU Capital Finance Debt Relief Act.2.Cancellation of debt under HBCU capital financing programNot later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall cancel the obligation of each eligible institution (as defined in section 342 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1066a)) to repay the balance of interest and principal due on each loan made under part D of title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1066 et seq.) before the date of the enactment of this Act.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1300
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			March 4, 2009
			Mr. Burton of Indiana
			 (for himself, Mr. Lamborn,
			 Mr. Radanovich,
			 Mr. Brown of South Carolina,
			 Mr. Westmoreland,
			 Mr. Franks of Arizona,
			 Ms. Foxx, Mr. Marchant, Mr.
			 Simpson, Mr. Fortenberry,
			 Mr. Barton of Texas, and
			 Mr. Souder) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on the Judiciary

		A BILL
		To amend the Revised Statutes of the United States to
		  prevent the use of the legal system in a manner that extorts money from State
		  and local governments, and the Federal Government, and inhibits such
		  governments’ constitutional actions under the first, tenth, and fourteenth
		  amendments.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Veterans’ Memorials, Boy Scouts,
			 Public Seals, and Other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act of
			 2009.
		2.Limitations on
			 certain lawsuits against State and local officials
			(a)Civil action for
			 deprivation of rightsSection 1979 of the Revised Statutes of the
			 United States (42 U.S.C. 1983) is amended—
				(1)by inserting
			 (a) before the first sentence; and
				(2)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(b)The remedies with respect to a claim under
				this section are limited to injunctive and declaratory relief where the
				deprivation consists of a violation of a prohibition in the Constitution
				against the establishment of religion, including, but not limited to, a
				violation resulting from—
							(1)a veterans’
				memorial’s containing religious words or imagery;
							(2)a public
				building’s containing religious words or imagery;
							(3)the presence of
				religious words or imagery in the official seals of the several States and the
				political subdivisions thereof; or
							(4)the chartering of
				Boy Scout units by components of States and political subdivisions, and the Boy
				Scouts’ using public buildings of States and political
				subdivisions.
							.
				(b)Attorney’s
			 feesSection 722(b) of the Revised Statutes of the United States
			 (42 U.S.C. 1988(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
			 However, no fees shall be awarded under this subsection with respect to
			 a claim described in subsection (b) of section nineteen hundred and seventy
			 nine..
			3.Limitations on
			 certain lawsuits against the United States and Federal officials
			(a)In
			 generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a court shall
			 not award reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys to the prevailing party on
			 a claim of injury consisting of the violation of a prohibition in the
			 Constitution against the establishment of religion brought against the United
			 States or any agency or any official of the United States acting in his or her
			 official capacity in any court having jurisdiction over such claim, and the
			 remedies with respect to such a claim shall be limited to injunctive and
			 declaratory relief.
			(b)DefinitionAs
			 used in this section, the term a claim of injury consisting of the
			 violation of a prohibition in the Constitution against the establishment of
			 religion includes, but is not limited to, a claim of injury resulting
			 from—
				(1)a
			 veterans’ memorial’s containing religious words or imagery;
				(2)a
			 Federal building's containing religious words or imagery;
				(3)the presence of
			 religious words or imagery in the official seal of the United States and in its
			 currency and official Pledge; or
				(4)the chartering of
			 Boy Scout units by components of the Armed Forces of the United States and by
			 other public entities, and the Boy Scouts’ using Department of Defense and
			 other public installations.
				4.Effective
			 dateThis Act and the
			 amendments made by this Act take effect on the date of the enactment of this
			 Act and apply to any case that—
			(1)is pending on such
			 date of enactment; or
			(2)is commenced on or
			 after such date of enactment.


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1334
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 8, 2007
			Mr. Dodd (for himself,
			 Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Conrad, Mr.
			 Kerry, Mr. Byrd, and
			 Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill;
			 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To amend section 2306 of title 38, United States Code, to
		  make permanent authority to furnish government headstones and markers for
		  graves of veterans at private cemeteries, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Modification of authorities
			 on provision of government headstones and markers for burials of veterans at
			 private cemeteries
			(a)Repeal of
			 expiration of authoritySubsection (d) of section 2306 of title
			 38, United States Code, is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 paragraph (3); and
				(2)by redesignating
			 paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).
				(b)Retroactive
			 effective dateNotwithstanding subsection (d) of section 502 of
			 the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–103;
			 115 Stat. 995; 38 U.S.C. 2306 note), the amendments made to section 2306(d) of
			 title 38, United States Code, by such section 502 and the amendments made by
			 section 402 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology
			 Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–461), other than the amendment made by subsection
			 (e) of such section 402, shall take effect as of November 1, 1990, and shall
			 apply with respect to the graves of individuals dying on or after that
			 date.


116 HR 8521 IH: Landowner Easement Rights Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-10-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8521IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 2, 2020Mr. Peterson (for himself and Mr. Armstrong) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo provide that the Secretary of the Interior may not enter into certain conservation easements with a term of more than 50 years, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Landowner Easement Rights Act.2.Limitation on conservation easement termsAfter the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may not enter into a conservation easement with a term of more than 50 years.3.Renegotiation of conservation easementsAt the request of an owner of land that is subject to an eligible conservation easement, the Secretary shall—(1)not later the 6 months after the Secretary receives the request from the landowner, provide to the landowner—(A)a detailed map of the easement; and(B)notice of the current fair market value of the easement as determined by the Secretary; and(2)renegotiate the terms of the eligible conservation easement, including—(A)a term not longer than 50 years; and(B)payment by the Secretary to the landowner in an amount equal to the fair market value of the easement, as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B), minus the amount paid by the Secretary for the eligible conservation easement being renegotiated (adjusted for inflation); or(3)allow the landowner to buy back the eligible conservation easement or a portion of the eligible conservation easement at fair market value, as determined by the Secretary.4.Notice to landownersThe Secretary shall notify the owner of the land subject to that conservation easement of the owner’s right to submit a request under section 3—(1)not later than 3 months before the conservation easement becomes an eligible conservation easement described in section 5(2)(A); and(2)not later than 1 year before the conservation easement becomes an eligible conservation easement described in section 5(2)(B).5.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)Conservation easementThe term conservation easement—(A)means a voluntary, legal agreement between a landowner and the Secretary that limits use of the land in order to protect its conservation values; and(B)does not include agreements—(i)with Indian Tribes; or for(ii)related to utilities.(2)Eligible conservation easementThe term eligible conservation easement means a conservation easement that—(A)has been in effect for longer than 50 years; or(B)was put into effect before 1977 without the creation of an official corresponding map. (3)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1694
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			October 12, 2011
			Mr. McCain (for himself
			 and Ms. Ayotte) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Armed
			 Services

		A BILL
		To limit the use of cost-type contracts by the Department
		  of Defense for major defense acquisition programs.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Defense Cost-Type Contracting
			 Reform Act of 2011.
		2.Limitation on use of
			 cost-type contracts
			(a)Prohibition
			 with respect to production of major defense acquisition
			 programsNot later than 120 days after the date of the enactment
			 of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall modify the acquisition regulations
			 of the Department of Defense to prohibit the Department from entering into
			 cost-type contracts for the production of major defense acquisition programs
			 (MDAPs).
			(b)Conditions with
			 respect to development of major defense acquisition
			 programsSection 818(d) of the John Warner National Defense
			 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2329; 10
			 U.S.C. 2306 note) is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (1),
			 by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;
				(2)in paragraph (2),
			 by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;
			 and
				(3)by adding at the
			 end the following new paragraphs:

						(3)all reasonable
				efforts have been made to define the requirements sufficiently to allow for the
				use of a fixed-price contract for the development of the major defense
				acquisition program; and
						(4)despite these
				efforts, the Department of Defense cannot define requirements sufficiently to
				allow for the use of a fixed-price contract for the development of the major
				defense acquisition
				program.
						.
				(c)Reporting of
			 cost-Type development contractsNot later than 30 business days
			 before issuing a solicitation for the development of a major defense
			 acquisition program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on
			 Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the
			 Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
			 Representatives notice of the proposed award and the written determinations
			 required under paragraphs (1) and (4) of section 818(d) of the John Warner
			 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, as amended by
			 subsection (b), and the reasons supporting the determinations.
			(d)DefinitionsIn
			 this section:
				(1)Major defense
			 acquisition programThe term major defense acquisition
			 program has the meaning given the term in section 2430(a) of title 10,
			 United States Code.
				(2)Production of a
			 major defense acquisition programThe term production of a
			 major defense acquisition program means the production, either on a
			 low-rate initial production or full-rate production basis, and deployment of a
			 major system that is intended to achieve operational capability that satisfies
			 mission needs, or any activity otherwise defined as Milestone C, or Key
			 Decision Point C in the case of a space program, under Department of Defense
			 Instruction 5000.02 or related authorities.
				(3)Development of
			 a major defense acquisition programThe term development of
			 a major defense acquisition program means the development of a major
			 defense acquisition program or related increment of capability, the completion
			 of full system integration, the development of an affordable and executable
			 manufacturing process, the demonstration of system integration,
			 interoperability, safety, and utility, or any activity otherwise defined as
			 Milestone B, or Key Decision Point B in the case of a space program, under
			 Department of Defense Instruction 5000.02 or related authorities.


108th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 5153
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 28, 2004
Ms. Herseth (for herself, Mr. Evans, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Mr. Abercrombie) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the Native American veteran housing loan pilot program.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Native American Veterans Home Loan Act of 2004.
2.Extension of Native American veteran housing loan pilot programSection 3761(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking December 31, 2005 and inserting December 31, 2010.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 583
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 9, 2011
			Mr. Cohen (for
			 himself, Mr. Burton of Indiana,
			 Mr. Costa, and
			 Mr. Poe of Texas) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

		A BILL
		To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen
		  enforcement of spousal court-ordered property distributions, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Jane’s
			 Law.
		2.Spousal
			 obligations
			(a)In
			 GeneralChapter 11A of title 18, United States Code, is amended
			 by adding at the end the following:

					228A.Failure to pay
				legal spousal court-ordered property distribution
						(a)OffenseWhoever
				knowingly, travels in interstate or foreign commerce, with the intent to evade
				compliance with a court ordered property distribution as part of a separation
				or divorce settlement involving more than $5,000, with respect to a spouse or
				former spouse, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than
				two years or both.
						(b)Mandatory
				RestitutionUpon a conviction under this section, the court shall
				order restitution under section 3663A in an amount equal to the total unpaid
				property distribution.
						(c)DefinitionThe
				term court ordered property distribution means any amount
				determined under a court order pursuant to the law of a State or of an Indian
				tribe to be due from a spouse or former spouse as an equitable or other
				distribution to a spouse or former spouse of assets in connection with a
				separation or
				divorce.
						.
			(b)Clerical
			 amendments
				(1)Table of
			 sectionsThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11A of
			 title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 item:

							228A. Failure to pay legal spousal
				obligations.

						.
				(2)Table of
			 chaptersThe item in the table of chapters for part I of title
			 18, United States Code, relating to chapter 11A is amended to read as
			 follows:

							11A.Child support and spousal
				  obligations228

						.


115 S446 IS: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017
U.S. Senate
2017-02-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 446IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 27, 2017Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Daines, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Ernst, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heller, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Isakson, Mr. McCain, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Portman, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Thune, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Young, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Flake) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.

		1.Short
 titleThis Act may be cited as the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017.
		2.Reciprocity for
		the carrying of certain concealed firearms
			(a)In
 generalChapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 926C the following:

					926D.Reciprocity
		  for the carrying of certain concealed firearms
						(a)In
 generalNotwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof to the contrary—
 (1)an individual who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, and who is carrying a government-issued photographic identification document and a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State and which permits the individual to carry a concealed firearm, may possess or carry a concealed handgun (other than a machinegun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce in any State other than the State of residence of the individual that—
 (A)has a statute that allows residents of the State to obtain licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms; or
 (B)does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms by residents of the State for lawful purposes; and
 (2)an individual who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, and who is carrying a government-issued photographic identification document and is entitled and not prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm in the State in which the individual resides otherwise than as described in paragraph (1), may possess or carry a concealed handgun (other than a machinegun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce in any State other than the State of residence of the individual that—
 (A)has a statute that allows residents of the State to obtain licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms; or
 (B)does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms by residents of the State for lawful purposes.
								(b)Conditions and
 limitationsThe possession or carrying of a concealed handgun in a State under this section shall be subject to the same conditions and limitations, except as to eligibility to possess or carry, imposed by or under Federal or State law or the law of a political subdivision of a State, that apply to the possession or carrying of a concealed handgun by residents of the State or political subdivision who are licensed by the State or political subdivision to do so, or not prohibited by the State from doing so.
						(c)Unrestricted
 license or permitIn a State that allows the issuing authority for licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms to impose restrictions on the carrying of firearms by individual holders of such licenses or permits, an individual carrying a concealed handgun under this section shall be permitted to carry a concealed handgun according to the same terms authorized by an unrestricted license of or permit issued to a resident of the State.
						(d)Rule of
 constructionNothing in this section shall be construed to preempt any provision of State law with respect to the issuance of licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms..
			(b)Clerical
 amendmentThe table of sections for chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 926C the following:
				926D. Reciprocity for the carrying
		  of certain concealed
		  firearms..
 (c)SeverabilityNotwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, this Act and amendments made by this Act and the application of such provision or amendment to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
			(d)Effective
 dateThe amendments made by this Act shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.


116 HCON 85 IH: Wolverine CubeSats for Education Resolution
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-01-24
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. CON. RES. 85IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 24, 2020Mr. Mast (for himself, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Posey, Mr. Crist, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Soto, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Webster of Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONExpressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing the launch of WeissSat-1.

 Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the CubeSat Launch Initiative in 2008 to provide access to space for small satellites (CubeSats) developed by the NASA Centers and programs, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations;
 Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative gives CubeSat developers access to a low-cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education, and operations;
 Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative advances NASA’s strategic goals and objectives; Whereas CubeSat research is essential for military, educational, technological, and medical advancements;
 Whereas increased citizen access to space benefits the United States, both societally and economically;
 Whereas students, educators, researchers, and companies gain knowledge and experience from conducting CubeSat missions;
 Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team at The Weiss School, a prekindergarten through 8th grade school in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, designed the WeissSat-1 that was selected by NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative in 2017;
 Whereas the WeissSat-1 was successfully launched December 3, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Falcon-9; Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team was selected again by NASA for the CapSat-1 mission in the 10th Round of the CubeSat Launch Initiative;
 Whereas The Weiss School’s debate team discovered limiting factors to broader participation and societal benefit of the CubeSat Launch Initiative and brought that research to the attention of Congress;
 Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative in fiscal year 2019 received $3,440,000 in contributions from the NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Science Mission Directorate, Space Technology Mission Directorate, and the Office of Education;
 Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA reorganized the Office of Education into the NASA STEM Engagement program in order to streamline and maximize the STEM-related activities and services it can offer within allocated fiscal resources;
 Whereas in NASA’s fiscal year 2020 budget, NASA requested no funding for Space Grant, Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and Minority Universe Research and Education Project (MUREP) and proposed to use unobligated balances previously appropriated to support the termination of these activities, including but not limited to, ongoing administration, oversight, monitoring, and funding of grants previously awarded by the Office of STEM Engagement;
 Whereas the Congress passed an appropriations Act, which became Public Law 116–93, funding the NASA STEM Engagement program at $120,000,000;
 Whereas House Report 116–101 states The Committee expects NASA to continue implementing the programs below and to ensure that overhead costs to support these programs do not exceed five percent. Further, the Committee directs NASA to include an adequately requested funding amount for STEM in the fiscal year 2021 budget request and future requests.;
 Whereas Senate Report 116–127 states The Committee is supportive of NASA’s STEM engagement efforts that provide hands-on learning experiences for middle, high school, and college students, including space launch activities, and therefore rejects the proposed cancellation of education programs. These types of programs allow students to experience the full range of STEM-related skills involved in designing, testing, and launching vehicles and designing payloads to deepen their interest in science and engineering fields.;
 Whereas Congress recognizes that it is a critical moment for American educators, students, and STEM innovators, through their elected Representatives and Senators, to identify the critical necessity for NASA’s STEM Engagement programs that must be preserved and expanded;
 Whereas the ultimate validation of this program is when CubeSats are launched and operating in space;
 Whereas a limiting factor of getting CubeSats into space is lack of program awareness; Whereas more awareness leads to the utilization of a low-cost pathway to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space;
 Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team and the CubeSat Launch Initiative have shown that younger students can be successful in authentic hands-on aerospace projects;
 Whereas many students dream of space exploration and have interest in STEM careers; and Whereas without access to and awareness of available programs such as the CubeSat Launch Initiative, those dreams may be unrealized: Now, therefore, be it

 1.Short titleThis concurrent resolution may be cited as the Wolverine CubeSats for Education Resolution. 2.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—
 (1)as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration continues to streamline its STEM Engagement program, the CubeSat Launch Initiative should continue to thrive and expand as a priority of Congress and an enabler of American innovation; and
 (2)the National Aeronautics and Space Administration should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat Launch Initiative in annual budget proposals.


117 S1838 IS: Building Credit Access for Veterans Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-05-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II
117th CONGRESS1st Session
S. 1838
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 26, 2021
Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on using alternative credit scoring information for veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Building Credit Access for Veterans Act of 2021. 2.Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program on use of alternative credit scoring information or credit scoring models (a)Pilot program required (1)In generalNot later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence carrying out a pilot program that will assess the feasibility and advisability of—
(A)using alternative credit scoring information or credit scoring models using alternative credit scoring methodology for an individual described in paragraph (2)—  (i)to improve the determination of creditworthiness of such an individual; and
(ii)to increase the number of such individuals who are able to obtain a loan guaranteed or insured under chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code; and (B)in consultation with such entities as the Secretary considers appropriate, establishing criteria for acceptable commercially available credit scoring models to be used by lenders for the purpose of guaranteeing or insuring a loan under chapter 37 of title 38, United State Code.
(2)Individual describedAn individual described in this paragraph is a veteran or a member of the Armed Forces who— (A)is eligible for a loan under chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code; and
(B)has an insufficient credit history for a lender or the Secretary to determine the creditworthiness of the individual. (3)Alternative credit scoring informationAlternative credit scoring information described in paragraph (1)(A) may include proof of rent, utility, and insurance payment histories, and such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(b)Voluntary participation
(1)In generalThe Secretary shall ensure that any participation in the pilot program is voluntary on an opt-in basis for a lender, a borrower, and an individual described in subsection (a)(2). (2)Notice of participationSubject to paragraph (3), any lender who participates in the pilot program shall—
(A)notify each individual described in subsection (a)(2) who, during the pilot program, applies for a loan under chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, from such lender, of the lender’s participation in the pilot program; and (B)offer such individual the opportunity to participate in the pilot program.
(3)Limitation
(A)In generalThe Secretary may establish a limitation on the number of individuals and lenders that may participate in the pilot program. (B)ReportIf the Secretary limits participation in the pilot program under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, not later than 15 days after establishing such limitation, submit to Congress a report setting forth the reasons for establishing such limitation.
(c)Approval of credit scoring models
(1)In generalA lender participating in the pilot program may not use a credit scoring model under subsection (a)(1)(A) until the Secretary has reviewed and approved such credit scoring model for purposes of the pilot program. (2)Publication of criteriaThe Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register any criteria established under subsection (a)(1)(B) for acceptable commercially available credit scoring models that use alternative credit scoring information described in subsection (a)(1)(A) to be used for purposes of the pilot program.
(3)Considerations; approval of certain modelsIn selecting credit scoring models to approve under this section, the Secretary shall— (A)consider the criteria for credit score assessments under section 1254.7 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(B)approve any commercially available credit scoring model that has been approved pursuant to section 302(b)(7) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(7)) or section 305(d) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454)(d)).  (d)OutreachTo the extent practicable, the Secretary shall conduct outreach to lenders and individuals described in subsection (a)(2) to inform such persons of the pilot program.
(e)Report
(1)In generalNot later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. (2)ContentsThe report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)The findings of the Secretary with respect to the feasibility and advisability of using alternative credit scoring information or credit scoring models using alternative credit scoring methodology for individuals described in subsection (a)(2). (B)A description of the efforts of the Secretary to assess the feasibility and advisability of using alternative credit scoring information or credit scoring models as described in subparagraph (A).
(C)To the extent practicable, the following: (i)The rate of participation in the pilot program.
(ii)An assessment of whether participants in the pilot program benefitted from such participation. (D)An assessment of the effect of the pilot program on the subsidy rate for loans guaranteed or insured by the Secretary under chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code.
(E)Such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate. (f)Termination (1)In generalThe Secretary shall complete the pilot program required by subsection (a)(1) not later than September 30, 2025.
(2)Effect on loans and applicationsThe termination of the pilot program under paragraph (1) shall not affect a loan guaranteed, or for which loan applications have been received by a participating lender, on or before the date of the completion of the pilot program. (g)Insufficient credit history definedIn this section, the term insufficient credit history, with respect to an individual described in subsection (a)(2), means that the individual does not have a credit record with one of the national credit reporting agencies or such credit record contains insufficient credit information to assess creditworthiness.


115 HR 1826 IH: Medicaid Expansion Incentive Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-03-30
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1826IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 30, 2017Mr. Connolly introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to redistribute Federal funds that would otherwise be
			 made available to States that do not provide for the Medicaid expansion in
			 accordance with the Affordable Care Act to those States electing to
			 provide those Medicaid benefits, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Medicaid Expansion Incentive Act of 2017. 2.Redistribution of Federal Medicaid funds to States electing to meet ACA Medicaid expansion requirements from States not so electing (a)In generalSection 1903 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

					(aa)Bonus for States electing To meet ACA Medicaid expansion requirements from funds made available by
			 other States not electing To meet those requirements
 (1)In generalIn the case of a participating State for a fiscal year as determined under paragraph (2), in accordance with regulations of the Secretary, the State shall be entitled to an increase in payments under its State plan under this title in an amount determined under paragraph (3) of the Secretary’s estimate of the net reduction in Federal expenditures for nonparticipating States (including the amount of the additional Federal financial participation under this title that otherwise would have been paid to such States if they were participating States) during the fiscal year as a result of such States not applying the ACA Medicaid expansion requirements.
						(2)Notice regarding participation
 (A)In generalBefore the beginning of each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2018) each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia is requested to inform the Secretary, in a form and manner specified by the Secretary and accompanied by such assurances regarding State plan amendments as the Secretary may specify, if the State will be applying its State plan under this title for such fiscal year in accordance with the requirements specified in the amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2001(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (in this subsection referred to as the ACA Medicaid expansion requirements), which include requirements described in—
 (i)section 1902(a)(10)(A)(I)(VIII); and (ii)section 1902(k).
								The Secretary shall not accept information submitted under this subparagraph for a fiscal year
 after the beginning of the fiscal year involved.(B)Determination of participating and nonparticipating StatesTaking into account the information submitted under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall determine for the fiscal year which of the 50 States and the District of Columbia will be applying the ACA Medicaid expansion requirements for the fiscal year and which will not. For purposes of this subsection—
 (i)each State or District determined to be applying such requirements for a fiscal year is referred to as a participating State for such fiscal year; and
 (ii)each State or District determined not to be applying such requirements for a fiscal year is referred to as a nonparticipating State for such fiscal year.
 (3)Amount of increaseThe Secretary shall compute the increase in payments under this subsection for a participating State for a fiscal year, to the extent of available funds, in accordance with a formula specified by the Secretary. Within the amount of available funds, such formula may take into account elements such as—
 (A)increasing to 100 percent the FMAP for newly eligible mandatory individuals; (B)increasing the matching percentage for administrative costs attributable to application of ACA Medicaid expansion requirements; and
 (C)an increase in DSH allotments. (4)Publication of information on estimated impact of nonparticipationThe Secretary shall publish for each nonparticipating State for each fiscal year—
 (A)the amount of the additional Federal funds under this title for the fiscal year that the Secretary estimates the State has forgone as a result of its not being a participating State for such fiscal year; and
 (B)the number of additional beneficiaries that would have been covered under the State plan under this title in the fiscal year if the State had been a participating State for the fiscal year..


117 S398 IS: Linemen Legacy Act
U.S. Senate
2021-02-23
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 398IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 23, 2021Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsA BILLTo amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify that utility line technicians qualify as emergency response providers.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Linemen Legacy Act.2.Emergency response providersSection 2(6) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(6)) is amended—(1)by striking includes Federal and inserting “includes—(A)Federal;(2)by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(B)utility line technicians responding to a major disaster or an emergency declared by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191)..


109 HR 2735 IH: Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-05-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2735
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 26, 2005
Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Murphy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an enhanced funding process to ensure an adequate level of funding for veterans health care programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish standards of access to care for veterans seeking health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Veterans Health Care Full Funding Act.
2.Enhanced process for funding veterans health care programs
(a)In general
(1)Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

320.Enhanced funding process for veterans health care
(a)In the President’s budget for each fiscal year transmitted under section 1105 of title 31, amounts shall be requested for veterans health care programs in accordance with this section. Amounts appropriated for veterans health care programs shall be available for obligation for a period of two consecutive fiscal years.
(b)
(1)For each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2008), the Veterans Health Care Funding Review Board shall determine the level of funding needed for veterans health care programs for that fiscal year and the next fiscal year. The Board shall make such determination, and shall publish such determination in the Federal Register, not later than November 1 of the year preceding the year in which the budget for such fiscal year is transmitted to Congress.
(2)In making any such determination under paragraph (1), the Board shall take into consideration the most recent information relating to economic assumptions provided to the Board by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to subsection (f)(4)(b).
(c)The amount determined under subsection (b) for any two-fiscal-year period is the amount needed to be appropriated to the Department for that two-fiscal-year period for veterans health care programs. The President shall include the full amount so determined in the budget transmitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31 for the first fiscal year in such two-year period and shall include the amount of the second fiscal year as a budget forecast year.
(d)
(1)The Board shall make its determination of the level of funding needed for veterans health care programs for any two-fiscal-year period under subsection (b) based upon an annual review of those programs and of veterans health care needs.
(2)The Board shall ensure that its determination of the level of funding needed for veterans health care programs for any period is in an amount sufficient to provide for—
(A)the health care needs of veterans estimated to be enrolled in the Department health care system under section 1705(a) of this title (other than veterans described in paragraph (8) of such section);
(B)the health care needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities who are not required to enroll in such health care system;
(C)timely access to health care under standards for access prescribed under section 1703(d)(1) of this title;
(D)maintenance of capacities of Department nursing home facilities as required by section 1710B(b) of this title and of specialized programs as required by section 1706(b)(1) of this title;
(E)the health care needs of persons eligible for benefits under chapter 17 of this title based upon subchapter VIII of that chapter;
(F)the necessary maintenance, improvement, upgrading, expanding, repairing, and replacing of major and minor medical facilities, capital equipment, and systems to ensure that health care facilities of the Department are adequate for the purposes of programs and benefits authorized for the care of veterans under chapter 17 of this title; and
(G)unanticipated requirements, including—
(i)changes in benefits;
(ii)changes in beneficiaries;
(iii)changes in economic conditions or assumptions; and
(iv)such other factors as the Board considers appropriate.
(3)Each such review under paragraph (1) shall consider—
(A)demographic information;
(B)utilization and cost trends for veterans enrolled under section 1705 of this title and other Department health-care beneficiaries;
(C)requirements for support of other core missions of the Department related to health care;
(D)the degree of efficiency (or the lack of efficiency) by which the Secretary actually delivers health care services to veterans; and
(E)such other factors as the Board considers appropriate.
(4)
(A)The Board shall submit to Congress an annual report, not later than the date on which the President transmits the budget to Congress under section 1105 of title 31 each year, on its most recent determination under subsection (b) and its most recent review under paragraph (1).
(B)The report shall include the following:
(i)A statement of the amount determined for each of the two fiscal years covered by such determination under subsection (b).
(ii)A description of the economic assumptions and other assumptions made by the Board in making such determination and how that determination was developed.
(iii)Any recommendations to Congress or the Secretary that the Board considers appropriate concerning the means and methods for the Secretary to achieve optimal efficiencies or savings in delivering health care to veterans.
(5)Following the submission of the report under paragraph (4) each year, the Board shall review and reconsider the matters contained in the report and shall, during the five-day period ending on May 1 of that year, submit to Congress a report updating the matters in the report submitted under paragraph (4). The Board shall include in that report any revision it considers appropriate to its most recent determination under subsection (b), together with the reasons for any such revision.
(e)For purposes of this section, the term veterans health care programs means programs, functions, and activities of the Veterans Health Administration other than—
(1)medical and prosthetic research; and
(2)grants under subchapter III of chapter 81 of this title.
(f)
(1)There is established in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Health Care Funding Review Board. The Board shall consist of three members who shall be appointed by the Secretary. Persons appointed to the Board shall have professional backgrounds and experience in health care policy analysis, health care statistics, health care insurance, or health care economics or have similar qualifications considered suitable by the Secretary.
(2)
(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the members of the Board shall serve for a term of 15 years, except that a member of the Board appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the end of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall only serve until the end of such term. A member may serve after the end of the term of the member until the successor of that member has taken office. A member of the Board may be removed by the Secretary for misconduct or failure to perform functions vested in the Board, and for no other reason.
(B)Of the members of the Board who are first appointed under this paragraph, one each shall be appointed for terms ending five, ten, and 15 years, respectively, after the date of appointment, as designated by the Secretary at the time of appointment.
(3)A member of the Board who is not otherwise an employee of the United States is entitled to receive pay at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay of the highest rate of basic pay under the General Schedule of subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, for each day the member is engaged in the performance of duties vested in the Board, and is entitled to travel expenses, including a per diem allowance, in accordance with section 5703 of title 5.
(4)
(A)The Secretary shall furnish the Board all papers, records, information, and other materials it requires in order to carry out its functions under this section.
(B)The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall furnish to the Board complete information on the economic assumptions (including assumptions as to inflation, unemployment, revenues and expenses, and energy costs) that inform or guide the President’s overall budgetary presentation to Congress, including those assumptions that would be expected to particularly affect health care costs in the Department, or the cost of care to veterans.
(5)Funds for the expenses of the Board for any fiscal year shall be provided from amounts available for that fiscal year for veterans health care programs. The Board shall include consideration of its own budget requirements in determinations under subsection (b)..
(2)The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

320. Enhanced funding process for veterans health care.
(b)Effective dateSections 320 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on January 1, 2006.
(c)Repeal of construction authorization requirementEffective October 1, 2006, subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, are repealed.
(d)Appointment of initial members of BoardThe initial appointment of the members of the Board established under subsection (f) of section 320 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be completed not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e)Initial funding for BoardFor fiscal year 2006, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide amounts needed for the operation of the Board established under subsection (f) of section 320 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), in a total amount not to exceed $2,000,000, from amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for that fiscal year for Medical Care.
3.Access to care standards
(a)Required standard for access to careSection 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)
(1)The following are the standards for access to care for the Department:
(A)For a veteran seeking primary care, the standard for access is 30 days, determined from the date on which the veteran contacts the Department seeking an appointment until the date on which a visit with a primary care provider is completed.
(B)For a veteran seeking specialized care, the standard for access is 30 days, determined from the date on which the veteran is referred for specialty care by a primary care provider until the date on which a visit with an appropriate specialty primary care provider is completed.
(2)The Secretary shall develop and disseminate an appropriate standard of waiting time, determined from the time at which the veteran’s visit is scheduled until the veteran is seen by the provider. The Secretary shall periodically review performance of Department facilities compared to that standard. The Secretary shall annually report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives an assessment of the Department’s performance against that standard.
(3)In a case in which the Secretary is unable to meet the standard for access to care, the Secretary shall use the authority of subsection (a) to furnish health care and services for that veteran in a non-Department facility..
(b)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first month beginning more than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act.