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Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''China Human Rights Protection Act of
2015''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
''appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee
on Financial Services, the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee
on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on
the Judiciary of the Senate.
(2) Gross violations of internationally recognized human
rights.--The term ''gross violations of internationally
recognized human rights'' includes--
(A) extrajudicial killings;
(B) torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading
treatment or punishment;
(C) prolonged arbitrary detention, causing the
disappearance of individuals by the abduction and
clandestine detention of those individuals;
(D) forced abortion or sterilization;
(E) psychiatric or medical experimentation or organ
harvesting of individuals without consent or obtained
in detention; and
(F) other flagrant denial of the right to life,
liberty, or the security of an individual.
(3) United states person.--The term ''United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
or
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or of any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF SANCTIONS FOR GROSS VIOLATIONS OF
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS.

(a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described
in subsection (b) with respect to an individual who is a national of
the People's Republic of China the President determines, based on
credible information--
(1) is responsible for gross violations of internationally
recognized human rights committed against other individuals in
the People's Republic of China, particularly those individuals
who seek to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote
internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, such as
the freedoms of religion, expression, association, and
assembly, and the rights to a fair trial and democratic
elections;
(2) acted as an agent of or on behalf of another individual
who is a national of the People's Republic of China in a matter
relating to an activity described in paragraph (1); or
(3) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided
financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or
services in support of, an activity described in paragraph (1).
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Inadmissibility to united states.--
(A) In general.--Ineligibility of the individual to
receive a visa to enter the United States or to be
admitted to the United States.
(B) Revocation.--If the individual has been issued
a visa or other documentation, revocation, in
accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), of the visa or
other documentation.
(2) Blocking of property.--
(A) In general.--The blocking, in accordance with
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), of all transactions in all
property and interests in property of the individual if
such property and interests in property are in the
United States, come within the United States, or are or
come within the possession or control of a United
States person.
(B) Inapplicability of national emergency
requirement.--The requirements of section 202 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
1701) shall not apply for purposes of this section.
(c) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall issue such
regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this
section.

SEC. 4. WAIVER AUTHORITY AND EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS
HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.

(a) Waiver Authority.--The President may waive the application of
sanctions under section 3 with respect to an individual who is a
national of the People's Republic of China if the President--
(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national
security interests of the United States; and
(2) not later than 30 days prior to granting such a waiver,
submits to the appropriate congressional committees notice of,
and a justification for, the waiver.
(b) Exception To Comply With United Nations Headquarters
Agreement.--Sanctions under sections 3(b)(1) shall not apply to an
individual who is a national of the People's Republic of China if
admitting the individual into the United States is necessary to permit
the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the
Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26,
1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United
Nations and the United States, or other applicable international
obligations of the United States.

SEC. 5. TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS.

The President may terminate the application of sanctions under
section 3 with respect to an individual who is a national of the
People's Republic of China if the President determines and reports to
the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days before
the termination of the sanctions that--
(1) credible information exists that the individual did not
engage in the activity for which sanctions were imposed;
(2) the individual has been prosecuted appropriately for
the activity for which sanctions were imposed; or
(3) the individual has credibly demonstrated a significant
change in behavior, has paid an appropriate consequence for the
activity for which sanctions were imposed, and has credibly
committed to not engage in an activity described in section 3
in the future.

SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHINA HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTATION CENTER.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall seek to provide for
the establishment of and provide funding for an independent,
nongovernmental organization, to be referred to as the China Human
Rights Documentation Center, to--
(1) compile, publish, and archive credible evidence of
nationals of the People's Republic of China who commit gross
violations of internationally recognized human rights against
individuals in the People's Republic of China;
(2) receive evidence of such violations from
nongovernmental organizations and governmental entities;
(3) establish an online and searchable database, in English
and in Chinese, and establish other multi-media information
platforms, in English and in Chinese, of credible evidence of
such violations for research and educational purposes; and
(4) compile, publish, and archive credible evidence of
individuals who are nationals of the People's Republic of China
who are engaged in--
(A) censorship of the Internet, restrictions on the
freedom of expression, the free flow of news and
information, and the silencing of peaceful dissent
against government policy or practice;
(B) threats, surveillance, censorship, detention,
beatings, or the denials or delays of visas of United
States or other foreign journalists working in China;
(C) threats, beatings, surveillance, detention, or
threats to the loss of jobs or professional status made
against--
(i) individuals who are human rights
lawyers seeking to represent clients detained
in extra-legal detention centers;
(ii) individuals considered by the United
Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to
be detained arbitrarily in China, including
Tibetans, Uyghurs, and individuals who are
members of the Falun Gong;
(iii) individuals who are democracy, labor,
environmental, or free speech advocates;
(iv) individuals who are petitioners or
bloggers;
(v) individuals accused in governmental
anti-corruption campaigns; and
(vi) individuals from religious communities
that are independent of government-approved
religious organizations;
(D) restrictions on the right to freedom of
religion and the ability to exercise peaceful religious
practice, in public and private, independent of
government restrictions or oversight of religious
teachings or choice of religious leaders, particularly
the arrest and detention of religious leaders, the
destruction of property or heavy fines, and the
''patriotic education'' of religious leaders;
(E) implementing China's population control
policies, including through the coercive and persistent
monitoring of fertility, the issuing of heavy fines,
and threats made for the loss of employment or the
denial of residency and other government benefits to
children born beyond the government-prescribed limit;
(F) profiting from or overseeing slave labor,
particularly in detention facilities, or from sex or
bride trafficking or those engaged in beating,
threatening, or detaining individuals seeking to
disrupt trafficking in persons networks;
(G) profiting from the sale of organs harvested
from an individual without consent or while an
individual is in detention;
(H) disrupting or prohibiting, through violence,
intimidation, discrimination, or threats, attempts to
organize independent trade unions or to engage in
efforts of collective bargaining; or
(I) prosecuting, sentencing, or those involved in
the continued detention of individuals determined by
the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
to have been detained arbitrarily.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the funds authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of State for each fiscal year beginning
after the date of the enactment of this Act, such funds as may be
necessary to carry out this section are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section for such fiscal year.
(c) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall issue such
regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this
section.

SEC. 7. USE OF CREDIBLE EVIDENCE FOR SANCTIONS DETERMINATIONS AND
REPORTS.

In making determinations to impose sanctions under section 3 and
for purposes of preparing and submitting reports to Congress under
sections 8 and 9, the President should use any credible evidence--
(1) compiled and published by the China Human Rights
Documentation Center established under section 6;
(2) compiled and published by the Department of State and
other appropriate Federal departments and agencies; and
(3) submitted to the President by the chairperson and
ranking member of appropriate congressional committees.

SEC. 8. REPORTS BY PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.

(a) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--The President shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees on an annual basis a
report that includes--
(A) a list of individuals who are nationals of the
People's Republic of China with respect to which the
President imposed sanctions pursuant to section 3
during the calendar year preceding the submission of
the report;
(B) a description of the type of sanctions imposed
with respect to each individual;
(C) the number of individuals with respect to which
the President imposed sanctions under section 3(a)
during that year;
(D) the dates on which such sanctions were imposed
or terminated, as the case may be;
(E) the reasons for imposing or terminating such
sanctions; and
(F) a description of the efforts of the President
to encourage the governments of other countries to
impose sanctions that are similar to the sanctions
authorized by section 3.
(2) Dates for submission.--
(A) Initial report.--The President shall submit the
initial report required by this subsection not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(B) Subsequent reports.--
(i) In general.--The President shall submit
each subsequent report required by this
subsection on December 10, or the first day
thereafter on which both Houses of Congress are
in session, of--
(I) the calendar year in which the
initial report is submitted if the
initial report is submitted before
December 10 of such calendar year; and
(II) each subsequent calendar year.
(ii) Congressional statement.--Congress
notes that December 10 of each calendar year
has been recognized in the United States and
internationally since 1950 as ''Human Rights
Day'' and thus the importance of December 10 of
each calendar year as the date of submission of
the subsequent reports required by this
subsection.
(b) Form of Report.--
(1) In general.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
(2) Exception.--The name of an individual who is a national
of the People's Republic of China to be included in the list
required by subsection (a)(1) by reason of the imposition of
sanctions pursuant to section 3 may be submitted in the
classified annex authorized by paragraph (1) only if the
President--
(A) determines that it is vital for the national
security interests of the United States to do so; and
(B) uses the annex in a manner consistent with
congressional intent and the purposes of this Act.
(c) Public Availability.--
(1) In general.--The unclassified portion of the report
required by subsection (a) shall be made available to the
public, including through publication in the Federal Register.
(2) Nonapplicability of confidentiality requirement with
respect to visa records.--The President shall publish the list
required by subsection (a)(1) without regard to the
requirements of section 222(f) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)) with respect to
confidentiality of records pertaining to the issuance or
refusal of visas or permits to enter the United States.

SEC. 9. REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL TO CONGRESS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS ACT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of submission
of the initial report to Congress under section 8, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the following:
(1) A description and assessment of the process--
(A) to determine whether an individual who is a
national of the People's Republic of China has engaged
in an activity described in section 3 and whether
sanctions under section 3 should be imposed with
respect to the individual;
(B) to determine whether the identity of an
individual who is a national of the People's Republic
of China with respect to which the President has
imposed sanctions pursuant to section 3 should be
classified; and
(C) whether the inclusion of the identity of an
individual who is a national of the People's Republic
of China in the unclassified version of the report has
had any noticeable positive benefits in curtailing
gross violations of internationally recognized human
rights in the People's Republic of China.
(2) An assessment of the implementation of this Act.
(b) Consultation.--The Comptroller General shall consult with the
appropriate congressional committees and nongovernmental organizations
for purposes of preparing the report required by subsection (a).

A: China Human Rights Protection Act of 2015 Directs the President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against a national of China who: is responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in China, particularly those who seek to exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms; acted as an agent of or on behalf of a national of China in such activities; or has materially assisted or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such activities. Authorizes the President, with regard to such sanctions, to: waive their application, with prior congressional notification, if in U.S. national security interests; and terminate them under specified conditions. States that sanctions shall not apply if necessary to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters, or other applicable international obligations of the United States. Declares that the Secretary of State shall seek to provide for the establishment of, and provide funding for, a nongovernmental China Human Rights Documentation Center to: compile, publish, and archive evidence of nationals of China who commit gross violations of internationally recognized human rights against individuals in China, and against others seeking to expand freedoms in China; and establish an online and searchable database, in English and in Chinese of evidence of such violations for research and educational purposes. Directs the President to report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, the type of sanctions imposed, and the reason for their imposition. Directs the Government Accountability Office to assess for Congress: the process to determine whether a foreign person has engaged in a sanctionable activity, whether sanctions should be imposed, and whether the identity of a sanctioned foreign person should be classified; and implementation of this Act.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Construction Reform Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONSTRUCTION REFORMS.

(a) Application of Industry Standards; Assistance.--Section 8103 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsections:
''(f) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use
industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying
out the construction of medical facilities.
''(g)(1) The Secretary shall provide to a non-Department Federal
entity with which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under
subsection (e)--
''(A) design, planning, and construction assistance before
the entity issues a request for proposals for the design or
construction of the super construction project covered by the
agreement;
''(B) any documents or information needed for the entity to
carry out the responsibilities of the entity with respect to
the super construction project; and
''(C) upon the request of the entity, any other assistance
that the entity determines necessary to carry out such
responsibilities.
''(2) Any assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be provided
to the non-Department Federal entity on a non-reimbursable basis.
''(h)(1) With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered
into by a non-Department Federal entity with which the Secretary has
entered into an agreement under subsection (e) that is estimated at a
value of less than $250,000, the non-Department Federal entity shall
issue a final decision regarding such change not later than 30 days
after the date on which the change is proposed.
''(2) With respect to a proposed change to such a contract that is
estimated at a value of $250,000 or more--
''(A) the Secretary may provide to the entity the
recommendations of the Secretary regarding such change;
''(B) during the 30-day period beginning on the date on
which the entity furnishes to the Secretary information
regarding such change, the Secretary may issue the final
decision regarding such change; and
''(C) if the Secretary does not issue a final decision
under subparagraph (B), during the 30-day period following the
period described in such paragraph, the entity shall issue a
final decision regarding such a change no later than 90 days
from when the entity furnished information regarding such a
change to the Secretary.
''(i) The Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the
Department with responsibilities relating to the construction or
alteration of medical facilities, including such construction or
alteration carried out pursuant to contracts or agreements, undergoes a
program of ongoing professional training and development. Such program
shall be designed to ensure that employees maintain adequate expertise
relating to industry standards and best practices for the acquisition
of design and construction services. The Secretary may provide the
program under this subsection through a contract or agreement with a
non-Federal entity or with a non-Department Federal entity.''.
(b) Limitation on Planning and Design for Super Construction
Projects.--
(1) In general.--Section 8104(a) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following
new paragraph (3):
''(3) The Secretary may not obligate or expend funds for advance
planning or design for any super construction project, until the date
that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives notice of such
obligation or expenditure.''; and
(C) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph
(1) of this subsection, by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
''(C) The term 'super construction project' means a project
for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical
facility involving a total expenditure of more than
$100,000,000, but such term does not include an acquisition by
exchange.''.
(2) Applicability.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and
shall apply with respect to a construction project that is
initiated on or after that date.
(c) Congressional Approval of Certain Projects.--
(1) Projects that exceed specified amount.--Subsection (c)
of section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
''(c)(1) The Secretary may not obligate funds for a major medical
facility project or a super construction project approved by a law
described in subsection (a)(2) in an amount that would cause the total
amount obligated for that project to exceed the amount specified in the
law for that project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such
specified amount) by more than 10 percent unless the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation
of those funds.
''(2) The Secretary shall--
''(A) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic
audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an
external forensic audit of the expenditures relating to any
major medical facility or super construction project for which
the total expenditures exceed the amount specified in the law
for the project by more than 25 percent; and
''(B) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic
audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an
external audit of the medical center construction project in
Aurora, Colorado.''.
(2) Use of extra amounts.--Subsection (d) of such section
is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ''Whenever'' and inserting
''Before''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(3) The Secretary may not obligate any funds described in
paragraph (1) or amounts described in paragraph (2) before the date
that is 30 days after the notification submitted under paragraph (1) or
paragraph (2)(B), as the case may be, unless the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation of
those funds or amounts.''.
(3) Notification requirements.--
(A) Committees required.--Subsection (d)(1) of such
section is amended by striking ''each committee'' and
inserting ''the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives''.
(B) Use of amounts from bid savings.--Subsection
(d)(2)(B) of such section is amended by adding at the
end the following new clause:
''(iv) With respect to the major construction project that
is the source of the bid savings--
''(I) the amounts already obligated or available in
the project reserve for such project;
''(II) the percentage of such project that has been
completed; and
''(III) the amount of such bid savings that is
already obligated or otherwise being used for a purpose
other than such project.''.
(d) Quarterly Report on Super Construction Projects.--
(1) In general.--At the end of subchapter I of chapter 81
of title 38, United States Code, add the following new section:
''Sec. 8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects
''(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the
last day of each fiscal quarter the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives on the super construction projects carried out by the
Secretary during such quarter. Each such report shall include, for each
such project--
''(1) the budgetary and scheduling status of the project,
as of the last day of the quarter covered by the report; and
''(2) the actual cost and schedule variances of the
project, as of such day, compared to the planned cost and
schedules for the project.
''(b) Super Construction Project Defined.--In this section, the
term 'super construction project' has the meaning given such term in
section 8104(a)(4)(C) of this title.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of the chapter is amended by adding at the end of the
items relating to such subchapter the following new item:

''8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects.''.
(e) Accelerated Master Planning for Each Medical Facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.--
(1) Existing facilities.--Not later than December 31, 2016,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a master plan
described in paragraph (3) for each medical facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) New facilities.--For each medical facility of the
Department for which construction is completed after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a
master plan described in paragraph (3) for the facility by not
later than the earlier of the following dates:
(A) The date on which activation is completed.
(B) The date of the formal dedication of the
facility.
(3) Master plan described.--A master plan described in this
paragraph is, with respect to a medical facility of the
Department, a plan to inform investment decisions and funding
requests over a 10-year period for construction projects at
such medical facility--
(A) to meet the health care needs of a changing
veteran population through a combination of health care
from the Department and other community resources; and
(B) to maximize the best use of the land and
structures comprising such medical facility.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR CONSTRUCTION.

(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 312 the following new section:
''Sec. 312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction
''(a) In General.--There is in the Office of Inspector General an
Assistant Inspector General for Construction. The Assistant Inspector
General for Construction is responsible for conducting, supervising,
and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the
planning, design, contracting, execution, and construction of
facilities and infrastructure of the Department, including major and
minor construction projects and leases.
''(b) Qualifications.--Each individual appointed as Assistant
Inspector General for Construction shall be an individual who has
expertise in construction and facilities management.
''(c) Reports.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the appointment of
an individual as the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and
every calendar quarter thereafter, the Assistant Inspector General for
Construction shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report summarizing the activities
of the Assistant Inspector General for Construction during the 120-day
period ending on the date of such report.
''(2) In addition to the report required in paragraph (1), and the
requirements contained in section 5 of the Inspector General Act of
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), the Assistant Inspector General for Construction
shall promptly provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives the findings of any investigation
undertaken by the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and
shall notify the Committees promptly if the Assistant Inspector General
for Construction identifies any serious or flagrant problem or
deficiency relating to the administration or operation of any
construction program of the Department, if, during the course of any
investigation, the Assistant Inspector General for Construction
determines that Congress should take immediate action.
''(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize
the public disclosure of information that is--
''(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other
provision of law;
''(B) specifically required by Executive Order to be
protected from disclosure in the interest of national defense
or national security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or
''(C) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
312 the following new item:

''312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction.''.

Passed the House of Representatives February 9, 2016.

Attest:

KAREN L. HAAS,

Clerk.

A: Construction Reform Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out medical facility construction. A super construction project is one for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100 million (but does not include an acquisition by exchange). The VA shall provide, on a non-reimbursable basis, a non-VA federal entity with: (1) design, planning, and construction assistance; (2) project documents; and (3) other assistance upon request. With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered into by a non-VA federal entity with which the VA has entered into an agreement that is estimated at a value of less than $250,000, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding such change within 30 days. With respect to a proposed contract change estimated at a value of $250,000 or more: the VA may make recommendations to the entity; the VA may issue the final decision regarding the change within 30 days after the entity proposes it; and if the VA does not issue a final decision within 60 days after the entity proposes the contract change, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding the change no later than 90 days after it proposes the change. The VA shall ensure that each VA employee with responsibilities relating to the construction or alteration of medical facilities undergoes ongoing professional training and development. The VA is prohibited from: obligating or expending funds for advance planning or design for any super construction project until 60 days after congressional notification, obligating funds for a major medical facility project or a super construction project by more than 10% of the amount approved by law unless certain congressional committees approve the obligation, or using bid savings amounts or funds for other than their original purpose before 30 days after notifying those committees unless each committee approves the obligation. The VA shall enter into a contract with an appropriate non-department federal entity to conduct an external forensic audit of: (1) the medical center construction project in Aurora, Colorado; and (2) the expenditures relating to any major medical facility or super construction project when such expenditures exceed the amount approved by law by more than 25%. The VA must complete a 10-year master plan for: (1) each existing VA medical facility by December 31, 2016, and (2) each new VA medical facility by not later than the earlier of the date on which activation is completed or the date of the facility's formal dedication. (Sec. 3) There is established in the Office of Inspector General an Assistant Inspector General for Construction who shall be responsible for conducting, supervising, and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the planning, design, contracting, and construction of VA facilities and infrastructure, including major and minor construction projects and leases.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Education for the 21st Century (E-
21) Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

It is the purpose of this Act to enable America's schools to use
their computer hardware to increase student achievement and prepare
students for the 21st century workplace.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) Establishing computer literacy programs for students
will help ensure that the Nation's children are receiving the
skills needed for advanced education and for securing
employment in the 21st century.
(2) Computer literacy skills, such as information
gathering, critical analysis and communication with the latest
technology, build upon the necessary basics of reading,
writing, mathematics, and other core subject areas.
(3) According to a study conducted by the Educational
Testing Service (ETS), eighth-grade mathematics students whose
teachers used computers for simulations and applications
outperformed students whose teachers did not use such
educational technology.
(4) Although an ever increasing amount of schools are
obtaining the latest computer hardware, schools will not be
able to take advantage of the benefits of computer-based
learning unless teachers are effectively trained in the latest
educational software applications.
(5) The Educational Testing Service study showed that
students whose teachers received training in computers
performed better than other students. The study also found that
schools that provide teachers with professional development in
computers enjoyed higher staff morale and lower absenteeism
rates.
(6) Some of the most exciting applications in educational
technology are being developed not only by commercial software
companies, but also by secondary school and college students.
The fruit of this academic talent should be channeled more
effectively to benefit the Nation's elementary and secondary
schools.

SEC. 4. COMPUTER LITERACY CHALLENGE.

(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education is authorized
to award grants to States that integrate into the State
curriculum the goal of making all middle school graduates in
the State technologically literate.
(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give preference in
awarding grants under this section to States that place a
priority on training middle school teachers.
(b) Uses of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used
for teacher training in technology, with an emphasis on programs that
prepare one or more teachers in each elementary, middle, and secondary
school in the State to become technology leaders who then serve as
experts and train other teachers.
(c) Matching Funds.--Each State shall encourage schools that
receive assistance under this section to provide matching funds, with
respect to the cost of teacher training in technology to be assisted
under this section, in order to enhance the impact of the teacher
training and to help ensure that all middle school graduates in the
State are technologically literate.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.

SEC. 5. HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

(a) Competitive Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is
authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to students in
secondary schools and institutions of higher education, working with
faculty of an institution of higher education, software developers, and
experts in educational technology for the development of high-quality
educational software and Internet websites by such students, faculty,
developers, and experts.
(b) Recognition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education shall recognize
outstanding educational software and Internet websites
developed with assistance provided under this section.
(2) Certificates.--The President is requested to, and the
Secretary shall, issue an official certificate signed by the
President or the Secretary (or both), to each student and
faculty member who develops outstanding educational software or
an Internet website recognized under this section.
(3) Focus.--The educational software or Internet websites
that are recognized under this section shall focus on core
curriculum areas.
(4) Judges.--The Secretary shall designate official judges
to recognize outstanding educational software or Internet
websites assisted under this section.
(c) Priority.--
(1) First year.--For the first year that the Secretary
awards grants under this section, the Secretary shall give
priority to awarding grants for the development of educational
software or Internet websites in the areas of mathematics,
science, and reading.
(2) Second and third years.--For the second and third years
that the Secretary awards grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants for the
development of educational software or Internet websites in the
areas described in paragraph (1) and in social studies, the
humanities, and the arts.
(d) Downloading.--Educational software recognized under this
section shall be made available to local educational agencies for free
downloading from the Department of Education's Internet website.
Internet websites recognized under this section shall be accessible to
any user of the World Wide Web.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.

A:
Education for the 21st Century (E-21) Act - Establishes assistance programs for: (1) middle school computer literacy; and (2) high-quality educational software for all schools.Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to States (especially those with a priority on training middle school teachers) that integrate into the State curriculum the goal of making all middle school graduates in the State technologically literate. Requires use of such grants for teacher training in technology, particularly teachers in elementary, middle, and secondary schools who become technology leaders serving as experts and training other teachers.Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants for students at secondary schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to work with IHE faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology in developing high-quality educational software and Internet websites. Directs the Secretary to recognize outstanding software and websites developed with such assistance that focus on core curriculum areas, especially: (1) for the first year of awards, mathematics, science, and reading; and (2) for the second and third years of awards, again mathematics, science, and reading, but also social studies, the humanities, and the arts. Requires: (1) such recognized educational software to be made available to local educational agencies for free downloading from the Department of Education's Internet website; and (2) such recognized Internet websites to be accessible to any World Wide Web user.
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