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

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Sacramento Valley Water Storage and
Restoration Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) The State of California and much of the West are
experiencing one of the driest years on record, exacerbating
water supply problems caused by a lack of surface water storage
infrastructure. The drought conditions have caused reductions
in water supplies to almost all water users in the State.
(2) The Sites Project has been identified by the State of
California and the Federal Government as an important component
to integrated water management in the Sacramento Valley that
would advance the co-equal objectives of improving water
management and restoring ecological health for beneficial uses
of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Sacramento River
watershed.
(3) Among other things, the Sites Project would--
(A) increase surface water storage to enhance water
management flexibility in the Sacramento Valley;
(B) provide flood control benefits;
(C) improve conditions for fish, waterfowl, and
wildlife in the Sacramento Valley, including anadromous
fish in the Sacramento River; and
(D) improve the operation of the State's water
system to provide improvements in ecosystem and water
quality conditions in the Bay-Delta while providing a
more reliable water supply for the State of California.
(4) The Sites Project has been shown to provide
approximately 1,300,000 of additional yield when the Sites
Project is integrated into the operations of other State and
Federal reservoirs upstream of the Bay-Delta.
(5) Healthy wetlands are of vital importance to wildlife in
California and require a reliable supply of water, and
additional surface water storage can help meet water supply
goals under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act.
(6) It is in the interests of the United States for the
Federal Government to work with the Sites Project Authority,
which has been established under laws of the State of
California as an independent joint powers authority to, among
other things, study, promote, develop, design, finance,
acquire, construct, manage, and operate Sites Reservoir and
related facilities, in order to advance the Sites Project in
the most expeditious and cost-effective manner possible.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(2) Commissioner.--The term ''Commissioner'' means the
Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.
(3) Bureau.--The term ''Bureau'' means the Bureau of
Reclamation.
(4) Authority.--The term ''Authority'' means the Sites
Project Authority that entered into a Joint Powers Agreement on
August 26, 2010, for the purpose of advancing the Sites Project
as a non-Federal facility and includes Glenn-Colusa Irrigation
District, Reclamation District 108, the Tehama-Colusa Canal
Authority, Maxwell Irrigation District, the County of Glenn,
the County of Colusa and Yolo County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District.
(5) Sites project.--The term ''Sites Project'' means the
Sites Reservoir in Glenn and Colusa Counties, California, and
related facilities, including associated water conveyance and
hydropower generation and transmission facilities.
(6) State.--The term ''State'' means the State of
California.
(7) Central valley project.--The term ''Central Valley
Project'' means all Federal reclamation projects located within
or diverting water from or to the watershed of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries as authorized by
the Act of August 26, 1937 (50 Stat. 850), and all Acts
amendatory or supplemental thereto, including but not limited
to the Act of October 17, 1940 (54 Stat. 1198, 1199), Act of
December 22, 1944 (58 Stat. 887), Act of October 14, 1949 (63
Stat. 852), Act of September 26, 1950 (64 Stat. 1036), Act of
August 27, 1954 (68 Stat. 879), Act of August 12, 1955 (69
Stat. 719), Act of June 3, 1960 (74 Stat. 156), Act of October
23, 1962 (76 Stat. 1173), Act of September 2, 1965 (79 Stat.
615), Act of August 19, 1967 (81 Stat. 167), Act of August 27,
1967 (81 Stat. 173), Act of October 23, 1970 (84 Stat. 1097),
Act of September 28, 1976 (90 Stat. 1324) and Act of October
27, 1986 (100 Stat. 3050).
(8) Repayment and water service contracts.--The terms
''repayment contract'' and ''water service contract'' have the
same meaning as provided in sections 9(d) and 9(e) of the
Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (53 Stat. 1187, 1195), as
amended.

SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

(a) Feasibility Study.--No later than June 30, 2015, the Secretary,
acting through the Bureau, shall finalize and publish in the Federal
Register, the feasibility study authorized in section 103(d)(1)(i)(II)
of title I of Public Law 108-361.
(b) Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact
Report.--No later than June 30, 2015, the Secretary shall work with the
Secretary of Commerce, the Army Corps of Engineers and the
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator to coordinate the efforts
of the relevant agencies and work with the State, the Authority, and
other stakeholders to complete and issue the final joint environmental
impact statement and environmental impact report on the Sites Project.
(c) Availability of Documents.--The Secretary shall ensure that all
documents associated with the preparation of planning and feasibility
studies and applicable environmental reviews under the National
Environmental Policy Act for the Sites Project shall be made available
to the Authority.
(d) Financial Assistance and Other Agreements.--To assist the
Secretary in meeting the deadlines for completing the feasibility study
and environmental impact statement identified in this section, no later
than 90 days following enactment, the Secretary, acting through the
Bureau, shall enter into such agreements with the Authority, including
financial assistance agreements, to carry out such work as the Bureau
and the Authority mutually agree is appropriate to ensure that all
studies and environmental reviews are completed on an expeditious basis
and that the shortest applicable process under the National
Environmental Policy Act shall be utilized, including in the completion
of the final feasibility study and final joint environmental impact
statement and environmental impact report on the Sites Project.
(e) Non-Federal Cost-Share.--The Secretary shall attribute all
funds expended, or in-kind services provided, by the Authority or the
State to advance the Sites Project, including the $42,379,999 in non-
Federal funds provided to the North-of-Delta Offstream Storage
Feasibility Study reflected in the Bureau's fiscal year 2015 Budget
Justification, to the non-Federal share of cost-share requirements for
any Federal support provided to the Sites Project.
(f) Requirements of Existing Law.--Nothing in the section herein
modifies existing requirements of Federal law.

SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Authorization of Construction.--Section 103(d)(1)(B) of title I
of Public Law 108-361 (the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act, 118
Stat. 1681) is amended by--
(1) adding after clause (i) the following:
''(ii) Construction authorization.--If the
Secretary determines the project described in
clause (ii)(I) of subparagraph (A) is feasible,
the Secretary is authorized to carry out the
project in a manner that is substantially in
accordance with the recommended plan, and
subject to the conditions described in the
feasibility study.'';
(2) striking in clause (iii), ''the project'' and inserting
''a project described in clause (ii)(I) of subparagraph (A)'';
and
(3) redesignating clause (ii) and (iii) as clause (iii) and
(iv), respectively.
(b) Project Partnership Agreements.--At the request of the
Authority, the Bureau shall--
(1) enter into a project partnership agreement with the
Authority for the Authority to provide full project management
control for construction of the Sites Project, or a separable
element of the project, in accordance with plans approved by
the Secretary; and
(2) following execution of the project partnership
agreement, transfer to the Authority interest to carry out
construction of the project, or a separable element of the
project--
(A) if applicable, the balance of the unobligated
amounts appropriated for the Sites Project, except that
the Secretary shall retain sufficient amounts for the
Bureau to carry out any responsibilities of the Bureau
relating to the project; and
(B) additional amounts, as determined by the
Secretary, from amounts made available to the
Secretary, except that the total amount transferred to
the non-Federal interest shall not exceed the updated
estimate of the Federal share of the cost of
construction, including any required design.
(c) Detailed Project Schedule.--Not later than 180 days after
entering into a Project Partnership agreement, the Authority, to the
maximum extent practicable, shall submit to the Secretary a detailed
project schedule, based on estimated funding levels, that lists all
deadlines for each milestone in the construction of the project.
(d) Administration.--All laws and regulations that would apply to
the Secretary if the Secretary were carrying out the project shall
apply to Authority, if the Authority enters into an agreement with the
Secretary to carry out the project under this section.

SEC. 6. NON-FEDERAL PROJECT.

(a) In General.--At any time, notwithstanding any other provision
of this Act, if the Commissioner determines and the Secretary concurs,
that the Sites Project can be expedited by the Authority as a non-
Federal project, and that there is a demonstrable Federal interest for
the Sites Project to be constructed and operated as a non-Federal
project, the Bureau is authorized and directed to take any and all
actions possible to advance the Sites Project as a non-Federal project,
including, but not limited to, entering into cost-shared financial
assistance agreements with the Authority to support construction of the
Sites Project as a non-Federal project.
(b) Title; Operations and Maintenance.--The Authority shall hold
title to all facilities constructed under this section, and shall be
solely responsible for the operation and maintenance costs of such
facilities.
(c) Federal Reviews and Permits.--The Bureau shall be the lead
Federal agency for the purposes of all Federal reviews, analyses,
opinions, statements, permits, licenses, or other approvals or
decisions required under Federal law to allow the Authority to
construct the Sites Project as a non-Federal project.
(d) Coordinated Operations.--The Secretary of the Interior is
authorized and directed to execute and implement a long-term agreement
between the United States of America and the Authority that shall
provide for the coordination of operations of the Central Valley
Project and the Sites Project to--
(1) satisfy any contracts entered into in subsection (e) of
this Act;
(2) help meet any unmet needs for Sacramento Valley in-
basin water uses;
(3) help meet any unmet needs of existing Central Valley
Project repayment and water service contracts; and
(4) ensure that any surplus water supplies from the Sites
Project are put to full and beneficial use.
(e) Contracts.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into long-term
contracts with the Authority to acquire water supplies made available
from the Sites Project for the purposes of meeting the requirements
section 3406(b)(3) and section 3408(j) of Public Law 102-575, the
Central Valley Project Improvement Act, and such other purposes as the
Secretary may deem appropriate.

SEC. 7. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING.

With respect to the Sites Project, the Bureau shall--
(1) be the lead Federal agency for the purposes of all
Federal reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits,
licenses, or other approvals or decisions required under
Federal law to allow either the Bureau or the Authority to
construct the Sites Project, including all requirements under--
(A) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.); and
(C) any other Federal law applicable to the
construction of the Sites Project facilities by the
Bureau or the Authority; and
(2) take such steps as are necessary to ensure that all
Federal reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits,
licenses, or other approvals or decisions required under
Federal law to allow either the Bureau or the Authority to
construct the Sites Project are completed on an expeditious
basis and utilize the shortest applicable process.

SEC. 8. POWER GENERATION.

(a) Purchase or Market Power.--The Secretary of Energy, acting
through the Western Area Power Administration, shall determine no later
than June 30, 2015, if there is a Federal interest in--
(1) providing power to the Sites Project; and
(2) purchasing and marketing the power produced by the
Sites Project.
(b) Authorization To Provide, Market and Purchase Power.--If the
Secretary of Energy determines there is a Federal interest in providing
power to, and purchasing and marketing power from, the Sites Project,
the Secretary of Energy is authorized and directed to take such actions
as are necessary to support that determination.
(c) Permit Lead and Marketing of Power if Western Area Power
Administration Forgoes Participation in the Sites Project.--If the
Sites Project is constructed as a non-Federal project by the Authority
and the Secretary of Energy determines that there is no Federal
interest in the Western Area Power Administration managing power
provided to or emanating from the Sites Project, the Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the Bureau, is authorized and directed to
provide such support as is necessary to enable the Authority market the
energy produced by the Sites Project, including securing all permits
associated with managing power used and produced by the Sites Project.
(d) Delivery and Management of Water.--Nothing in this subsection
shall alter or impede the delivery and management of water, as water
used for hydropower generation shall be deemed incidental to uses of
water for which the Sites Project is intended to serve.

SEC. 9. COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

Nothing in this Act modifies or alters any obligations under--
(1) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or
(2) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.).

SEC. 10. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt any existing
State law, including but not limited to area of origin and other water
rights protections.
[EX A]: Sacramento Valley Water Storage and Restoration Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to: (1) finalize and publish in the Federal Register the feasibility study authorized in the Water Supply, Reliability, and Environmental Improvement Act, for enlargement of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County, California; (2) work with the Secretary of Commerce, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, by June 30, 2015, to coordinate the efforts of the relevant agencies and work with the state of California, the Sites Project Authority, and other stakeholders to complete and issue the final joint environmental impact statement and report on the Sites Project (the Sites Reservoir in Glenn and Colusa Counties, California, and related facilities, including associated water conveyance and hydropower generation and transmission facilities); and (3) enter into agreements with the Authority to carry out such work as the Bureau and the Authority mutually agree is appropriate to ensure that all studies and environmental reviews are completed on an expeditious basis and that the shortest applicable process under the National Environmental Policy Act is utilized, including in the completion of the final feasibility study and final joint environmental impact statement and report on the Sites Project. Amends the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization Act to: (1) authorize construction of the Sites Reservoir in Colusa County if the Secretary determines that the project is feasible; and (2) direct the Bureau, at the Authority's request, to enter into a project partnership agreement for the Authority to provide full project management control for construction of the Sites Project, or a separable element of the Project, in accordance with plans approved by the Secretary. Authorizes and directs: (1) the Bureau to advance the Sites Project as a non-federal project if the Commissioner of the Bureau determines and the Secretary concurs that the Project can be expedited by the Authority as a non-federal project and that there is a demonstrable federal interest for the Project to be constructed and operated as a non-federal project, and (2) the Secretary to execute and implement a long-term agreement with the Authority for the coordination of operations of the Central Valley Project and the Sites Project. Directs the Bureau to: (1) be the lead federal agency for the purposes of all federal reviews, analyses, opinions, statements, permits, licenses, or other approvals or decisions required under federal law to allow either the Bureau or the Authority to construct the Sites Project; and (2) take such steps as necessary to ensure that all such reviews, approvals, or decisions required to allow either the Bureau or the Authority to construct the Sites Project are completed on an expeditious basis and utilize the shortest applicable process. Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE): (1) acting through the Western Area Power Administration, to determine by no later than June 30, 2015, if there is a federal interest in providing power to, and purchasing and marketing power produced by, the Sites Project; (2) if so, to take actions to support such determination; and (3) if not, to provide such support as is necessary to enable the Authority to market the energy produced by the Project.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) the historical significance of the 52-mile Going-to-
the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Montana, is recognized
by its--
(A) listing on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1983;
(B) designation as a National Historic Engineering
Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in
1985; and
(C) designation as a National Historic Landmark in
1997;
(2) in 1997, recommendations of the Federal Highway
Administration concerning, and an engineering study of, the
Road verified significant structural damage to the Road has
occurred since the Road opened in 1932;
(3) infrastructure at most of the developed areas in the
Park is inadequate for cold-season (fall, winter, and spring)
operation, and maintenance backlog needs exist for normal
summer operation;
(4) the Many Glacier Hotel and Lake McDonald Lodge are on
the National Register of Historic Places and are National
Historic Landmarks;
(5) other accommodations operated by the concessionaire
that have possessory interest and are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places are the Rising Sun Motor Inn and
Swiftcurrent Motel;
(6) the historic hotels in the Park, operated under
concession agreements with the National Park Service, are
essential for public use and enjoyment of the Park;
(7) visitors to the Park deserve safe hotels in the Park
that meet basic needs and expectations;
(8) the historic hotels in the Park have deteriorated
significantly and need substantial repair;
(9) repairs of the hotels in the Park have been deferred
for so long that, absent any changes to the Federal law
governing concessionaires and the availability of historic tax
credits for up to 39.5 years, the remodeling costs for the
hotels exceed the capacity of the hotel concessionaire to
finance the repairs with hotel revenues;
(10) the remodeling costs of Park hotels are so high that
the concessionaire will need to finance the cost of those
repairs by borrowing the remodeling expenses and repaying them
over time out of net hotel income, which by current law is
limited to 20-year concession agreements;
(11) the season of operation for hotels is about 4 months
because the developed areas of the Park lack--
(A) water, sewer, and fire protection systems that
can operate in freezing conditions;
(B) building insulation; and
(C) heating systems;
(12) because of many factors, including the high projected
costs of remodeling, the relatively short tourist season in the
Park, and the requirement that concession agreements may not
exceed 20 years, concessionaires are unable to carry out the
scope of remodeling that is needed for the hotels in the Park;
(13) the National Park Service Concessions Management
Improvement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 5951 et seq.) is based on
sound principles and is achieving its basic purposes, but there
appear to be selected instances in which the National Park
Service needs additional authority to conduct demonstration
projects; and
(14) a demonstration project is needed to carry out repairs
of the historic hotels in the Park.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Committee.--The term ''Committee'' means the Going-to-
the-Sun Road Citizens' Advisory Committee.
(2) Park.--The term ''Park'' means Glacier National Park,
Montana.
(3) Road.--The term ''Road'' means Going-to-the-Sun Road,
located in the Park.
(4) Secretary.--The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.

SEC. 3. GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD FEASIBILITY STUDY AND REHABILITATION
PLAN.

(a) Feasibility Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than June 30, 2001, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Committee, shall complete a
feasibility study for rehabilitation of the Road.
(2) Inclusions.--The feasibility study shall include--
(A) alternative plans for rehabilitation of the
Road, including--
(i) a ranking of the feasibility of each
plan;
(ii) an estimate of the length of time
necessary to complete each plan;
(iii) a description of which mitigation
efforts would be used to preserve resources and
minimize adverse economic effects of each plan;
(iv) an analysis of the costs and benefits
of each plan;
(v) an estimate of the cost of each plan;
(B) an analysis of long-term maintenance needs,
standards, and schedules for the Road, alternatives to
accomplish the work, maintenance staff needs, and
associated cost estimates; and
(C) a complete environmental analysis that meets
any applicable requirement of--
(i) the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(ii) the National Historic Preservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.); and
(iii) any other applicable law.
(3) Submission.--Not later than 30 days after completion of
the feasibility study, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Resources in the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in the Senate a copy
of the study.
(b) Rehabilitation Plan.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after completing
the study and environmental analysis under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(A) consider the recommendations of the Committee;
(B) make any decision documented in the
environmental analysis process; and
(C) select and implement a rehabilitation plan for
the Road.
(2) Authorized actions.--In implementing a rehabilitation
plan under this subsection, the Secretary may--
(A) use funds to--
(i) rehabilitate the Road; and
(ii) carry out transportation system
improvements or impact mitigation activities
outside the Park, if recommended in the
feasibility study and by the Committee; and
(B) seek funding for any long-term maintenance
needs identified in the feasibility study.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to implement the
rehabilitation plan (including the cost of any necessary
environmental or cultural documentation and monitoring),
$200,000,000.
(c) Continuation of Maintenance.--Nothing in this section affects
the duty of the Secretary to continue the program in effect on the day
before the date of the enactment of this Act to preserve, maintain, and
address safety concerns relating to the Road.

SEC. 4. MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADE OF UTILITY
SYSTEMS.

(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after funds are made
available under this section, the Secretary shall begin the upgrade and
continue the maintenance of utility systems that serve the Park and
facilities relating to the Park.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, $20,000,000.

SEC. 5. HOTEL REHABILITATION.

(a) Competitive Leases of Property.--Notwithstanding section 3(k)
of Public Law 91-383 (commonly known as the ''National Park System
General Authorities Act'') (16 U.S.C. 1a-2) or any other provision of
law, subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may enter into a
competitive lease of Federal property in the Park under which a lessee
may provide visitor services to visitors to the area.
(b) Mandatory Conditions of Leases.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a lease
under subsection (a) only after determining that the provision
of visitor services--
(A) is necessary and appropriate for the
accommodation of visitors to the Park, taking into
consideration the value of providing additional visitor
services (including conference facilities) for groups
of visitors in the early spring and late fall months,
especially as those additional services may provide
extra revenue needed to finance improvements for the
historic hotels in Glacier National Park; and
(B) is consistent with section 402 of the National
Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of
1998 (16 U.S.C. 5952).
(2) Terms and conditions.--The Secretary shall include in a
lease under this subsection appropriate terms and conditions to
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that--
(A) any visitor service provided is--
(i) adequate; and
(ii) available at a reasonable rate--
(I) to be approved by the Secretary
in accordance with section 406 of the
National Park Service Concessions
Management Improvement Act of 1998 (16
U.S.C. 5951 et seq.); and
(II) that may be at such a level as
to allow any investment in capital
improvements for visitor services to be
recovered within a reasonable amount of
time by the concessionaire that
financed the improvements;
(B) the leased property will be properly maintained
by the lessee, and, with respect to historic property
that may be leased, preserved, and maintained in a
manner consistent with the historic character of the
property, as determined by the Secretary; and
(C) assure the lessee of adequate protection
against any loss of investment in an improvement to
real property that the lessee may make to the leased
property (including an obligation of the United States
to compensate the lessee for any loss of investment in
an improvement to real property in any circumstances
that the Secretary determines to be prudent).
(c) Leasehold Surrender Value.--In any contract for improvements,
the Secretary shall recognize the leasehold surrender value of any
existing lease that the Secretary may require to be surrendered in any
action that is associated with approving an improvement to visitor
services under this section.
[EX A]: Directs the Secretary to upgrade and continue the maintenance of utility systems which service the Park and its related facilities. Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into competitive leases of federally-owned property in the Park under which the lessee will be authorized to provide visitor services (including a hotel), subject to specified conditions.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Relief for Rural Veterans in Crisis
Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF THE MEDICARE RURAL HOSPITAL
FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Section 1820(g) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395i-4(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(6) Providing mental health services and other health
services to veterans and other residents of rural areas.--
''(A) Grants to states.--The Secretary may award
grants to States that have submitted applications in
accordance with subparagraph (B) for increasing the
delivery of mental health services or other health care
services deemed necessary to meet the needs of veterans
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom living in rural areas (as defined for purposes
of section 1886(d) and including areas that are rural
census tracks, as defined by the Administrator of the
Health Resources and Services Administration),
including for the provision of crisis intervention
services and the detection of post-traumatic stress
disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other signature
injuries of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and
Operation Enduring Freedom, and for referral of such
veterans to medical facilities operated by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for the delivery of
such services to other residents of such rural areas.
''(B) Application.--
''(i) In general.--An application is in
accordance with this subparagraph if the State
submits to the Secretary at such time and in
such form as the Secretary may require an
application containing the assurances described
in subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (A)(iii) of
subsection (b)(1).
''(ii) Consideration of regional
approaches, networks, or technology.--The
Secretary may, as appropriate in awarding
grants to States under subparagraph (A),
consider whether the application submitted by a
State under this subparagraph includes 1 or
more proposals that utilize regional
approaches, networks, health information
technology, telehealth, or telemedicine to
deliver services described in subparagraph (A)
to individuals described in that subparagraph.
For purposes of this clause, a network may, as
the Secretary determines appropriate, include
Federally qualified health centers, rural
health clinics, home health agencies, community
mental health clinics and other providers of
mental health services, pharmacists, local
government, and other providers deemed
necessary to meet the needs of veterans.
''(iii) Coordination at local level.--The
Secretary shall require, as appropriate, a
State to demonstrate consultation with the
hospital association of such State, rural
hospitals located in such State, providers of
mental health services, or other appropriate
stakeholders for the provision of services
under a grant awarded under this paragraph.
''(iv) Special consideration of certain
applications.--In awarding grants to States
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
give special consideration to applications
submitted by States in which veterans make up a
high percentage (as determined by the
Secretary) of the total population of the
State. Such consideration shall be given
without regard to the number of veterans of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom living in the areas in which mental
health services and other health care services
would be delivered under the application.
''(C) Coordination with va.--The Secretary shall,
as appropriate, consult with the Director of the Office
of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in awarding grants to States under subparagraph (A).
''(D) Use of funds.--A State awarded a grant under
this paragraph may, as appropriate, use the funds to
reimburse providers of services described in
subparagraph (A) to individuals described in that
subparagraph.
''(E) Limitation on use of grant funds for
administrative expenses.--A State awarded a grant under
this paragraph may not expend more than 15 percent of
the amount of the grant for administrative expenses.
''(F) Final report.--Not later than 1 year after
the date on which the last grant is awarded to a State
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit a
report to Congress on the grants awarded under such
subparagraph. Such report shall include an assessment
of the impact of such grants on increasing the delivery
of mental health services and other health services to
veterans of the United States Armed Forces living in
rural areas (as so defined and including such areas
that are rural census tracks), with particular emphasis
on the impact of such grants on the delivery of such
services to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to other individuals
living in such rural areas.''.
(b) Use of Funds for Federal Administrative Expenses.--Section
1820(g)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-4(g)(5)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ''beginning with fiscal year 2005'' and
inserting ''for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008''; and
(2) by inserting ''and, of the total amount appropriated
for grants under paragraphs (1), (2), and (6) for a fiscal year
(beginning with fiscal year 2009)'' after ''2005)''.
(c) Extension of Authorization for FLEX Grants.--Section 1820(j) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-4(j)) is amended--
(1) by striking ''and for'' and inserting ''for''; and
(2) by inserting '', for making grants to all States under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (g), $55,000,000 in each
of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, and for making grants to all
States under paragraph (6) of subsection (g), $50,000,000 in
each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, to remain available until
expended'' before the period at the end.
[EX A]:
Relief for Rural Veterans in Crisis Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states for increasing the delivery of mental health services or other health care services deemed necessary to meet the needs of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas; and (2) extend the authorization for Medicare rural hospital flexibility program (FLEX) grants.