SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Advantage Participant Bill
of Rights Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON REMOVAL OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROVIDERS BY MA
              ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Limitation.--Section 1852(d) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395w-22(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Limitation on removal of providers from ma plans by
        ma organizations.--
                    ``(A) Removal of providers with cause.--Beginning
                with plan year 2015, except as provided in subparagraph
                (C), an MA organization offering an MA plan may only
                remove a provider of services or a supplier from a
                network of such plan if the organization has cause to
                remove such provider or supplier.
                    ``(B) Cause to remove providers.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An MA organization
                        offering an MA plan has cause to remove a
                        provider of services or a supplier from a
                        network of such plan if the Secretary
                        determines that the provider or supplier is--
                                    ``(I) medically negligent;
                                    ``(II) in violation of any legal or
                                contractual requirement applicable to
                                the provider or supplier acting within
                                the lawful scope of practice, including
                                any participation or other requirement
                                applicable to such provider or supplier
                                under this title or under any
                                contractual term for such plan; or
                                    ``(III) otherwise unfit to furnish
                                items and services in accordance with
                                requirements of this title.
                            ``(ii) Consideration of cost to ma
                        organizations.--For purposes of subparagraph
                        (A), cost to an MA organization offering an MA
                        plan due to the participation of a provider of
                        services or supplier in a network of such plan
                        does not constitute cause for the MA
                        organization to remove such provider or
                        supplier from the network, and such cost may
                        not be considered as a factor in favor of a
                        determination that such organization has cause
                        to remove the provider.
                    ``(C) Exception.--With respect to each upcoming
                plan year, beginning with plan year 2015, an MA
                organization offering an MA plan may only remove a
                provider of services or supplier from a network of such
                plan for reasons not specified in subparagraph (B)(i)
                before the date that is 60 days before the first day of
                the annual coordinated election period for such plan
                year under section 1851(e)(3).
                    ``(D) Notice and appeal process.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Any removal of a
                        provider of services or supplier from a network
                        of an MA plan may occur only after the
                        completion of a fair notice and appeal process
                        that the Secretary shall establish by
                        regulation. Such process shall require the MA
                        organization to provide to such provider or
                        supplier and to the Secretary an explanation of
                        the reason or reasons for the removal.
                            ``(ii) Application.--
                                    ``(I) Application of new process.--
                                In the case of a removal of a provider
                                of services or supplier from a network
                                of an MA plan occurring on or after the
                                effective date published in a final
                                rule for such fair notice and appeal
                                process, such process shall apply in
                                lieu of the process for the termination
                                or suspension of a provider contract
                                under section 422.202(a) of title 42,
                                Code of Federal Regulations.
                                    ``(II) Continuation of old
                                process.--In the case of a removal of a
                                provider of services or supplier from a
                                network of an MA plan occurring before
                                such effective date, the process for
                                the termination or suspension of a
                                provider contract under section
                                422.202(a) of title 42, Code of Federal
                                Regulations, shall apply.
                    ``(E) Participant notice and protection.--
                            ``(i) Notice to participants of provider
                        removal.--Not less than 60 days before the date
                        on which a provider of services or supplier is
                        removed from a network of an MA plan, the MA
                        organization offering such plan shall provide
                        notification of the removal to each individual
                        enrolled in such plan receiving items or
                        services from the provider or supplier during
                        the plan year in effect on the date of removal
                        or during the previous plan year. Such
                        notification shall include--
                                    ``(I) the names and telephone
                                numbers of in-network providers of
                                services and suppliers offering items
                                and services that are the same or
                                similar to the items and services
                                offered by the removed provider or
                                supplier;
                                    ``(II) information regarding the
                                options available to an individual
                                enrolled in such plan to request the
                                continuation of medical treatment or
                                therapy with the removed provider or
                                supplier; and
                                    ``(III) one or more customer
                                service telephone numbers that an
                                individual enrolled in such plan may
                                access to obtain information regarding
                                changes to the network of the plan.
                            ``(ii) Annual notice of change.--In
                        addition to providing the notification of
                        removal as required under clause (i), the MA
                        organization offering such MA plan shall
                        include such notification in the annual notice
                        of change for the MA plan for the upcoming plan
                        year.
                            ``(iii) Continuity of care.--In any case in
                        which a provider of services or supplier is
                        removed from a network of an MA plan, such plan
                        shall ensure that the removal satisfies the
                        continuity of care requirements under paragraph
                        (1)(A) with respect to each individual enrolled
                        in such plan receiving items or services from
                        the provider or supplier during the plan year
                        in effect on the date of removal or during the
                        previous plan year.
                    ``(F) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
                paragraph shall be construed as affecting the ability
                of a provider of services or supplier to decline to
                participate in a network of an MA plan.
            ``(8) Transparency in measures used by ma organizations to
        establish or modify provider networks.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Beginning with plan year 2016,
                an MA organization offering an MA plan shall include
                the information described in subparagraph (B)--
                            ``(i) in the annual bid information
                        submitted by the MA organization with respect
                        to the MA plan under section 1854; and
                            ``(ii) on the Internet Web Site for the MA
                        plan.
                    ``(B) Information described.--The information
                described in this subparagraph is the following:
                            ``(i) Information regarding the measures
                        used by the MA organization to establish or
                        modify the provider network of the MA plan,
                        including measures of the quality and
                        efficiency of providers. Such information shall
                        include the specifications, methodology, and
                        sample size of such measures.
                            ``(ii) Other information related to the
                        establishment or modification of such provider
                        network that the Secretary determines
                        appropriate.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--The information described in
                subparagraph (B) shall not include any individually
                identifiable information of any provider or supplier of
                services.''.
    (b) Enforcement.--
            (1) Sanctions for noncompliance.--Section 1857(g)(1) of the
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-27(g)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (J), by striking ``or'';
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (K) as
                subparagraph (L);
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(K) fails to comply with sections 1852(d)(7) or
                1852(d)(8); or''; and
                    (D) in subparagraph (L) (as so redesignated), by
                striking ``through (J)'' and inserting ``through (K)''.
            (2) Sanctions not applicable to part d.--Title XVIII of the
        Social Security Act is amended--
                    (A) in section 1860D-12(b)(3)(E) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
                112(b)(3)(E)), by striking ``paragraph (1)(F)'' and
                inserting ``paragraphs (1)(F) and (1)(K)''; and
                    (B) in section 1894(e)(6)(B) (42 U.S.C.
                1395eee(e)(6)(B)), by inserting ``(other than paragraph
                (1)(K) of such section)'' after ``1857(g)(1)''.
    (c) Network Access Adequacy Standards.--Beginning with plan year
2015, in applying the network access adequacy standards pursuant to
section 1852(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
22(d)(1)), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek input
from patient advocacy groups, providers of services and suppliers, and
MA plans under part C of title XVIII of such Act.
    (d) Medicare Advantage Plan Compare Tool.--Not later than September
30, 2015, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take such
measures as are necessary to ensure that the Medicare Advantage Compare
Tool takes into account the preferences and utilization needs of such
individuals.

Summary: Medicare Advantage Participant Bill of Rights Act of 2014 - Amends part C (MedicareChoice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require a Medicare Advantage (MA) organization to remove a service provider or a supplier from a plan network only for cause, subject to completion of a fair notice and appeals process. Lists as cause for removal: (1) medical negligence, (2) violation of any legal or contractual requirement for the provider or supplier acting within the lawful scope of practice, or (3) unfitness to furnish items and services in accordance with Medicare requirements. Requires an MA organization offering an MA plan to include information on the measures used to establish or modify the plan's provider network: (1) in the annual bid information submitted about the MA plan, and (2) on the plan's Internet Web. Subjects to certain sanctions MA organizations with contracts which fail to meet these information requirements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) seek input from patient advocacy groups and others in applying network access adequacy standards, and (2) take necessary measures to ensure that the Medicare Advantage Compare Tool takes into account the preferences and utilization needs of such individuals.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Employment Transition
Support Act of 2007'' or the ``VETS Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS HIRING VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 45O. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS HIRING VETERANS.

    ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the military
service personnel employment credit for the taxable year shall be equal
to--
            ``(1) in the case of a qualified veteran, 40 percent of the
        qualified first-year wages with respect to such veteran for
        such year, and
            ``(2) in the case of a qualified disabled veteran, the
        applicable percentage of the qualified first-year wages with
        respect to such veteran for such year.
    ``(b) Veteran Taken Into Account Only Once.--No credit shall be
determined under subsection (a) with respect to any veteran unless such
veteran has elected (in such form and manner as the Secretary may
require) to have his qualified first-year wages taken into account with
respect to the employer paying such wages. A veteran may make only one
election under this subsection. The Secretary shall require such
reporting as the Secretary determines is necessary to carry out the
purposes of this subsection.
    ``(c) Qualified Wages.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified wages' means, with
        respect to any individual, the wages paid or incurred by the
        employer during the taxable year to such individual.
            ``(2) Qualified first-year wages.--The term `qualified
        first-year wages' means, with respect to any individual,
        qualified wages attributable to service rendered during the 1-
        year period beginning with the day the individual begins work
        for the employer.
            ``(3) Wages.--The term `wages' has the meaning given such
        term by section 51(c), without regard to paragraph (4) thereof.
    ``(d) Qualified Veteran; Hiring Date.--For purposes of this
section--
            ``(1) Qualified veteran.--The term `qualified veteran'
        means any individual who is certified by the designated local
        agency (as defined in section 51(d)(11)) as being a veteran (as
        defined in section 51(d)(3)(B)).
            ``(2) Hiring date.--The term `hiring date' has the meaning
        given such term by section 51(d).
    ``(e) Qualified Disabled Veteran; Applicable Percentage.--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified disabled veteran'
        means any qualified veteran who is certified by the designated
        local agency (as defined in section 51(d)(11)) as having a
        disability that has been determined under the laws administered
        by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be service-connected
        and that is rated by such Secretary (as of the date of the
        certification) as 10 percent or more disabling.
            ``(2) Applicable percentage.--The term `applicable
        percentage' means the percentage determined in accordance with
        the following table:

``Percentage of disability:         Applicable percentage:
At least 10 but not over 20.......  41
At least 20 but not over 30.......  42
At least 30 but not over 40.......  43
At least 40 but not over 50.......  44
At least 50 but not over 60.......  45
At least 60 but not over 70.......  46
At least 70 but not over 80.......  47
At least 80 but not over 90.......  48
At least 90 but not over 100......  49
100 percent.......................  50

    ``(f) Certain Rules To Apply.--Rules similar to the rules of
section 52, and subsections (d)(11), (f), (g), (i) (as in effect on the
day before the date of the enactment of the Taxpayer Relief Act of
1997), (j), and (k) of section 51, shall apply for purposes of this
section.
    ``(g) Coordination With Work Opportunity Credit.--The credit
allowed under this section with respect to any qualified first-year
wages shall be in addition to any credit allowed under section 51 with
respect to such wages.''.
    (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b)
of section 38 of such Code is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end
of paragraph (30), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (31)
and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
            ``(32) the military service personnel employment credit
        determined under section 45O(a).''.
    (c) Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Clause (iii) of section 41(b)(2)(D) of such Code is
        amended to read as follows:
                            ``(iii) Exclusion for wages to which
                        employment credits apply.--The term `wages'
                        shall not include any amount taken into account
                        in determining the credit under section 45O(a)
                        or 51(a).''.
            (2) Subparagraph (B) of section 45A(b)(1) of such Code is
        amended to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Coordination with other employment credits.--
                The term `qualified wages' shall not include wages
                attributable to service rendered during the 1-year
                period beginning with the day the individual begins
                work for the employer if any portion of such wages is
                taken into account in determining the credit under
                section 45O or 51.''.
            (3) Subsection (a) of section 280C of such Code is amended
        by inserting ``45O(a),'' after ``45A(a),''.
            (4) Paragraph (3) of section 1396(c) of such Code is
        amended to read as follows:
            ``(3) Coordination with other employment credits.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified wages' shall
                not include wages taken into account in determining the
                credit under section 45O or 51.
                    ``(B) Coordination with paragraph (2).--The $15,000
                amount in paragraph (2) shall be reduced for any
                calendar year by the amount of wages paid or incurred
                during such year which are taken into account in
                determining the credits under sections 45O and 51.''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:

``Sec. 45O. Credit for employers hiring veterans.''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after the date of
the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Veterans' Employment Transition Support Act of 2007 or the VETS Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a general business tax credit for hiring certain veterans certified by designated local agencies as having served on active duty in the Armed Forces for a period of more than 180 days or having been discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability. Sets the amount of such credit at 40 of the first-year wages of such veterans and increases the percentage of such credit for disabled veterans based upon their disability ratings.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Low Volume Motor Vehicle
Manufacturers Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR LOW VOLUME
              MANUFACTURERS.

    Section 30114 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The'' and inserting ``(a) Vehicles Used
        for Particular Purposes.--The''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Exemption for Low Volume Manufacturers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) exempt from section 30112(a) of this title
                not more than 500 replica motor vehicles per year that
                are manufactured or imported by a low volume
                manufacturer; and
                    ``(B) except as provided in paragraph (5) of this
                subsection, limit any such exemption to the Federal
                Motor Vehicle Safety Standards applicable to motor
                vehicles and not motor vehicle equipment.
            ``(2) Registration requirement.--To qualify for an
        exemption under paragraph (1), a low volume manufacturer shall
        register with the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
        under such terms that the Secretary determines appropriate. The
        Secretary shall establish terms that ensure that no person may
        register as a low volume manufacturer if the person is
        registered as an importer under section 30141 of this title.
            ``(3) Permanent label requirement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require a
                low volume manufacturer to affix a permanent label to a
                motor vehicle exempted under paragraph (1) that
                identifies the specified standards and regulations for
                which such vehicle is exempt from section 30112(a) and
                designates the model year such vehicle replicates.
                    ``(B) Written notice.--The Secretary may require a
                low volume manufacturer of a motor vehicle exempted
                under paragraph (1) to deliver written notice of the
                exemption to--
                            ``(i) the dealer; and
                            ``(ii) the first purchaser of the motor
                        vehicle, if the first purchaser is not an
                        individual that purchases the motor vehicle for
                        resale.
                    ``(C) Reporting requirement.--A low volume
                manufacturer shall annually submit a report to the
                Secretary including the number and description of the
                motor vehicles exempted under paragraph (1) and a list
                of the exemptions described on the label affixed under
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Low volume manufacturer.--The term `low
                volume manufacturer' means a motor vehicle
                manufacturer, other than a person who is registered as
                an importer under section 30141 of this title, whose
                annual worldwide production is not more than 5,000
                motor vehicles.
                    ``(B) Replica motor vehicle.--The term `replica
                motor vehicle' means a motor vehicle produced by a low
                volume manufacturer and that--
                            ``(i) is intended to resemble the body of
                        another motor vehicle that was manufactured not
                        less than 25 years before the manufacture of
                        the replica motor vehicle; and
                            ``(ii) is manufactured under a license for
                        the product configuration, trade dress,
                        trademark or patent for the motor vehicle that
                        is intended to be replicated from the original
                        manufacturer, its successors or assignees, or
                        current owner of such rights, unless there is a
                        preponderance of evidence that such rights have
                        been abandoned for at least three years.
            ``(5) Conforming amendment.--Any motor vehicle exempted
        under this subsection shall also be exempted from sections
        32304, 32502, and 32902 of this title, and from section 1232 of
        title 15 of the United States Code.
            ``(6) Limitation and public notice.--The Secretary shall
        have 60 days to review and approve a registration submitted
        under paragraph (2). Any registration not approved or denied
        within 60 days shall be deemed approved. The Secretary shall
        have the authority to revoke an existing registration based on
        a failure to comply with requirements set forth in this
        subsection. The registrant shall be provided a reasonable
        opportunity to correct all deficiencies, if such are
        correctable based on the sole discretion of the Secretary. An
        exemption granted by the Secretary to a low volume manufacturer
        under this subsection may not be transferred to any other
        person, and any unused allotment of vehicles authorized to be
        manufactured or imported on an annual basis by a low volume
        manufacturer shall not carry forward to another calendar year.
        The Secretary shall maintain and update the list of current
        registrants on an annual basis and publish such list in the
        Federal Register or on a Web page operated by the Secretary.
            ``(7) Limitation of liability for original manufacturers,
        licensors, or owners of product configuration, trade dress or
        design patents.--The original manufacturer, its successor or
        assignee, or current owner who grants a license or otherwise
        transfers rights to a low volume manufacturer as defined in
        this section shall incur no liability to any person or entity
        under Federal or State statute, regulation, local ordinance, or
        under any Federal or State common law for such license or
        assignment to a low volume manufacturer.''.

SEC. 3. VEHICLE EMISSION COMPLIANCE STANDARDS FOR LOW VOLUME MOTOR
              VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.

    Part A of title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.) is
amended--
            (1) in section 206(a) by adding at the end the following
        new paragraph:
            ``(5)(A) A motor vehicle engine (including all engine
        emission controls) from a motor vehicle that has been granted a
        certificate of conformity by the Administrator for the model
        year in which the motor vehicle is assembled, or an engine that
        has been granted an Executive order for the model year in which
        the motor vehicle is assembled subject to regulations
        promulgated by the California Air Resources Board, may be
        installed in an exempted specially produced motor vehicle, if--
                    ``(i) the manufacturer of the engine supplies
                written instructions explaining how to install the
                engine and maintain functionality of the engine's
                emission control system and the on-board diagnostic
                system (commonly known as `OBD II'), except with
                respect to evaporative emissions diagnostics;
                    ``(ii) the producer of the exempted specially
                produced motor vehicle installs the engine in
                accordance with such instructions; and
                    ``(iii) the installation instructions include
                emission control warranty information from the engine
                manufacturer in compliance with section 207, including
                where warranty repairs can be made, emission control
                labels to be affixed to the vehicle, and the
                certificate of conformity number for the applicable
                vehicle in which the engine was originally intended or
                the applicable Executive order number for the engine.
            ``(B) A motor vehicle containing an engine compliant with
        the requirements of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as
        meeting the requirements of section 202 applicable to new
        vehicles manufactured or imported in the model year in which
        the exempted specially produced motor vehicle is assembled.
            ``(C) Engine installations that are not performed in
        accordance with installation instructions provided by the
        manufacturer and alterations to the engine not in accordance
        with the installation instructions shall be treated as
        prohibited acts by the installer under section 203 and subject
        to penalties under section 205.
            ``(D) The producer of an exempted specially produced motor
        vehicle that has an engine compliant with the requirements of
        subparagraph (A) shall provide to the purchaser of such vehicle
        all information received by the producer from the engine
        manufacturer, including information regarding emissions
        warranties from the engine manufacturer and all emissions-
        related recalls by the engine manufacturer.
            ``(E) To qualify to install an engine under this paragraph,
        a producer of exempted specially produced motor vehicles shall
        register with the Administrator at such time and in such manner
        as the Administrator determines appropriate. The producer shall
        submit an annual report to the Administrator that includes--
                    ``(i) a description of the exempted specially
                produced motor vehicles produced and engines installed
                in such vehicles; and
                    ``(ii) the certificate of conformity number issued
                to the motor vehicle in which the engine was originally
                intended or the applicable Executive order number for
                the engine.
            ``(F) Exempted specially produced motor vehicles compliant
        with this paragraph shall be exempted from--
                    ``(i) motor vehicle certification testing that
                might otherwise be required under section 206; and
                    ``(ii) vehicle emission control inspection and
                maintenance programs required under section 110.
            ``(G) A producer of exempted specially produced motor
        vehicles that is compliant with subparagraphs (A) through (E)
        of this paragraph is not considered a manufacturer for the
        purposes of this Act.''; and
            (2) in section 216 by adding at the end the following new
        paragraph:
            ``(12) Exempted specially produced motor vehicle.--The term
        `exempted specially produced motor vehicle' means a replica
        motor vehicle that is exempt from specified standards as
        defined in section 30114(b) of title 49, United States Code.''.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION.

    Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency shall issue such regulations as may be
necessary to implement sections 2 and 3 of this Act, respectively.

Summary: Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to exempt from certain federal motor vehicle safety and labeling standards up to 500 replica motor vehicles per year manufactured or imported by a low volume manufacturer. The term quot, low volume manufacturerquot. Means a motor vehicle manufacturer that annually produces no more than 5,000 motor vehicles worldwide. Manufacturers shall register with DOT to qualify for an exemption. DOT shall require a manufacturer to affix a permanent label to an exempt replica motor vehicle that identifies the motor vehicle safety and labeling standards from which that vehicle is exempt and the model year the vehicle replicates. The Clean Air Act is amended to allow a low volume motor vehicle manufacturer to install in an exempted specifically produced replica motor vehicle a motor vehicle engine from a motor vehicle granted a certificate of conformity with Environmental Protection Agency emission control standards, or another kind of engine granted an executive order for the model year in which the motor vehicle is assembled, if certain requirements are met.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Anti-terrorism Information Sharing
Is Strength Act''.

SEC. 2. INFORMATION SHARING.

    (a) In General.--Section 314 of the USA PATRIOT Act (31 U.S.C. 5311
note) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``terrorist or money laundering
                activities'' and inserting ``terrorist acts, money
                laundering activities, or a specified unlawful activity
                (as defined under section 1956(c)(7) of title 18,
                United States Code)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``activities that may involve
                terrorist acts or money laundering activities'' and
                inserting ``activities that may involve terrorist acts,
                money laundering activities, or a specified unlawful
                activity''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or a specified
        unlawful activity (as defined under section 1956(c)(7) of title
        18, United States Code)'' after ``terrorist acts or money
        laundering activities''.
    (b) Update to Regulations.--Section 314(a) of the USA PATRIOT Act
(31 U.S.C. 5311 note) is amended by striking ``or money laundering
activities'' each place such term appears and inserting ``, money
laundering activities, or a specified unlawful activity (as defined
under section 1956(c)(7) of title 18, United States Code)''.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--Section 314 of the USA PATRIOT Act (31
U.S.C. 5311 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that, in
furtherance of efforts to stop the financing of terror and other forms
of illicit financing through increased sharing of information, and
consistent with the need to prevent inappropriate dissemination of such
information--
            ``(1) Federal law enforcement agencies and regulators
        should share information about terrorist activities, money
        laundering activities, and other specified unlawful activities
        (as defined under section 1956(c)(7) of title 18, United States
        Code) to the fullest extent possible and in a timely fashion;
        and
            ``(2) financial institutions, including nonbank financial
        institutions, should share information about such acts and
        activities with each other to the fullest extent possible and
        in a timely fashion.''.

SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE LIABILITY.

    Section 5318(g)(3)(B) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting
        ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) any duty or requirement of a
                        financial institution or any director, officer,
                        employee, or agent of such institution to
                        demonstrate to any person, as used in such
                        subparagraph, that a disclosure referenced in
                        such subparagraph is made in good faith.''.

SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than the end of the 120-day period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Treasury shall report to the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate regarding--
            (1) the Department of the Treasury's assessment of the
        risks and benefits of allowing sharing of information,
        consistent with appropriate privacy protections--
                    (A) between United States financial institutions
                and foreign financial institutions;
                    (B) between United States financial institutions
                and their foreign subsidiaries; and
                    (C) between United States subsidiaries of foreign
                financial institutions and their parent financial
                institutions; and
            (2) whether a financial institution defined under section
        5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code, that is not
        required under Treasury regulations on the date of the
        enactment of this Act to maintain an anti-money laundering
        program, should be authorized to appropriately share
        information pursuant to subsection (b) of section 314 of the
        USA PATRIOT Act, if--
                    (A) the financial institution voluntarily
                establishes and maintains such an anti-money laundering
                program;
                    (B) such program is subject to examination, and has
                been examined, by the appropriate regulator; and
                    (C) the Secretary determines such program to be
                adequately operating.
    (b) Separate Presentation of Classified Material.--Any part of the
report described under subsection (a) that involves information which
is properly classified under criteria established by the President
shall be submitted to the committees described under subsection (a)
separately in a classified annex and, if requested by the chairman or
ranking Member of one of such committees, as a briefing at an
appropriate level of security.

SEC. 5. RULEMAKING.

    Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue
regulations to be consistent with the amendments made by this Act.

Summary: Anti-terrorism Information Sharing Is Strength Act This bill amends the USA PATRIOT Act to allow two or more financial institutions and any association of financial institutions, upon notice provided to the Department of the Treasury, to share information with one another regarding individuals, entities, organizations, and countries suspected of the unlawful activity the proceeds of which form the basis of a money laundering offense. A financial institution or association that transmits, receives, or shares such information to identify and report this activity shall not be liable to any person for such disclosure or for any failure to provide notice of it to the subject, or any other person identified in the disclosure, except where the transmission, receipt, or sharing violates the Act or regulations promulgated under it. The bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning the need for federal law enforcement agencies and regulators, as well as financial institutions, to share information about terrorist activities, money laundering activities, and unlawful activities to the fullest extent possible and in a timely fashion.


SECTION 1. NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

    Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Attorney General shall establish a task force to be known as the
``National Task Force on Violence against Women'' (referred to in this
Act as the ``task force'').

SEC. 2. DUTIES.

    (a) General Purpose of Task Force.--The task force shall develop a
uniform Federal, State, and local law enforcement strategy aimed at
protecting women against violent crime, punishing persons who commit
such crimes, and enhancing the rights of victims of such crimes.
    (b) Duties of Task Force.--The task force shall perform such
functions as the Attorney General deems appropriate to carry out the
purposes of the task force, including--
            (1) considering the reports of past Federal and State task
        forces or commissions on violent crime, family violence, and
        crime victims, including the President's Task Force on Victims
        of Crime (1982), the Attorney General's Task Force on Family
        Violence (1984), and the task forces and commissions
        established by the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii,
        Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
        Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island,
        Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming;
            (2) developing strategies for Federal, State, and local law
        enforcement designated to protect women against violent crime,
        and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such crime;
            (3) evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, incarceration,
        and release of violent offenders against women, and making
        recommendations designated to ensure that such offenders
        receive appropriate punishment; and
            (4) evaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of
        violent crime against women within the criminal justice system,
        and making recommendations designed to improve such treatment.

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--The task force shall consist of up to 10 members,
who shall be appointed by the Attorney General not later than 60 days
after the date of enactment of this Act. The Attorney General shall
ensure that the task force includes representatives of State and local
law enforcement, the State and local judiciary, and groups dedicated to
protecting the rights of victims.
    (b) Chairperson.--The Attorney General or a designee shall serve as
the chairperson of the task force.

SEC. 4. PAY.

    (a) No Additional Compensation.--Members of the task force who are
officers or employees of a governmental agency shall receive no
additional compensation by reason of their service on the task force.
    (b) Per Diem.--While away from their homes or regular places of
business in the performance of duties for the task force, members of
the task force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies
under sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

    (a) Executive Director.--
              (1) Appointment.--The task force shall have an Executive
        Director who shall be appointed by the Attorney General not
        later than 30 days after the task force is fully constituted
        under subsection (c).
            (2) Compensation.--The Executive Director shall be
        compensated at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of the
        basic pay payable under GS-15 of the General Schedule as
        contained in title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Staff.--With the approval of the task force, the Executive
Director may appoint not more than 12 individuals to serve as staff and
fix the compensation of such additional personnel as the Executive
Director considers necessary to carry out the duties of the task force.
    (c) Applicability of Civil Service Laws.--The Executive Director
and the additional personnel of the task force appointed under
paragraph (2) may be appointed without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF TASK FORCE.

    (a) Hearings.--For the purpose of carrying out this section, the
task force may conduct such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the task
force considers appropriate. The task force may administer oaths before
the task force.
    (b) Delegation.--Any member or employee of the task force may, if
authorized by the task force, take any action that the task force is
authorized to take under this section.
    (c) Access to Information.--The task force may secure directly from
any executive department or agency such information as may be necessary
to enable the task force to carry out this section, to the extent
access to such information is permitted by law.
    (d) Mail.--The task force may use the United States mails in the
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.

SEC. 7. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date on which the task force is
fully constituted under subsection (c), the Attorney General shall
submit a detailed report to the Congress on the findings and
recommendations of the task force.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $500,000 to carry out the
purposes of this Act.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The task force shall cease to exist 30 days after the date on which
the Attorney General's report is submitted under section 8.

Summary: Directs the Attorney General to establish a National Task Force on Violence against Women. Includes among the duties of the task force: (1) considering the reports of past Federal and State task forces or commissions on violent crime, family violence, and crime victims. (2) developing strategies for Federal, State, and local law enforcement to protect women against violent crime and to prosecute and punish those responsible for such crime. (3) evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, incarceration, and release of violent offenders against women and making recommendations to ensure that such offenders receive appropriate punishment. And (4) evaluating the adequacy of the treatment of victims of violent crime against women within the criminal justice system and making recommendations designed to improve such treatment. Authorizes appropriations.

To establish a task force to recommend a uniform strategy to protect women against violent crime.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Infrastructure Privatization
Act''.

SEC. 2. TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING OF QUALIFIED HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE
              CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Treatment as Exempt Facility Bond.--Subsection (a) of section
142 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to exempt facility
bond) is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (11), by
striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and inserting ``,
or'', and by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) qualified highway infrastructure projects.''
    (b) Qualified Highway Infrastructure Projects.--Section 142 of such
Code is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Qualified Highway Infrastructure Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(13), the
        term `qualified highway infrastructure project' means a
        project--
                    ``(A) for the construction or reconstruction of a
                highway, and
                    ``(B) designated under paragraph (2) as an eligible
                pilot project.
            ``(2) Eligible pilot project.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation,
                in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury,
                shall select not more than 15 highway infrastructure
                projects to be pilot projects eligible for tax-exempt
                financing.
                    ``(B) Eligibility criteria.--The Secretary of
                Transportation shall establish criteria for the
                selection of projects under subparagraph (A), except
                that no project may be selected unless the project--
                            ``(i) serves the general public;
                            ``(ii) is necessary to evaluate the
                        potential of the private sector's participation
                        in the provision of the highway infrastructure
                        of the United States;
                            ``(iii) is located on publicly owned
                        rights-of-way;
                            ``(iv) is publicly owned or the ownership
                        of the highway constructed or reconstructed
                        under the project reverts to the public; and
                            ``(v) is consistent with a transportation
                        plan developed pursuant to section 134(g) or
                        135(e) of title 23, United States Code.
            ``(3) Aggregate face amount of tax-exempt financing.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An issue shall not be treated as
                an issue described in subsection (a)(13) if the
                aggregate face amount of bonds issued pursuant thereto
                (when added to the aggregate face amount of bonds
                previously so issued and outstanding) exceeds
                $15,000,000,000.
                    ``(B) Allocation.--The Secretary of Transportation
                shall allocate the amount described in subparagraph (A)
                among the eligible pilot projects designated under
                paragraph (2).
                    ``(C) Reallocation.--If any portion of an
                allocation under subparagraph (B) is unused on the date
                which is 3 years after such allocation, the Secretary
                of Transportation may reallocate such portion among the
                remaining eligible pilot projects.''
    (c) Exemption From General State Volume Caps.--Paragraph (3) of
section 146(g) of such Code (relating to exception for certain bonds)
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or (12)'' and inserting ``(12), or
        (13)'', and
            (2) by striking ``and environmental enhancements of
        hydroelectric generating facilities'' and inserting
        ``environmental enhancements of hydroelectric generating
        facilities, and qualified highway infrastructure projects''.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than the earlier of--
                    (A) one year after either one-half of the projects
                authorized under section 142(k) of the Internal Revenue
                Code of 1986 have been identified or one-half of the
                total bonds allowable for such projects under such
                section have been issued, or
                    (B) seven years after the date of the enactment of
                this Act,
        the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the
        Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the Committees on
        Finance and Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
        Committees on Ways and Means and Transportation and
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the report
        described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall
        evaluate the overall success of the program conducted pursuant
        to the amendments made by this Act, including--
                    (A) a description of each project,
                    (B) the extent to which such projects used new
                technologies, construction techniques, or innovative
                cost controls which resulted in savings in building the
                project, and
                    (C) the use and efficiency of the Federal tax
                subsidy provided by the bond financing.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to bonds issued after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Highway Infrastructure Privatization Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of a qualified highway infrastructure project bond as an exempt facility bond. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to select no more than 15 highway infrastructure projects as pilot projects eligible for tax-exempt financing.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Safety in Medicine
Utilizing Leading Advanced Simulation Technologies to Improve Outcomes
Now Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Simulation-based education and training in medicine,
        nursing, allied health, podiatry, osteopathy, dentistry, and
        emergency response teams can enhance procedural skills and
        reinforce best practices by allowing students, experienced
        clinicians, and health care professionals to practice
        procedures in a realistic setting.
            (2) The enhanced clinical skill development provided by
        simulation-based training benefits patients and health care
        consumers in the form of improved health outcomes, patient
        safety, and quality; reduced medical errors and deaths; and
        reduced costs associated with providing patient care.
            (3) Many educational institutions and health care
        providers, particularly those in urban and rural settings, have
        difficulty acquiring medical simulation technology. Financial
        assistance in the form of Federal grants would significantly
        enhance the ability of these entities to deploy medical
        simulation technology and incorporate such technology into
        training protocols.
            (4) The creation of medical simulation centers of
        excellence to provide guidance and leadership to educational
        institutions and health care entities will facilitate the
        deployment of medical simulation technologies and the
        commercialization of cutting-edge medical simulation research.
            (5) A Federal medical simulation coordinating council would
        promote better communication and collaboration between the
        Federal entities with experience or interest in simulation-
        based education and medical simulation technology deployment.

SEC. 3. MEDICAL SIMULATION ENHANCEMENT.

    Part B of title IX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299b
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 918. MEDICAL SIMULATION ENHANCEMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall conduct and support research,
evaluations, initiatives, and demonstration projects, and provide
grants or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements, to enhance
the deployment of medical simulation technologies and the incorporation
of such technologies and equipment into medical, nursing, allied
health, podiatric, osteopathic, and dental education and training
protocols.
    ``(b) Programs.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Director shall
establish the following programs:
            ``(1) Medical simulation centers of excellence.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--The Director shall establish
                medical simulation centers of excellence--
                            ``(i) to provide leadership and conduct
                        research with respect to enhancing and
                        expanding the utilization of medical simulation
                        technologies and simulation-based skills
                        training for physicians, nurses, allied health
                        professionals, and qualified students; and
                            ``(ii) to improve the efficiency and
                        effectiveness of medical simulation research
                        and programs.
                    ``(B) Purpose.--Each medical simulation center of
                excellence established under subsection (a) shall--
                            ``(i) provide leadership in a specific area
                        of medical simulation technology or knowledge;
                            ``(ii) enhance and expand the knowledge
                        base within the specific area of medical
                        simulation technology or knowledge in line with
                        the program requirements and the long-term
                        interests of the medical simulation community;
                        and
                            ``(iii) serve as a resource center to
                        interested health professional schools and
                        individuals who want to learn about medical
                        simulation.
            ``(2) Medical simulation innovation.--The Director shall
        promote innovation in medical simulation technologies and
        encourage development and deployment of challenging and complex
        medical simulation technologies and applications by--
                    ``(A) conducting and supporting research on the
                development and deployment of complex or challenging
                medical simulation and interdisciplinary simulation
                technologies;
                    ``(B) identifying, in consultation with the
                Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center,
                particularly challenging or complex medical simulation
                technologies and applications; and
                    ``(C) developing, in consultation with the National
                Library of Medicine, an electronic clearinghouse of
                medical simulation technologies currently available and
                those being developed.
            ``(3) Medical simulation technology acquisition.--
                    ``(A) Grants.--The Director shall award grants to
                eligible entities for the purchase of medical
                simulation technologies for use in the training of
                physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and
                qualified students.
                    ``(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term
                `eligible entity' means a hospital, an academic medical
                center, or a school of allied health, dentistry,
                medicine, nursing, osteopathic medicine, or podiatric
                medicine.
            ``(4) Medical and interdisciplinary simulation curricula.--
                    ``(A) Grants.--The Director shall award grants to
                eligible entities to incorporate medical simulation and
                interdisciplinary simulation technologies into
                curricula and training of physicians, nurses, and
                allied health professionals.
                    ``(B) Definition.--In this subsection, the term
                `eligible entity' means an academic medical center or a
                school of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry,
                nursing, or allied health.
            ``(5) Grants to professional organizations.--
                    ``(A) Grants.--The Director shall award grants to
                eligible entities to deploy medical simulation
                technologies for the purpose of providing training to
                health care providers.
                    ``(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term
                `eligible entity' means an academic medical center, a
                professional organization that provides accreditation
                or quality assurance to health care professionals, a
                health profession licensing board, or an agency
                studying utilization of simulation-based methods in
                credentialing and accreditation in health care.
            ``(6) Federal medical simulation coordinating council.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--There is established within
                the Department of Health and Human Services the Federal
                Medical Simulation Coordinating Council (in this
                paragraph referred to as the `Coordinating Council').
                    ``(B) Purpose.--The Coordinating Council shall
                coordinate the Federal Government's activities
                regarding the research on and development, deployment,
                and utilization of medical simulation technologies.
                    ``(C) Voting members.--The voting members of the
                Coordinating Council shall consist of representatives
                of Federal agencies with responsibility for improving
                health care delivery to patients, as follows:
                            ``(i) A majority of the voting members of
                        the Coordinating Council shall be
                        representatives of the Department of Health and
                        Human Services. Such majority shall consist of
                        the Director and such individuals as may be
                        appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human
                        Services. At a minimum, the Secretary shall
                        appoint representatives of--
                                    ``(I) the Agency for Healthcare
                                Research and Quality;
                                    ``(II) the National Institutes of
                                Health;
                                    ``(III) the Health Resources and
                                Services Administration;
                                    ``(IV) the Centers for Medicare &
                                Medicaid Services; and
                                    ``(V) the Food and Drug
                                Administration.
                            ``(ii) The remainder of the voting members
                        of the Coordinating Council shall consist of--
                                    ``(I) representatives of the
                                Department of Defense, appointed by the
                                Secretary of Defense; and
                                    ``(II) representatives of the
                                Department of Veterans Affairs,
                                appointed by the Secretary of Veterans
                                Affairs.
                    ``(D) Liaisons.--In addition to the voting members
                appointed pursuant to subparagraph (C), the membership
                of the Coordinating Council shall include 2
                representatives of the advisory panel established under
                subsection (c) who--
                            ``(i) shall be selected by the Secretary of
                        Health and Human Services, the Secretary of
                        Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
                        acting jointly;
                            ``(ii) shall be nonvoting members; and
                            ``(iii) shall serve as liaisons between the
                        advisory panel and the Coordinating Council.
                    ``(E) Leadership.--The Director shall serve as the
                Chair of the Coordinating Council and shall be
                responsible for the leadership and oversight of the
                activities of the Coordinating Council.
                    ``(F) Consultation.--In carrying out the purpose
                described in subparagraph (B), the Coordinating Council
                shall consult with outside organizations on ways to
                improve medical simulation policy and access.
                    ``(G) Meetings.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Coordinating Council
                        shall meet regularly and no less than 2 times
                        each year.
                            ``(ii) Notice.--Notice of any upcoming
                        meeting of the Coordinating Council shall be
                        published in the Federal Register.
                            ``(iii) Public access.--Any meeting of the
                        Coordinating Council shall be open to the
                        public.
    ``(c) Advisory Panel.--The Director shall establish an advisory
panel to make recommendations on how to structure the programs under
subsection (b). The members of such advisory panel shall consist of a
total of at least 10 representatives of the medical simulation
community, including representatives of--
            ``(1) academic medical centers or schools of medicine,
        osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, nursing, or allied health;
            ``(2) health care professionals who are actively involved
        in medical simulation centers; and
            ``(3) at least 2 multidisciplinary associations which are
        recognized as having a primary focus on medical simulation.
    ``(d) Definitions.--
            ``(1) Medical simulation.--The term `medical simulation'
        means the use of a device, such as a mannequin, a task trainer,
        virtual reality, or a standardized patient, to emulate a real
        device, patient, or patient care situation or environment to
        teach therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, processes, medical
        concepts, and decisionmaking to a health care professional.
            ``(2) Qualified student.--The term `qualified student'
        means a student enrolled full-time or part-time in--
                    ``(A) a school of allied health, a school of
                dentistry, a school of medicine, a school of
                osteopathic medicine, or a school of podiatric medicine
                (as such terms are defined in section 799B); or
                    ``(B) a school of nursing (as such term is defined
                in section 801).
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated--
            ``(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            ``(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009
        through 2012.''.

Summary: Enhancing Safety in Medicine Utilizing Leading Advanced Simulation Technologies to Improve Outcomes Now Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to conduct and support research, evaluations, initiatives, and demonstration projects, and provide grants or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements, to enhance the deployment of medical simulation technologies and the incorporation of such technologies and equipment into medical, nursing, allied health, podiatric, osteopathic, and dental education and training protocols. Requires the Director to: (1) establish medical simulation centers of excellence. (2) promote innovation by conducting and supporting research on complex or challenging medical simulation and interdisciplinary simulation technologies and developing an electronic clearinghouse of such technologies. And (3) award grants for purchasing, incorporating, and deploying such technologies for training of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and qualified students. Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Federal Medical Simulation Coordinating Council. Requires the Director to establish an advisory panel to make recommendations on how to structure programs established by this Act.

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize medical simulation enhancement programs, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Centennial Challenge
Fund Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress here by finds that--
            (1) Our national parks are icons of America;
            (2) The one hundredth anniversary of the National Park
        System will be in 2016;
            (3) It is appropriate for all Americans to help in the
        efforts to enhance our parks as the country gets ready for this
        centennial celebration;
            (4) The President has proposed a National Park Centennial
        Initiative that, over ten years, will provide up to $3 billion
        to prepare parks for another century of conservation,
        preservation, and enjoyment; and
            (5) A part of that Initiative is the establishment of a
        Centennial Challenge to encourage individuals, foundations, and
        the private sector to donate money each year by providing up to
        $100 million in dedicated Federal funding to match donations
        for signature projects and programs.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish a fund in
the Treasury that will be used to finance signature projects and
programs to enhance the National Park System as it approaches its
centennial in 2016 and to prepare the parks for another century of
conservation, preservation, and enjoyment.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act, the term---
            (1) ``Challenge Fund'' means the National Park Centennial
        Challenge Fund.
            (2) ``Director'' means the Director of the National Park
        Service.
            (3) ``Secretary'' means Secretary of the Interior.
            (4) ``Signature project or program'' means, for the
        purposes of this Act, any project or program identified by the
        Director as one that will help prepare the national parks for
        another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.
            (5) ``Qualified donation'' means a cash non-Federal
        donation to the National Park Service that the Director
        certifies is for a listed signature project or program.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a fund to
be known as the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund. The Challenge
Fund shall consist of:
            (1) Qualified donations transferred from the Donations to
        the National Park Service account, in accordance with section
        6(a) of this Act: and
            (2) Amounts appropriated from the general fund of the
        Treasury, in accordance with section 6(b) of this Act.
    (b) Availability.--All amounts deposited in the Challenge Fund
shall be available, subject to restrictions in section 6(c) of this
Act, to the Secretary for signature projects and programs under this
Act without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.
No monies shall be available for indirect administrative costs. The
expenditure of amounts in the Challenge Fund shall follow Federal
procurement and financial laws and standards.

SEC. 5. SIGNATURE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.

    (a) List.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall
develop a list of signature projects and programs eligible for funding
from the Challenge Fund. The list shall be submitted to the President
and to the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural
Resources in the United States Senate, and to the Committees on
Appropriations and Natural Resources in the House of Representatives.
    (b) Signature Projects and Programs.--For purposes of this Act, a
signature project or program shall be a project or program identified
by the Director as one that will help prepare the national parks for
another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.
    (c) Updates.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, may, from
time to time as the Secretary or Director finds necessary, add any
project or program to the list developed pursuant to subsection (a)
that the Director believes is a signature project or program. If the
Director adds any project or program to the list, the Secretary shall
notify the Committees referred to in subsection (a) at the time the
project or program is added.

SEC. 6. DONATIONS AND MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS.

    (a) Qualified Donations.--Beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending
on September 30, 2017, the Secretary may transfer to the Challenge Fund
qualified donations of cash, including cash to liquidate a letter of
credit, received by the National Park Service.
    (b) Matching Amount.--There is hereby appropriated in each fiscal
year beginning on October 1, 2007 and ending on September 30, 2017, an
amount equal to the qualified donations received and the pledge of
donations through letters of credit in the same fiscal year, not to
exceed $100 million in any one year. In no case may the matching amount
exceed the amount of donations received or pledged in any year. For the
purpose of this subsection, the Secretary may consider a donation for
any fiscal year to be received when a pledge of a donation for that
fiscal year is guaranteed and a valid irrevocable letter of credit is
issued for such purposes.
    (c) The Secretary may not obligate any amounts based on a letter of
credit, or amounts to match a letter of credit pursuant to subsection
(b), until amounts from that letter of credit are deposited in the
Challenge Fund.
    (d) Solicitation.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
expanding any authority that exists on the date of its enactment with
respect to the ability of the National Park Service and its employees
to receive or solicit for donations.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    The Secretary shall provide with the submission of the President's
budget a list of the signature projects and programs and the status of
their funding.

SEC. 8. REGULATIONS.

    The Secretary may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary
to carry out this Act.

Summary: National Park Centennial Challenge Fund Act - Establishes in the Treasury the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund which shall consist of qualified donations transferred from the Donations to the National Park Service account and amounts appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury, in accordance with this Act. Makes available all amounts deposited in the Challenge Fund to the Secretary of the Interior for signature projects and programs under this Act (projects and programs identified by the Director of the National Park Service . Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to develop a list of signature projects and programs eligible for funding from the Challenge Fund. Requires that such list be submitted to the President and specified congressional committees.

To establish a fund for the National Park Centennial Challenge, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Veterans Equitable
Treatment Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Veterans were promised by the Federal Government that
        for their service to the country they would be provided a
        lifetime of health care services, as well as their own health
        care service network.
            (2) The current allocation system for appropriations made
        to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care, known
        as the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) formula
        and established by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant
        to section 429 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and
        Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies
        Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-204; 110 Stat. 2929),
        has proved to be an ineffective means of allocating such funds
        fairly across the 22 national service regions, known as
        Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), of the Department
        of Veterans Affairs.
            (3) The VERA formula has resulted in a system in which
        veterans in some regions of the country are forced to compete
        with veterans in other regions for critical medical care funds,
        whereas the system should be providing the funding necessary to
        meet the health care needs of all veterans, regardless of where
        they live, to ensure that all veterans have access to the level
        and quality of care that they have all earned and deserve.
            (4) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs established a set of
        performance goals in fiscal year 2000, which are referred to as
        ``30-30-20'', representing the Secretary's goal to schedule
        nonurgent primary care visits within 30 days, specialty care
        visits within 30 days, and the maximum amount of time veterans
        must wait once they arrive to be seen by a doctor as 20
        minutes.
            (5) According to the Department's Performance Report for
        Fiscal Year 2001, nationally 87 percent of primary care
        appointments were scheduled within 30 days of the desired date
        and 84 percent of specialty care appointments were scheduled
        within 30 days of the desired date, while in VISN 1, only 82
        percent of primary care appointments were scheduled within 30
        days of the desired date and only 80 percent of specialty care
        appointments were scheduled within 30 days of the desired date.
            (6) Until the VERA formula is changed to ensure a more
        equitable and adequate distribution of medical care funding
        within the Department of Veterans Affairs system, providing
        appropriate access to medical care for the Nation's veterans
        must remain a national priority with a method found to provide
        a safety net that will ensure that veterans have access to the
        health care they need without undermining the existing health
        care network of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

SEC. 3. STANDARD FOR TIME FOR REFERRAL FOR SPECIALIST CARE.

    (a) Time for Specialist Appointments.--(1) The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall establish by regulation a maximum specialist
referral period, subject to such exceptions as the Secretary considers
necessary.
    (2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ``specialist referral
period'' means the period of time between (A) the date on which a
veteran is referred to a specialty clinic of the Department by the
veteran's primary care physician within the Department of Veterans
Affairs health care system, and (B) the date for which the veteran is
scheduled for an appointment with a Department specialist pursuant to
such referral.
    (3) In establishing a maximum specialist referral period under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall act in a manner consistent with the
current treatment policies of the Department based on clinical need and
with the established 30-30-20 performance goal of the Department for
such a referral period.
    (b) Standard for Transportation.--The Secretary shall take such
steps as necessary to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is
able to provide appropriate transportation services for qualified
veterans within a reasonable time period of a scheduled appointment.

SEC. 4. CONTRACT CARE TO BE PROVIDED WHEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
              AFFAIRS CARE NOT AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS.

    (a) Contract Care.--In any case in which the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs is not able to provide hospital care or medical services in
accordance with the standard prescribed under section 3(a) or to
provide transportation services in accordance with section 3(b), the
Secretary shall promptly provide for such care or transportation from a
private source. Hospital care or medical services so provided shall be
those for which the veteran is otherwise eligible within the Department
of Veterans Affairs medical care system.
    (b) Reimbursement Rate.--Whenever care or services are provided
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall reimburse the provider of
such care or services for the reasonable value of such care or
services, as determined by the Secretary. Such reimbursement shall be
provided in the same manner as applies to reimbursement for emergency
treatment under section 1725 of title 38, United States Code, subject
to such of the terms and conditions otherwise applicable to such
reimbursements under such section as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate for purposes of this section.
    (c) Expedited Reimbursement Procedures.--The Secretary shall take
appropriate steps to expedite the reimbursement required by subsection
(b). Such steps may include steps to take advantage of modern
technology, including so-called ``smart card'' technology that would
allow claims for such reimbursement to be processed electronically. The
Secretary shall, to the extent possible, also apply such steps for
expediting reimbursement to claims for emergency services provided to
veterans for which the Secretary provides reimbursement under
provisions of law in effect before the date of the enactment of this
Act.

SEC. 5. TERMINATION OF 24-MONTH RULE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMERGENCY
              SERVICES.

    The provisions of subparagraph (B) of section 1725(b)(2) of title
38, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to emergency
treatment furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR PERFORMANCE RATINGS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include in the standards of
performance used for measuring performance of administrators in the
Department of Veterans Affairs medical care system a standard of
assessing improvements in appointment waiting times.

SEC. 7. REPORTS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report
at the end of each fiscal-year quarter on the waiting times for
appointments in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care system.
The report shall describe any reductions in such waiting times and any
experience with appointment delays.

Summary: st Century Veterans Equitable Treatment Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a maximum specialist referral period. And (2) provide appropriate transportation to such appointments for qualified veterans. Requires the Secretary, in any case in which such period is exceeded or in which transportation was not so provided, to promptly provide for such care or transportation from a private source and to reimburse such source at an appropriate rate. Requires expedited reimbursement procedures. Directs the Secretary to include within standards of performance used for measuring Department medical care administration a standard of assessing improvements in appointment waiting times.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a more equitable geographic allocation of funds appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care.