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

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Immigration Services and
Infrastructure Improvements Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Applications for naturalization have increased
dramatically in recent years, outpacing the Immigration and
Naturalization Service's ability to process them.
(2) The dramatic increase in applications for
naturalization and the inability of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service to deal with them adequately has
resulted in an unacceptably large backlog in naturalization
adjudications.
(3) The processing times in the Immigration and
Naturalization Service's other immigration benefits have been
unacceptably long. Applicants for family- and employment-based
visas are waiting as long as 3 to 4 years to obtain a visa or
an adjustment to lawful permanent resident status.
(4) In California, the delays in processing adjustment of
status applications have averaged 52 months. In Texas, the
delays have averaged 69 months. Residents of New York have had
to wait up to 28 months; in Florida, 26 months; in Illinois, 37
months; in Oregon, 31 months; and in Arizona, 49 months. Most
other States have experienced unacceptably long processing and
adjudication delays.
(5) Applicants pay fees to have their applications
adjudicated in a timely manner. These fees have increased
dramatically in recent years without a commensurate increase in
the capability of that Immigration and Naturalization Service
to process and adjudicate these cases in an efficient manner.
(6) Processing these applications in a timely fashion is
critical. Each 12-month delay in adjudicating an adjustment of
status application requires the alien to file applications to
extend employment authorization to work and advance parole
documents to travel.
(7) The enormous delays in processing applications for
families and businesses have had a negative impact on the
reunification of spouses and minor children and the ability of
law-abiding and contributing members of our communities to
participate fully in the civic life of the United States.
(8) United States employers have also experienced
debilitating delays in hiring employees who contribute to the
economic growth of the United States. These delays have forced
employers to send highly skilled and valued employees out of
the United States because their immigrant petitions were not
approved in a timely fashion. Such disruptions seriously
threaten the competitive edge of the United States in the
global marketplace.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to--
(1) provide the Immigration and Naturalization Service with
the mechanisms it needs to eliminate the current backlog in the
processing of immigration benefit applications within 1 year
after enactment of this Act and to maintain the elimination of
the backlog in future years; and
(2) provide for regular congressional oversight of the
performance of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in
eliminating the backlog and processing delays in immigration
benefits adjudications.
(c) Policy.--It is the sense of Congress that the processing of an
immigration benefit application should be completed not later than 180
days after the initial filing of the application, except that a
petition for a nonimmigrant visa under section 214(c) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act should be processed not later than 30
days after the filing of the petition.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Backlog.--The term ''backlog'' means, with respect to
an immigration benefit application, the period of time in
excess of 180 days that such application has been pending
before the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
(2) Immigration benefit application.--The term
''immigration benefit application'' means any application or
petition to confer, certify, change, adjust, or extend any
status granted under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

SEC. 4. IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT.

(a) Authority of the Attorney General.--The Attorney General shall
take such measures as may be necessary to--
(1) reduce the backlog in the processing of immigration
benefit applications, with the objective of the total
elimination of the backlog not later than one year after the
date of enactment of this Act;
(2) make such other improvements in the processing of
immigration benefit applications as may be necessary to ensure
that a backlog does not develop after such date; and
(3) make such improvements in infrastructure as may be
necessary to effectively provide immigration services.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Department of Justice from time to time such sums as may be
necessary for the Attorney General to carry out subsection (a).
(2) Designation of account in treasury.--Amounts
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be referred to as
the ''Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements
Account''.
(3) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant
to paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until
expended.
(4) Limitation on expenditures.--None of the funds
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be expended until
the report described in section 5(a) has been submitted to
Congress.

SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) Backlog Elimination Plan.--
(1) Report required.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a
report to the Committees on the Judiciary and Appropriations of
the Senate and the House of Representatives concerning--
(A) the backlogs in immigration benefit
applications in existence as of the date of enactment
of this Act; and
(B) the Attorney General's plan for eliminating
such backlogs.
(2) Report elements.--The report shall include--
(A) an assessment of the data systems used in
adjudicating and reporting on the status of immigration
benefit applications, including--
(i) a description of the adequacy of
existing computer hardware, computer software,
and other mechanisms to comply with the
adjudications and reporting requirements of
this Act; and
(ii) a plan for implementing improvements
to existing data systems to accomplish the
purpose of this Act, as described in section
2(b);
(B) a description of the quality controls to be put
into force to ensure timely, fair, accurate, and
complete processing and adjudication of such
applications;
(C) the elements specified in subsection (b)(2);
(D) an estimate of the amount of appropriated funds
that would be necessary in order to eliminate the
backlogs in each category of immigration benefit
applications described in subsection (b)(2); and
(E) a detailed plan on how the Attorney General
will use any funds in the Immigration Services and
Infrastructure Improvements Account to comply with the
purposes of this Act.
(b) Annual Reports.--
(1) In general.--Beginning 90 days after the end of the
first fiscal year for which any appropriation authorized by
section 4(b) is made, and 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a report to
the Committees on the Judiciary and Appropriations of the
Senate and the House of Representatives concerning the status
of--
(A) the Immigration Services and Infrastructure
Improvements Account including any unobligated balances
of appropriations in the Account; and
(B) the Attorney General's efforts to eliminate
backlogs in any immigration benefit application
described in paragraph (2).
(2) Report elements.--The report shall include--
(A) State-by-State data on--
(i) the number of naturalization cases
adjudicated in each quarter of each fiscal
year;
(ii) the average processing time for
naturalization applications;
(iii) the number of naturalization
applications pending for up to 6 months, 12
months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 months, and 48
months or more;
(iv) estimated processing times
adjudicating newly submitted naturalization
applications;
(v) an analysis of the appropriate
processing times for naturalization
applications; and
(vi) the additional resources and process
changes needed to eliminate the backlog for
naturalization adjudications;
(B) the status of applications or, where
applicable, petitions described in subparagraph (C), by
Immigration and Naturalization Service district,
including--
(i) the number of cases adjudicated in each
quarter of each fiscal year;
(ii) the average processing time for such
applications or petitions;
(iii) the number of applications or
petitions pending for up to 6 months, 12
months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 months, and 48
months or more;
(iv) the estimated processing times
adjudicating newly submitted applications or
petitions;
(v) an analysis of the appropriate
processing times for applications or petitions;
and
(vi) a description of the additional
resources and process changes needed to
eliminate the backlog for such processing and
adjudications; and
(C) a status report on--
(i) applications for adjustments of status
to that of an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence;
(ii) petitions for nonimmigrant visas under
section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act;
(iii) petitions filed under section 204 of
such Act to classify aliens as immediate
relatives or preference immigrants under
section 203 of such Act;
(iv) applications for asylum under section
208 of such Act;
(v) registrations for Temporary Protected
Status under section 244 of such Act; and
(vi) a description of the additional
resources and process changes needed to
eliminate the backlog for such processing and
adjudications.
(3) Absence of appropriated funds.--In the event that no
funds are appropriated subject to section 4(b) in the fiscal
year in which this Act is enacted, the Attorney General shall
submit a report to Congress not later than 90 days after the
end of such fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter,
containing the elements described in paragraph (2).

Output: Authorizes appropriations which shall be designated in the Treasury as the Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Account.
Directs the Attorney General to make specified backlog elimination reports.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Coastal Services and Performance
Evaluation Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Amendment of Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
Sec. 4. Policy.
Sec. 5. Coastal Zone Management Fund.
Sec. 6. Coastal services.
Sec. 7. Review of performance.
Sec. 8. Amendments relating to Walter B. Jones Awards for Excellence in
Coastal Zone Management.
Sec. 9. Reports.
Sec. 10. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 11. Technical corrections.
Sec. 12. Coastal zone management outcome indicators and monitoring and
performance evaluation system.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT OF COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1972.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to
be made to a section or other provision of the Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.).

SEC. 4. POLICY.

Section 303 (16 U.S.C. 1452) is amended in paragraph (2)(J) by
striking ''State'' the second place it appears and inserting ''State
and Federal fish''.

SEC. 5. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT FUND.

Section 308 (16 U.S.C. 1456a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
''(2) Loan repayments made pursuant to this subsection--
''(A) shall be retained by the Secretary and
deposited into the Coastal Zone Management Fund
established under subsection (b); and
''(B) subject to amounts provided in appropriation
Acts, shall be available to the Secretary for purposes
of this title and transferred to the Operations,
Research, and Facilities account to offset the costs of
implementing this title.''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); and
(B) by striking ''(b)(1)'' and inserting ''(b)''.

SEC. 6. COASTAL SERVICES.

Section 310 (16 U.S.C. 1456c) is amended--
(1) by striking so much as precedes subsection (b) and
inserting the following:

''coastal services, training, education, and technical support

''Sec. 310. (a)(1) The Secretary shall conduct a program of
training, education, technical assistance, technology transfer,
management-oriented research, and other services to support--
''(A) State coastal management programs and national
estuarine reserves designated under this title; and
''(B) other Federal agencies, local governments, Indian
tribes, other persons, and international cooperative efforts
relating to the comprehensive planning, conservation, and
management of ocean and coastal resources.
''(2) The Secretary may, in implementing this program, take into
consideration the need to address regional or local concerns, including
the unique needs of island States and territories, in order to provide
effective and efficient support and develop expertise.
''(3) The Secretary shall coordinate the technical assistance,
studies, management-oriented research, and other activities under this
section with any other relevant activities conducted by or subject to
the authority of the Secretary.'';
(2) in subsection (b) by inserting ''Coordination and
Consultation.--'' after ''(b)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
''(c) Assistance From Other Agencies and Persons.--(1) Each
department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the
Federal Government may assist the Secretary, on a reimbursable basis or
otherwise, in carrying out the purposes of this section, including the
furnishing of information to the extent permitted by law, the transfer
of personnel with their consent and without prejudice to their position
and rating, and the performance of any research, study, and technical
assistance that does not interfere with the performance of the primary
duties of such department, agency, or instrumentality.
''(2) The Secretary may enter into contracts or other arrangements
with other Federal agencies and any other qualified person for the
purposes of carrying out this section.''.

SEC. 7. REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE.

Section 312 (16 U.S.C. 1458) is amended by striking ''Sec. 312.''
and all that follows through subsection (a) and inserting the
following:
''Sec. 312. (a) Review.--No less than every 5 years, the Secretary
shall conduct a review of the performance of a coastal State's
management program. Each review shall include a written evaluation with
an assessment and detailed findings concerning the extent to which the
State has implemented and enforced the program approved by the
Secretary, addressed the coastal management needs identified in section
303(2)(A) through (K), met any outcome indicators established by the
Secretary under section 12 of the Coastal Services and Performance
Evaluation Act of 2003, and adhered to the terms of any grant, loan, or
cooperative agreement funded under this title.''.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO WALTER B. JONES AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

Section 314 (16 U.S.C. 1460) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
''(a) Authorization of Program.--(1) The Secretary may implement a
program to promote excellence in coastal zone management by identifying
and making awards acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the
field of coastal zone management. An award under this section shall be
known as a 'Walter B. Jones Award'.
''(2) Awards under this section may include, subject to the
availability of appropriations--
''(A) cash awards of not more than $5,000 each;
''(B) research grants; and
''(C) public ceremonies to acknowledge accomplishments in
the field of coastal zone management.'';
(2) in subsection (b) in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ''shall elect annually'' and inserting ''may
select annually for an award under this section''; and
(3) by repealing subsection (e).

SEC. 9. REPORTS.

Section 316(a) (16 U.S.C. 1462(a)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ''to the President for
transmittal''; and
(B) in clause (10) by striking ''and an evaluation
of the effectiveness of financial assistance under
section 308 in dealing with such consequences''; and
(2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
''(c) State of the Coast Report.--Not less than 24 months after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, and not less than every 24
months thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a coastal status report
to the Congress that includes the following:
''(1) An assessment of the ecological status and trends of
United States marine resources.
''(2) An identification and analysis of the changes in
those status and trends since the previous report.
''(3) An identification and assessment of Government
performance measures that track the status and trends of United
States marine resources.
''(4) An evaluation of the adequacy of marine resource
monitoring and assessment programs.''.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 318(a) (16 U.S.C. 1464(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ''and'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ''; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
''(3) to carry out section 310 and for awards under section
314--
''(A) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
''(B) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
''(C) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006
through 2008.''.

SEC. 11. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 is amended--
(1) in section 304(5) (16 U.S.C. 1453(5)) by striking the
semicolon and inserting a colon;
(2) in section 306(a), as redesignated by this Act, in
paragraph (10)(A) by inserting a comma after ''development'';
(3) by striking ''coastal state'' each place it appears and
inserting ''coastal State'';
(4) by striking ''coastal states'' each place it appears
and inserting ''coastal States'';
(5) by striking ''coastal state's'' each place it appears
and inserting ''coastal State's'';
(6) by striking the term ''state'' each place it appears in
reference to a State of the United States (other than in the
term ''coastal state'') and inserting ''State'';
(7) by striking the term ''states'' each place it appears
in reference to States of the United States (other than in the
term ''coastal states'') and inserting ''States''; and
(8) by striking the term ''state's'' each place it appears
in reference to a State of the United States (other than in the
term ''coastal state's'') and inserting ''State's''.

SEC. 12. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT OUTCOME INDICATORS AND MONITORING AND
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM.

(a) In General.--
(1) Performance guidelines and evaluation.--The Secretary
of Commerce shall, by not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Resources of
the House of Representatives a report identifying a common set
of measurable outcome indicators to evaluate the performance of
State coastal zone management programs in furthering the goals
and objectives identified in the States' approved coastal
management programs, and in the achievement of the national
policy declared in section 303 of the Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1452).
(2) Assessment of coastal and marine monitoring,
assessment, and other information.--The Secretary shall, by not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act,
submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives a report providing--
(A) an assessment of the adequacy of coastal and
marine monitoring, assessment, and other information
necessary to establish a coastal zone management
outcome monitoring and performance evaluation system;
and
(B) recommendations for improving the availability
of such information, including funding needs.
(3) Outcome monitoring and performance evaluation system.--
The Secretary shall, by not later than 3 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, establish a national coastal zone
management outcome monitoring and performance evaluation system
that uses the common set of indicators identified in the report
under paragraph (1).
(b) Consultation.--
(1) State consultation.--In preparing each of the reports
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with and
provide a copy of the draft report to each coastal State,
through the Governor of the State or the head of the State
agency designated by such Governor pursuant to section
310(d)(6) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C.
1455(d)(6)).
(2) Public comment and participation.--The Secretary shall
also implement a public process to solicit the views and
comments of Federal agencies, local governments, regional
organizations, port authorities, and other interested public
and private persons regarding such reports, and shall make
available to such persons copies of each draft of such reports
for review and comment.
(3) Response to comments.--The Secretary shall include in
each final report under subsection (a)--
(A) any comments on each draft of the report
received from a Governor or the head of such a
designated State agency, and the Secretary's responses
to such comments; and
(B) a summary of other public comments regarding
the report, and the Secretary's response to those
comments.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Output: Coastal Services and Performance Evaluation Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to make loan repayments deposited in the Coastal Zone Management Fund available to offset costs of implementing coastal zone management programs.Requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide training, education, and technical assistance for coastal zone management. Authorizes Federal agencies and instrumentalities to assist the Secretary on a reimbursable basis.Revises review requirements for coastal State management programs to change the frequency of review from continuing to every five years.Makes the Walter B. Jones Excellence in Coastal Zone Management Awards program discretionary instead of mandatory.Requires the Secretary to establish a national coastal zone management outcome indicators monitoring and performance evaluation system that provides for public comment and participation and uses a common set of measurable outcome indicators to evaluate the performance of State coastal zone management programs.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Veterans Nonprofit Research and
Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITIES ON ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPORATIONS.

(a) Authorization of Multi-Medical Center Research Corporations.--
(1) In general.--Section 7361 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection
(e); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following
new subsection (b):
''(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a corporation established under
this subchapter may facilitate the conduct of research, education, or
both at more than one medical center. Such a corporation shall be known
as a 'multi-medical center research corporation'.
''(2) The board of directors of a multi-medical center research
corporation under this subsection shall include the official at each
Department medical center concerned who is, or who carries out the
responsibilities of, the medical center director of such center as
specified in section 7363(a)(1)(A)(i) of this title.
''(3) In facilitating the conduct of research, education, or both
at more than one Department medical center under this subchapter, a
multi-medical center research corporation may administer receipts and
expenditures relating to such research, education, or both, as
applicable, performed at the Department medical centers concerned.''.
(2) Expansion of existing corporations to multi-medical
center research corporations.--Such section is further amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
''(f) A corporation established under this subchapter may act as a
multi-medical center research corporation under this subchapter in
accordance with subsection (b) if--
''(1) the board of directors of the corporation approves a
resolution permitting facilitation by the corporation of the
conduct of research, education, or both at the other Department
medical center or medical centers concerned; and
''(2) the Secretary approves the resolution of the
corporation under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Restatement and Modification of Authorities on Applicability of
State Law.--
(1) In general.--Section 7361 of such title, as amended by
subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by inserting
after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
''(c) Any corporation established under this subchapter shall be
established in accordance with the nonprofit corporation laws of the
State in which the applicable Department medical center is located and
shall, to the extent not inconsistent with any Federal law, be subject
to the laws of such State. In the case of any multi-medical center
research corporation that facilitates the conduct of research,
education, or both at Department medical centers located in different
States, the corporation shall be established in accordance with the
nonprofit corporation laws of the State in which one of such Department
medical centers is located.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 7365 of such title is
repealed.
(c) Clarification of Status of Corporations.--Section 7361 of such
title, as amended by this section, is further amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking the second sentence; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection (d):
''(d)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter or under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any corporation established
under this subchapter, and its officers, directors, and employees,
shall be required to comply only with those Federal laws, regulations,
and executive orders and directives that apply generally to private
nonprofit corporations.
''(2) A corporation under this subchapter is not--
''(A) owned or controlled by the United States; or
''(B) an agency or instrumentality of the United States.''.
(d) Reinstatement of Requirement for 501(c)(3) Status of
Corporations.--Subsection (e) of section 7361 of such title, as
redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is further amended
by inserting ''section 501(c)(3) of'' after ''exempt from taxation
under''.

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSES OF CORPORATIONS.

(a) Clarification of Purposes.--Subsection (a) of section 7362 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the first sentence--
(A) by striking ''Any corporation'' and all that
follows through ''facilitate'' and inserting ''A
corporation established under this subchapter shall be
established to provide a flexible funding mechanism for
the conduct of approved research and education at one
or more Department medical centers and to facilitate
functions related to the conduct of''; and
(B) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ''or centers''; and
(2) in the second sentence, by inserting ''or centers''
after ''medical center''.
(b) Modification of Defined Term Relating to Education and
Training.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended in the matter
preceding paragraph (1) by striking ''the term 'education and
training''' and inserting ''the term 'education' includes education and
training and''.
(c) Repeal of Role of Corporations With Respect to Fellowships.--
Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking
the flush matter following subparagraph (C).
(d) Availability of Education for Families of Veteran Patients.--
Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking
''to patients and to the families'' and inserting ''and includes
education and training for patients and families''.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF
CORPORATIONS.

(a) Requirements for Department Board Members.--Paragraph (1) of
section 7363(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
''(1) with respect to the Department medical center--
''(A)(i) the director (or directors of each
Department medical center, in the case of a multi-
medical center research corporation);
''(ii) the chief of staff; and
''(iii) as appropriate for the activities of such
corporation, the associate chief of staff for research
and the associate chief of staff for education; or
''(B) in the case of a Department medical center at
which one or more of the positions referred to in
subparagraph (A) do not exist, the official or
officials who are responsible for carrying out the
responsibilities of such position or positions at the
Department medical center; and''.
(b) Requirements for Non-Department Board Members.--Paragraph (2)
of such section is amended--
(1) by inserting ''not less than two'' before ''members'';
and
(2) by striking ''and who'' and all that follows through
the period at the end and inserting ''and who have backgrounds,
or business, legal, financial, medical, or scientific
expertise, of benefit to the operations of the corporation.''.
(c) Conflicts of Interest.--Subsection (c) of section 7363 of such
title is amended by striking '', employed by, or have any other
financial relationship with'' and inserting ''or employed by''.

SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF POWERS OF CORPORATIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 7364 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
''Sec. 7364. General powers
''(b) In General.--(1) A corporation established under this
subchapter may, solely to carry out the purposes of this subchapter--
''(A) accept, administer, retain, and spend funds derived
from gifts, contributions, grants, fees, reimbursements, and
bequests from individuals and public and private entities;
''(B) enter into contracts and agreements with individuals
and public and private entities;
''(C) subject to paragraph (2), set fees for education and
training facilitated under section 7362 of this title, and
receive, retain, administer, and spend funds in furtherance of
such education and training;
''(D) reimburse amounts to the applicable appropriation
account of the Department for the Office of General Counsel for
any expenses of that Office in providing legal services
attributable to research and education agreements under this
subchapter; and
''(E) employ such employees as the corporation considers
necessary for such purposes and fix the compensation of such
employees.
''(2) Fees charged pursuant to paragraph (1)(C) for education and
training described in that paragraph to individuals who are officers or
employees of the Department may not be paid for by any funds
appropriated to the Department.
''(3) Amounts reimbursed to the Office of General Counsel under
paragraph (1)(D) shall be available for use by the Office of the
General Counsel only for staff and training, and related travel, for
the provision of legal services described in that paragraph and shall
remain available for such use without fiscal year limitation.
''(c) Transfer and Administration of Funds.--(1) Except as provided
in paragraph (2), any funds received by the Secretary for the conduct
of research or education at a Department medical center or centers,
other than funds appropriated to the Department, may be transferred to
and administered by a corporation established under this subchapter for
such purposes.
''(2) A Department medical center may reimburse the corporation for
all or a portion of the pay, benefits, or both of an employee of the
corporation who is assigned to the Department medical center if the
assignment is carried out pursuant to subchapter VI of chapter 33 of
title 5.
''(3) A Department medical center may retain and use funds provided
to it by a corporation established under this subchapter. Such funds
shall be credited to the applicable appropriation account of the
Department and shall be available, without fiscal year limitation, for
the purposes of that account.
''(d) Research Projects.--Except for reasonable and usual
preliminary costs for project planning before its approval, a
corporation established under this subchapter may not spend funds for a
research project unless the project is approved in accordance with
procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary for Health for research
carried out with Department funds. Such procedures shall include a
scientific review process.
''(e) Education Activities.--Except for reasonable and usual
preliminary costs for activity planning before its approval, a
corporation established under this subchapter may not spend funds for
an education activity unless the activity is approved in accordance
with procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary for Health.
''(f) Policies and Procedures.--The Under Secretary for Health may
prescribe policies and procedures to guide the spending of funds by
corporations established under this subchapter that are consistent with
the purpose of such corporations as flexible funding mechanisms and
with Federal and State laws and regulations, and executive orders,
circulars, and directives that apply generally to the receipt and
expenditure of funds by nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 7362(a) of such title, as
amended by section 3(a)(1) of this Act, is further amended by striking
the last sentence.

SEC. 6. REDESIGNATION OF SECTION 7364A OF TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

(a) Redesignation.--Section 7364A of title 38, United States Code,
is redesignated as section 7365 of such title.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 73 of such title is amended--
(1) by striking the item relating to section 7364A; and
(2) by striking the item relating to section 7365 and
inserting the following new item:

''7365. Coverage of employees under certain Federal tort claims
laws.''.

SEC. 7. IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT OF CORPORATIONS.

(a) Additional Information in Annual Reports.--Subsection (b) of
section 7366 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
''(b)(1) Each corporation shall submit to the Secretary each year a
report providing a detailed statement of the operations, activities,
and accomplishments of the corporation during that year.
''(2)(A) A corporation with revenues in excess of $300,000 for any
year shall obtain an audit of the corporation for that year.
''(B) A corporation with annual revenues between $10,000 and
$300,000 shall obtain an audit of the corporation at least once every
three years.
''(C) Any audit under this paragraph shall be performed by an
independent auditor.
''(3) The corporation shall include in each report to the Secretary
under paragraph (1) the following:
''(A) The most recent audit of the corporation under
paragraph (2).
''(B) The most recent Internal Revenue Service Form 990
'Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax' or equivalent
and the applicable schedules under such form.''.
(b) Confirmation of Application of Conflict of Interest Regulations
to Appropriate Corporation Positions.--Subsection (c) of such section
is amended--
(1) by striking ''laws and'' each place it appears;
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by inserting ''each officer and'' after ''under
this subchapter,''; and
(B) by striking '', and each employee of the
Department'' and all that follows through ''during any
year''; and
(3) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting '', officer,'' after ''verifying
that each director''; and
(B) by striking ''in the same manner'' and all that
follows before the period at the end.
(c) Establishment of Appropriate Payee Reporting Threshold.--
Subsection (d)(3)(C) of such section is amended by striking ''$35,000''
and inserting ''$50,000''.
Output: Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends federal provisions concerning the establishment at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities of nonprofit research and education corporations (NRECs) to allow an NREC to facilitate the conduct of research or education, or both, at more than one VA medical center. States that such an NREC shall be known as a multi-medical center research corporation (MCRC).

Allows an NREC to act as a MCRC if: (1) the NREC board of directors approve a resolution permitting that NREC to act as a MCRC; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves the resolution.

Requires each NREC and MCRC (corporation) to be established in accordance with the nonprofit corporation laws of the state in which the VA medical center which it supports is located. States that neither such corporation shall be considered to be owned by, or an agent or instrumentality of, the United States.

Restates the purposes of the corporations.

Modifies the composition of, and standards applicable to, corporation boards of directors, including by changing applicable conflict of interest requirements.

Expands the required areas of experience or expertise with respect to non-VA members of corporation boards of directors.

Increases authorized corporate powers of the corporations to include entering into contracts and setting fees for education and training facilitated through a corporation.

Revises audit requirements to require submission of an Internal Revenue Service return form applicable to organizations exempt from income tax.