115 HR 1650 IH: National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-03-21
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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1650IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 21, 2017Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Russell, and Ms. Bass) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the WorkforceA BILLTo establish a national, research-based, and comprehensive home study assessment process for the
			 evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents and provide
			 funding to States and Indian tribes to adopt such process.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act. 2.Demonstration program for the implementation of a national home study processTitle II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5111 et seq.) is amended—
 (1)in section 203(b) (42 U.S.C. 5113(b))— (A)in paragraph (3)(A), by striking (including and inserting (including the national database established under section 203A(c) but containing;
 (B)in paragraph (10), by striking ; and and inserting ;; (C)in paragraph (11), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and
 (D)by adding at the end the following:  (12)establish a demonstration program, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act, through which each participating State or Indian tribe—
 (A)adopts the uniform, research-based home study methodology for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents developed by the Secretary under section 203A(a); and
 (B)provides data gathered through operation of the program to the Secretary, as the Secretary may require for purposes of the national database under section 203A(c).;
 (2)by inserting after section 203 (42 U.S.C. 5113) the following:  203A.National home study demonstration programs; national database (a)Program methodologyEach demonstration program established by a State or Indian tribe in accordance with section 203(b)(12) shall use a uniform, research-based home study methodology for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents (developed by the Secretary after consultation with stakeholders and professionals in the field of child welfare) that shall—
 (1)incorporate— (A)information gathering tools, including—
 (i)an initial written questionnaire that is a uniform set of closed-ended questions with a variety of possible answers that provides significant family information;
 (ii)a secondary in-person questionnaire that is administered in a private setting in the home, and, if applicable, with both applicants present together; and
 (iii)guidelines that describe standardized questions that an individual serving as a reference for the applicant uses in writing a reference letter, to be sent directly to such individual and not shared with the applicant, and which is consistent with the questionnaires described in clauses (i) and (ii);
 (B)a written guidance document to assist home study practitioners in performing a psychosocial evaluation of the applicant that—
 (i)provides instructions on how to systematically analyze information learned from the information gathering tools described in subparagraph (A) in order to identify specific strengths and concerns of the applicant;
 (ii)provides sufficient information for the home study practitioner to determine the significance of behaviors and events in the applicant’s life in relation to being a successful foster care or adoption provider; and
 (iii)includes a rating system that will be incorporated into the home study report described in subparagraph (C); and
 (C)a model home study report that may, at the discretion of the Secretary, be customized by a State or Indian tribe as necessary to comply with State or tribal and local regulations and requirements;
 (2)ensure ongoing training of home study certified personnel; and (3)designate a home study auditor to ensure quality control and accuracy of information provided to placing agencies.
 (b)GrantsThe Secretary shall make grants to States and Indian tribes to enable and encourage the States and Indian tribes to establish demonstration programs in accordance with section 203(b)(12).
 (c)National databaseThe Secretary shall establish a secure national database of home study reports filed by home study practitioners using the home study methodology described in subsection (a). Such database shall be accessible only to State and tribal foster care and adoption agencies, or a designated entity, as determined by the lead agency in the State, to assist with the selection of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents.
 (d)Condition on participation in demonstration projectAs a condition for participating in the demonstration program under section 203(b)(12), a State or Indian tribe shall agree to recognize as valid all home study reports listed in the database described in subsection (c), including such reports filed by other States or Indian tribes.
 (e)EvaluationThe Secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent entity to— (1)carry out a periodic evaluation of the home study methodology established under subsection (a) and the demonstration programs established in accordance with section 203(b)(12); and
 (2)submit to the Secretary a report that includes— (A)a description of the extent to which such methodology—
 (i)meets the requirements of each of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a); (ii)expedites the screening of caregivers to promote more family-based care over institutional care for children;
 (iii)provides cost savings to State or Indian tribe foster care and adoption systems; (iv)reduces the number of children waiting for foster care or adoptive placement; and
 (v)reduces the number of prospective families waiting for foster care or adoptive placement; and (B)recommendations for expanding the demonstration program and home study methodology to all States and Indian tribes.; and
 (3)in section 205(b) (42 U.S.C. 5115(b)), by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may allocate such sums as the Secretary determines to be appropriate from the funds appropriated under subsection (a) for activities under section 203(b)(12) and 203A..


109 HR 3920 IH: Domestic Violence Courts Assistance Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-09-27
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.

I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3920
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 27, 2005
Ms. Solis (for herself, Mrs. Capito, and Mrs. Capps) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL
To authorize the establishment of domestic violence court systems from amounts available for grants to combat violence against women.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Domestic Violence Courts Assistance Act.
2.FindingsThe Congress finds the following:
(1)Nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.
(2)Family violence costs the nation between $5,000,000,000 and $10,000,000,000 each year in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and nonproductivity.
(3)The Nation’s first specialized domestic violence court was established in Chicago in the early 1980s to centralize the prosecution of domestic violence offenders.
(4)There are presently more than 300 domestic violence courts in at least 23 States nationwide.
(5)Specialized domestic violence courts in several communities have resulted in cutting the processing time of domestic violence, reducing a backlog of existing domestic violence cases and raising the conviction rate.
(6)Specialized domestic violence courts allow judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys to focus on the intricacies of domestic violence cases, especially with regards to repeat offenders.
3.Establishment of domestic violence court systems from amounts available for grants to combat violence against women
(a)In generalPart T of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (relating to grants to combat violent crimes against women) is amended as follows:
(1)Purposes for which grants may be usedSection 2001(b) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 3796gg(b)) is amended—
(A)in paragraph (10), by striking and at the end;
(B)in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
(C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(12)providing the resources to establish and maintain a court system dedicated to the adjudication of domestic violence cases, including providing such resources as—
(A)prosecutors and court personnel, including those who perform interpretation and translation services;
(B)technical assistance and counseling;
(C)training of attorneys, judges, and court personnel, including those who perform interpretation and translation services (which should be carried out in consultation with local domestic violence advocates, State domestic violence coalitions, or both);
(D)technological improvements and data collection; and
(E)improvement of court facilities, including the creation of safe waiting areas and improved security..
(2)Qualification for fundsSection 2002(c)(3)(C) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 3796gg–1(c)(3)(C)) is amended by inserting after including juvenile courts the following: and specialized domestic violence courts.
(b)Attorney General reportNot later than thirty days after the expiration of the third fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the amendments made by subsection (b), including the effectiveness of grants made under such amendments in reducing the rates of domestic violence and shortening the period of judicial review in domestic violence cases.
(c)State justice instituteSection 206(c) of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10705(c)) is amended—
(1)in paragraph (14) by striking and;
(2)in paragraph (15) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(16)implement and evaluate court-based approaches to adjudicating domestic violence cases in State courts, including—
(A)domestic violence courts;
(B)integrated case management information systems;
(C)collaborations among courts, law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, women’s shelters, and victims of crime support organizations; and
(D)any other innovative practices likely to improve the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence; and
(17)provide technical assistance to State courts to facilitate the development and adoption of improved practices in the adjudication of domestic violence cases..
(d)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out paragraphs (16) and (17) of section 206(c) of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984, as added by subsection (c), $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009.


114 HRES 397 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding preserving the rights of employers and employees regarding coverage through association health plans.
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-07-29
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.

		IV
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. RES. 397
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 29, 2015
			Ms. Herrera Beutler (for herself, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, and Mr. Newhouse) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 concerned

		RESOLUTION
		Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding preserving the rights of employers
			 and employees regarding coverage through association health plans.

 Whereas for decades association health plans have provided employers and employees with access to high-quality, affordable coverage;
 Whereas this coverage should be preserved as it meets the goal of ensuring access to quality, affordable health care; and
 Whereas the Affordable Care Act should not be interpreted by the Federal Government and State governments in a way that destroys health insurance markets: Now, therefore, be it

 That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— (1)the Federal Government and State governments should carry out the law in a way that preserves the rights of employers and employees to maintain health insurance coverage through association health plans; and
 (2)the Affordable Care Act should not be construed to supersede State law that establishes, implements, or continues in effect any standard or requirement solely relating to health insurance issuers in connection with association health plans except to the extent that such standard or requirement prevents the application of an explicit requirement of Federal law.


I
111th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 5230
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 6, 2010
Mr. Heinrich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, 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 concerned

A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program on collaborative energy security.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Military Energy Security Act or the MESA Act.
2.Pilot program on collaborative energy security
(a)Pilot programThe Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out a collaborative energy security pilot program involving one or more partnerships between one military installation and one national laboratory, for the purpose of evaluating and validating secure, salable microgrid components and systems for deployment.
(b)Selection of military installation and national laboratoryThe Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly select a military installation and a national laboratory for the purpose of carrying out the pilot program under this section. In making such selections, the Secretaries shall consider each of the following:
(1)A commitment to participate made by a military installation being considered for selection.
(2)The findings and recommendations of relevant energy security assessments of military installations being considered for selection.
(3)The availability of renewable energy sources at a military installation being considered for selection.
(4)Potential synergies between the expertise and capabilities of a national laboratory being considered for selection and the infrastructure, interests, or other energy security needs of a military installation being considered for selection.
(5)The effects of any utility tariffs, surcharges, or other considerations on the feasibility of enabling any excess electricity generated on a military installation being considered for selection to be sold or otherwise made available to the local community near the installation.
(c)Program elementsThe pilot program shall be carried out as follows:
(1)Under the pilot program, the Secretaries shall evaluate and validate the performance of new energy technologies that may be incorporated into operating environments.
(2)The pilot program shall involve collaboration with the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability of the Department of Energy and other offices and agencies within the Department of Energy, as appropriate, and the Environmental Security Technical Certification Program of the Department of Defense.
(3)Under the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall investigate opportunities for any excess electricity created for the military installation to be sold or otherwise made available the local community near the installation.
(4)The Secretary of Defense shall use the results of the pilot program as the basis for informing key performance parameters and validating energy components and designs that could be implemented in various military installations across the country and at forward operating bases.
(5)The pilot program shall support the effort of the Secretary of Defense to use the military as a test bed to demonstrate innovative energy technologies.
(d)Implementation and durationThe Secretary of Defense shall begin the pilot program under this section by not later than July 1, 2011. Such pilot program shall be not less than three years in duration.
(e)Reports
(1)Initial reportNot later than October 1, 2011, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an initial report that provides an update on the implementation of the pilot program under this section, including an identification of the selected military installation and national laboratory partner and a description of technologies under evaluation.
(2)Final reportNot later than 90 days after completion of the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the pilot program, including any findings and recommendations of the Secretary.
(f)Authorization of AppropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense to carry out this section—
(1)$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(2)$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
(3)$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(g)DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
(1)The term microgrid means an integrated energy system consisting of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (including generators, energy storage devices, and smart controls) that can operate with the utility grid or in an intentional islanding mode.
(2)The term national laboratory means—
(A)a national laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); or
(B)a national security laboratory (as defined in section 3281 of the National Nuclear Security Administration Act (50 U.S.C. 2471)).


113 S1298 IS: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust the limits on expensing of certain depreciable business assets.
U.S. Senate
2013-07-16
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
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1298
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			July 16 (legislative
			 day, July 15), 2013
			Mr. Begich introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust the
		  limits on expensing of certain depreciable business assets.

		1.Expensing certain depreciable
			 business assets
			(a)In
			 generalSection 179(b) of the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
				(1)in paragraph
			 (1)(C), by striking $25,000 and inserting
			 $250,000, and
				(2)in paragraph
			 (2)(C), by striking $200,000 and inserting
			 $800,000.
				(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable
			 years beginning after December 31, 2013.


117 HR 93 IH: Eliminating Foreign Intervention in Elections Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-01-04
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.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 93IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 4, 2021Mr. Duncan (for himself, Mr. Norman, Mr. Budd, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Gaetz, and Mr. Biggs) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformA BILLTo prohibit Federal payments to a unit of local government that allows individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections for State or local office, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Eliminating Foreign Intervention in Elections Act.2.Federal payment restriction(a)In generalNone of the funds made available in any Act may be used to make payments to any unit of local government that permits individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections for State or local office.(b)Publication of information by Census requiredThe Bureau of the Census shall collect and publish information on any State or local government that allows non-citizens to vote.(c)ApplicabilityThe requirements of this section shall only apply with respect to any contract entered into or grant made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.


 HR 1396 ENR: Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act
U.S. House of Representatives

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
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of AmericaAt the First SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen
H. R. 1396

AN ACT
To award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden, to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, and to award a Congressional Gold Medal to honor all of the women who contributed to the success of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the Space Race.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act.  2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
(1)In 1935, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (referred to in this section as NACA) hired five women to serve as the first computer pool at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory where those women took on work making calculations that male engineers had made previously.  (2)During the 1940s, NACA began recruiting African-American women to work as computers and initially separated those women from their White counterparts in a group known as the West Area Computers where the women were restricted to segregated dining and bathroom facilities.
(3)Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  (4)In 1953, Katherine Johnson began her career in aeronautics as a computer in the segregated West Area Computing unit described in paragraph (2).
(5)As a member of the Flight Research Division, Katherine Johnson analyzed data from flight tests. After NACA was reformulated into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this section as NASA), Katherine Johnson— (A)calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission in 1961, which was the first human spaceflight by an individual from the United States;
(B)coauthored a report that provided the equations for describing orbital spaceflight with a specified landing point, which made her the first woman to be recognized as an author of a report from the Flight Research Division;  (C)was asked to verify the calculations when electronic computers at NASA were used to calculate the orbit for John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission; and
(D)provided calculations for NASA throughout her career, including for the Apollo missions.  (6)Katherine Johnson retired from NASA in 1986.
(7)Dr. Christine Darden was born on September 10, 1942, in Monroe, North Carolina.  (8)In 1962, Dr. Christine Darden graduated from Hampton Institute with a B.S. in Mathematics and a teaching credential.
(9)Dr. Christine Darden attended Virginia State University where she studied aerosol physics and earned an M.S. in Applied Mathematics.  (10)Dr. Christine Darden began her career in aeronautics in 1967 as a data analyst at NASA’s Langley Research Center (referred to in this section as Langley) before being promoted to aerospace engineer in 1973. Her work in this position resulted in the production of low-boom sonic effects, which revolutionized aerodynamics design.
(11)Dr. Christine Darden completed her education by earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from George Washington University in 1983.  (12)While working at NASA, Dr. Christine Darden—
(A)was appointed to be the leader of the Sonic Boom Team, which worked on designs to minimize the effects of sonic booms by testing wing and nose designs for supersonic aircraft;  (B)wrote more than 50 articles on aeronautics design; and
(C)became the first African American to be promoted to a position in the Senior Executive Service at Langley.  (13)Dorothy Vaughan was born on September 20, 1910, in Kansas City, Missouri.
(14)Dorothy Vaughan began working for NACA in 1943. Dorothy Vaughan— (A)started at NACA as a member of the West Area Computing unit;
(B)was promoted to be the head of the West Area Computing unit, becoming NACA’s first African-American supervisor, a position that she held for 9 years; and  (C)became an expert programmer in FORTRAN as a member of NASA’s Analysis and Computation Division.
(15)Dorothy Vaughan retired from NASA in 1971 and died on November 10, 2008.  (16)Mary Jackson was born on April 9, 1921, in Hampton, Virginia.
(17)Mary Jackson started her career at NACA in 1951, working as a computer as a member of the West Area Computing unit.  (18)After petitioning the City of Hampton to allow her to take graduate-level courses in math and physics at night at the all-White Hampton High School, Mary Jackson was able to complete the required training to become an engineer, making her NASA’s first female African-American engineer.
(19)Mary Jackson— (A)while at NACA and NASA—
(i)worked in the Theoretical Aerodynamics Branch of the Subsonic-Transonic Aerodynamics Division at Langley where she analyzed wind tunnel and aircraft flight data; and  (ii)published a dozen technical papers that focused on the boundary layer of air around airplanes; and
(B)after 21 years working as an engineer at NASA, transitioned to a new job as Langley’s Federal Women’s Program Manager where she worked to improve the prospects of NASA’s female mathematicians, engineers, and scientists.  (20)Mary Jackson retired from NASA in 1985 and died in 2005.
(21)These four women, along with the other African-American women in NASA’s West Area Computing unit, were integral to the success of the early space program. The stories of these four women exemplify the experiences of hundreds of women who worked as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NACA beginning in the 1930s and their handmade calculations played an integral role in— (A)aircraft testing during World War II;
(B)supersonic flight research;  (C)sending the Voyager probes to explore the solar system; and
(D)the United States landing the first man on the lunar surface.  3.Congressional Gold Medals (a)Presentation authorizedThe Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of five gold medals of appropriate design as follows:
(1)One gold medal to Katherine Johnson in recognition of her service to the United States as a mathematician.  (2)One gold medal to Dr. Christine Darden for her service to the United States as an aeronautical engineer.
(3)In recognition of their service to the United States during the Space Race— (A)one gold medal commemorating the life of Dorothy Vaughan; and
(B)one gold medal commemorating the life of Mary Jackson.  (4)One gold medal in recognition of all women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration between the 1930s and the 1970s (referred to in this section as recognized women).
(b)Design and strikingFor the purpose of the awards under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall strike each gold medal described in that subsection with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.  (c)Transfer of certain medals after presentation (1)Smithsonian Institution (A)In generalAfter the award of the gold medal commemorating the life of Dorothy Vaughan under subsection (a)(3)(A) and the award of the gold medal in recognition of recognized women under subsection (a)(4), those medals shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where the medals shall be—
(i)available for display, as appropriate; and  (ii)made available for research.
(B)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medals received under subparagraph (A) available for— (i)display, particularly at the National Museum of African American History and Culture; or
(ii)loan, as appropriate, so that the medals may be displayed elsewhere.  (2)Transfer to familyAfter the award of the gold medal in honor of Mary Jackson under subsection (a)(3)(B), the medal shall be given to her granddaughter, Wanda Jackson.
4.Duplicate medalsUnder regulations that the Secretary may promulgate, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals struck under this Act, at a price sufficient to cover the cost of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.  5.Status of medals (a)National medalsThe medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b)Numismatic itemsFor purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.  6.Authority to use fund amounts; proceeds of sale (a)Authority To use fund amountsThere is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act.
(b)Proceeds of saleAmounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.  7.Determination of budgetary effectsThe budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
 Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.


113 HR 3225 IH: Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits in the event of a Government shutdown.
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-10-01
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.

I113th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3225IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 1, 2013Mr. Salmon (for himself, Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Radel, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Schweikert, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Bridenstine, Mr. Labrador, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Cook, Mr. Williams, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Jones, Mr. Coble, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Amash, Mr. Harris, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. DesJarlais, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Posey, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Griffith of Virginia, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AppropriationsA BILLMaking continuing appropriations for veterans benefits in the event of a Government shutdown.1.Continuing appropriations for veterans compensation, pension benefits, and educational assistanceThere are hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2014 are not in effect, such sums as are necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2013 and under the authority and conditions provided in such Acts, to administer and furnish the compensation, pension benefits, readjustment benefits, veterans insurance and indemnities, veterans housing benefits, and vocational rehabilitation benefits provided for under title 38, United States Code.2.TerminationAppropriations and funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this Act shall be available until whichever of the following first occurs:(1)The enactment into law of an appropriation (including a continuing appropriation) for any purpose for which amounts are made available in section 1.(2)The enactment into law of the applicable regular or continuing appropriations resolution or other Act without any appropriation for such purpose.(3)January 1, 2015.


109 HR 4058 IH: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the construction contract exception to the percentage of completion method for determining income under long-term contracts.
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-10-17
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.

I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4058
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 17, 2005
Mr. Weller introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the construction contract exception to the percentage of completion method for determining income under long-term contracts.

1.Modifications of construction contract exception to percentage of completion method for determining income under long-term contracts
(a)Extension of completion periodClause (i) of section 460(e)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to general exception for certain construction contracts) is amended by striking 2-year and inserting 3-year.
(b)Increase in size of businessClause (ii) of section 460(e)(1)(B) of such Code is amended by striking $10,000,000 and inserting $25,000,000.
(c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		III
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 590
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 13, 2012
			Mr. Casey submitted the
			 following resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
			 and Pensions

		RESOLUTION
		Supporting the goals and ideals of
		  Children's Grief Awareness Day.

		Whereas 1 in 5 children in the United States will
			 experience the death of a close friend or relative by the age of 18 years
			 old;
		Whereas in the United States, 1,900,000 children under the
			 age of 18 years old have lost 1 or both parents;
		Whereas the death of a loved one can affect a child for
			 the rest of his or her life;
		Whereas the death of a loved one causes confusion and
			 distress because the child does not understand why the loved one died;
		Whereas a grieving child often feels lonely, fearful, and
			 misunderstood, hindering the ability to face feelings and manage grief;
		Whereas children have often been called “forgotten
			 mourners” because many people erroneously believe that children are resilient
			 enough to “just get over” grief;
		Whereas a grieving child needs to have his or her feelings
			 acknowledged, a listening ear, and the support of caring individuals, such as
			 family members, friends, and others who are also grieving a loss;
		Whereas Children’s Grief Awareness Day began in 2008,
			 through grassroots efforts to help others understand the impact of death on
			 children, and the need for support, and to provide ways for adults and young
			 people to show support and solidarity for grieving children;
		Whereas Children’s Grief Awareness Day is observed every
			 year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, immediately preceding the winter
			 holidays, which can be a particularly difficult time for grieving
			 children;
		Whereas individuals can participate in Children's Grief
			 Awareness Day by engaging in activities that raise awareness of the needs of
			 grieving children and by wearing blue on that day as a symbol of support for
			 grieving children;
		Whereas, on November 15, 2012, thousands of children and
			 adults from all walks of life and across the United States will join together
			 to show support for grieving children by participating in Children’s Grief
			 Awareness Day; and
		Whereas November 15, 2012, would be an appropriate day to
			 designate as Children’s Grief Awareness Day to help the public
			 understand the devastating impact of the death of a loved one on a child, and
			 of the need for support for grieving children: Now, therefore, be it

		That the Senate—
			(1)supports the
			 goals and ideals of Children’s Grief Awareness Day to raise awareness of and
			 support for grieving children;
			(2)recognizes the
			 hard work that grieving children do every day in creating a new life out of the
			 pieces remaining of their old lives;
			(3)applauds the
			 individuals that volunteer to support grieving children;
			(4)salutes the
			 Federal, State, and local organizations that work on behalf of grieving
			 children;
			(5)recognizes the
			 tireless efforts put forth by the individuals that help grieving children day
			 after day; and
			(6)encourages the
			 people of the United States to observe Children’s Grief Awareness Day with
			 appropriate programs and activities.


115 HR 4367 IH: Small Business Emergency Disaster Bridge Loan Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-11-09
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. 4367IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 9, 2017Ms. Velázquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small BusinessA BILLTo amend the Small Business Act to provide guaranteed disaster loans to certain small business
			 concerns, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Small Business Emergency Disaster Bridge Loan Act of 2017. 2.Small business emergency bridge loan programSection 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (15) the following new paragraph:

				(16)Small business emergency bridge loan program
 (A)In generalThe Administrator may guarantee a bridge loan to a small business concern made by an eligible lender, if such small business concern was located within an area and during the time period with respect to which—
 (i)a major disaster was declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); or
 (ii)the Administrator determined a disaster occurred. (B)ProceduresExcept as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a bridge loan guarantee made under this paragraph shall be subject to the same requirements and procedures that are used to make loans pursuant to this subsection.
 (C)Use of fundsA small business concern described in subparagraph (A) may apply to the Administrator— (i)for a bridge loan to repair or replace real property or property of the small business concern property damaged or destroyed by reason of such major disaster; or
 (ii)if such a small business concern has suffered substantial economic injury by reason of such major disaster, for a bridge loan to assist such a small business concern.
 (D)RateThe Administrator may guarantee not more than 95 percent of a bridge loan made under this paragraph.
 (E)RequirementsA bridge loan guaranteed under this subsection— (i)may not exceed $50,000;
 (ii)shall be for a term of not more than 10 years; (iii)during the 6-month period beginning on the date on which the bridge loan is disbursed, the rate of interest on such loan shall be zero and the borrower shall not be required to make any payments on such bridge loan; and
 (iv)after such 6-month period, the rate of interest on such bridge loan shall be determined by the Administrator.
 (F)UnderwritingAn eligible lender shall use the procedures and forms of such eligible lender in making a bridge loan under this subsection.
 (G)DefinitionsIn this paragraph: (i)Bridge loanThe term bridge loan means a loan made to a small business concern while the application of such concern for assistance under a disaster loan program is pending.
 (ii)Disaster loan programThe term disaster loan program means a program established under paragraphs (1), (2), or (9) of this subsection. (iii)Eligible lenderThe term eligible lender means a lender who is a community development financial institution, as defined in section 103(5) of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702(5)) or another lender that the Administrator has determined is an appropriate lender.
						.


110 HR 6163 IH: Medicare Telehealth Enhancement

U.S. House of Representatives
2008-05-22
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
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6163
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 22, 2008
			Mr. Thompson of
			 California (for himself, Mr.
			 Stupak, Mr. Hulshof, and
			 Ms. Eshoo) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
			 Ways and Means, 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 concerned

		A BILL
		To improve the provision of telehealth services under the
		  Medicare Program, to provide grants for the development of telehealth networks,
		  and for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of
			 contents
			(a)Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited
			 as the Medicare Telehealth Enhancement
			 Act of 2008.
			(b)Table of
			 contentsThe table of contents of this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
					Title I—Medicare Program
					Sec. 101. Expansion and improvement of telehealth
				services.
					Sec. 102. Increase in number of types of originating sites;
				clarification.
					Sec. 103. Facilitating the provision of telehealth services
				across State lines.
					Sec. 104. Access to telehealth services in the
				home.
					Sec. 105. Coverage of home health remote
				patient management services for certain chronic health conditions.
					Sec. 106. Remote patient management services for chronic health
				conditions.
					Sec. 107. Definition of Medicare program.
					Title II—HRSA Grant Program
					Sec. 201. Grant program for the development of telehealth
				networks.
					Sec. 202. Reauthorization of telehealth network and telehealth
				resource centers grant programs.

			IMedicare
			 Program
			101.Expansion and
			 improvement of telehealth services
				(a)Expanding access
			 to telehealth services to all areasSection 1834(m) of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395m(m)) is amended in paragraph (4)(C)(i) by striking and only if such
			 site is located and all that follows and inserting without
			 regard to the geographic area where the site is located..
				(b)Report to
			 congress on store and forward technology
					(1)StudyThe Secretary of Health and Human Services,
			 acting through the Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth,
			 shall conduct a study on the use of store and forward technologies (that
			 provide for the asynchronous transmission of health care information in single
			 or multimedia formats) in the provision of telehealth services for which
			 payment may be made under the Medicare program in Alaska and Hawaii and in
			 other States. Such study shall include an assessment of the feasibility,
			 advisability, and the costs of expanding the use of such technologies to other
			 areas for use in the diagnosis and treatment of certain conditions.
					(2)ReportNot
			 later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
			 shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subparagraph (A)
			 and shall include in such report such recommendations for legislation or
			 administration action as the Secretary determines appropriate.
					102.Increase in
			 number of types of originating sites; clarification
				(a)IncreaseParagraph (4)(C)(ii) of section 1834(m) of
			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended by adding at the end
			 the following new subclauses:

						(VI)A skilled nursing
				facility (as defined in section 1819(a)).
						(VII)A renal dialysis
				facility.
						(VIII)A county mental
				health clinic or other publicly funded mental health
				facility.
						.
				(b)Clarification of
			 intent of the term originating siteSuch section is further
			 amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

						(5)ConstructionIn
				applying the term originating site under this subsection, the
				Secretary shall apply the term only for the purpose of determining whether a
				site is eligible to receive a facility fee. Nothing in the application of that
				term under this subsection shall be construed as affecting the ability of an
				eligible practitioner to submit claims for telehealth services that are
				provided to other sites that have telehealth systems and
				capabilities.
						.
				103.Facilitating
			 the provision of telehealth services across State lines
				(a)In
			 generalThe Secretary of
			 Health and Human Services shall, in coordination with physicians, health care
			 practitioners, patient advocates, and representatives of States, encourage and
			 facilitate the adoption of State reciprocity agreements for practitioner
			 licensure in order to expedite the provision across State lines of telehealth
			 services.
				(b)ReportNot later than 18 months after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
			 submit to Congress a report on the actions taken to carry out subsection
			 (a).
				(c)DefinitionsIn
			 subsection (a):
					(1)Telehealth
			 serviceThe term telehealth service has the meaning
			 given that term in subparagraph (F) of section 1834(m)(4) of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395m(m)(4)).
					(2)StateThe
			 term State has the meaning given that term for purposes of title
			 XVIII of such Act.
					104.Access to
			 telehealth services in the home
				(a)In
			 generalSection 1895(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395fff(e)) is amended to read as follows:

						(f)Coverage of
				Telehealth Services
							(1)In
				generalThe Secretary shall include telehealth services that are
				furnished via a telecommunication system by a home health agency to an
				individual receiving home health services under section 1814(a)(2)(C) or
				1835(a)(2)(A) as a home health visit for purposes of eligibility and payment
				under this title if the telehealth services—
								(A)are ordered as
				part of a plan of care certified by a physician pursuant to section
				1814(a)(2)(C) or 1835(a)(2)(A);
								(B)do not substitute
				for in-person home health services ordered as part of a plan of care certified
				by a physician pursuant to such respective section; and
								(C)are considered the
				equivalent of a visit under criteria developed by the Secretary under paragraph
				(3).
								(2)Physician
				certificationNothing in this section shall be construed as
				waiving the requirement for a physician certification under section
				1814(a)(2)(C) or 1835(a)(2)(A) for the payment for home health services,
				whether or not furnished via a telecommunication system.
							(3)Criteria for
				visit equivalency
								(A)StandardsThe
				Secretary shall establish standards and qualifications for categorizing and
				coding under HCPCS codes telehealth services under this subsection as
				equivalent to an in-person visit for purposes of eligibility and payment for
				home health services under this title. In establishing the standards and
				qualifications, the Secretary may distinguish between varying modes and
				modalities of telehealth services and shall consider—
									(i)the nature and
				amount of service time involved; and
									(ii)the functions of
				the telecommunications.
									(B)LimitationA
				telecommunication that consists solely of a telephone audio conversation,
				facsimile, electronic text mail, or consultation between two health care
				practitioners is not considered a visit under this subsection.
								(4)Telehealth
				service
								(A)DefinitionFor
				purposes of this section, the term telehealth service means
				technology-based professional consultations, patient monitoring, patient
				training services, clinical observation, assessment, or treatment, and any
				additional services that utilize technologies specified by the Secretary as
				HCPCS codes developed under paragraph (3).
								(B)Update of hcpcs
				codesThe Secretary shall establish a process for the updating,
				not less frequently than annually, of HCPCS codes for telehealth
				services.
								(5)Conditions for
				payment and coverageNothing in this subsection shall be
				construed as waiving any condition of payment under sections 1814(a)(2)(C) or
				1835(a)(2)(A) or exclusion of coverage under section 1862(a)(1).
							(6)Cost
				reportingNotwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the
				Secretary shall provide that the costs of telehealth services under this
				subsection shall be reported as a reimbursable cost center on any cost report
				submitted by a home health agency to the
				Secretary.
							.
				(b)Effective
			 date
					(1)The amendment made
			 by subsection (a) shall apply to telehealth services furnished on or after
			 October 1, 2009. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop and
			 implement criteria and standards under section 1895(f)(3) of the Social
			 Security Act, as amended by subsection (a), by no later than July 1,
			 2009.
					(2)In the event that
			 the Secretary has not complied with these deadlines, beginning October 1, 2009,
			 a home health visit for purpose of eligibility and payment under title XVIII of
			 the Social Security Act shall include telehealth services under section 1895(f)
			 of such Act with the aggregate of telecommunication encounters in a 24-hour
			 period considered the equivalent of one in-person visit.
					105.Coverage of
			 home health remote patient management services for certain chronic health
			 conditions
				(a)In
			 generalSection 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395x(s)(2)), as amended by section 4(a)(1), is further amended—
					(1)in subparagraph
			 (AA), by striking and at the end;
					(2)in subparagraph
			 (BB), by inserting and at the end; and
					(3)by inserting after
			 subparagraph (BB) the following new subparagraph:

							(CC)home health
				remote patient management services (as defined in subsection
				(eee));
							.
					(b)Services
			 describedSection 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395x), as amended by section 4(a)(2), is further amended by adding at the end
			 the following new subsection:

						(eee)Home health remote patient management services for certain
		  chronic conditions(1)The term home
				health remote patient management services means the remote monitoring,
				evaluation, and management of an individual with a covered chronic health
				condition (as defined in paragraph (2)) through the utilization of a system of
				technology that allows a remote interface to collect and transmit clinical data
				between the individual and a home health agency, in accordance with a plan of
				care established by a physician, for purposes of clinical review or response by
				the home health agency. Such term, with respect to an individual, does not
				include any remote monitoring, evaluation, or management of the individual if
				such remote monitoring, evaluation, or management, respectively, is included as
				a home health visit under section 1895(e) for purposes of payment under this
				title.
							(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the
				term covered chronic health condition means—
								(A)a covered chronic health condition, as
				defined under section 1861(ddd)(2); and
								(B)any other chronic health condition
				specified by the
				Secretary.
								.
				(c)Payment
					(1)In
			 generalSection 1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l)
			 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

							(n)Home health
				remote patient management services
								(1)In
				generalThe Secretary shall
				establish a fee schedule for home health remote patient management services (as
				defined in section 1861(eee)) for which payment is made under this part. The
				fee schedule shall be designed in a manner so that, on an annual basis, the
				aggregate payment amounts under this title for such services approximates 50
				percent of the savings amount described in paragraph (2) for such year.
								(2)Savings
				described
									(A)In
				generalFor purposes of paragraph (1), the savings amount
				described in this paragraph for a year is the amount (if any), as estimated by
				the Secretary before the beginning of the year, by which—
										(i)the
				product described in subparagraph (B) for the year, exceeds
										(ii)the total
				payments under this part and part A for items and services furnished to
				individuals receiving home health remote patient management services at any
				time during the year.
										(B)Product
				describedThe product described in this subparagraph for a year
				is the product of—
										(i)the average per
				capita total payments under this part and part A for items and services
				furnished during the year to individuals not described in subparagraph (A)(ii),
				adjusted to remove case mix differences between such individuals not described
				in such subparagraph and the individuals described in such subparagraph; and
										(ii)the number of
				individuals under subparagraph (A)(ii) for the year.
										(3)LimitationIn
				no case may payments under this subsection result in the aggregate expenditures
				under this title (including payments under this subsection) exceeding the
				amount that the Secretary estimates would have been expended if coverage under
				this title for home health patient management services was not provided.
								(4)ClarificationPayments
				under the fee schedule under this subsection, with respect to an individual,
				shall be in addition to any other payments that a home health agency would
				otherwise receive under this title for items and services furnished to such
				individual and shall have no effect on the amount of such other
				payments.
								(5)Payment
				transferThere shall be
				transferred from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817
				to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841
				each year an amount equivalent to the product of—
									(A)expenditures under
				this subsection for the year, and
									(B)the ratio of the
				portion of the savings described in paragraph (2) for the year that are
				attributable to part A, to the total savings described in such paragraph for
				the
				year.
									.
					(2)Conforming
			 amendmentSection 1833(a)(1)
			 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(1)) is amended—
						(A)by striking
			 and (V) and inserting (V); and
						(B)by inserting
			 before the semicolon at the end the following: , and (W) with respect to
			 home health remote patient management services (as defined in section
			 1861(eee)), the amounts paid shall be the amount determined under the fee
			 schedule established under section 1834(n).
						(d)Expansion of
			 home health remote patient management services coverage to additional chronic
			 health conditionsThe
			 Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to carry out pilot
			 projects for purposes of determining the extent to which the coverage under
			 title XVIII of the Social Security Act of home health remote patient management
			 services (as defined in paragraph (1) of section 1861(eee) of such Act, as
			 added by subsection (b)) should be extended to individuals with chronic health
			 conditions other than those described in paragraph (2)(A) of such
			 section.
				(e)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall
			 apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2010.
				106.Remote patient
			 management services for chronic health conditions
				(a)Coverage of
			 remote patient management services for certain chronic health
			 conditions
					(1)In
			 generalSection 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395x(s)(2)) is amended—
						(A)in subparagraph
			 (Z), by striking and at the end;
						(B)in subparagraph
			 (AA), by inserting and at the end; and
						(C)by inserting after
			 subparagraph (AA) the following new subparagraph:

								(BB)remote patient
				management services (as defined in subsection
				(ddd));
								.
						(2)Services
			 describedSection 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 1395x), as amended by section 114(a) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP
			 Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–173), is amended by adding at the end the
			 following new subsection:

							(ddd)Remote patient
				management services for chronic health conditions(1)The term remote
				patient management services means the remote monitoring, evaluation, and
				management of an individual with a covered chronic health condition (as defined
				in paragraph (2)), insofar as such monitoring, evaluation, and management is
				with respect to such condition, through the utilization of a system of
				technology that allows a remote interface to collect and transmit clinical data
				between the individual and the responsible physician (as defined in subsection
				(r)) or supplier (as defined in subsection (d)) for the purposes of clinical
				review or response by the physician or supplier.
								(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the
				term covered chronic health condition means—
									(A)heart failure; and
									(B)cardiac arrhythmia.
									(3)(A)Not later than January 1,
				2010, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate physician and supplier
				groups, shall develop guidelines on the frequency of billing for remote patient
				management services. Such guidelines shall be determined based on medical
				necessity and shall be sufficient to ensure appropriate and timely monitoring
				of individuals being furnished such services.
									(B)The Secretary shall do the
				following:
										(i)Not later than 2 years after the date
				of the enactment of this subsection, develop, in consultation with appropriate
				physician and supplier groups, standards (governing such matters as
				qualifications of personnel and the maintenance of equipment) for remote
				patient management services for the covered chronic health conditions specified
				in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2).
										(ii)Periodically review and update such
				standards under this subparagraph as
				necessary.
										.
					(3)Payment under
			 the physician fee scheduleSection 1848 of the Social Security
			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4) is amended—
						(A)in subsection
			 (c)—
							(i)in
			 paragraph (2)((B)—
								(I)in
			 clause (ii)(II), by striking and (v) and inserting (v),
			 (and (vi); and
								(II)by adding at the
			 end the following new clause:

										(vi)Budgetary
				treatment of certain servicesThe additional expenditures
				attributable to services described in section 1861(s)(2)(BB) shall not be taken
				into account in applying clause (ii)(II) for
				2010.
										;
				and
								(ii)by
			 adding at the end the following new paragraph:

									(7)Treatment of
				remote patient management services
										(A)In determining
				relative value units for remote patient management services (as defined in
				section 1861(ddd)), the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate physician
				groups, shall take into consideration—
											(i)physician
				resources, including physician time and the level of intensity of services
				provided, based on—
												(I)the frequency of
				evaluation necessary to manage the individual being furnished the
				services;
												(II)the complexity of
				the evaluation, including the information that must be obtained, reviewed, and
				analyzed; and
												(III)the number of
				possible diagnoses and the number of management options that must be
				considered; and
												(ii)practice expense
				costs associated with such services, including installation and information
				transmittal costs, costs of remote patient management technology (including
				equipment and software), and resource costs necessary for patient monitoring
				and follow-up (but not including costs of any related item or non-physician
				service otherwise reimbursed under this title).
											(iii)malpractice
				expense resources.
											(B)Using the relative
				value units determined in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide for
				separate payment for such services and shall not adjust the relative value
				units assigned to other services that might otherwise have been determined to
				include such separately paid remote patient management
				services.
										;
				and
							(B)in subsection
			 (j)(3), by inserting (2)(BB) after
			 (2)(AA),.
						(4)Effective
			 date
						(A)In
			 generalThe amendments made by this section shall apply to
			 services furnished on or after January 1, 2010 without regard to whether the
			 guidelines under paragraph (3)(A) or the standards under paragraph (3)(B) of
			 section 1861(ddd) of the Social Security Act (as added by paragraph (2)) have
			 been developed.
						(B)Availability of
			 codes as of January 1, 2010The Secretary of Health and Human
			 Services shall—
							(i)promptly evaluate
			 existing codes that would be used to bill for remote patient management
			 services (as defined in paragraph (1) of such section 1861(ddd), as so added)
			 under title XVIII of the Social Security Act; and
							(ii)if
			 the Secretary determines that new codes are necessary to ensure accurate
			 reporting and billing of such services under such title, issue such codes so
			 that they are available for use as of January 1, 2010.
							(b)Demonstration
			 project for the coverage of remote patient management services for additional
			 chronic health conditions under the Medicare program
					(1)Establishment
						(A)In
			 generalThe Secretary shall establish a demonstration project for
			 the purpose of evaluating the impact and benefits of covering under the
			 Medicare program remote patient management services for certain chronic health
			 conditions.
						(B)ConsultationIn
			 establishing the demonstration project, the Secretary shall consult with
			 appropriate physician and supplier groups, eligible beneficiaries, and
			 organizations representing eligible beneficiaries.
						(C)ParticipationAny
			 eligible beneficiary may participate in the demonstration project on a
			 voluntary basis.
						(2)Conduct of the
			 demonstration project
						(A)Sites
							(i)Selection of
			 demonstration sitesThe Secretary shall conduct the demonstration
			 project at 3 sites.
							(ii)Geographic
			 diversityIn selecting the sites under clause (i), the Secretary
			 shall ensure that at least 1 of the sites is in a rural area.
							(B)Implementation;
			 duration
							(i)ImplementationThe
			 Secretary shall implement the demonstration project not later than January 1,
			 2010.
							(ii)DurationThe
			 Secretary shall complete the demonstration project by the date that is 2 years
			 after the date on which the demonstration project is implemented.
							(3)Evaluation and
			 report
						(A)EvaluationThe
			 Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the demonstration project—
							(i)to
			 determine improvements in the quality of care and utilization of services
			 received by eligible beneficiaries participating in the demonstration
			 project;
							(ii)to
			 determine the cost of providing payment for remote monitoring services under
			 the Medicare program;
							(iii)to
			 determine the satisfaction of eligible beneficiaries participating in the
			 demonstration projects; and
							(iv)to
			 evaluate such other matters as the Secretary determines is appropriate.
							(4)Waiver
			 authorityThe Secretary may waive such provisions of titles XI
			 and XVIII of the Social Security Act as the Secretary determines to be
			 appropriate for the conduct of the demonstration project.
					(5)Funding
						(A)Demonstration
							(i)In
			 generalSubject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall provide for
			 the transfer from the Federal Supplementary Medical Trust Fund under section
			 1841 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t) of such funds as are
			 necessary for the costs of carrying out the demonstration project.
							(ii)Cap on
			 expendituresThe amount transferred under clause (i) for the
			 period during which the demonstration project is conducted may not exceed an
			 amount equal to the lesser of—
								(I)$9,000,000;
			 or
								(II)an amount equal
			 to the costs of providing remote monitoring services to 7,500 individuals
			 during such period.
								(B)Evaluation and
			 reportThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
			 necessary for the purpose of conducting the evaluation and developing and
			 submitting the report to Congress under paragraph (3).
						(6)DefinitionsIn
			 this section:
						(A)Remote patient
			 management servicesThe term remote patient management
			 services means the remote monitoring, evaluation, and management of an
			 individual with a covered chronic health condition (as defined in paragraph
			 (B)), insofar as such monitoring, evaluation, and management is with respect to
			 such condition, through the utilization of a system of technology that allows a
			 remote interface to collect and transmit clinical data between the individual
			 and the responsible physician (as defined in subsection (r) of section 1861 of
			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x))) or supplier (as defined in
			 subsection (d) of such section) for the purposes of clinical review or response
			 by the physician or supplier.
						(B)Covered chronic
			 health conditionThe term covered chronic health
			 condition means diabetes, sleep apnea, or epilepsy.
						(C)Demonstration
			 projectThe term demonstration project means a
			 demonstration project conducted under this subsection.
						(D)Eligible
			 beneficiaryThe term eligible beneficiary means an
			 individual who is enrolled under part B of the Medicare program and has a
			 covered chronic health condition.
						(E)Medicare
			 programThe term Medicare program means the health
			 benefits program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395
			 et seq.).
						(F)SecretaryThe
			 term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human
			 Services.
						107.Definition of
			 Medicare programIn this
			 title, the term Medicare program means the program of health
			 insurance administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under
			 title XVIII of the Social Security Act
			 (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
			IIHRSA
			 Grant Program
			201.Grant program
			 for the development of telehealth networks
				(a)In
			 generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this
			 section referred to as the Secretary), acting through the
			 Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (of the Health
			 Resources and Services Administration), shall make grants to eligible entities
			 (as described in subsection (b)(2)) for the purpose of expanding access to
			 health care services for individuals in rural areas, frontier areas, and urban
			 medically underserved areas through the use of telehealth.
				(b)Eligible
			 entities
					(1)ApplicationTo
			 be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity described
			 in paragraph (2) shall, in consultation with the State office of rural health
			 or other appropriate State entity, prepare and submit to the Secretary an
			 application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
			 the Secretary may require, including the following:
						(A)A description of
			 the anticipated need for the grant.
						(B)A description of
			 the activities which the entity intends to carry out using amounts provided
			 under the grant.
						(C)A plan for
			 continuing the project after Federal support under this section is
			 ended.
						(D)A description of
			 the manner in which the activities funded under the grant will meet health care
			 needs of underserved rural populations within the State.
						(E)A description of
			 how the local community or region to be served by the network or proposed
			 network will be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the
			 network.
						(F)The source and
			 amount of non-Federal funds the entity would pledge for the project.
						(G)A showing of the
			 long-term viability of the project and evidence of health care provider
			 commitment to the network.
						The
			 application should demonstrate the manner in which the project will promote the
			 integration of telehealth in the community so as to avoid redundancy of
			 technology and achieve economies of scale.(2)Eligible
			 entitiesAn eligible entity described in this paragraph is a
			 hospital or other health care provider in a health care network of
			 community-based health care providers that includes at least two of the
			 organizations described in subparagraph (A) and one of the institutions and
			 entities described in subparagraph (B) if the institution or entity is able to
			 demonstrate use of the network for purposes of education or economic
			 development (as required by the Secretary).
						(A)The organizations
			 described in this subparagraph are the following:
							(i)Community or
			 migrant health centers.
							(ii)Local health
			 departments.
							(iii)Nonprofit
			 hospitals.
							(iv)Private practice
			 health professionals, including community and rural health clinics.
							(v)Other publicly
			 funded health or social services agencies.
							(vi)Skilled nursing
			 facilities.
							(vii)County mental
			 health and other publicly funded mental health facilities.
							(viii)Providers of
			 home health services.
							(ix)Renal dialysis
			 facilities.
							(B)The institutions
			 and entities described in this subparagraph are the following:
							(i)A
			 public school.
							(ii)A
			 public library.
							(iii)A
			 university or college.
							(iv)A
			 local government entity.
							(v)A
			 local health entity.
							(vi)A
			 health-related nonprofit foundation.
							(vii)An
			 academic health center.
							An eligible
			 entity may include for-profit entities so long as the recipient of the grant is
			 a not-for-profit entity.(c)PreferenceThe
			 Secretary shall establish procedures to prioritize financial assistance under
			 this section based upon the following considerations:
					(1)The applicant is a
			 health care provider in a health care network or a health care provider that
			 proposes to form such a network that furnishes or proposes to furnish services
			 in a medically underserved area, health professional shortage area, or mental
			 health professional shortage area.
					(2)The applicant is
			 able to demonstrate broad geographic coverage in the rural or medically
			 underserved areas of the State, or States in which the applicant is
			 located.
					(3)The applicant
			 proposes to use Federal funds to develop plans for, or to establish, telehealth
			 systems that will link rural hospitals and rural health care providers to other
			 hospitals, health care providers, and patients.
					(4)The applicant will
			 use the amounts provided for a range of health care applications and to promote
			 greater efficiency in the use of health care resources.
					(5)The
			 applicant is able to demonstrate the long-term viability of projects through
			 cost participation (cash or in-kind).
					(6)The applicant is
			 able to demonstrate financial, institutional, and community support for the
			 long-term viability of the network.
					(7)The applicant is
			 able to provide a detailed plan for coordinating system use by eligible
			 entities so that health care services are given a priority over non-clinical
			 uses.
					(d)Maximum amount
			 of assistance to individual recipientsThe Secretary shall
			 establish, by regulation, the terms and conditions of the grant and the maximum
			 amount of a grant award to be made available to an individual recipient for
			 each fiscal year under this section. The Secretary shall cause to have
			 published in the Federal Register or the HRSA Preview notice of
			 the terms and conditions of a grant under this section and the maximum amount
			 of such a grant for a fiscal year.
				(e)Use of
			 amountsThe recipient of a grant under this section may use sums
			 received under such grant for the acquisition of telehealth equipment and
			 modifications or improvements of telecommunications facilities including the
			 following:
					(1)The development
			 and acquisition through lease or purchase of computer hardware and software,
			 audio and video equipment, computer network equipment, interactive equipment,
			 data terminal equipment, and other facilities and equipment that would further
			 the purposes of this section.
					(2)The provision of
			 technical assistance and instruction for the development and use of such
			 programming equipment or facilities.
					(3)The development
			 and acquisition of instructional programming.
					(4)Demonstration
			 projects for teaching or training medical students, residents, and other health
			 profession students in rural or medically underserved training sites about the
			 application of telehealth.
					(5)The provision of
			 telenursing services designed to enhance care coordination and promote patient
			 self-management skills.
					(6)The provision of
			 services designed to promote patient understanding and adherence to national
			 guidelines for common chronic diseases, such as congestive heart failure or
			 diabetes.
					(7)Transmission
			 costs, maintenance of equipment, and compensation of specialists and referring
			 health care providers, when no other form of reimbursement is available.
					(8)Development of
			 projects to use telehealth to facilitate collaboration between health care
			 providers.
					(9)Electronic archival
			 of patient records.
					(10)Collection and
			 analysis of usage statistics and data that can be used to document the
			 cost-effectiveness of the telehealth services.
					(11)Such other uses
			 that are consistent with achieving the purposes of this section as approved by
			 the Secretary.
					(f)Prohibited
			 usesSums received under a grant under this section may not be
			 used for any of the following:
					(1)To acquire real
			 property.
					(2)Expenditures to
			 purchase or lease equipment to the extent the expenditures would exceed more
			 than 40 percent of the total grant funds.
					(3)To purchase or
			 install transmission equipment off the premises of the telehealth site and any
			 transmission costs not directly related to the grant.
					(4)For construction,
			 except that such funds may be expended for minor renovations relating to the
			 installation of equipment.
					(5)Expenditures for
			 indirect costs (as determined by the Secretary) to the extent the expenditures
			 would exceed more than 15 percent of the total grant.
					(g)Administration
					(1)NonduplicationThe
			 Secretary shall ensure that facilities constructed using grants provided under
			 this section do not duplicate adequately established telehealth
			 networks.
					(2)Coordination
			 with other agenciesThe Secretary shall coordinate, to the extent
			 practicable, with other Federal and State agencies and not-for-profit
			 organizations, operating similar grant programs to pool resources for funding
			 meritorious proposals.
					(3)Informational
			 effortsThe Secretary shall establish and implement procedures to
			 carry out outreach activities to advise potential end users located in rural
			 and medically underserved areas of each State about the program authorized by
			 this section.
					(h)Prompt
			 implementationThe Secretary shall take such actions as are
			 necessary to carry out the grant program as expeditiously as possible.
				(i)Authorization of
			 appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry
			 out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and such sums as may be
			 necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
				202.Reauthorization
			 of telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant
			 programsSubsection (s) of
			 section 330I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–14) is
			 amended—
				(1)in
			 paragraph (1)—
					(A)by striking
			 and before such sums; and
					(B)by inserting
			 $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for
			 each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 before the semicolon; and
					(2)in
			 paragraph (2)—
					(A)by striking
			 and before such sums; and
					(B)by inserting
			 $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for
			 each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 before the semicolon.