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; FINDINGS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Preserving Access
to Modern Prosthetic Limbs Act of 2016''.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Medicare program includes coverage for prosthetic
limbs under section 1861(s)(9) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395w(s)(9)).
(2) As a result of significant Federal and private
investment in research and development over the past decades,
beneficiaries with lower limb prostheses are able to maintain
optimal function and lead productive and independent lives.
(3) Federal spending for prosthetic devices in the Medicare
program has decreased by 15 percent between 2010 and 2014.
(4) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through
Medicare contractors known as Durable Medical Equipment
Medicare Administrative Contractors, released on July 16, 2015,
a document entitled ''Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Lower
Limb Prostheses (DL33787)'', which applies to all Medicare
beneficiaries across the United States.
(5) The policies proposed in this document would
comprehensively change the requirements under which a Medicare
beneficiary would qualify for a lower limb prosthetic device
and would seriously restrict access to modern prosthetic care.
(6) If finalized, the changes proposed in this document
would create coverage requirements that are inconsistent with
current clinical practice and would arbitrarily and
unreasonably deny Medicare beneficiaries access to prosthetic
limb technologies considered the current standard of care.
(7) Under these proposed policies, beneficiaries instead
would be eligible for prosthetic devices that are functionally
outdated, less durable, and less safe.
(8) The adverse impact of the Medicare contractors'
proposed policies extend well beyond the Medicare program and
has implications for other Federal health programs, such as
health programs of the Veterans Administration, and commercial
insurers.
(9) Given the far reaching effect of these policies, and
the fact that little or no clinical or scientific evidence
supported the issuance of these proposals, any changes to
prosthetic limb coverage should be made only after a
transparent process in which evidence is offered to justify
coverage modifications, meaningful stakeholder feedback is
solicited, and the Secretary and Medicare contractors receive
and respond to this stakeholder feedback in a public manner.
(10) A moratorium on the implementation and enforcement of
these proposed policies would enable the Secretary and the
Medicare contractors to engage in such a transparent process.

SEC. 2. MORATORIUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED MEDICARE LOCAL
COVERAGE DETERMINATION ON LOWER LIMB PROSTHESES.

(a) Moratorium.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
and any Medicare Administrative Contractor may not implement
and enforce the policies in the LCD on lower limb prostheses
(as defined in subsection (d)(1)), in whole or in part, during
the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act,
and ending on June 30, 2017.
(2) Removal of policy from websites.--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services and its medicare administrative
contractors shall remove the LCD on lower limb prostheses from
the websites of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
and its medicare administrative contractors during the period
of the moratorium under paragraph (1).
(b) Providing the Secretary With Authority To Oversee the
Development of Local Coverage Determinations.--Section 1862(l)(5) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 395y(l)(5)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
subparagraph:
''(C) Secretary oversight and guidance in
developing local coverage determinations.--The
Secretary shall provide guidance and oversight of any
local coverage determination developed by a medicare
administrative contractor to ensure that the local
coverage determination is consistent with this
title.''.
(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
prevent the Secretary from enforcing existing statutes, regulations,
and local coverage determinations other than with respect to policies
in the LCD on lower limb prostheses.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) LCD on lower limb prostheses.--The term ''LCD on lower
limb prostheses'' means the local coverage determination on
lower limb prostheses as proposed by a medicare administrative
contractor in the document (DL33787) released on July 16, 2015,
and any successor to such determination.
(2) Medicare administrative contractor.--The term
''medicare administrative contractor'' has the meaning given
such term in section 1874A(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395kk-1(a)(3)(A)).
answer:
Preserving Access to Modern Prosthetic Limbs Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to postpone implementation and enforcement ofa local coverage determination (LCD) proposed by a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) on lower limb prostheses. (An LCD is a decision by a MAC, which is a private insurer that processes Medicare claims within a specified geographicjurisdiction, as towhether to cover a service on a MAC-wide basis.) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid shall provide guidance and oversight related to LCDs, as specified by the bill.

question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Weather Modification Research and
Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

It is the purpose of this Act to develop and implement a
comprehensive and coordinated national weather modification policy and
a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather
modification research and development.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Board.--The term ''Board'' means the Weather
Modification Advisory and Research Board.
(2) Executive director.--The term ''Executive Director''
means the Executive Director of the Weather Modification
Advisory and Research Board.
(3) Research and development.--The term ''research and
development'' means theoretical analysis, exploration,
experimentation, and the extension of investigative findings
and theories of scientific or technical nature into practical
application for experimental and demonstration purposes,
including the experimental production and testing of models,
devices, equipment, materials, and processes.
(4) Weather modification.--The term ''weather
modification'' means changing or controlling, or attempting to
change or control, by artificial methods the natural
development of atmospheric cloud forms or precipitation forms
which occur in the troposphere.

SEC. 4. WEATHER MODIFICATION ADVISORY AND RESEARCH BOARD ESTABLISHED.

(a) In General.--There is established in the Department of Commerce
the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Board shall consist of 11 members
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, of whom--
(A) at least 1 shall be a representative of the
American Meteorological Society;
(B) at least 1 shall be a representative of the
American Society of Civil Engineers;
(C) at least 1 shall be a representative of the
National Academy of Sciences;
(D) at least 1 shall be a representative of the
National Center for Atmospheric Research of the
National Science Foundation;
(E) at least 2 shall be representatives of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the
Department of Commerce;
(F) at least 1 shall be a representative of
institutions of higher education or research
institutes; and
(G) at least 1 shall be a representative of a State
that is currently supporting operational weather
modification projects.
(2) Tenure.--A member of the Board serves at the pleasure
of the Secretary of Commerce.
(3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled in
the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) Advisory Committees.--The Board may establish advisory
committees to advise the Board and to make recommendations to the Board
concerning legislation, policies, administration, research, and other
matters.
(c) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which all members of the Board have been appointed, the Board shall
hold its first meeting.
(d) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair.
(e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Board shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(f) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Board shall select a Chair and Vice
Chair from among its members.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE BOARD.

(a) Promotion of Research and Development.--In order to assist in
expanding the theoretical and practical knowledge of weather
modification, the Board shall promote and fund research and
development, studies, and investigations with respect to--
(1) improved forecast and decisionmaking technologies for
weather modification operations, including tailored computer
workstations and software and new observation systems with
remote sensors; and
(2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather
modification, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding
operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and
anthropogenic effects).
(b) Financial Assistance.--Unless the use of the money is
restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, the Board
shall use amounts in the Weather Modification Research and Development
Fund--
(1) to pay its expenses in the administration of this Act;
and
(2) to provide for research and development with respect to
weather modifications by grants to, or contracts or cooperative
arrangements with, public or private agencies.
(c) Report.--The Board shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce
biennially a report on its findings and research results.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE BOARD.

(a) Studies, Investigations, and Hearings.--The Board may make any
studies or investigations, obtain any information, and hold any
hearings necessary or proper to administer or enforce this Act or any
rules or orders issued under this Act.
(b) Personnel.--The Board may employ, as provided for in
appropriations Acts, an Executive Director and other support staff
necessary to perform duties and functions under this Act.
(c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Board may cooperate with
public or private agencies to promote the purposes of this Act.
(d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Board may enter into cooperative
agreements with the head of any department or agency of the United
States, an appropriate official of any State or political subdivision
of a State, or an appropriate official of any private or public agency
or organization for conducting weather modification activities or
cloud-seeding operations.
(e) Conduct and Contracts for Research and Development.--The
Executive Director, with the approval of the Board, may conduct and may
contract for research and development activities relating to the
purpose described in section 2.

SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH THE WEATHER MODIFICATION OPERATIONS AND
RESEARCH BOARD.

The heads of the departments and agencies of the United States and
the heads of any other public or private agencies and institutions that
receive research funds from the United States shall, to the extent
possible, give full support and cooperation to the Board and to
initiate independent research and development programs that address
weather modifications.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

(a) In General.--There is established within the Treasury of the
United States the Weather Modification Research and Development Fund,
which shall consist of amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (b)
or received by the Board under subsection (c).
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Board for the purposes of carrying out this Act
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2015. Any sums
appropriated under this subsection shall remain available, without
fiscal year limitation, until expended.
(c) Gifts.--The Board may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or
donations of services or property.
answer:
Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005 - Establishes in the Department of Commerce the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board to promote and fund research and development (R&D), studies, and investigations with respect to: (1) improved forecast and decisionmaking technologies for weather modification operations, including tailored computer workstations and software and new observation systems with remote sensors; and (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather modification, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and anthropogenic effects).

Establishes within the U.S. Treasury the Weather Modification Research and Development Fund. Directs the Board, unless the use of the money is restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, to use amounts in the Fund to: (1) pay its expenses in the administration of this Act; and (2) provide for R&D with respect to weather modifications by grants to, or contracts or cooperative arrangements with, public or private agencies.

question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Truth in Regulating Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) increase the transparency of important regulatory
decisions;
(2) promote effective congressional oversight to ensure
that agency rules fulfill statutory requirements in an
efficient, effective, and fair manner; and
(3) increase the accountability of Congress and the
agencies to the people they serve.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act, the term--
(1) ''agency'' has the meaning given such term under
section 3502(1) of title 44, United States Code, except that
such term shall not include an independent regulatory agency,
as that term is defined in section 3502(5) of such title;
(2) ''economically significant rule'' means any proposed or
final rule, including an interim or direct final rule, that may
have an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more or
adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment,
public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments
or communities, or for which an agency has prepared an initial
or final regulatory flexibility analysis pursuant to section
603 or 604 of title 5, United States Code; and
(3) ''independent evaluation'' means a substantive
evaluation of the agency's data, methodology, and assumptions
used in developing the economically significant rule,
including--
(A) an explanation of how any strengths or
weaknesses in those data, methodology, and assumptions
support or detract from conclusions reached by the
agency; and
(B) the implications, if any, of those strengths or
weaknesses for the rulemaking.

SEC. 4. PILOT PROJECT FOR REPORT ON RULES.

(a) In General.--
(1) Request for review.--When an agency publishes an
economically significant rule, a chairman or ranking member of
a committee of jurisdiction of either House of Congress may
request the Comptroller General of the United States to review
the rule.
(2) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit a report
on each economically significant rule selected under paragraph
(4) to the committees of jurisdiction in each House of Congress
not later than 180 calendar days after a committee request is
received, or in the case of a committee request for review of a
notice of proposed rulemaking or an interim final rulemaking,
by the end of the period for submission of comment regarding
the rulemaking, if practicable. The report shall include an
independent evaluation of the economically significant rule by
the Comptroller General.
(3) Independent evaluation.--The independent evaluation of
the economically significant rule by the Comptroller General
under paragraph (2) shall include--
(A) an evaluation of an agency's analysis of the
potential benefits of the rule, including any
beneficial effects that cannot be quantified in
monetary terms and the identification of the persons or
entities likely to receive the benefits;
(B) an evaluation of an agency's analysis of the
potential costs of the rule, including any adverse
effects that cannot be quantified in monetary terms and
the identification of the persons or entities likely to
bear the costs;
(C) an evaluation of an agency's analysis of
alternative approaches set forth in the notice of
proposed rulemaking and in the rulemaking record, as
well as of any regulatory impact analysis, federalism
assessment, or other analysis or assessment prepared by
the agency or required for the economically significant
rule; and
(D) a summary of the results of the evaluation of
the Comptroller General and the implications of those
results.
(4) Procedures for priorities of requests.--The Comptroller
General shall have discretion to develop procedures for
determining the priority and number of requests for review
under paragraph (1) for which a report will be submitted under
paragraph (2).
(b) Authority of Comptroller General.--Each agency shall promptly
cooperate with the Comptroller General in carrying out this Act.
Nothing in this Act is intended to expand or limit the authority of the
General Accounting Office.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the General Accounting
Office to carry out this Act $5,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2001
through 2003.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PILOT PROJECT.

(a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Duration of Pilot Project.--The pilot project under this Act
shall continue for a period of 3 years, if in each fiscal year, or
portion thereof included in that period, a specific annual
appropriation not less than $5,200,000 or the pro-rated equivalent
thereof shall have been made for the pilot project.
(c) Report.--Before the conclusion of the 3-year period, the
Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report reviewing the
effectiveness of the pilot project and recommending whether or not
Congress should permanently authorize the pilot project.

Passed the House of Representatives July 25, 2000.

Attest:

JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.
answer:
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2003.
Provides for the pilot project established under this Act to continue for a three-year period, if specified appropriations are provided. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on such project's effectiveness and on whether it should be authorized permanently.