In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Puppies Assisting Wounded
Servicemembers Act of 2017'' or the ''PAWS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the analysis of veteran suicide published
by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2016 and titled
''Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans''--
(A) an average of 20 veterans died by suicide each
day in 2014;
(B) mental health disorders, including major
depression and other mood disorders, have been
associated with increased risk for suicide;
(C) since 2001, the proportion of users of the
Veterans Health Administration with mental health
conditions or substance use disorders has increased
from approximately 27 percent in 2001 to more than 40
percent in 2014; and
(D) overall, suicide rates are highest among
patients with mental health and substance use disorder
diagnoses who are in treatment and lower among those
who received a mental health diagnoses but were not at
risk enough to require enhanced care from a mental
health provider.
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more
effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran
suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-
traumatic stress disorder, and a pilot program and study to
assess the benefits of pairing service dogs with veterans
suffering from mental health disorders would allow the
Department to better determine the efficacy of using service
dogs as a nontraditional therapy to ensure the well-being of
veterans.
(3) Pairing a service dog with a veteran costs
approximately $25,000, including with respect to training of
the service dog as well as training of the veteran with the
service dog.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRANTS
FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS TO CERTAIN VETERANS
WITH SEVERE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

(a) Grants.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a
pilot program under which the Secretary provides a $25,000 grant to an
eligible organization for each veteran referred to that organization
for a service dog pairing.
(b) Benefits Provided.--
(1) In general.--An organization that receives a grant
under subsection (a) shall provide the following for each
service dog and veteran participating in the pilot program:
(A) Coverage of a commercially available veterinary
health insurance policy to maintain the health of the
dog and keep the dog functioning in the prescribed role
for the life of the dog.
(B) Hardware, or repairs or replacements for
hardware, that are clinically determined to be required
by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the
veteran with the diagnosed disorder of the veteran.
(C) Payments for travel expenses for the veteran to
obtain the dog, calculated in the same manner as
similar travel expenses provided pursuant to section
111 of title 38, United States Code.
(2) Other travel expenses.--If a veteran is required to
replace a service dog provided pursuant to a grant under this
section, the Secretary shall pay for the travel expenses
described in paragraph (1)(C) required to obtain a new service
dog pursuant to subsection (c)(3), regardless of any other
benefits the veteran is receiving for the first service dog
under this section.
(c) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an organization shall--
(1) be a nonprofit organization that provides trained
service dogs--
(A) that--
(i) is certified by Assistance Dogs
International;
(ii) on average, provides one-on-one
training for each service dog and recipient for
30 hours or more over 90 days or more;
(iii) provides a wellness verification from
a licensed veterinarian for each service dog;
(iv) provides an in-house residential
facility, or other accommodations nearby, in
which service dog recipients stay for a minimum
of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of
training with their new service dog;
(v) ensures all service dogs pass the
American Kennel Club Community Canine test and
the ADI Public Access Test prior to permanent
placement with a recipient; and
(vi) provides follow-up support service for
the life of the service dog, to include a
contact plan between the veteran and
organization to allow--
(I) the veteran to reach out for
and receive adequate help with the
service dog; and
(II) the organization to
communicate with the veteran to ensure
that the service dog is being properly
cared for; or
(B) that meets the Association of Service Dog
Providers for Military Veterans Service Dog Agency
Standards that cater to the unique needs of veterans
with post-traumatic stress disorder;
(2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount
to guarantee the benefits listed under subsection (b)(1);
(3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog the
organization provided to the veteran, if necessary, as
determined by the organization and the veteran; and
(4) submit to the Secretary an application containing such
information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary may
require.
(d) Eligible Veterans.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
review and approve veterans eligible to participate under this
section and shall refer approved veterans to eligible
organizations. The period beginning on the date on which a
veteran applies to participate under this section and the date
on which the Secretary makes an approval determination may not
exceed 90 days.
(2) Initial eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an
eligible veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the patient
enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under
section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, and--
(A) has been treated and has completed an
established evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic
stress disorder yet remains diagnosed with post-
traumatic stress disorder by a qualified health care
provider as rated on the post-traumatic stress disorder
checklist (PCL-5);
(B) the health care provider or clinical team of
the Department of Veterans Affairs that is treating the
veteran for such disorder determines based upon medical
judgment that the veteran may potentially benefit from
a service dog; and
(C) agrees to successfully complete training
provided by an eligible organization pursuant to
subsection (c).
(3) Ongoing eligibility.--To remain eligible to participate
in the pilot program, a veteran shall see the health care
provider or clinical team of the Department of Veterans Affairs
treating the veteran for such a disorder at least every six
months to determine, based on a clinical evaluation of
efficacy, whether the veteran continues to benefit from a
service dog.
(4) Other cases.--If at any point, the veteran is no longer
able or willing to care for the service dog, the organization
that provided the service dog and the veteran shall determine
the appropriate recourse to ensure the safety of both the
veteran and the service dog.
(e) Relationship to Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits.--The
provision of a service dog to a veteran under this section is in
addition to any other hospital care or medical service furnished by the
Department for that veteran for post-traumatic stress disorder, and an
improvement in symptoms as a result of the provision of a service dog
shall not affect the eligibility of the veteran for any other benefit
under the laws administered by the Secretary.
(f) Metrics.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall--
(1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure,
with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program,
the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic
compliance of such veterans and changes with respect to the
dependence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic
medication of such veterans; and
(2) establish processes to document and track the progress
of such veterans under the pilot program in terms of the
benefits and improvements noted as a result of the pilot
program.
(g) GAO Briefing and Study.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the Secretary commences the pilot program under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States
shall provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the
methodology established for the pilot program.
(2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on
which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General
shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a
report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an
evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot
program with respect to--
(A) helping veterans with severe post-traumatic
stress disorder return to civilian life;
(B) relevant metrics, including reduction in
metrics such as reduction in scores under the post-
traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5),
improvement in psychosocial function, and therapeutic
compliance; and
(C) reducing the dependence of participants on
prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for the period of fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year
2023, $10,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under this section.
(i) Offset.--The amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated
for Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Human Resources and
Administration for the period of fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year
2023 shall be reduced by $10,000,000.
(j) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under
this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the
date of the enactment of this Act. An eligible veteran in possession of
a service dog furnished under the pilot program as of the termination
of the pilot program may keep the service dog after the termination of
the program for the life of the dog.

Output: Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2017 or the PAWS Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it provides grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing other evidence-based treatment. An organization that receives a grant shall provide for each participating service dog and veteran: coverage by a commercially available veterinary health insurance policy, hardware clinically determined to be required by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the veteran, payments for travel expenses to obtain the dog, and travel expenses required to obtain a replacement service dog. To be eligible for a grant, an organization must: (1) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee such benefits, (2) be certified by Assistance Dogs International, (3) provide one-on-one training for each service dog and recipient for 30 hours or more over 90 days or more, and (4) provide an in-house residential facility or other accommodations nearby in which service dog recipients stay for a minimum of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of training. The VA shall develop metrics to measure the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance and changes independence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of veterans participating in the program. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the methodology used for the pilot program.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Medical Device Cybersecurity Act of
2017''.

SEC. 2. CYBERSECURITY FOR MEDICAL DEVICES.

(a) In General.--Chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 520
(21 U.S.C. 360j) the following--

''SEC. 520A. CYBERSECURITY FOR DEVICES.

''(a) Definitions.--In this section:
''(1) Cyber device.--The term 'cyber device' means any
device that has network or Internet connectivity (such as near
field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, or WiFi), connects to an
external storage device or external media (such as a universal
serial bus (USB) or a compact disk), or has any other cyber
capability.
''(2) Cybersecurity fix or update.--The term 'cybersecurity
fix or update' means any modification to a cyber device that
addresses a software, firmware, or hardware error or known
vulnerability, or a security update, and does not change the
therapeutic or diagnostic function of the device.
''(b) Transparency of Risk Prior to Marketing.--
''(1) Report card.--
''(A) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the entities described in subparagraph (B), shall
develop a report card for indicating the cybersecurity
functions of cyber devices. The report card shall
contain the contents described in paragraph (2) and be
disclosed in accordance with paragraph (3).
''(B) Coordination.--The entities described in this
subparagraph are the following:
''(i) The National Institute of Standards
and Technology.
''(ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
''(iii) The National Coordination Office
supporting the Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Program.
''(iv) The Federal Trade Commission.
''(v) Any other relevant agency, or
cybersecurity or medical device industry group,
as determined by the Secretary.
''(2) Contents of report card.--Each report card shall
contain each of the following:
''(A) Information pertaining to all essential
elements described in the most recent version of the
Manufacturer Disclosure Statement for Medical Device
Security, as set forth by the Healthcare Information
and Management Systems Society and the National
Electrical Manufacturers Association.
''(B) A traceability matrix, accepted by the
Secretary, that--
''(i) redacts content that is confidential,
as determined by the Secretary; and
''(ii) establishes design components and
traces such components to design compensating
controls.
''(C) A description of any manufacturer
compensating controls that--
''(i) effectively address known common
vulnerabilities and exposures; and
''(ii) provide providers with industry
standard compensating controls for improving
cybersecurity.
''(D) A description of--
''(i) any cybersecurity evaluation
conducted on the device, including any testing,
validation, or verification of the device;
''(ii) who conducted such evaluation; and
''(iii) the results of such evaluation.
''(E) A cybersecurity risk assessment conducted by
the manufacturer, or a third party, explaining the risk
of the device to patient safety and clinical hazards.
''(F) An indication of whether the device is
capable of being remotely accessed. If the device is
capable of being remotely accessed, an indication of
any security measures and access protocols the device
has in place to secure such access.
''(3) Disclosure of report card.--
''(A) Clearance or approval.--The manufacturer of
any cyber device shall include the report card in any
notification to the Secretary under section 510(k) or
any application for premarket approval under section
515(c), as applicable.
''(B) Public accessibility.--
''(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
provide a copy of the report card to any entity
described in clause (ii) that submits a request
for such copy to the Secretary.
''(ii) Entities permitted access.--An
entity described in this clause is--
''(I) any health care industry
entity, consisting of any provider,
device manufacturer, the Federal
Government, health care information
security researchers, and health care
academia; and
''(II) any entity determined by the
Secretary to have a valid interest in
the report card.
''(C) Updated report card.--For as long as the
cyber device receives technical support from the
manufacturer or any other third party authorized by the
manufacturer, the manufacturer shall submit to the
Secretary an annual update to the report card.
''(c) Protecting Remote Access to Managed Solutions.--
''(1) In general.--A manufacturer of a cyber device shall:
''(A) In order to remotely access such device after
selling, or otherwise transferring ownership of, the
device, obtain consent for such access from the
provider owning or operating the device and from any
patient on which the device is used. Such consent may
be in the form of an agreement entered into between the
provider and the manufacturer at the time the device is
sold to the provider, and may be for the manufacturer
to remotely access the device at times specified in
such agreement or by an agreement between the
manufacturer and provider entered into thereafter. In
the case of an agreement described in the previous
sentence, consent of the patient may be obtained
through the provider notifying the patient of such
agreement.
''(B) For any cyber device that the manufacturer
may remotely access in accordance with subparagraph
(A):
''(i) Notify the provider when the
manufacturer accesses the device remotely,
including the name of the person with such
access, the kinds of tasks that can be
performed through such access, and the software
used to access the device. Such notification
can be in the form of an audit log described in
clause (ii) if the audit log is readily
available to the provider.
''(ii) Maintain an audit log for each time
the manufacturer accesses the device remotely
and make such log accessible to the provider.
''(C) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for any
cyber device that has the capability to be accessed
remotely by the manufacturer or any other entity:
''(i) Implement multi-factor authentication
for accessing any cyber capability of the
device.
''(ii) Secure data in motion and data at
rest with data encryption, and other best
practices, approved by the National Institute
of Standards and Technology.
''(iii) Install automated tools to track
access, or identify attempts at unauthorized
access, to any cyber capability of the device.
''(iv) Adopt whitelisting approaches and
changeable passwords for accessing any cyber
capability of the device.
''(v) Comply with the remote access
provisions recommended by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, in the
document entitled 'Security for Telecommuting
and Broadband Communications (NIST Special
Publication 800-46)', published in August 2002.
''(2) Exceptions.--A manufacturer may submit a petition to
the Secretary to exempt a cyber device from any requirement
under paragraph (1)(C). The Secretary may grant such an
exemption if it determines that the manufacturer can prove the
exemption would pose not more than a minimal risk to patient
health, minimal risk to privacy, and minimal risk of a cyber
vulnerability.
''(d) Cybersecurity Fixes or Updates.--
''(1) Re-clearance or reapproval.--Unless at the request of
the Secretary due to a unique and extenuating circumstance, any
cybersecurity fix or update shall not require a new
notification under section 510(k) or application for premarket
approval under section 515(c).
''(2) Free cybersecurity fixes or updates.--A manufacturer
of a cyber device shall provide any cybersecurity fix or update
to the device free of charge until--
''(A) the date on which any agreement to provide
such fixes or updates, entered into between the
manufacturer (or a third party authorized by the
manufacturer) and a provider, expires; or
''(B) if no agreement described in subparagraph (A)
is in effect, the date that is 10 years after the date
on which the manufacturer discontinues marketing the
device.
''(e) End-of-Life Device.--Not later than 90 days after a
manufacturer declares that it will no longer sell a cyber device, the
manufacturer of such device shall--
''(1) shall provide any provider owning or operating the
device with the report card, as most recently updated under
subsection (b)(3)(C);
''(2) to the extent practicable, inform any provider owning
or operating the device that the manufacturer will no longer be
manufacturing such device;
''(3) provide notice to any provider owning or operating
the device of the date on which the last cybersecurity fix or
update will be provided by the manufacturer;
''(4) notify the Secretary of such declaration; and
''(5) provide any provider owning or operating the device
with the following information related to the device:
''(A) Compensating controls on how to securely
configure the cyber device if the device stays in
operation past the date on which the manufacturer stops
providing cybsecurity fixes or updates under subsection
(d)(2).
''(B) Documentation on secure preparation for
recycling and disposal of the device.
''(C) Specific guidance regarding supporting
infrastructure architecture, including network
segmentation and device isolation requirements.
''(D) Instructions on how to delete any personally
identifiable information, protected health information,
or other site-specific sensitive data such as
configuration files.
''(f) Applicability.--This section shall not apply with respect to
any cyber device for which, prior to the enactment of the Medical
Device Cybersecurity Act of 2017, a notification was submitted under
section 510(k), or for which an application for premarket approval was
submitted under section 515(c).''.
(b) Enforcement.--Section 301 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
''(eee) The failure to comply with subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e)
of section 520A.''.
(c) Expansion of ICS-CERT Responsibilities.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Cyber device.--The term ''cyber device'' has
the meaning given the term in section 520A of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as added by
subsection (a).
(B) ICS-CERT.--The term ''ICS-CERT'' means the
Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response
Team of the National Cybersecurity and Communications
Integration Center established under section 227 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148).
(C) Under secretary.--The term ''Under Secretary''
means the Under Secretary appointed under section
103(a)(1)(H) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 113(a)(1)(H)).
(2) Expansion.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall expand the
duties and mission of ICS-CERT to include--
(A) investigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities of
cyber devices that may cause harm to human life or
significant misuse of personal health information, as
determined necessary by ICS-CERT or at the request of
the Under Secretary; and
(B) coordinating device-specific responses to
cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities with
respect to cyber devices.
(3) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (2), the Under
Secretary shall consult with relevant agencies within the Food
and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human
Services, the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
the National Coordination Office for Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development, the Federal Trade
Commission, and experts in the cybersecurity and medical device
industries.
(4) Coordinated disclosure.--Not later than 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall issue rules relating to the coordinated
disclosure of controlled and uncontrolled cybersecurity
vulnerabilities of cyber devices, which shall--
(A) outline the roles and responsibilities of ICS-
CERT and manufacturers and providers of cyber devices;
(B) provide timelines for all required actions; and
(C) provide for the enforcement of cooperation
between ICS-CERT and manufacturers and providers of
cyber devices.
(5) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report detailing the expanded duties and mission of
ICS-CERT under paragraph (2).

Output: Medical Device Cybersecurity Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in coordination with others,to create a cybersecurity report card for devices that have network or Internet connectivity, connect to an external drive or external media, or have any other cyber capability. Report cards must contain specified information, including: (1) information pertaining to the essential elements described in the most recent version of the Manufacturer Disclosure Statement for Medical Device Security, (2) a cybersecurity risk assessment conducted by the manufacturer or third party, and (3) whether the device is capable of being accessed remotely. A cyber device manufacturer must includea report card in any premarket notification or application for premarket approval. TheFDA shall provide a copy of a device's report cardif requestedby a health care industry entity or an entity with a valid interest in the report card. The bill establishes procedures, including notifications toproviders and patients,for manufacturerswhen cyber devices areremotely accessed or no longer going to be sold. Fixes and updates to cyber devices must be free of charge for specified time periods. The bill expands the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security'sIndustrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team to include investigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities of cyber devices that may cause harm to human life or the significant misuse of personal health information, and coordinating device-specific responses.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Sudanese Diaspora Loan Forgiveness
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) The 21-year civil war between the North and the South
in Sudan caused many Sudanese people to flee their homeland and
seek refuge in other countries, including the United States.
(2) The United States has assisted many Sudanese citizens
fleeing the violence in their homeland, including the Lost Boys
in 2001, a group of approximately 3,800 children that were
separated from their parents during the civil war and who fled
on foot to Ethiopia, walking more than 1,000 kilometers on the
four-month journey, and who then fled again to Kenya to avoid
forcible repatriation to Sudan.
(3) Approximately 5,640 Sudanese citizens have been granted
refugee status in the United States in Fiscal Years 2003 and
2004 alone.
(4) The National Congress Party Government and the Sudanese
People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 9, 2005, formally
ending the conflict between the North and the South and
creating a new Government of Sudan that consists of a coalition
of opposition groups and the former regime.
(5) With the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 9, 2005, the Government of
Southern Sudan's plans for reconstruction in Southern Sudan are
moving forward.
(6) Sudanese refugees in the United States have acquired a
reputation for being an extremely resilient group, and a number
of them have, after adjusting to a new life in the United
States, chosen to pursue a higher education, and now have
professional skills to contribute to the rebuilding of their
homeland.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

(a) Stafford Loans.--Part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11)
the following new section:

''SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE SUDANESE DIASPORA.

''(a) Statement of Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to
encourage members of the Sudanese Diaspora in the United States to
return to Southern Sudan for purposes of contributing to the
reconstruction efforts there.
''(b) Program Authorized.--From the amount appropriated under
subsection (f) for any fiscal year, the Secretary of Education shall,
in accordance with subsection (c) and in consultation with the
Secretary of State, carry out a program, through the holder of the
loan, of assuming the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a
loan made under section 428 or 428H for any borrower who--
''(1) as of the date of the enactment of this section, is a
Sudanese citizen who--
''(A) has been granted refugee or asylum status in
the United States;
''(B) has been granted lawful permanent resident
status in the United States; or
''(C) is a naturalized United States citizen;
''(2) commits to returning to Southern Sudan for a period
of five or more years for purposes of contributing professional
skills to repairing the damage to the infrastructure of
Southern Sudan caused by the Sudanese civil war, as approved by
the Secretary for purposes of this section; and
''(3) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower
seeks forgiveness.
''(c) Qualified Loans Amount.--
''(1) In general.--Of the aggregate of the loan obligation
on a loan made under section 428 or 428H that is outstanding to
an individual who meets the requirements of subsection (b), the
Secretary may, from funds appropriated under subsection (f),
repay not more than--
''(A) $3,000 after the first calendar year of
service described in subsection (b)(2);
''(B) $4,000 after the second such year of service;
''(C) $5,000 after the third such year of service;
''(D) $6,000 after the fourth such year of service;
and
''(E) $7,000 after the fifth such year of service.
''(2) Award basis.--The Secretary shall make payments under
this subsection on a first-come first-served basis, subject to
the availability of appropriations.
''(d) Additional Provisions.--
''(1) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A loan amount for
a loan made under section 428C may be a qualified loan amount
for the purposes of this subsection only to the extent that
such loan amount was used to repay a Federal Direct Stafford
Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a loan
made under section 428 or 428H for a borrower who meets the
requirements of subsection (b), as determined in accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
''(2) Double benefits prohibited.--No borrower may receive
a reduction of loan obligations under both this section and
section 460A.
''(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of this section.
''(f) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
authorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan.
''(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For fiscal year 2006 and
for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years, there are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to repay loans in the
amounts specified in subsection (c)(1).''.
(b) Direct Loans.--Part D of title IV is amended by inserting after
section 460 (20 U.S.C. 1087j) the following new section:

''SEC. 460A. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE SUDANESE DIASPORA.

''(a) Statement of Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to
encourage members of the Sudanese Diaspora in the United States to
return to Southern Sudan for purposes of contributing to the
reconstruction efforts there.
''(b) Program Authorized.--From the amount appropriated under
subsection (f) for any fiscal year, the Secretary of Education shall,
in accordance with subsection (c) and in consultation with the
Secretary of State, carry out a program of canceling the obligation to
repay a qualified loan amount in accordance with subsection (c) for
Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford
Loans made under this part for any borrower who--
''(1) as of the date of the enactment of this section, is a
Sudanese citizen who--
''(A) has been granted refugee or asylum status in
the United States;
''(B) has been granted lawful permanent resident
status in the United States; or
''(C) is a naturalized United States citizen;
''(2) commits to returning to Southern Sudan for a period
of five or more years for purposes of contributing professional
skills to repairing the damage to the infrastructure of
Southern Sudan caused by the Sudanese civil war, as approved by
the Secretary for purposes of this section; and
''(3) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower
seeks forgiveness.
''(c) Qualified Loans Amount.--
''(1) In general.--Of the aggregate of the loan obligation
on a Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that is outstanding to an individual
who meets the requirements of subsection (b), the Secretary
may, from funds appropriated under subsection (f), repay not
more than--
''(A) $3,000 after the first calendar year of
service described in subsection (b)(2);
''(B) $4,000 after the second such year of service;
''(C) $5,000 after the third such year of service;
''(D) $6,000 after the fourth such year of service;
and
''(E) $7,000 after the fifth such year of service.
''(2) Award basis.--The Secretary shall make payments under
this subsection on a first-come first-served basis, subject to
the availability of appropriations.
''(d) Additional Provisions.--
''(1) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A loan amount for
Federal Direct Consolidation Loan may be a qualified loan
amount for the purposes of this subsection only to the extent
that such loan amount was used to repay a Federal Direct
Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or
a loan made under section 428 or 428H for a borrower who meets
the requirements of subsection (b), as determined in accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
''(2) Double benefits prohibited.--No borrower may receive
a reduction of loan obligations under both this section and
section 428L.
''(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of this section.
''(f) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
authorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan.
''(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For fiscal year 2006 and
for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years, there are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to repay loans in the
amounts specified in subsection (c)(1).''.
Output: Sudanese Diaspora Loan Forgiveness Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to establish education loan forgiveness programs for Sudanese citizens who have become naturalized U.S. citizens or who are lawfully residing in the United States if they commit to returning to Southern Sudan for five or more years to help repair damage to infrastructure caused by the Sudanese civil war.