113 S131 RS: Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-09-17
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.

IICalendar No. 185113th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 131[Report No. 113–106]IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJanuary 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2013Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mr. Begich, Mr. Tester, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsSeptember 17, 2013Reported by Mr. Sanders, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert
			 the part printed in italicA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the
		  reproductive assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to
		  severely wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their spouses, and for other
		  purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Women Veterans and Other Health Care
			 Improvements Act of 2013.2.Clarification that fertility counseling and
			 treatment are medical services which the Secretary may furnish to veterans like
			 other medical servicesSection
			 1701(6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
			 following new subparagraph:(H)Fertility counseling and treatment,
				including treatment using assisted reproductive
				technology..3.Reproductive treatment and care for spouses
			 and surrogates of veterans(a)In generalSubchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38,
			 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 section:1788.Reproductive treatment and care for spouses
				and surrogates of veterans(a)In generalThe Secretary shall furnish fertility
				counseling and treatment, including through the use of assisted reproductive
				technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured
				veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in line of duty
				in the active military, naval, or air service and who is enrolled in the system
				of annual patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this title if
				the spouse or surrogate and the veteran apply jointly for such counseling and
				treatment through a process prescribed by the Secretary.(b)Coordination of care for other spouses and
				surrogatesIn the case of a
				spouse or surrogate of a veteran not described in subsection (a) who is seeking
				fertility counseling and treatment, the Secretary may coordinate fertility
				counseling and treatment for such spouse or surrogate.(c)ConstructionNothing in this section shall be construed
				to require the Secretary—(1)to find or certify a surrogate for a
				veteran or to connect a surrogate with a veteran; or(2)to furnish
				maternity care to a spouse or surrogate of a veteran.(d)Assisted
				reproductive technology definedIn this section, the term assisted
				reproductive technology includes in vitro fertilization and other
				fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled when clinically
				appropriate..(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of
			 chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to
			 section 1787 the following new item:1788. Reproductive
				treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of
				veterans..4.Adoption assistance for severely wounded
			 veterans(a)In generalSubchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38,
			 United States Code, as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at
			 the end the following new section:1789.Adoption assistance(a)In generalThe Secretary may pay an amount, not to
				exceed the limitation amount, to assist a covered veteran in the adoption of
				one or more children.(b)Covered veteranFor purposes of this section, a covered
				veteran is any severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who—(1)has an infertility condition incurred or
				aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service;
				and(2)is enrolled in the system of annual patient
				enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this title.(c)Limitation amountFor purposes of this section, the
				limitation amount is the amount equal to the lesser of—(1)the cost the Department would incur if the
				Secretary were to provide a covered veteran with one cycle of in vitro
				fertilization, as determined by the Secretary; and(2)the cost the Department would incur by
				paying the expenses of three adoptions by covered veterans, as determined by
				the
				Secretary..(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of
			 chapter 17 of such title, as amended by section 3, is further amended by
			 inserting after the item relating to section 1788 the following new
			 item:1789. Adoption
				assistance..5.Annual report on provision of fertility
			 counseling and treatment furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs(a)In generalNot later than one year after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each year
			 thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on
			 Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
			 House of Representatives a report on the fertility counseling and treatment
			 furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the year preceding the
			 submittal of the report.(b)ElementsEach report submitted under subsection (a)
			 shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:(1)The number of veterans who received
			 fertility counseling or treatment furnished by the Department of Veterans
			 Affairs, disaggregated by era of military service of such veterans.(2)The number of spouses and surrogates of
			 veterans who received fertility counseling or treatment furnished by the
			 Department.(3)The cost to the Department of furnishing
			 fertility counseling and treatment, disaggregated by cost of services and
			 administration.(4)The average cost to the Department per
			 recipient of such counseling and treatment.(5)In cases in which the Department furnished
			 fertility treatment through the use of assisted reproductive technology, the
			 average number of cycles per person furnished.(6)A description of how fertility counseling
			 and treatment services of the Department are coordinated with similar services
			 of the Department of Defense.6.Regulations on furnishing of fertility
			 counseling and treatment and adoption assistance by Department of Veterans
			 Affairs(a)In generalNot later than 540 days after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe
			 regulations—(1)on the furnishing of fertility treatment to
			 veterans using assisted reproductive technology;(2)to carry out section 1788 of title 38,
			 United States Code, as added by section 3; and(3)to carry out section 1789 of such title, as
			 added by section 4.(b)LimitationNotwithstanding any other provision of law,
			 during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending
			 on the date on which the Secretary prescribes regulations under subsection (a),
			 the Secretary may not furnish—(1)to a veteran any fertility treatment that
			 uses an assisted reproductive technology that the Secretary has not used in the
			 provision of a fertility treatment to a veteran before the date of the
			 enactment of this Act;(2)any fertility counseling or treatment under
			 section 1788 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 3; or(3)any assistance under section 1789 of such
			 title, as added by section 4.(c)Assisted reproductive technology
			 definedIn this section, the
			 term assisted reproductive technology has the meaning given the
			 term in section 1788 of such title, as added by section 3.7.Coordination between Department of Veterans
			 Affairs and Department of Defense on furnishing of fertility counseling and
			 treatmentThe Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall share best practices and
			 facilitate referrals, as they consider appropriate, on the furnishing of
			 fertility counseling and treatment.8.Facilitation of
			 reproduction and infertility research(a)In
			 generalSubchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United States
			 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:7330B.Facilitation
				of reproduction and infertility research(a)Facilitation of
				research requiredThe Secretary shall facilitate research
				conducted collaboratively by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
				Health and Human Services to improve the ability of the Department of Veterans
				Affairs to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who
				have a genitourinary service-connected disability or a condition that was
				incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air
				service, such as spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to
				reproduce.(b)Dissemination of
				informationThe Secretary shall ensure that information produced
				by the research facilitated under this section that may be useful for other
				activities of the Veterans Health Administration is disseminated throughout the
				Veterans Health
				Administration..(b)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of
			 such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330A the
			 following new item:7330B. Facilitation of
				reproduction and infertility
				research..(c)ReportNot
			 later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the research
			 activities conducted by the Secretary under section 7330B of title 38, United
			 States Code, as added by subsection (a).9.Requirement to
			 improve Department of Veterans Affairs women veterans contact
			 centerThe Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs shall enhance the capabilities of the Department of Veterans
			 Affairs women veterans contact center—(1)to respond to requests by women veterans
			 for assistance with accessing health care and benefits furnished under laws
			 administered by the Secretary; and(2)for referral of such veterans to community
			 resources to obtain assistance with services not furnished by the
			 Department.10.Modification of
			 pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly
			 separated from service in the Armed Forces(a)Increase in
			 number of locationsSubsection (c) of section 203 of the
			 Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law
			 111–163; 38 U.S.C. 1712A note) is amended by striking three
			 locations and inserting 14 locations.(b)Extension of
			 durationSubsection (d) of
			 such section is amended by striking 2-year and inserting
			 four-year.(c)Authorization of
			 appropriationsSubsection (f) of such section is amended—(1)by striking
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs for each and inserting the
			 following: “Secretary of Veterans Affairs—(1)for
				each;(2)in paragraph (1),
			 as designated by paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end and inserting
			 ; and; and(3)by adding at the
			 end the following new paragraph:(2)for each of fiscal
				years 2013 and 2014, $400,000 to carry out the pilot
				program..11.Program on
			 assistance for child care for certain veterans(a)Assistance for
			 child care for certain veterans receiving health care(1)In
			 generalSubchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States
			 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:1709B.Assistance
				for child care for certain veterans receiving health care(a)Program
				requiredThe Secretary shall carry out a program to provide,
				subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans described in
				subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive health
				care services described in subsection (c).(b)Limitation on
				period of paymentsAssistance may only be provided to a qualified
				veteran under this section for receipt of child care during the period that the
				qualified veteran—(1)receives the types
				of health care services described in subsection (c) at a facility of the
				Department; and(2)requires travel to
				and return from such facility for the receipt of such health care
				services.(c)Qualified
				veteransFor purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a
				veteran who is—(1)the primary
				caretaker of a child or children; and(2)(A)receiving from the
				Department—(i)regular mental
				health care services;(ii)intensive mental
				health care services; or(iii)such other
				intensive health care services that the Secretary determines that provision of
				assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such
				health care services by the veteran; or(B)in need of regular
				or intensive mental health care services from the Department, and but for lack
				of child care services, would receive such health care services from the
				Department.(d)LocationsThe
				Secretary shall carry out the program in no fewer than three Veterans
				Integrated Service Networks selected by the Secretary for purposes of the
				program.(e)Forms of child
				care assistance(1)Child care assistance
				under this section may include the following:(A)Stipends for the
				payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly
				or through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable,
				modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program
				established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government
				Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–67; 115 Stat. 552).(B)Direct provision
				of child care at an on-site facility of the Department of Veterans
				Affairs.(C)Payments to
				private child care agencies.(D)Collaboration with
				facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies.(E)Such other forms
				of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate.(2)In the case that
				child care assistance under this section is provided as a stipend under
				paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child
				care..(2)Conforming
			 amendmentSection 205(e) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus
			 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is
			 amended by inserting but not after the date of the enactment of the
			 Women Veterans and Other Health Care
			 Improvements Act of 2013 before the period at the
			 end.(3)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
			 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709A the following
			 new item:1709B. Assistance for
				child care for certain veterans receiving health
				care..(b)Assistance for
			 child care for certain veterans receiving readjustment counseling and related
			 mental health services(1)In
			 generalSubchapter I of chapter 17 of such title, as amended by
			 subsection (a)(1), is further amended by adding at the end the following new
			 section:1709C.Assistance
				for child care for certain veterans receiving readjustment counseling and
				related mental health services(a)Program
				requiredThe Secretary shall carry out a program to provide,
				subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans described in
				subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive
				readjustment counseling and related mental health services.(b)Limitation on
				period of paymentsAssistance may only be provided to a qualified
				veteran under this section for receipt of child care during the period that the
				qualified veteran receives readjustment counseling and related health care
				services at a Vet Center.(c)Qualified
				veteransFor purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a
				veteran who is—(1)the primary
				caretaker of a child; and(2)(A)receiving from the
				Department regular readjustment counseling and related mental health services;
				or(B)in need of
				readjustment counseling and related mental health services from the Department,
				and but for lack of child care services, would receive such counseling and
				services from the Department.(d)LocationsThe
				Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in no fewer than three
				Readjustment Counseling Service Regions selected by the Secretary for purposes
				of the program.(e)Forms of child
				care assistance(1)Child care assistance
				under this section may include the following:(A)Stipends for the
				payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly
				or through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable,
				modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program
				established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government
				Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–67; 115 Stat. 552).(B)Payments to
				private child care agencies.(C)Collaboration with
				facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies.(D)Such other forms
				of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate.(2)In the case that
				child care assistance under this subsection is provided as a stipend under
				paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child
				care.(f)Vet Center
				definedIn this section, the term Vet Center means a
				center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for
				veterans under section 1712A of this
				title..(2)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of such chapter,
			 as amended by subsection (a)(3), is further amended by inserting after the item
			 relating to section 1709B the following new item:1709C. Assistance for
				child care for certain veterans receiving readjustment counseling and related
				mental health
				services..12.Contractor user
			 fees(a)In
			 generalChapter 3 of title
			 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 section:323.Contractor user
				fees(a)Fee
				requirementExcept as
				provided in subsection (c) and subject to subsection (d), the Secretary shall
				impose a fee upon each person with whom the Secretary engages in a contract for
				a good or service as a condition of the contract.(b)Fee
				amount(1)The amount of a fee
				imposed upon a person under subsection (a) with respect to a contract shall be
				equal to the lesser of—(A)the amount which
				is equal to seven percent of the total value of the contract; and(B)the amount which
				is equal to the total value of the contract multiplied by the applicable
				percentage for such fiscal year.(2)The applicable
				percentage for a fiscal year shall be equal to the percentage by which—(A)the annual
				estimate of the total value of contracts for such fiscal year, exceeds(B)the annual
				estimate of the total cost of fertility counseling and treatment for such
				fiscal year.(3)Before each fiscal year, the Secretary
				shall establish, for purposes of this section, the annual estimate of the total
				value of contracts for the next fiscal year, which shall be the Secretary's
				estimate of what the aggregate value will be of all contracts in which the
				Secretary will engage in the next fiscal year.(4)Before each fiscal year, the Secretary
				shall establish, for purposes of this section, the annual estimate of the total
				cost of fertility counseling and treatment for the next fiscal year, which
				shall be the Secretary's estimate of what the total cost to the Department will
				be in the next fiscal year of—(A)furnishing fertility counseling and
				treatment, including through the use of assisted reproductive technology, to
				individuals under laws administered by the Secretary in the next fiscal year;
				and(B)making payments under section 1789 of this
				title in the next fiscal year.(c)WaiverThe Secretary may waive the fee required by
				subsection (a) for a person as the Secretary considers appropriate if the
				person is an individual or a small business concern.(d)Limitation on
				collectionNo fee may be
				collected under subsection (a) except to the extent that the expenditure of the
				fee to pay the costs of activities and services for which the fee is imposed is
				provided for in advance in an appropriations Act.(e)Department of
				Veterans Affairs Fertility Counseling and Treatment Fund(1)There is in the
				Treasury a fund to be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Fertility
				Counseling and Treatment Fund.(2)All amounts
				received by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the
				fund.(3)(A)Subject to the
				provisions of appropriations Acts, amounts in the fund shall be available,
				without fiscal year limitation, to the Secretary for the following
				purposes:(i)To furnish fertility counseling and
				treatment, including through the use of assisted reproductive technology, to
				individuals under laws administered by the Secretary.(ii)To make payments under section 1789 of this
				title.(B)Amounts available
				under subparagraph (A) may not be used for any purposes other than a purpose
				set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of that subparagraph.(4)Amounts received
				by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be treated for the purposes of
				sections 251 and 252 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act
				of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901, 902) as offsets to discretionary appropriations (rather
				than as offsets to direct spending) to the extent that such amounts are made
				available for expenditure in appropriations Acts for the purposes specified in
				paragraph (3) of this subsection.(f)Small business
				concern definedIn this section, the term small business
				concern has the meaning given such term under section 3 of the Small
				Business Act (15 U.S.C.
				632)..(b)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of
			 such title is amended by adding after the item relating to section 322 the
			 following new item:323. Contractor user
				fees..1.Short title; References to title 38, United
			 States Code(a)Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of
			 2013.(b)References to title 38,
			 United States CodeExcept as
			 otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is
			 expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other
			 provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other
			 provision of title 38, United States Code.2.Clarification that fertility counseling and
			 treatment are medical services which the Secretary may furnish to veterans like
			 other medical servicesSection
			 1701(6) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(H)Fertility counseling and treatment,
				including treatment using assisted reproductive
				technology..3.Reproductive treatment and care for spouses
			 and surrogates of veterans(a)In generalSubchapter VIII of chapter 17 is amended by
			 adding at the end the following new section:1788.Reproductive treatment and care for spouses
				and surrogates of veterans(a)In generalThe Secretary shall furnish fertility
				counseling and treatment, including through the use of assisted reproductive
				technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured
				veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in line of duty
				in the active military, naval, or air service and who is enrolled in the system
				of annual patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this title if
				the spouse or surrogate and the veteran apply jointly for such counseling and
				treatment through a process prescribed by the Secretary.(b)Coordination of care for other spouses and
				surrogatesIn the case of a
				spouse or surrogate of a veteran not described in subsection (a) who is seeking
				fertility counseling and treatment, the Secretary may coordinate fertility
				counseling and treatment for such spouse or surrogate.(c)ConstructionNothing in this section shall be construed
				to require the Secretary—(1)to find or certify a surrogate for a
				veteran or to connect a surrogate with a veteran; or(2)to furnish maternity care
				to a spouse or surrogate of a veteran.(d)Assisted reproductive
				technology definedIn this
				section, the term assisted reproductive technology includes in
				vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm
				are handled when clinically
				appropriate..(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of
			 chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1787 the
			 following new item:1788. Reproductive treatment
				and care for spouses and surrogates of
				veterans..4.Adoption assistance for severely wounded
			 veterans(a)In generalSubchapter VIII of chapter 17, as amended
			 by section 3 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following
			 new section:1789.Adoption assistance(a)In generalThe Secretary may pay an amount, not to
				exceed the limitation amount, to assist a covered veteran in the adoption of
				one or more children.(b)Covered veteranFor purposes of this section, a covered
				veteran is any severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who—(1)has an infertility condition incurred or
				aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service;
				and(2)is enrolled in the system of annual patient
				enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this title.(c)Limitation amountFor purposes of this section, the
				limitation amount is the amount equal to the lesser of—(1)the cost the Department would incur if the
				Secretary were to provide a covered veteran with one cycle of fertility
				treatment through the use of assisted reproductive technology under section
				1788 of this title, as determined by the Secretary; or(2)the cost the Department would incur by
				paying the expenses of three adoptions by covered veterans, as determined by
				the Secretary.(d)Assisted reproductive
				technology definedIn this
				section, the term assisted reproductive technology has the meaning
				given that term in section 1788 of this
				title..(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of
			 chapter 17, as amended by section 3(b) of this Act, is further amended by
			 inserting after the item relating to section 1788 the following new
			 item:1789. Adoption
				assistance..5.Regulations on furnishing of fertility
			 counseling and treatment and adoption assistance by Department of Veterans
			 Affairs(a)In generalNot later than 540 days after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe
			 regulations—(1)on the furnishing of fertility treatment to
			 veterans using assisted reproductive technology;(2)to carry out section 1788 of title 38,
			 United States Code, as added by section 3 of this Act; and(3)to carry out section 1789 of such title, as
			 added by section 4 of this Act.(b)LimitationNotwithstanding any other provision of law,
			 during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending
			 on the date on which the Secretary prescribes regulations under subsection (a),
			 the Secretary may not furnish—(1)to a veteran any fertility treatment that
			 uses an assisted reproductive technology that the Secretary has not used in the
			 provision of a fertility treatment to a veteran before the date of the
			 enactment of this Act;(2)any fertility counseling or treatment under
			 section 1788 of such title, as added by section 3 of this Act; or(3)any assistance under section 1789 of such
			 title, as added by section 4 of this Act.(c)Assisted reproductive technology
			 definedIn this section, the
			 term assisted reproductive technology has the meaning given the
			 term in section 1788 of such title, as added by section 3 of this Act.6.Coordination between Department of Veterans
			 Affairs and Department of Defense on furnishing of fertility counseling and
			 treatmentThe Secretary of
			 Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall share best practices and
			 facilitate referrals, as they consider appropriate, on the furnishing of
			 fertility counseling and treatment.7.Facilitation of
			 reproduction and infertility research(a)In
			 generalSubchapter II of chapter 73 is amended by adding at the
			 end the following new section:7330B.Facilitation of
				reproduction and infertility research(a)Facilitation of
				research requiredThe Secretary shall facilitate research
				conducted collaboratively by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
				Health and Human Services to improve the ability of the Department of Veterans
				Affairs to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who
				have a genitourinary service-connected disability or a condition that was
				incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air
				service, such as a spinal cord injury, that affects the veterans' ability to
				reproduce.(b)Dissemination of
				informationThe Secretary shall ensure that information produced
				by the research facilitated under this section that may be useful for other
				activities of the Veterans Health Administration is disseminated throughout the
				Veterans Health
				Administration..(b)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is
			 amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330A the following new
			 item:7330B. Facilitation of
				reproduction and infertility
				research..(c)ReportNot
			 later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the research
			 activities conducted by the Secretary under section 7330B of title 38, United
			 States Code, as added by subsection (a).8.Annual report on provision of fertility
			 counseling and treatment furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs(a)In generalNot later than one year after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the
			 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans'
			 Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
			 Representatives a report on the fertility counseling and treatment furnished by
			 the Department of Veterans Affairs during the year preceding the submittal of
			 the report.(b)ElementsEach report submitted under subsection (a)
			 shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:(1)The number of veterans who received
			 fertility counseling or treatment furnished by the Department of Veterans
			 Affairs, disaggregated by era of military service of such veterans.(2)The number of spouses and surrogates of
			 veterans who received fertility counseling or treatment furnished by the
			 Department.(3)The cost to the Department of furnishing
			 fertility counseling and treatment, disaggregated by cost of services and
			 administration.(4)The average cost to the Department per
			 recipient of such counseling and treatment.(5)In cases in which the Department furnished
			 fertility treatment through the use of assisted reproductive technology, the
			 average number of cycles per person furnished.(6)A description of how fertility counseling
			 and treatment services of the Department are coordinated with similar services
			 of the Department of Defense.9.Program on assistance
			 for child care for certain veterans(a)Assistance for child
			 care for certain veterans receiving health care(1)In
			 generalSubchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the
			 end the following new section:1709B.Assistance for child
				care for certain veterans receiving health care(a)Program
				requiredThe Secretary shall carry out a program to provide,
				subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified veterans described in
				subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive health
				care services described in subsection (c).(b)Limitation on period of
				paymentsAssistance may only be provided to a qualified veteran
				under this section for receipt of child care during the period that the
				qualified veteran—(1)receives health care
				services described in subsection (c) at a facility of the Department;
				and(2)requires travel to and
				from such facility for the receipt of such health care services.(c)Qualified
				veteransFor purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a
				veteran who is—(1)the primary caretaker of
				a child or children; and(2)(A)receiving from the
				Department—(i)regular mental health
				care services;(ii)intensive mental health
				care services; or(iii)such other intensive
				health care services that the Secretary determines that provision of assistance
				to the veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such health care
				services by the veteran; or(B)in need of regular or
				intensive mental health care services from the Department, and but for lack of
				child care services, would receive such health care services from the
				Department.(d)LocationsThe
				Secretary shall carry out the program in no fewer than three Veterans
				Integrated Service Networks selected by the Secretary for purposes of the
				program.(e)Forms of child care
				assistance(1)Child care assistance
				under this section may include the following:(A)Stipends for the payment
				of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly or
				through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled
				after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established
				pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations
				Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–67; 115 Stat. 552).(B)Direct provision of child
				care at an on-site facility of the Department.(C)Payments to private child
				care agencies.(D)Collaboration with
				facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies.(E)Such other forms of
				assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate.(2)In the case that child
				care assistance under this section is provided as a stipend under paragraph
				(1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child
				care..(2)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is
			 amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1709A the following new
			 item:1709B. Assistance for child
				care for certain veterans receiving health
				care..(3)Conforming
			 amendmentSection 205(e) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus
			 Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is
			 amended by inserting but not after the date of the enactment of the
			 Women Veterans and Other Health Care
			 Improvements Act of 2013 before the period at the
			 end.(b)Assistance for child
			 care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related mental
			 health services(1)In
			 generalSubchapter I of chapter 17, as amended by subsection
			 (a)(1) of this section, is further amended by adding at the end the following
			 new section:1709C.Assistance for child
				care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related mental
				health services(a)Program
				requiredThe Secretary shall carry out a program to provide,
				subject to subsection (b), assistance to qualified individuals described in
				subsection (c) to obtain child care so that such individuals can receive
				readjustment counseling and related mental health services.(b)Limitation on period of
				paymentsAssistance may only be provided to a qualified
				individual under this section for receipt of child care during the period that
				the qualified individual receives readjustment counseling and related health
				care services at a Vet Center.(c)Qualified
				individualsFor purposes of this section, a qualified individual
				is an individual who is—(1)the primary caretaker of
				a child or children; and(2)(A)receiving from the
				Department regular readjustment counseling and related mental health services;
				or(B)in need of readjustment
				counseling and related mental health services from the Department, and but for
				lack of child care services, would receive such counseling and services from
				the Department.(d)LocationsThe
				Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in no fewer than three
				Readjustment Counseling Service Regions selected by the Secretary for purposes
				of the program.(e)Forms of child care
				assistance(1)Child care assistance
				under this section may include the following:(A)Stipends for the payment
				of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly or
				through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled
				after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established
				pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations
				Act, 2002 (Public Law 107–67; 115 Stat. 552).(B)Payments to private child
				care agencies.(C)Collaboration with
				facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies.(D)Such other forms of
				assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate.(2)In the case that child
				care assistance under this subsection is provided as a stipend under paragraph
				(1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care.(f)Vet Center
				definedIn this section, the term Vet Center means a
				center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for
				individuals under section 1712A of this
				title..(2)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17,
			 as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section, is further amended by
			 inserting after the item relating to section 1709B the following new
			 item:1709C. Assistance for child
				care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related mental
				health
				services..10.Counseling in retreat
			 settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed
			 Forces(a)Counseling in retreat
			 settings(1)In
			 generalSubchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the
			 end the following new section:1720H.Counseling in
				retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed
				Forces(a)In
				generalThe Secretary shall provide, through the Readjustment
				Counseling Service of the Veterans Health Administration, reintegration and
				readjustment services described in subsection (c) in group retreat settings to
				women veterans who are recently separated from service in the Armed Forces
				after a prolonged deployment.(b)Election of
				veteranThe receipt of services under this section by a woman
				veteran shall be at the election of the veteran.(c)Covered
				servicesThe services provided to a woman veteran under this
				section shall include the following:(1)Information on
				reintegration into the veteran’s family, employment, and community.(2)Financial
				counseling.(3)Occupational
				counseling.(4)Information and
				counseling on stress reduction.(5)Information and
				counseling on conflict resolution.(6)Such other information
				and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the veteran in
				reintegration into the veteran’s family, employment, and
				community..(2)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is
			 amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720G the following new
			 item:1720H. Counseling in retreat
				settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed
				Forces..
				  (b)Repeal of superseded
			 pilot program authoritySection 203 of the Caregivers and
			 Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 U.S.C.
			 1712A note) is hereby repealed.September 17, 2013Reported with an amendment


		II

		Calendar No. 206

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. 1681

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 12, 2005

			Mrs. Hutchison (for

			 herself and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the

			 following bill; which was read the first time

			September 13, 2005

			 Read the second time and placed on the

			 calendar

		A BILL

		To provide for reimbursement of communities for purchases

		  of supplies distributed to Katrina Survivors.

		1.Reimbursement for

			 purchases

			(a)Definitions

				(1)Disaster

			 periodThe term disaster period means, with respect

			 to any State that includes an area for which a major disaster has been declared

			 in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

			 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) as a result of Hurricane Katrina, the

			 period beginning on the earliest date on which any area of the State was so

			 declared and ending on the latest date for which any such declaration of an

			 area of the State terminates.

				(2)Katrina

			 SurvivorThe term Katrina Survivor means an

			 individual who—

					(A)resides in an

			 area for which a major disaster has been declared in accordance with 401 of the

			 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

			 5170) as a result of Hurricane Katrina; or

					(B)resided in an

			 area described in subparagraph (A) during the 7 days immediately preceding the

			 declaration of a major disaster described in subparagraph (A).

					(3)Major

			 disasterThe term major disaster has the meaning

			 given the term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

			 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).

				(b)Reimbursement

				(1)In

			 generalSubject to paragraph (2) and subsection (c),

			 notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall reimburse a

			 community for each purchase of supplies (such as food, personal hygiene

			 products, linens, and clothing) distributed to Katrina Survivors in an amount

			 equal to 100 percent of the amount expended for the purchase.

				(2)Eligible

			 purchasesReimbursement under paragraph (1)—

					(A)shall be

			 available only with respect to supplies that—

						(i)are

			 purchased with taxpayer dollars; and

						(ii)would otherwise

			 be eligible for reimbursement if purchased by a Katrina Survivor; and

						(B)shall not be

			 available with respect to any supplies purchased with funds from a charitable

			 contribution.

					(c)Period of

			 applicabilityThis section and the authority provided by this

			 section apply only to a community assisting Katrina Survivors from a State

			 during the disaster period of the State.

		September 13, 2005

		Read the second time and placed on the

		  calendar


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 2312
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 19, 2012
			Mr. Lieberman introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair,
		  not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized
		  condition.

		1.Camel hair, not processed in
			 any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.12.24 of
			 the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (relating to camel hair,
			 not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition) is
			 amended by striking the date in the effective period column and inserting
			 12/31/2015.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies with respect to
			 goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the
			 15th day after the date of enactment of this Act.


		II

		108th CONGRESS

		2d Session

		S. 2916

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			October 7, 2004

			Mr. Cornyn (for himself,

			 Mr. Schumer, and

			 Mr. Specter) introduced the following

			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the

			 Committee on the

			 Judiciary

		A BILL

		To combat unlawful commercial sex activities by targeting

		  demand, to protect children from being exploited by such activities, to

		  prohibit the operation of sex tours, to assist State and local governments to

		  enforce laws dealing with commercial sex activities, and for other

		  purposes.

		1.Short

			 title; table of contents

			(a)Short

			 titleThis Act may be cited as the Domestic Trafficking Victims Protection Act of

			 2004.

			(b)Table of

			 contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title;

				table of contents.

					Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.

					Sec. 3. Definitions.

					Sec. 4. Prosecution of purchasers, traffickers, and exploiters

				of commercial sex acts.

					Sec. 5. Strengthening prosecution and punishment of

				traffickers, purchasers, and exploiters of commercial sex acts.

					Sec. 6. Special operating group participation.

					Sec. 7. Reports.

			2.Findings and

			 purposes

			(a)FindingsCongress

			 makes the following findings:

				(1)The unlawful

			 trafficking of persons for commercial sexual activities has a devastating

			 impact on society.

				(2)An alarming

			 number of individuals who are used for unlawful commercial sexual activities

			 are socially and economically marginalized, and kept in effective bondage by

			 threats or acts of physical and sexual abuse. These individuals are victimized

			 by the prevalence of unlawful commercial sex. A disproportionate number of

			 these victims are women and children.

				(3)Although current

			 laws punish traffickers, exploiters, and purchasers of unlawful commercial sex

			 activities, these laws are typically enforced disproportionately against the

			 individuals, predominantly women and girls, who are used in the unlawful

			 activities, instead of against the traffickers, exploiters, and purchasers, who

			 are predominantly men.

				(4)According to

			 recent studies—

					(A)11 females used

			 in unlawful commercial sex acts were arrested in Boston for every arrest of a

			 male purchaser;

					(B)9 females used in

			 unlawful commercial sex acts were arrested in Chicago for every arrest of a

			 male purchaser; and

					(C)6 females used in

			 unlawful commercial sex acts were arrested in New York City for every arrest of

			 a male purchaser.

					(5)Some studies

			 reveal that unlawful commercial sex is a frequent gateway crime for women who

			 later commit more serious criminal offenses. Over 70 percent of female inmates

			 in American prisons were first arrested for engaging in commercial sex acts.

			 For every 3 women in jails in the United States today, 1 was arrested for

			 prostitution, and 7 of every 10 women imprisoned on felony convictions were

			 initially arrested for prostitution.

				(6)The emotional and

			 physical ramifications of unlawful sex trafficking of children as well as women

			 are staggering, leading to an increased risk of—

					(A)sexual and

			 physical assault;

					(B)violence;

					(C)suicide;

					(D)pregnancy;

					(E)abortion;

					(F)sexually

			 transmitted diseases, including AIDS;

					(G)post-traumatic

			 stress disorder; and

					(H)death.

					(7)Unlawful sex trafficking has a particularly

			 devastating and alarming impact upon children. According to some estimates,

			 between 100,000 to 300,000 children are victimized by unlawful sex trafficking

			 at any given time. According to the CyberTipline of the National Center for

			 Missing and Exploited Children, reports of child sexual exploitation, including

			 child pornography, child prostitution, online enticement of children, and child

			 sex tourism, have increased 750 percent over the past 5 years.

				(8)Runaway children

			 are especially vulnerable to unlawful sex traffickers, who lure these children

			 into devastating lives as victims of commercial sex acts, with promises of

			 food, clothing, and shelter.

				(9)According to the

			 Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the Department of

			 Justice, in 2002—

					(A)over 1,300,000

			 children were missing in the United States;

					(B)as many as

			 775,000 of these children are runaways; and

					(C)76 percent of

			 runaway children who call the National Runaway Switchboard are girls under the

			 age of 18.

					(10)The United

			 Nations estimates that unlawful sex trafficking, including sex tourism,

			 generates approximately $5,000,000,000 a year in revenues. There are a number

			 of United States-based companies that overtly and explicitly facilitate sex

			 tours, often involving the sexual exploitation of children. According to some

			 estimates, up to 1/4 of international sex tourists are

			 American.

				(11)Under the

			 Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), the United

			 States is committed to ending the international trafficking of persons for

			 slavery, including sex slavery. The achievement of significant progress in

			 reducing unlawful sex trafficking within our own borders will bolster United

			 States efforts to eliminate international trafficking of persons for slavery,

			 including sex slavery, around the world.

				(12)Stronger

			 enforcement of laws prohibiting commercial sex against traffickers, exploiters,

			 and purchasers may dramatically improve enforcement and reduce the

			 victimization of women and children used in unlawful sex trafficking.

				(13)Additional research and

			 statistics at the national, State, and local level will help us to understand

			 more fully the extent of unlawful commercial sex activities within the United

			 States, and the most effective strategies for combating such unlawful

			 activities.

				(b)PurposesThe

			 purposes of this Act are—

				(1)to support the

			 development of more effective means of combating unlawful commercial sex

			 activities by targeting demand;

				(2)to protect

			 children from the predators and exploiters who use them in commercial sex

			 activities;

				(3)to clarify that

			 the operation of sex tours is prohibited under Federal law; and

				(4)to assist State

			 and local governments in their enforcement of existing laws dealing with

			 commercial sex activities.

				3.DefinitionsIn this Act, the following definitions shall

			 apply:

			(1)Commercial sex

			 actThe term commercial sex act means any sex act

			 for which anything of value is directly or indirectly given to, or received by,

			 traffickers, exploiters, or purchasers of sex acts.

			(2)Domestic

			 traffickingThe term

			 domestic trafficking means any unlawful commercial sex act

			 performed in the United States.

			(3)Exploiter of a

			 commercial sex actThe term exploiter of a commercial sex

			 act means any person who, for financial gain, procures, sells, or

			 purveys a victim of a commercial sex act.

			(4)Purchaser of a

			 commercial sex actThe term

			 purchaser of a commercial sex act means any person who solicits or

			 purchases a commercial sex act from an exploiter or victim of a commercial sex

			 act.

			(5)Qualified

			 non-governmental organizationThe term qualified

			 non-governmental organization means any organization that the Attorney

			 General, the Assistant Secretary of Children and Families of the Department of

			 Health and Human Services, or the chief law enforcement officer of a State or

			 political subdivision of a State determines is engaged or plans to engage in

			 efforts to protect and rehabilitate victims of commercial sex acts on a not for

			 profit basis.

			(6)Trafficker of a

			 commercial sex actThe term

			 trafficker of a commercial sex act means any person who, for

			 financial gain, recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person

			 for the purpose of causing the person to become a victim of a commercial sex

			 act.

			(7)Victim of a commercial

			 sex actThe term victim

			 of a commercial sex act means any person offered for use in a commercial

			 sex act.

			4.Prosecution of

			 purchasers, traffickers, and exploiters of commercial sex acts

			(a)Grants

			 authorizedThe Attorney General shall award grants to States and

			 their political subdivisions to establish model law enforcement programs that

			 promote the effective prosecution of purchasers, exploiters, and traffickers of

			 commercial sex acts.

			(b)Use of grant

			 fundsFunds received from a grant awarded under subsection (a)

			 may be used by the grantee, either directly or through subgrants to qualified

			 non-governmental organizations, for—

				(1)prosecutions

			 against purchasers of unlawful commercial sex acts, through—

					(A)educational

			 programs instructing first-time purchasers of unlawful commercial sex on the

			 devastation caused by such offenses;

					(B)the publication

			 of names and addresses of repeat purchasers;

					(C)the use of female

			 decoys;

					(D)statutory rape

			 and felony assault prosecutions against purchasers; and

					(E)other programs

			 designated by the Attorney General to enhance the prosecution of purchasers and

			 to reduce the demand for unlawful commercial sex activities;

					(2)prosecutions

			 against traffickers and exploiters of unlawful commercial sex acts,

			 through—

					(A)surveillance of

			 places of business engaged in unlawful commercial sex acts;

					(B)rape and sexual

			 assault prosecutions against exploiters and traffickers;

					(C)tax evasion

			 prosecutions against exploiters and traffickers; and

					(D)the use of

			 restitution provisions to supplement public financing of shelters and social

			 services for victims of unlawful commercial sex acts and to compensate victims

			 of unlawful commercial sex acts; and

					(3)social service

			 programs operated by nongovernmental organizations with special expertise in

			 assisting victims of unlawful commercial sex activities, whose programs offer

			 protection, education, food, and shelter for victims of unlawful commercial sex

			 acts, provided that special consideration shall be given to such programs that

			 offer assistance to victims who assist in the prosecution of traffickers,

			 exploiters, and purchaser-exploiters of unlawful commercial sex

			 activities.

				(c)Reports by

			 grantee

				(1)In

			 generalNot later than 90 days after the end of the period for

			 which a grant was made under this section, and at such times as may be

			 necessary to effectively facilitate the reporting and dissemination

			 requirements under section 6(a), each grantee shall submit a report to the

			 Attorney General.

				(2)ContentsThe

			 report submitted under paragraph (1) shall—

					(A)identify and

			 describe the activities carried out with grant funds received under this

			 section; and

					(B)include an

			 evaluation by the grantee of the effect of those activities.

					(3)DisseminationThe

			 Attorney General shall ensure that the report submitted under paragraph (1) is

			 posted to the Department of Justice website.

				(d)Authorization

			 of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated, for

			 each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2007—

				(1)$15,000,000 for

			 grants to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(1);

				(2)$15,000,000 for

			 grants to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(2); and

				(3)$15,000,000 for

			 grants to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(3).

				5.Strengthening

			 prosecution and punishment of traffickers, purchasers, and exploiters of

			 commercial sex acts

			Chapter 117 of title 18,

			 United States Code, is amended—

			(1)in the table of

			 sections, by amending the item relating to section 2423 to read as

			 follows:

						2423. Protection of

				minor victims of commercial sex

				acts.

					.

			(2)in section 2421,

			 by inserting , including a purchaser of unlawful commercial sex

			 acts after any individual;

			(3)in section

			 2422(a), by inserting , including a purchaser of unlawful commercial sex

			 acts after any individual; and

			(4)in section

			 2423—

				(A)by amending the

			 header to read as follows:

						2423.Protection of

				minor victims of commercial sex acts

						;

				(B)by redesignating

			 subsection (f) as subsection (h);

				(C)by redesignating

			 subsection (e) as subsection (f);

				(D)in subsection

			 (f), as redesignated, by striking or (d) and inserting

			 (d), or (e); and

				(E)by inserting

			 after subsection (d) the following:

						(e)Expanded

				Federal jurisdictionAny person who, in or affecting interstate

				or foreign commerce—

							(1)(A)knowingly

				transports, recruits, or harbors a person who has not attained the age of 18

				years with the intent that the person engage in prostitution, or in any sexual

				activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense;

								(B)travels for the purpose of engaging in

				any illicit sexual conduct with another person;

								(C)engages in any illicit sexual conduct

				with another person; or

								(D)arranges, induces, procures, or

				facilitates the travel of a person for the purpose of commercial advantage or

				private financial gain, knowing that the person is traveling for the purpose of

				engaging in illicit sexual conduct; and

								(2)who knew that the

				person has crossed State or foreign territorial boundaries from the place of

				the permanent residence of such person within 1 year of the date of the

				prohibited act,

							shall be

				fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or

				both..

				6.Special

			 operating group participation

			The Department of Justice, the

			 Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and any other

			 Federal agency involved in combating unlawful domestic sex trafficking and

			 providing services to victims of unlawful domestic sex trafficking shall

			 coordinate their activities with the Senior Policy Operating Group to ensure

			 that Federal programs directed at domestic trafficking are consistent with

			 Federal enforcement of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (Public

			 Law 106–386).

		7.Reports

			(a)Annual report

			 on best practices to reduce demand for commercial sex acts

				(1)In

			 GeneralNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this

			 Act, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a full and

			 detailed report of the implementation of this Act to the Committee on the

			 Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of

			 Representatives.

				(2)ContentsThe

			 report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—

					(A)a detailed

			 explanation of the standards by which the Attorney General has—

						(i)awarded grants to

			 States and their political subdivisions under section 4; and

						(ii)evaluated the

			 success of grant awards in enhancing the prosecution and conviction of

			 purchasers, traffickers, and exploiters of unlawful commercial sex acts, and in

			 reducing demand for unlawful commercial sex activity; and

						(B)a full and

			 detailed report of the implementation of the amendments under paragraphs (2)

			 and (3) of section 5, including numbers of arrests, prosecutions, and

			 convictions; and

					(C)a full and

			 detailed report of the implementation of the amendment under section 5(4)(E),

			 including numbers of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions.

					(3)Annual

			 conferences

					(A)In

			 generalThe Attorney General, at each annual conference conducted

			 by the Department of Justice, shall—

						(i)announce and

			 evaluate the findings contained in the report submitted under paragraph (1);

			 and

						(ii)disseminate best

			 methods and practices for training State and local law enforcement personnel

			 involved in enforcing laws prohibiting commercial sex acts.

						(B)ParticipationEach

			 annual conference under this paragraph shall involve the full participation of

			 leading experts in the field, including—

						(i)local police and

			 prosecutorial officials;

						(ii)appropriate

			 State officials;

						(iii)academic

			 experts on unlawful commercial sex activity;

						(iv)appropriate

			 medical personnel; and

						(v)qualified

			 representatives of non-governmental organizations.

						(b)Comprehensive

			 statistical review on unlawful commercial sex acts

				(1)In

			 generalThe Attorney General shall carry out a biennial

			 comprehensive statistical review and analysis of unlawful commercial sex

			 acts.

				(2)ContentsThe

			 statistical review and analysis under this subsection shall include—

					(A)the number of

			 persons used in unlawful commercial sex acts;

					(B)the number of

			 traffickers, exploiters, and purchasers of unlawful commercial sex acts;

					(C)the ethnicity,

			 age, and sex of victims of unlawful commercial sex acts;

					(D)the ethnicity and

			 sex of traffickers, purchasers, and exploiters of unlawful commercial sex

			 acts;

					(E)the number of

			 investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and incarcerations of victims of

			 unlawful commercial sex acts by States and their political subdivisions;

					(F)the number of

			 investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and incarcerations of traffickers,

			 exploiters, or purchasers of unlawful commercial sex acts; and

					(G)the differences

			 in the enforcement of laws relating to unlawful commercial sex acts by

			 similarly situated jurisdictions.

					(3)Solicitation of

			 viewsIn conducting the statistical review and analysis under

			 this subsection, the Attorney General shall solicit views from—

					(A)Federal and State

			 prosecutorial officials;

					(B)Federal, State,

			 county, and municipal law enforcement officials;

					(C)persons used in

			 unlawful commercial sex acts;

					(D)researchers;

			 and

					(E)other experts in

			 the area of commercial sex acts.

					(4)ReportNot

			 later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General

			 shall submit a report containing the results of the statistical review and

			 analysis under this section to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and

			 the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

				(c)Authorization of

			 appropriationsThere are

			 authorized to be appropriated—

				(1)$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years

			 2005 through 2007 to carry out subsection (a); and

				(2)$1,000,000 for each of the

			 fiscal years 2005 and 2007 to carry out subsection (b).


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 2779
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			November 16, 2009
			Ms. Klobuchar introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Energy and Natural
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To promote Department of the Interior
		  efforts to provide a scientific basis for the management of sediment and
		  nutrient loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short title; table of contents
			(a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Upper Mississippi River Basin
			 Protection Act.
			(b)Table of contentsThe table of contents of this Act is as
			 follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of
				contents.
					Sec. 2.
				Definitions.
					Sec. 3. Reliance on sound
				science.
					Title I—Sediment and nutrient
				monitoring network
					Sec. 101. Establishment of
				monitoring network.
					Sec. 102. Data collection and
				storage responsibilities.
					Sec. 103. Relationship to
				existing sediment and nutrient monitoring.
					Sec. 104. Collaboration with
				other public and private monitoring efforts.
					Sec. 105. Reporting
				requirements.
					Sec. 106. National Research
				Council assessment.
					Title II—Computer modeling and
				research
					Sec. 201. Computer modeling and
				research of sediment and nutrient sources.
					Sec. 202. Use of electronic
				means to distribute information.
					Sec. 203. Reporting
				requirements.
					Title III—Authorization of
				appropriations and related matters
					Sec. 301. Authorization of
				appropriations.
					Sec. 302. Cost-sharing
				requirements.

			2.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)The terms Upper Mississippi River
			 Basin and Basin mean the watershed portion of the Upper
			 Mississippi River and Illinois River basins, from Cairo, Illinois, to the
			 headwaters of the Mississippi River, in the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin,
			 Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. The designation includes the Kaskaskia watershed
			 along the Illinois River and the Meramec watershed along the Missouri
			 River.
			(2)The terms Upper Mississippi River
			 Stewardship Initiative and Initiative mean the activities
			 authorized or required by this Act to monitor nutrient and sediment loss in the
			 Upper Mississippi River Basin.
			(3)The term sound science refers
			 to the use of accepted and documented scientific methods to identify and
			 quantify the sources, transport, and fate of nutrients and sediment and to
			 quantify the effect of various treatment methods or conservation measures on
			 nutrient and sediment loss. Sound science requires the use of documented
			 protocols for data collection and data analysis, and peer review of the data,
			 results, and findings.
			3.Reliance on sound scienceIt is the policy of Congress that Federal
			 investments in the Upper Mississippi River Basin must be guided by sound
			 science.
		ISediment and nutrient monitoring
			 network
			101.Establishment of monitoring
			 network
				(a)EstablishmentAs part of the Upper Mississippi River
			 Stewardship Initiative, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a
			 sediment and nutrient monitoring network for the Upper Mississippi River Basin
			 for the purposes of—
					(1)identifying and evaluating significant
			 sources of sediment and nutrients in the Upper Mississippi River Basin;
					(2)quantifying the processes affecting
			 mobilization, transport, and fate of those sediments and nutrients on land and
			 in water;
					(3)quantifying the transport of those
			 sediments and nutrients to and through the Upper Mississippi River
			 Basin;
					(4)recording changes to sediment and nutrient
			 loss over time;
					(5)providing coordinated data to be used in
			 computer modeling of the Basin, pursuant to section 201; and
					(6)identifying major sources of sediment and
			 nutrients within the Basin for the purpose of targeting resources to reduce
			 sediment and nutrient loss.
					(b)Role of United States Geological
			 SurveyThe Secretary of the
			 Interior shall carry out this title acting through the office of the Director
			 of the United States Geological Survey.
				102.Data collection and storage
			 responsibilities
				(a)Guidelines for data collection and
			 storageThe Secretary of the
			 Interior shall establish guidelines for the effective design of data collection
			 activities regarding sediment and nutrient monitoring, for the use of suitable
			 and consistent methods for data collection, and for consistent reporting, data
			 storage, and archiving practices.
				(b)Release of dataData resulting from sediment and nutrient
			 monitoring in the Upper Mississippi River Basin shall be released to the public
			 using generic station identifiers and hydrologic unit codes. In the case of a
			 monitoring station located on private lands, information regarding the location
			 of the station shall not be disseminated without the landowner’s
			 permission.
				103.Relationship to existing sediment and
			 nutrient monitoring
				(a)InventoryTo the maximum extent practicable, the
			 Secretary of the Interior shall inventory the sediment and nutrient monitoring
			 efforts, in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act, of Federal,
			 State, local, and nongovernmental entities for the purpose of creating a
			 baseline understanding of overlap, data gaps and redundancies.
				(b)IntegrationOn the basis of the inventory, the
			 Secretary of the Interior shall integrate the existing sediment and nutrient
			 monitoring efforts, to the maximum extent practicable, into the sediment and
			 nutrient monitoring network required by section 101.
				(c)Consultation and use of existing
			 dataIn carrying out this
			 section, the Secretary of the Interior shall make maximum use of data in
			 existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act and of ongoing programs
			 and efforts of Federal, State, tribal, local, and nongovernmental entities in
			 developing the sediment and nutrient monitoring network required by section
			 101.
				(d)Coordination with Long-Term estuary
			 assessment projectThe
			 Secretary of the Interior shall carry out this section in coordination with the
			 long-term estuary assessment project authorized by section 902 of the Estuaries
			 and Clean Waters Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–457; 33 U.S.C. 2901 note).
				104.Collaboration with other public and private
			 monitoring effortsTo
			 establish the sediment and nutrient monitoring network, the Secretary of the
			 Interior shall collaborate, to the maximum extent practicable, with other
			 Federal, State, tribal, local and private sediment and nutrient monitoring
			 programs that meet guidelines prescribed under section 102(a), as determined by
			 the Secretary.
			105.Reporting requirementsThe Secretary of the Interior shall report
			 to Congress not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act
			 on the development of the sediment and nutrient monitoring network.
			106.National Research Council
			 assessmentThe National
			 Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a
			 comprehensive water resources assessment of the Upper Mississippi River
			 Basin.
			IIComputer modeling and research
			201.Computer modeling and research of sediment
			 and nutrient sources
				(a)Modeling program requiredAs part of the Upper Mississippi River
			 Stewardship Initiative, the Director of the United States Geological Survey
			 shall establish a modeling program to identify significant sources of sediment
			 and nutrients in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
				(b)RoleComputer modeling shall be used to identify
			 subwatersheds which are significant sources of sediment and nutrient loss and
			 shall be made available for the purposes of targeting public and private
			 sediment and nutrient reduction efforts.
				(c)ComponentsSediment and nutrient models for the Upper
			 Mississippi River Basin shall include the following:
					(1)Models to relate nutrient loss to
			 landscape, land use, and land management practices.
					(2)Models to relate sediment loss to
			 landscape, land use, and land management practices.
					(3)Models to define river channel nutrient
			 transformation processes.
					(d)Collection of ancillary
			 informationAncillary
			 information shall be collected in a GIS format to support modeling and
			 management use of modeling results, including the following:
					(1)Land use data.
					(2)Soils data.
					(3)Elevation data.
					(4)Information on sediment and nutrient
			 reduction improvement actions.
					(5)Remotely sense data.
					202.Use of electronic means to distribute
			 informationNot later than 90
			 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the United
			 States Geological Survey shall establish a system that uses the
			 telecommunications medium known as the Internet to provide information
			 regarding the following:
				(1)Public and private programs designed to
			 reduce sediment and nutrient loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
				(2)Information on sediment and nutrient levels
			 in the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries.
				(3)Successful sediment and nutrient reduction
			 projects.
				203.Reporting requirements
				(a)Monitoring activitiesCommencing one year after the date of the
			 enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States Geological Survey
			 shall provide to Congress and make available to the public an annual report
			 regarding monitoring activities conducted in the Upper Mississippi River
			 Basin.
				(b)Modeling activitiesEvery three years, the Director of the
			 United States Geological Survey shall provide to Congress and make available to
			 the public a progress report regarding modeling activities.
				IIIAuthorization of appropriations and related
			 matters
			301.Authorization of appropriations
				(a)United States Geological Survey
			 activitiesThere is
			 authorized to be appropriated to the United States Geological Survey $6,250,000
			 each fiscal year to carry out this Act (other than section 106). Of the amounts
			 appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to this authorization of
			 appropriations, one-third shall be made available for the United States
			 Geological Survey Cooperative Water Program and the remainder shall be made
			 available for the United States Geological Survey Hydrologic Networks and
			 Analysis Program.
				(b)Water resource and water quality management
			 assessmentThere is
			 authorized to be appropriated $650,000 to allow the National Research Council
			 to perform the assessment required by section 106.
				302.Cost-sharing requirementsFunds made available for the United States
			 Geological Survey Cooperative Water Program under section 301(a) shall be
			 subject to the same cost-sharing requirements as specified in the last proviso
			 under the heading “United States
			 Geological Survey-surveys, investigations, and research” of
			 the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
			 Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–54; 119 Stat. 510; 43 U.S.C.
			 50).