instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Missile Defense Defend and Deter Act
of 2016''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) It is in the highest strategic interest of the United
States to field a fully operational missile defense system to
defend against threats from intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBMs) of rogue nations, including North Korea and Iran.
(2) In the past year, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea tested a nuclear weapon and an intercontinental ballistic
missile and has made claims that it now possesses the ability
to miniaturize a nuclear warhead.
(3) The ground-based midcourse defense (GMD) element of the
ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) is one of the most
critical capabilities needed to defend the United States
against threats from intercontinental ballistic missiles,
conventional and nuclear.
(4) The test program of the Missile Defense Agency provides
vital data to demonstrate the operational effectiveness,
suitability, and survivability of the ballistic missile defense
system, and it contributes to United States nonproliferation
goals by sending a very credible message to the international
community on the ability of the United States to defeat
ballistic missiles in flight, thus reducing their value to
potential adversaries.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED TESTING BY MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY OF GROUND-BASED
MIDCOURSE DEFENSE ELEMENT OF BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
SYSTEM.

(a) Testing Required.--Except as provided in subsection (c), not
less frequently than once each fiscal year, the Director of the Missile
Defense Agency shall administer an intercept flight test of the ground-
based midcourse defense element of the ballistic missile defense
system.
(b) Requirements.--The Director shall ensure that each test carried
out under subsection (a) provides, when possible, for one or more of
the following:
(1) Validation of the operational effectiveness of the
ground-based midcourse defense element of the ballistic missile
defense system.
(2) Use of assets in their operational configuration
against an inventory of targets to assess all aspects of
ground-based midcourse defense elements of the ballistic
missile defense system performance in a variety of flight test
regimes.
(3) Use of operational doctrine and real-world constraints.
(4) Evaluation of new concepts of operations and exercising
tactics, techniques, and procedures.
(5) Mechanisms to assure the confidence of members of the
Armed Forces in the basic design of the ground-based midcourse
defense element of the ballistic missile defense system, its
hit-to-kill effectiveness, and its inherent operational
capability.
(c) Exceptions.--
(1) Nonintercept test.--The Director may forgo a test under
subsection (a) in a fiscal year if the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Director, determines that conducting the
test would--
(A) jeopardize national security;
(B) not be successful due to specific ground-based
midcourse defense components needing a nonintercept
test; and
(C) likely lead to failure due to impractical time
considerations.
(2) Funding.--The Director may forgo a test under
subsection (a) in a fiscal year if the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Director, determines that the test is not
sufficiently funded.
(3) National security waiver.--
(A) In general.--The Director may forgo a test
under subsection (a) in a fiscal year if the Secretary
of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the
Missile Defense Agency, Director of National
Intelligence, and the Commander of United States
Northern Command (NORTHCOM), determines that the
provision of testing as described in that subsection is
detrimental to the national security interests of the
United States.
(B) Notice required.--
(i) In general.--Not later than 30 days
after forgoing a test pursuant to subparagraph
(A), the Secretary shall submit to the
congressional defense committees notice
regarding the foregone test.
(ii) Elements.--Notice submitted under
clause (i) shall include the following:
(I) The rationale for forgoing the
test.
(II) The national security
interests of the United States
preventing the test.
(III) A plan to complete the
intercept test in the following fiscal
year, which does not affect testing in
following fiscal years.
(iii) Form.--Each notice under clause (ii)
shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but
may include a classified annex.
(d) Congressional Defense Committees Defined.--In this section, the
term ''congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.
answer:
Missile Defense Defend and Deter Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) Missile Defense Agency to administer an intercept flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense element of the ballistic missile defense system at least once each fiscal year. Each test shall provide for: validation of the defense element's operational effectiveness; use of assets in their operational configuration against an inventory of targets to assess performance in a variety of flight test regimes; use of operational doctrine and real-world constraints; evaluation of new concepts of operations, tactics, and techniques; and mechanisms to assure the confidence of members of the Armed Forces in the basic design of the ground-based midcourse defense element, its hit-to-kill effectiveness, and its operational capability. The Agency may forgo a test if: it would jeopardize national security, not be successful due to specific ground-based midcourse defense components needing a non-intercept test, and likely fail due to impractical time considerations; or funding is insufficient. The Agency also may forgo a test if DOD determines that the testing is detrimental to U.S. national security interests and provides notice to Congress.

question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

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

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

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

through the use of telemedicine during such period.

Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.

Attest:

KAREN L. HAAS,

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

question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Good Samaritan Search and Recovery
Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPEDITED ACCESS TO CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible.--The term ''eligible'', with respect to an
organization or individual, means that the organization or
individual, respectively, is--
(A) acting in a not-for-profit capacity; and
(B) certificated in training that meets or exceeds
standards established by the American Society for
Testing and Materials.
(2) Good samaritan search-and-recovery mission.--The term
''good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission'' means a search
for 1 or more missing individuals believed to be deceased at
the time that the search is initiated.
(3) Secretary.--The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable.
(b) Process.--
(1) In general.--Each Secretary shall develop and implement
a process to expedite access to Federal land under the
administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for eligible
organizations and individuals to request access to Federal land
to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions.
(2) Inclusions.--The process developed and implemented
under this subsection shall include provisions to clarify
that--
(A) an eligible organization or individual granted
access under this section--
(i) shall be acting for private purposes;
and
(ii) shall not be considered to be a
Federal volunteer;
(B) an eligible organization or individual
conducting a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission
under this section shall not be considered to be a
volunteer under section 102301(c) of title 54, United
States Code;
(C) chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code
(commonly known as the ''Federal Tort Claims Act''),
shall not apply to an eligible organization or
individual carrying out a privately requested good
Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this
section; and
(D) chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code
(commonly known as the ''Federal Employees Compensation
Act''), shall not apply to an eligible organization or
individual conducting a good Samaritan search-and-
recovery mission under this section, and the conduct of
the good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission shall
not constitute civilian employment.
(c) Release of Federal Government From Liability.--The Secretary
shall not require an eligible organization or individual to have
liability insurance as a condition of accessing Federal land under this
section, if the eligible organization or individual--
(1) acknowledges and consents, in writing, to the
provisions described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of
subsection (b)(2); and
(2) signs a waiver releasing the Federal Government from
all liability relating to the access granted under this
section.
(d) Approval and Denial of Requests.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall notify an eligible
organization or individual of the approval or denial of a
request by the eligible organization or individual to carry out
a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section
by not later than 48 hours after the request is made.
(2) Denials.--If the Secretary denies a request from an
eligible organization or individual to carry out a good
Samaritan search-and-recovery mission under this section, the
Secretary shall notify the eligible organization or individual
of--
(A) the reason for the denial of the request; and
(B) any actions that the eligible organization or
individual can take to meet the requirements for the
request to be approved.
(e) Partnerships.--Each Secretary shall develop search-and-
recovery-focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations--
(1) to coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery
missions on Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction
of the Secretary; and
(2) to expedite and accelerate good Samaritan search-and-
recovery mission efforts for missing individuals on Federal
land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary.
(f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress a joint report
describing--
(1) plans to develop partnerships described in subsection
(e)(1); and
(2) efforts carried out to expedite and accelerate good
Samaritan search-and-recovery mission efforts for missing
individuals on Federal land under the administrative
jurisdiction of each Secretary pursuant to subsection (e)(2).
answer:
Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act Directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a process to provide eligible organizations and individuals expedited access to federal land to conduct good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, which are searches for one or more missing individuals believed to be deceased at the time that the search is initiated. Sets forth procedures for the approval or denial of requests made by eligible organizations or individuals to carry out a good Samaritan search-and-recovery mission. Requires Interior and USDA to develop search-and-recovery focused partnerships with search-and-recovery organizations to coordinate good Samaritan search-and-recovery missions, and expedite and accelerate mission efforts for missing individuals.