TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Shimon Peres was born in Poland in 1923.
(2) The Peres family emigrated to Tel Aviv in 1934, and all
of the family members of Shimon Peres who remained in Poland
were murdered during the Holocaust.
(3) Before Israel gained independence, Shimon Peres earned
the respect of senior leaders in the independence movement in
Israel, most notably David Ben-Gurion.
(4) The founding generation of Israel was central to the
development of Israel, and Shimon Peres is the only surviving
member of that founding generation.
(5) Shimon Peres has served in numerous high-level cabinet
positions and ministerial posts in Israel, including head of
the Israeli Navy, Minister of Defense, Foreign Minister, Prime
Minister, and President, among many others.
(6) Shimon Peres has honorably served Israel for over 70
years, during which he has significantly contributed to United
States interests and has played a pivotal role in forging the
strong and unbreakable bond between the United States and
Israel.
(7) By presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon
Peres, the first to be awarded to a sitting President of
Israel, Congress proclaims its unbreakable bond with Israel and
reaffirms its continual support for Israel as we commemorate
the 65th anniversary of the independence of Israel and the 90th
birthday of Shimon Peres, which are both significant milestones
in Israeli history.
(8) Maintaining strong bilateral relations between the
United States and Israel has been a priority of Shimon Peres
since he began working with the United States in the days of
John F. Kennedy. The strong bond is exemplified by the
following:
(A) President Reagan said to Shimon Peres upon his
visit to the United States, ''Mr. Prime Minister, I
thank you very much for your visit. It's been an
occasion to renew a friendship and to review and
enhance the strength of our unique bilateral
relationship.''
(B) At another point President Reagan said of
Shimon Peres, ''His vision, his statesmanship and his
tenacity are greatly appreciated here.''
(C) While visiting with Shimon Peres at the
Residence of the President in Jerusalem, President
Obama described Shimon Peres as ''. . . a son of Israel
who's devoted his life to keeping Israel strong and
sustaining the bonds between our two nations''.
(D) On March 20, 2013, Shimon Peres reaffirmed his
belief in the relationship between the United States
and Israel, stating, ''America stood by our side from
the very beginning. You support us as we rebuild our
ancient homeland and as we defend our land. From
Holocaust to redemption.''
(E) On March 21, 2013, Shimon Peres stated, ''. . .
America is so great and we are so small. But I learned
that you don't measure us by size, but by values. When
it comes to values, we are you and you are us. . . . As
I look back, I feel that the Israel of today has
exceeded the vision we had 65 years ago. Reality has
surpassed our dreams. The United States of America
helped us to make this possible.''

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make appropriate
arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold
medal of appropriate design to President Shimon Peres.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold
medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined
by the Secretary.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may
prescribe, the Secretary may strike duplicate medals in bronze of the
gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 and sell such duplicate medals
at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes
of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

(a) Authorization of Charges.--There 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 pursuant to
this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States
Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

Passed the Senate March 13, 2014.

Attest:

Secretary.
113th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1456

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres.

SOLUTION: . Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal in honor of President Shimon Peres of Israel.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized
agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating health
efforts within the United Nations system. The World Health
Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, which
convenes annually in May to set the policies and priorities of
the organization. Statehood is not a requirement for attendance
at the WHA, and numerous observers, including non-members and
non-governmental organizations, attended the most recent WHA in
May 2017.
(2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an
observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from successive
United States Administrations, Congress, and like-minded WHO
Member States, and during a period of improved Cross-Strait
relations, Taiwan received an invitation to attend the WHA as
an observer under the name ''Chinese Taipei''. Taiwan received
the same invitation each year until 2016, when following the
election of President Tsai-Ing Wen of the Democratic
Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in the international
community began facing increased resistance from the People's
Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's invitation to the 2016 WHA
was received late and included new language conditioning
Taiwan's participation on the PRC's ''one China principle''. In
2017, Taiwan did not receive an invitation to the WHA.
(3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health,
having provided financial and technical assistance to respond
to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested over
$6 billion in international medical and humanitarian aid
efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, Taiwan
responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1 million and
providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment.
Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the
United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training
programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika.
These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless exclusion
from global health cooperation increases the dangers presented
by global pandemics.
(4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased
resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016
Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the organization's
prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's request to participate in the
2016 General Assembly of the International Criminal Police
Organization (INTERPOL) was also rejected. In May 2017, PRC
delegates disrupted a meeting of the Kimberley Process on
conflict diamonds held in Perth, Australia, until delegates
from Taiwan were asked to leave. In June 2017, the Republic of
Panama granted diplomatic recognition to the PRC, terminating a
longstanding diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.
(5) Congress has established a policy of support for
Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address
shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO.
Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in
the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to direct
the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, and to
report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain observer
status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed H.R. 1151 in
the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to report on a
strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at the ICAO
Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, directing the
Secretary to report on a strategy to gain observer status for
Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, in 2016 Taiwan did
not receive invitations to attend any of these events as an
observer.
(b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of Taiwan
in the World Health Organization.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law
108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
''(3) An account of the changes and improvements the
Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World
Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World
Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer
status.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report
required under subsection

(c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-235 that is submitted after
the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives January 9, 2018.

Attest:

KAREN L. HAAS,

Clerk.

SOLUTION: (Sec. 1) This bill requires the annual reports submitted by the Department of State to Congress concerning the U.S. plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly (WHA) held by the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, to include an account of the changes and improvements that the State Department has made to such plan following any annual meetings of the WHA at which Taiwan did not obtain such status.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Express Appeals Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON FULLY DEVELOPED APPEALS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out
a pilot program to provide the option of an alternative appeals process
that shall more quickly determine such appeals in accordance with this
section.
(b) Election.--
(1) Filing.--In accordance with paragraph (2), a claimant
may elect to file a fully developed appeal under the pilot
program under subsection (a) by filing with the Secretary the
following:
(A) The notice of disagreement under chapter 71 of
title 38, United States Code, along with the written
election of the claimant to have the appeal determined
under the pilot program.
(B) All evidence that the claimant believes is
needed for the appeal as of the date of the filing.
(C) A statement of the argument in support of the
claim, if any.
(2) Timing.--A claimant shall make an election under
paragraph (1)--
(A) if the claimant has filed a traditional appeal
with respect to the claim for disability compensation
before the date on which the pilot program under
subsection (a) commences, at any time during the
traditional appeal process, notwithstanding paragraph
(1)(A); or
(B) if the claimant has not so filed a traditional
appeal with respect to the claim for disability
compensation before such date, as part of the notice of
disagreement filed by the claimant in accordance with
paragraph (1)(A).
(3) Change of processing.--If a claimant described in
paragraph (2)(A) seeks to elect to make an election under
paragraph (1) to change a traditional appeal to a fully
developed appeal, the Secretary shall--
(A) inform the claimant of whether, in light of
such traditional appeal being processed, the claimant
will achieve any time savings through such a fully
developed appeal; and
(B) if the claimant elects to file such fully
developed appeal, process the fully developed appeal in
accordance with this section to the extent practicable.
(4) Reversion.--At any time, a claimant who makes an
election under paragraph (1) may elect to revert to the
traditional appeals process without any penalty to the claimant
other than the loss of the docket number associated with the
fully developed appeal.
(5) Use of fully developed appeal.--A claimant may only
make an election under paragraph (1) with respect to a claim
for disability compensation filed by the claimant that is not,
with respect to a claim previously decided by fully developed
appeal, a petition to reopen the claim or a separate claim for
an increased rating for the claim.
(6) Outreach.--In providing claimants with notices of the
determination of a claim during the period in which the pilot
program under subsection (a) is carried out, the Secretary
shall provide to the claimant information regarding--
(A) the pilot program;
(B) how to make an election under paragraph (1);
(C) what documents the claimant must provide during
the course of the appeals process; and
(D) the ability of the claimant to seek advice and
education regarding such process from veterans service
organizations and attorneys recognized under chapter 59
of title 38, United States Code.
(c) Treatment by Department and Board.--
(1) Process.--Upon the election of a claimant to file a
fully developed appeal pursuant to subsection (b)(1), the
Secretary shall--
(A) not provide the claimant with a statement of
the case nor require the claimant to file a substantive
appeal; and
(B) transfer jurisdiction over the fully developed
appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
(2) Docket.--
(A) The Board of Veterans' Appeals shall--
(i) maintain fully developed appeals on a
separate docket than traditional appeals;
(ii) hear fully developed appeals in the
order that the fully developed appeals are
received on the fully developed appeal docket;
(iii) except as provided by subparagraph
(B), decide not more than one fully developed
appeal for each four traditional appeals
decided; and
(iv) to the extent practicable, decide each
fully developed appeal by the date that is one
year following the date on which the claimant
files the notice of disagreement.
(B) Beginning one year after the date on which the
pilot program under subsection (a) commences, the Board
may adjust the number of traditional appeals decided
for each fully developed appeal under subparagraph
(A)(iii) if the Board determines that such adjustment
is fair for both traditional appeals and fully
developed appeals.
(3) Limitation on use of new evidence.--A claimant may not
submit to the Board of Veterans' Appeals any new evidence
relating to a fully developed appeal after filing such appeal
unless the claimant reverts to the traditional appeals process
pursuant to subsection (b)(4).
(4) Prohibition on remand to regional office.--If the Board
of Veterans' Appeals determines that a fully developed appeal
requires Federal records, independent medical opinions, or new
medical exams, the Board shall--
(A) in accordance with paragraph (5), take such
actions as may be necessary to develop such records,
opinions, or exams;
(B) retain jurisdiction of the fully developed
appeal without requiring a determination by the
Veterans Benefits Administration based on such records,
opinions, or exams;
(C) ensure the claimant receives a copy of such
records, opinions, or exams; and
(D) provide the claimant a period of 45 days after
the receipt of such records, opinions, or exams to
provide the Board any additional evidence.
(5) Development unit.--
(A) The Board of Veterans' Appeals shall establish
an office to develop Federal records, independent
medical opinions, and new medical exams pursuant to
paragraph (4)(A) that the Board determines necessary to
decide a fully developed appeal.
(B) The Secretary shall--
(i) ensure that the Veterans Benefits
Administration cooperates with the Board of
Veterans' Appeals in carrying out subparagraph
(A); and
(ii) transfer employees of the Appeals
Management Center of the Veterans Benefits
Administration to the office of the Board
established under subparagraph (A) in a number
that the Secretary determines sufficient to
carry out such subparagraph.
(6) Hearings.--Notwithstanding section 7107 of title 38,
United States Code, the Board of Veterans' Appeals may not
provide hearings with respect to fully developed appeals. A
claimant may request to hold a hearing pursuant to such section
7107 if the claimant reverts to the traditional appeals process
pursuant to subsection (b)(4).
(d) Duration; Application.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program under subsection (a) for a five-year period beginning one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act. This section shall apply
only to fully developed appeals that are filed during such period.
(e) Reports.--During each year in which the pilot program under
subsection (a) is carried out, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Senate a report on the pilot program. The first such report shall be
submitted by not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot
program commences. Each report shall include--
(1) a recommendation for any changes to improve the pilot
program; and
(2) an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of
expanding the pilot program.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ''claimant'' has the meaning given that term
in section 5100 of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The term ''compensation'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(3) The term ''fully developed appeal'' means an appeal of
a claim for disability compensation that is--
(A) filed by a claimant in accordance with
subsection (b)(1); and
(B) considered in accordance with this section.
(4) The term ''traditional appeal'' means an appeal of a
claim for disability compensation that is not a fully developed
appeal.

SOLUTION:
Express Appeals Act Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) carry out a five-year pilot program to provide the option of an alternative appeals process to determine appeals of claims for disability compensation more quickly, and (2) inform claimants about such program. Describes appeals filed under the pilot program as "fully developed appeals." Authorizes a claimant to elect to file a fully developed appeal by filing with the Secretary: (1) a notice of disagreement along with the claimant's written election to have the appeal determined under the pilot program, (2) all evidence that the claimant believes is needed for the appeal, and (3) a statement of the argument in support of the claim. Requires the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction over a fully developed appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Requires a claimant to make such election: (1) at any time during the traditional appeal process if the claimant has filed a traditional appeal before the pilot program commences, or (2) when the claimant files the notice of disagreement if the claimant has not filed a traditional appeal. Directs the Secretary to inform a claimant who seeks to change a traditional appeal to a fully developed appeal as to whether any time will be saved. Allows a claimant who elects to file a fully developed appeal to elect to revert to a traditional appeal at any time. Requires the Board of Veterans' Appeals to: (1) maintain fully developed appeals on a separate docket; (2) hear fully developed appeals in the order received; (3) decide not more than one fully developed appeal for each four traditional appeals decided, though this ratio may be adjusted for fairness purposes beginning one year after the pilot program begins; and (4) decide, to the extent practicable, each fully developed appeal within one year of a claimant's filing the notice of disagreement. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the effects of new evidence submitted or additional information needed after a fully developed appeal is filed, and (2) a prohibition against the Board providing hearings for fully developed appeals. Directs the Board to establish an office to develop federal records, independent medical opinions, and new medical exams that the Board deems necessary to decide a fully developed appeal.