SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Project SEARCH Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) small communities often struggle to meet environmental
        goals due to difficulty in securing funding;
            (2) often, traditional sources of funding for environmental
        projects require expensive, complex studies or other
        application materials;
            (3) a small community that secures funding for an
        environmental project from a traditional source often is unable
        to provide matching funds required by the traditional source;
        and
            (4) small communities would benefit from a grant program
        designed to provide funding for environmental projects--
                    (A) through a simplified application process; and
                    (B) without the requirement of matching funds.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Council.--The term ``council'' means an independent
        citizens' council established by section 4(b) .
            (3) Environmental project.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``environmental project''
                means a project that is carried out for the benefit of
                the public health or welfare or the environment.
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term ``environmental project''
                includes an initial feasibility study.
            (4) Region.--The term ``region'' means a geographic area of
        a State, as determined by the Governor of the State.
            (5) SEARCH grant.--The term ``SEARCH grant'' means a grant
        for special environmental assistance for the regulation of
        communities and habitat awarded under section 4(c)(3).
            (6) Small community.--The term ``small community'' means an
        incorporated or unincorporated community having a population of
        not more than 2500 individuals.

SEC. 4. SEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established the SEARCH Grant
        Program.
            (2) Grant to council.--Not later than November 1 of each
        year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator
        shall transfer $1,000,000 to the Governor of each State, for
        use by the council in the State.
    (b) Independent Citizens' Council.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in each State an
        independent citizens' council.
            (2) Composition.--
                    (A) In general.--
                            (i) Representation.--Each council shall be
                        composed of 9 members that broadly represent
                        the general population of the State in which
                        the council is established, as determined by
                        the Governor of the State.
                            (ii) Appointment.--A member of a council
                        shall be appointed by the Governor of the
                        State, except that--
                                    (I) not more than 1 member shall be
                                an agent, employee, or official of the
                                Federal Government; and
                                    (II) not more than 1 member shall
                                be an agent, employee, or official of
                                the State government.
                    (B) Chairperson.--Each council shall select a
                chairperson from among the members of the council,
                except that a member described in subclause (I) or (II)
                of subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not serve as chairperson.
            (3) SEARCH grants.--
                    (A) In general.--Each council shall review
                applications for and award SEARCH grants from the funds
                transferred under subsection (a)(1) to small
                communities that meet the eligibility criteria under
                subsection (c).
                    (B) No matching requirement.--A small community
                that receives a SEARCH grant under this section shall
                not be required to provide matching funds.
    (c) SEARCH Grants to Small Communities.--
            (1) Eligibility criteria.--Each council may award a SEARCH
        grant under this section to a small community for an
        environmental project for which the small community--
                    (A)(i) is unable to secure funding; or
                    (ii) is underfunded;
                    (B) has incurred unexpected expenses during
                construction of the environmental project; or
                    (C) needs funds for initial feasibility or
                environmental studies before applying to traditional
                funding sources.
            (2) Application.--To apply for a SEARCH grant under this
        section, a small community shall submit to the council in the
        State in which the small community is located an application
        that includes--
                    (A) a description of the proposed environmental
                project (including an explanation of how the project
                would assist the small community in complying with
                environmental regulations);
                    (B) an explanation of why the project is important
                to the community;
                    (C) a description of all actions taken with respect
                to the project, including any attempt to secure
                funding, as of the date of the application; and
                    (D) a SEARCH grant application form provided by the
                council, completed and with all required supporting
                documentation.
            (3) Application and review.--
                    (A) Application.--An application for a SEARCH grant
                under this section shall be submitted to a council not
                later than February 5 of the fiscal year for which the
                grant is to be awarded.
                    (B) Review and award.--Not later than March 5 of
                each year, each council shall--
                            (i) review all applications received under
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) award SEARCH grants to small
                        communities based on an evaluation of the
                        eligibility criteria under paragraph (1).
                    (C) Unexpended funds.--
                            (i) In general.--If any unexpended funds
                        remain after SEARCH grants are awarded under
                        subparagraph (B), the council may repeat the
                        application and review process so that any
                        remaining funds may be awarded not later than
                        July 30.
                            (ii) Retention of funds.--Any unexpended
                        funds that are not awarded under subparagraph
                        (B) or clause (i) shall be retained by the
                        council for award during the following year.
    (d) Report.--Not later than September 1 of the first fiscal year
for which a SEARCH grant is awarded by a council under this section,
and annually thereafter, the council shall submit to the Administrator
a report that--
            (1) describes the number of SEARCH grants awarded during
        the fiscal year;
            (2) identifies each small community that received a SEARCH
        grant during the fiscal year;
            (3) describes the project or purpose for which each SEARCH
        grant was awarded; and
            (4) describes the status of each project or portion of a
        project for which a SEARCH grant was awarded, including a
        project or portion of a project for which a SEARCH grant was
        awarded for any fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the
        report is submitted.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Grant funding.--
                    (A) In general.--There is authorized to be
                appropriated to carry out section 4(a)(2) $1,000,000
                for each State for each fiscal year.
                    (B) Actual appropriation.--If funds to carry out
                section 4(a)(2) are made available for a fiscal year in
                an amount that is less than the amount authorized under
                subparagraph (A) for the fiscal year, the appropriated
                funds shall be divided equally among the 50 States.
            (2) Other expenses.--There are authorized to be
        appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the
        provisions of this Act other than section 4(a)(2).

Summary: Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer $1 million annually to each State Governor for use by independent citizens' councils established by this Act. Directs councils to review applications for and award SEARCH grants from such funds to small communities that: (1) are unable to secure funding or are underfunded for environmental projects. (2) have incurred unexpected expenses during construction of such a project. Or (3) need funds for initial feasibility or environmental studies before applying to traditional funding sources. Authorizes appropriations.

Project SEARCH Act of 2000


TITLE I--HOMELESS VETERANS MATTERS

SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Homeless Heroes Act of
2011''.

SEC. 102. ENHANCEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Enhancement of Grants.--Section 2011 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``expansion,
        remodeling, or alteration of existing facilities, or
        acquisition of facilities,'' and inserting ``new construction
        of facilities, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing
        facilities, or acquisition of facilities''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``A grant''
                and inserting ``(1) A grant'';
                    (B) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), as
                designated by subparagraph (A), by striking ``The
                amount'' and inserting the following:
            ``(2) The amount''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new
                paragraph:
            ``(3)(A) The Secretary may not deny an application from an
        entity that seeks a grant under this section to carry out a
        project described in subsection (b)(1)(A) solely on the basis
        that the entity proposes to use funding from other private or
        public sources, if the entity demonstrates that a private
        nonprofit organization will provide oversight and site control
        for the project.
                    ``(B) In this paragraph, the term `private
                nonprofit organization' means the following:
                            ``(i) An incorporated private institution,
                        organization, or foundation--
                                    ``(I) that has received, or has
                                temporary clearance to receive, tax-
                                exempt status under paragraph (2), (3),
                                or (19) of section 501(c) of the
                                Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                                    ``(II) for which no part of the net
                                earnings of the institution,
                                organization, or foundation inures to
                                the benefit of any member, founder, or
                                contributor of the institution,
                                organization, or foundation; and
                                    ``(III) that the Secretary
                                determines is financially responsible.
                            ``(ii) A for-profit limited partnership or
                        limited liability company, the sole general
                        partner or manager of which is an organization
                        that is described by subclauses (I) through
                        (III) of clause (i).
                            ``(iii) A corporation wholly owned and
                        controlled by an organization that is described
                        by subclauses (I) through (III) of clause
                        (i).''.
    (b) Grant and Per Diem Payments.--
            (1) Study and development of fiscal controls and payment
        method.--Not later than one year after the date of the
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
        shall--
                    (A) complete a study of all matters relating to the
                method used by the Secretary to make per diem payments
                under section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code;
                and
                    (B) develop an improved method for adequately
                reimbursing recipients of grants under section 2011 of
                such title for services furnished to homeless veterans.
            (2) Consideration.--In developing the method required by
        paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may consider payments and
        grants received by recipients of grants described in such
        paragraph from other departments and agencies of Federal and
        local governments and from private entities.
            (3) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
        report on--
                    (A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to
                the study required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph
                (1);
                    (B) the method developed under subparagraph (B) of
                such paragraph; and
                    (C) any recommendations of the Secretary for
                revising the method described in subparagraph (A) of
                such paragraph and any legislative action the Secretary
                considers necessary to implement such method.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2013 of such title is
amended by striking ``subchapter'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting the following: ``subchapter amounts as follows:
            ``(1) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through
        2009.
            ``(2) $175,100,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            ``(3) $217,700,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            ``(4) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
            ``(5) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal
        year thereafter.''.

SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH
              SPECIAL NEEDS.

    (a) Inclusion of Entities Eligible for Comprehensive Service
Program Grants and Per Diem Payments for Services to Homeless
Veterans.--Subsection (a) of section 2061 of such title is amended--
            (1) by striking ``to grant and per diem providers'' and
        inserting ``to entities eligible for grants and per diem
        payments under sections 2011 and 2012 of this title''; and
            (2) by striking ``by those facilities and providers'' and
        inserting ``by those facilities and entities''.
    (b) Inclusion of Male Homeless Veterans With Minor Dependents.--
Subsection (b) of such section is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, including women who
        have care of minor dependents'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'';
            (3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) individuals who have care of minor dependents.''.
    (c) Authorization of Provision of Services to Dependents.--Such
section is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new
        subsection (c):
    ``(c) Provision of Services to Dependents.--A recipient of a grant
under subsection (a) may use amounts under the grant to provide
services directly to a dependent of a homeless veteran with special
needs who is under the care of such homeless veteran while such
homeless veteran receives services from the grant recipient under this
section.''.

SEC. 104. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND
              REHABILITATION TO CERTAIN VETERANS TO INCLUDE PROVISION
              OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION TO HOMELESS VETERANS WHO
              ARE NOT SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL.

    Section 2031(a) of such title is amended in the matter before
paragraph (1) by striking ``, including'' and inserting ``and to''.

SEC. 105. PLAN TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
to Congress a comprehensive plan to end homelessness among veterans.
    (b) Elements.--The plan required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
            (1) An analysis of programs of the Department of Veterans
        Affairs and other departments and agencies of the Federal
        Government that are designed to prevent homelessness among
        veterans and assist veterans who are homeless.
            (2) An evaluation of whether and how coordination between
        the programs described in paragraph (1) would contribute to
        ending homelessness among veterans.
            (3) Recommendations for improving the programs described in
        paragraph (1), enhancing coordination between such programs, or
        eliminating programs that are no longer effective.
            (4) Recommendations for new programs to prevent and end
        homelessness among veterans, including an estimate of the cost
        of such programs.
            (5) A timeline for implementing the plan, including
        milestones to track the implementation of the plan.
            (6) Benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of the plan and
        the efforts of the Secretary to implement the plan.
            (7) Such other matters as the Secretary considers
        necessary.
    (c) Consideration of Veterans Located in Rural Areas.--The
analysis, evaluation, and recommendations included in the report
required by subsection (a) shall include consideration of the
circumstances and requirements that are unique to veterans located in
rural areas.

SEC. 106. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES RELATING TO HOMELESS
              VETERANS.

    (a) Health Care for Homeless Veterans.--Section 2031(b) of title
38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 2011''
and inserting ``December 31, 2012''.
    (b) Centers for Provision of Comprehensive Services to Homeless
Veterans.--Section 2033(d) of such title is amended by striking
``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
    (c) Property Transfers for Housing Assistance for Homeless
Veterans.--Section 2041(c) of such title is amended by striking
``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
    (d) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.--Section 2066(d) of
such title is amended by striking ``December 30, 2011'' and inserting
``December 30, 2013''.

SEC. 107. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
              REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

    Section 2021(e)(1) of such title is amended adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
            ``(G) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.''.

SEC. 108. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
              FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN
              FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

    (a) In General.--Section 2044(e) of such title is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following
        new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``2011'' and inserting
        ``2012''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--Paragraph (1) of such subsection is
further amended by striking ``carry out subsection (a), (b), and (c)''
and inserting ``carry out subsections (a), (b), and (c)''.

SEC. 109. REAUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR
              HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

    Section 2061(c)(1) of such title is amended by striking ``2011''
and inserting ``2013''.

Summary: Helping Homeless Heroes Act of 2011 - Allows grants made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for homeless veterans' comprehensive services programs to be used for the construction of new facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from denying applications for such grants solely on the basis that the grant entity proposes to use funding from other private or public sources, as long as such entity demonstrates that a private nonprofit organization will provide project oversight and site control. Revises eligibility: (1) under the grant program for entities serving homeless veterans with special needs, and (2) for treatment and rehabilitation of homeless veterans who are not seriously mentally ill. Includes all individuals caring for minor dependents within the definition of homeless veterans with special needs. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan to end homelessness among veterans. Requires the plan to consider circumstances and requirements unique to veterans located in rural areas. Extends provisions concerning: (1) homeless veterans' health care to December 31, 2012. (2) centers for provision of comprehensive services and property transfers for housing assistance to December 31, 2014. And (3) the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans to December 30, 2013.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Assistance Authorization Act
of 2007''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF AUTHORIZED AMOUNTS.

    None of the amounts authorized by this Act may be used to lobby or
retain a lobbyist for the purpose of influencing a Federal, State, or
local governmental entity or officer.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may
provide financial assistance to the Housing Assistance Council for use
by such Council to develop the ability and capacity of community-based
housing development organizations to undertake community development
and affordable housing projects and programs in rural areas. Assistance
provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by the Housing
Assistance Council for--
            (1) technical assistance, training, support, and advice to
        develop the business and administrative capabilities of rural
        community-based housing development organizations;
            (2) loans, grants, or other financial assistance to rural
        community-based housing development organizations to carry out
        community development and affordable housing activities for
        low- and moderate-income families; and
            (3) such other activities as may be determined by the
        Secretary and the Housing Assistance Council.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for financial assistance under this section for the
Housing Assistance Council--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE FOR RAZA DEVELOPMENT FUND.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a
grant to the Raza Development Fund for the purpose of providing
technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to
undertake community development and affordable housing projects and
programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly
through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial
populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin.
Assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by
the Raza Development Fund to--
            (1) provide technical and financial assistance for site
        acquisition and development, construction financing, and short-
        and long-term financing for housing, community facilities, and
        economic development;
            (2) leverage capital from private entities, including
        private financial institutions, insurance companies, and
        private philanthropic organizations;
            (3) provide technical assistance, training, support, and
        advice to develop the management, financial, and administrative
        capabilities of housing development organizations serving low-
        income households, including Hispanic households; and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by
        the Secretary and the Raza Development Fund.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP NETWORK.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a
grant to the Housing Partnership Network (hereafter referred to as the
``Network'') for the purpose of creating, sustaining, and improving
access to affordable housing and community facilities that benefit very
low-, low- and moderate-income households and communities. Assistance
provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by the Network
to--
            (1) make investments, loans, and grants to its member
        nonprofits that demonstrate expertise in using such funds to
        leverage additional private capital to build, operate, finance,
        and sustain affordable housing and related community
        development facilities;
            (2) make investments in entities sponsored by the Network
        with the intent to leverage additional private capital for the
        purpose of furthering the production capacity, sustainability,
        or efficiency of its members;
            (3) pay for the necessary and reasonable expenses of the
        Network to administer and oversee such investments, including
        the cost of underwriting, managing the assets of the Network,
        and reporting to the Secretary and other capital providers,
        provided however, that such expenses do not exceed 6 percent of
        any amounts made available pursuant to subsection (b); and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by
        the Secretary and the Network.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 6. AUDITS AND REPORTS.

    (a) Audit.--In any year in which an entity or organization
described under either section 3, 4, or 5 receives funds under this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) audit the financial transactions and activities of such
        entity or organization only with respect to such funds so
        received; and
            (2) submit a report detailing such audit to the Committee
        on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of
        Representatives.
    (b) GAO Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study and submit a report to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial
Services of the House of Representative on the use of any funds
appropriated to an entity or organization described under either
section 3, 4, or 5 over the past 10 years.

SEC. 7. PERSONS NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

    None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to
provide direct housing assistance to any person not lawfully present in
the United States.

Summary: Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007 - Prohibits the use of funds authorized by this Act to lobby or retain a lobbyist to influence a federal, state, or local governmental entity or officer. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide financial assistance to the Housing Assistance Council to develop the ability and capacity of community-based housing development organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs in rural areas. Authorizes the Housing Assistance Council to use such assistance for: (1) technical assistance, training, support, and advice to develop the business and administrative capabilities of rural community-based housing development organizations. And (2) loans, grants, or other financial assistance to such organizations to carry out community development and affordable housing activities for low- and moderate-income families. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2010. Authorizes the Secretary also to make a grant to the Raza Development Fund to provide technical and financial assistance to local nonprofit organizations to undertake similar projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations in neighborhoods with substantial populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin. Authorizes the Fund to use such assistance to: (1) provide technical and financial assistance for site acquisition and development, construction financing, and short- and long-term financing for housing, community facilities, and economic development, (2) leverage capital from private entities. And (3) provide technical assistance, training, support, and advice to develop the management, financial, and administrative capabilities of housing development organizations serving such low-income households. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2010. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the Housing Partnership Network to create, sustain, and improve access to affordable housing and community facilities benefiting very low-, low- and moderate-income households and communities. Authorizes the Network to use such assistance to: (1) make investments, loans, and grants to its member nonprofits that demonstrate expertise in using such funds to leverage additional private capital to build, operate, finance, and sustain affordable housing and related community development facilities. (2) make investments in entities sponsored by the Network with the intent to leverage additional private capital to further the production capacity, sustainability, or efficiency of its members. And (3) pay for the expenses of the Network to administer and oversee such investments. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2010. Directs the Comptroller General to audit entities or organizations receiving such funds. Prohibits the use of such funds to provide direct housing assistance to any person not lawfully present in the United States.

An original bill to authorize appropriations for assistance for the Housing Assistance Council, the Raza Development Fund, and for the Housing Partnership Network (HPN) and its members, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Telemedicine and Medical
Informatics Demonstration Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. INFORMATICS, TELEMEDICINE, AND EDUCATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

    (a) Purpose and Authorization.--
            (1) In general.--Under section 1142 of the Social Security
        Act and consistent with this section, the Secretary of Health
        and Human Services, through the Agency for Health Care Policy
        and Research, shall make a grant to an eligible grantee to
        provide for a project to demonstrate the application of high-
        capacity computing and advanced networks to the provision of
        health care to both residents of medically underserved rural
        areas and residents of medically underserved inner-city areas.
            (2) Focus.--The project shall focus on--
                    (A) improvements in primary care (and prevention of
                complications) for those residents with diabetes
                (mellitus), and
                    (B) those residents who are Medicare beneficiaries.
            (3) Duration of project.--The project shall be conducted
        over a 4-year period.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations; medicare and medicaid
        waiver authority.--The total amount of Federal expenditures
        that may be provided pursuant to this section under the project
        shall not exceed $30,000,000. Subject to such limitation, the
        Secretary may waive such provisions of title XVIII and XIX of
        the Social Security Act as may be appropriate in order to
        permit and demonstrate the provision of Medicare and Medicaid
        funding under the project.
    (b) Objectives of Project.--The objectives of the project include
the following:
            (1) Improving patient access to and compliance with
        appropriate care guidelines for chronic diseases through direct
        telecommunications link with information networks in order to
        improve patient quality-of-life and reduce overall health care
        costs.
            (2) Developing a curriculum to train, and providing
        standards for credentialing and licensure of, health
        professionals (particularly primary care health professionals)
        in the use of medical informatics and telecommunciations.
            (3) Demonstrating the application of advanced technologies,
        such as video-conferencing from a patient's home, remote
        monitoring of a patient's medical condition, interventional
        informatics, and applying individualized, automated care
        guidelines, to assist primary care providers in assisting
        patients with chronic illnesses in a home setting.
            (4) Application of medical informatics to residents with
        limited English language skills.
            (5) Developing standards in the application of telemedicine
        and medical informatics.
            (6) Developing a model for the cost-effective delivery of
        primary and related care both in a managed care environment and
        in a fee-for-service environment.
    (c) Eligible Grantee.--For purposes of this section, the term
``eligible grantee'' means a consortium that includes at least one
tertiary care hospital, at least one medical school, and at least one
regional telecommunications provider and that meets the following
requirements:
            (1) The consortium is located in an area with a high
        concentration of medical schools and tertiary care facilities
        and has appropriate arrangements (within or outside the
        consortium) with such schools and facilities, universities, and
        telecommunications providers, in order to conduct the project.
            (2) The consortium submits to the Secretary an application
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
        as the Secretary may require, including a description of the
        use to which the consortium would apply any amounts received
        under the project and the source and amount of non-Federal
        contribution towards the project.
            (3) The consortium demonstrates that it will provide for a
        contribution toward the project from non-Federal funds or
        resources in an amount that is not less than 50 percent of the
        total amount to be expended in carrying out the project.
    (d) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Federal payments made available to an
        eligible grantee under this section shall be used for the
        development and operation of telemedicine and medical
        informatics systems and related activities under the project.
            (2) Specific uses permitted.--Such payments may be used for
        any of the following:
                    (A) The acquisition of telemedicine equipment for
                use in patients' homes (but only in the case of
                patients located in medically underserved areas).
                    (B) Curriculum development and training of health
                professionals in medical informatics and telemedicine.
                    (C) Payment of telecommunications costs (including
                salaries and maintenance of equipment), including costs
                of telecommunications between patients' homes and the
                eligible grantee and between the grantee and other
                entities under the arrangements described in subsection
                (c)(1).
                    (D) Payments to practitioners and providers under
                the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
            (3) Prohibited uses.--Such payments may not be used for any
        of the following:
                    (A) The purchase or installation of transmission
                equipment (other than such equipment used by health
                professionals to deliver medical informatics services
                under the project).
                    (B) The establishment or operation of a
                telecommunications common carrier network.
                    (C) Construction (except for minor renovations
                related to the installation of reimbursable equipment)
                or the acquisition or building of real property.
    (e) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Ways
and Means and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the
Committees on Finance and Labor and Human Resources of the Senate
interim reports on the project and a final report on the project within
6 months after the conclusion of the project. The final report shall
include an evaluation of the impact of the use of telemedicine and
medical informatics on improving access of medicare and medicaid
beneficiaries to health care services, on reducing the costs of such
services, and on improving the quality of life of such beneficiaries.
    (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) Interventional informatics.--The term ``interventional
        informatics'' means using information technology and virtual
        reality technology to intervene in patient care.
            (2) Medical informatics.--The term ``medical informatics''
        means the storage, retrieval, and use of biomedical and related
        information for problem solving and decision-making through
        computing and communications technologies.
            (3) Project.--The term ``project'' means the demonstration
        project under this section.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Health and Human Services.

Summary: Medicare Telemedicine and Medical Informatics Demonstration Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, to make a grant to a consortium meeting specified criteria to provide for a project for the development and operation of telemedicine and medical informatics systems to demonstrate the application of high-capacity computing and advanced networks to the provision of health care to residents of medically underserved rural and inner-city areas. Requires the project to focus on Medicare beneficiaries and on improvements in primary care for residents with diabetes (mellitus). Lists project objectives, which include improving patient access to and compliance with appropriate care guidelines for chronic diseases through direct telecommunications link with information networks in order to improve patient quality-of-life and reduce overall health care costs. Authorizes appropriations.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Western Hemisphere Traveler
Improvement Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. CERTIFICATIONS.

    Section 7209(b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (v)--
                            (i) by striking ``process'' and inserting
                        ``read''; and
                            (ii) inserting ``at all ports of entry''
                        after ``installed'';
                    (B) in clause (vi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (C) in clause (vii), by striking the period at the
                end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(viii) a pilot program in which not fewer
                        than 1 State has been initiated and evaluated
                        to determine if an enhanced driver's license,
                        which is machine-readable and tamper-proof, not
                        valid for certification of citizenship for any
                        purpose other than admission into the United
                        States from Canada, and issued by such State to
                        an individual, may permit the individual to use
                        the individual's driver's license to meet the
                        documentation requirements under subparagraph
                        (A) for entry into the United States from
                        Canada at the land and sea ports of entry;
                            ``(ix) the report described in subparagraph
                        (C) has been submitted to the appropriate
                        congressional committees;
                            ``(x) a study has been conducted to
                        determine the number of passports and passport
                        cards that will be issued as a consequence of
                        the documentation requirements under
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(xi) sufficient passport adjudication
                        personnel have been hired or contracted--
                                    ``(I) to accommodate--
                                            ``(aa) increased demand for
                                        passports as a consequence of
                                        the documentation requirements
                                        under subparagraph (A); and
                                            ``(bb) a surge in such
                                        demand during seasonal peak
                                        travel times; and
                                    ``(II) to ensure that the time
                                required to issue a passport or
                                passport card is not anticipated to
                                exceed 8 weeks.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the
                initiation of the pilot program described in
                subparagraph (B)(viii), the Secretary of Homeland
                Security and the Secretary of State shall submit to the
                appropriate congressional committees a report, which
                includes--
                            ``(i) an analysis of the impact of the
                        pilot program on national security;
                            ``(ii) recommendations on how to expand the
                        pilot program to other States;
                            ``(iii) any appropriate statutory changes
                        to facilitate the expansion of the pilot
                        program to additional States and to citizens of
                        Canada;
                            ``(iv) a plan to scan individuals
                        participating in the pilot program against
                        United States terrorist watch lists;
                            ``(v) an evaluation of and recommendations
                        for the type of machine-readable technology
                        that should be used in enhanced driver's
                        licenses, based on individual privacy
                        considerations and the costs and feasibility of
                        incorporating any new technology into existing
                        driver's licenses;
                            ``(vi) recommendations for improving the
                        pilot program; and
                            ``(vii) an analysis of any cost savings for
                        a citizen of the United States participating in
                        an enhanced driver's license program as
                        compared with participating in an alternative
                        program.''.

SEC. 3. SPECIAL RULE FOR MINORS.

    Section 7209(b) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention
Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Special rule for minors.--Notwithstanding any other
        provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall
        permit an individual to enter the United States without
        providing any evidence of citizenship if the individual--
                    ``(A)(i) is less than 16 years old;
                    ``(ii) is accompanied by the individual's legal
                guardian;
                    ``(iii) is entering the United States from Canada
                or Mexico;
                    ``(iv) is a citizen of the United States or Canada;
                and
                    ``(v) provides a birth certificate; or
                    ``(B)(i) is less than 18 years old;
                    ``(ii) is traveling under adult supervision with a
                public or private school group, religious group, social
                or cultural organization, or team associated with a
                youth athletics organization; and
                    ``(iii) provides a birth certificate.''.

SEC. 4. TRAVEL FACILITATION INITIATIVES.

    Section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention
Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(e) State Driver's License and Identification Card Enrollment
Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
        law and not later than 180 days after the submission of the
        report described in subsection (b)(1)(C), the Secretary of
        State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue
        regulations to establish a State Driver's License and Identity
        Card Enrollment Program as described in this subsection
        (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the `Program')
        and which allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter
        into a memorandum of understanding with an appropriate official
        of each State that elects to participate in the Program.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program is to permit a
        citizen of the United States who produces a driver's license or
        identity card that meets the requirements of paragraph (3) or a
        citizen of Canada who produces a document described in
        paragraph (4) to enter the United States from Canada by land or
        sea without providing any other documentation or evidence of
        citizenship.
            ``(3) Admission of citizens of the united states.--A
        driver's license or identity card meets the requirements of
        this paragraph if--
                    ``(A) the license or card--
                            ``(i) was issued by a State that is
                        participating in the Program; and
                            ``(ii) is tamper-proof and machine
                        readable; and
                    ``(B) the State that issued the license or card--
                            ``(i) has a mechanism to verify the United
                        States citizenship status of an applicant for
                        such a license or card;
                            ``(ii) does not require an individual to
                        include the individual's citizenship status on
                        such a license or card; and
                            ``(iii) manages all information regarding
                        an applicant's United States citizenship status
                        in the same manner as such information
                        collected through the United States passport
                        application process and prohibits any other use
                        or distribution of such information.
            ``(4) Admission of citizens of canada.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other
                provision of law, if the Secretary of State and the
                Secretary of Homeland Security determine that an
                identity document issued by the Government of Canada or
                by the Government of a Province or Territory of Canada
                meets security and information requirements comparable
                to the requirements for a driver's license or identity
                card described in paragraph (3), the Secretary of
                Homeland Security shall permit a citizen of Canada to
                enter the United States from Canada using such a
                document without providing any other documentation or
                evidence of Canadian citizenship.
                    ``(B) Technology standards.--The Secretary of
                Homeland Security shall work, to the maximum extent
                possible, to ensure that an identification document
                issued by Canada that permits entry into the United
                States under subparagraph (A) utilizes technology
                similar to the technology utilized by identification
                documents issued by the United States or any State.
            ``(5) Authority to expand.--Notwithstanding any other
        provision of law, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of
        Homeland Security may expand the Program to permit an
        individual to enter the United States--
                    ``(A) from a country other than Canada; or
                    ``(B) using evidence of citizenship other than a
                driver's license or identity card described in
                paragraph (3) or a document described in paragraph (4).
            ``(6) Relationship to other requirements.--Nothing in this
        subsection shall have the effect of creating a national
        identity card or a certification of citizenship for any purpose
        other than admission into the United States as described in
        this subsection.
            ``(7) State defined.--In this subsection, the term `State'
        means any of the several States of the United States, the
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth
        of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin
        Islands of the United States, or any other territory or
        possession of the United States.
    ``(f) Waiver for Intrastate Travel.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall accept a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for
any United States citizen who is traveling directly from one part of a
State to a noncontiguous part of that State through Canada, if such
citizen cannot travel by land to such part of the State without
traveling through Canada, and such travel in Canada is limited to no
more than 2 hours.
    ``(g) Waiver of Pass Card and Passport Execution Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
        law, during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which
        the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a final rule in
        the Federal Register to carry out subsection (b), the Secretary
        of State shall--
                    ``(A) designate 1 facility in each city or port of
                entry designated under paragraph (2), including a State
                Department of Motor Vehicles facility located in such
                city or port of entry if the Secretary determines
                appropriate, in which a passport or passport card may
                be procured without an execution fee during such
                period; and
                    ``(B) develop not fewer than 6 mobile enrollment
                teams that--
                            ``(i) are able to issue passports or other
                        identity documents issued by the Secretary of
                        State without an execution fee during such
                        period;
                            ``(ii) are operated along the northern and
                        southern borders of the United States; and
                            ``(iii) focus on providing passports and
                        other such documents to citizens of the United
                        States who live in areas of the United States
                        that are near such an international border and
                        that have relatively low population density.
            ``(2) Designation of cities and ports of entry.--The
        Secretary of State shall designate cities and ports of entry
        for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) as follows:
                    ``(A) The Secretary shall designate not fewer than
                3 cities or ports of entry that are 100 miles or less
                from the northern border of the United States.
                    ``(B) The Secretary shall designate not fewer than
                3 cities or ports of entry that are 100 miles or less
                from the southern border of the United States.
    ``(h) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Prior to publishing a final rule in
the Federal Register to carry out subsection (b), the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall conduct a complete cost-benefit analysis of
carrying out this section. Such analysis shall include analysis of--
            ``(1) any potential costs of carrying out this section on
        trade, travel, and the tourism industry; and
            ``(2) any potential savings that would result from the
        implementation of the State Driver's License and Identity Card
        Enrollment Program established under subsection (e) as an
        alternative to passports and passport cards.
    ``(i) Report.--During the 2-year period beginning on the date that
is the 3 months after the date on which the Secretary of Homeland
Security begins implementation of subsection (b)(1)--
            ``(1) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to
        the appropriate congressional committees a report not less than
        once every 3 months on--
                    ``(A) the average delay at border crossings; and
                    ``(B) the average processing time for a NEXUS card,
                FAST card, or SENTRI card; and
            ``(2) the Secretary of State shall submit to the
        appropriate congressional committees a report not less than
        once every 3 months on the average processing time for a
        passport or passport card.
    ``(j) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
            ``(1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee
        on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
            ``(2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
        Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the
        House of Representatives.''.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WESTERN
              HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE.

    The intent of Congress in enacting section 546 of the Department of
Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 109-295; 120
Stat. 1386) was to prevent the Secretary of Homeland Security from
implementing the plan described in section 7209(b)(1) of the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185
note) before the earlier of June 1, 2009, or the date on which the
Secretary certifies to Congress that an alternative travel document,
known as a passport card, has been developed and widely distributed to
eligible citizens of the United States.

SEC. 6. PASSPORT PROCESSING STAFF AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Reemployment of Civil Service Annuitants.--Section 61(a) of the
State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2733(a)) is
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``To facilitate'' and all
        that follows through ``, the Secretary'' and inserting ``The
        Secretary''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2008'' and inserting
        ``2010''.
    (b) Reemployment of Foreign Service Annuitants.--Section 824(g) of
the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4064(g)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``to facilitate'' and
        all that follows through ``Afghanistan,''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2008'' and inserting
        ``2010''.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation
with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the adequacy of the
infrastructure of the United States to manage cross-border travel
associated with the NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI programs. Such report shall
include consideration of--
            (1) the ability of frequent travelers to access dedicated
        lanes for such travel;
            (2) the total time required for border crossing, including
        time spent prior to ports of entry;
            (3) the frequency, adequacy of facilities and any
        additional delays associated with secondary inspections; and
            (4) the adequacy of readers to rapidly read identity
        documents of such individuals.
    (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee
        on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
        Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the
        House of Representatives.

Summary: Western Hemisphere Traveler Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to require as part of the certifications required prior to implementation of the western hemisphere travel initiative (Initiative), that: (1) a pilot program of at least one state has been initiated and evaluated to determine if an enhanced driver's license valid only for citizenship verification for US entry from Canada meets documentation requirements. (2) a study has determined the number of passports and passport cards that will be required to be issued. And (3) sufficient passport adjudication personnel have been hired. Authorizes a person under 16 years old who is a US or Canadian citizen to enter the United States with a birth certificate if the person: (1) is accompanied by the individual's legal guardian. And (2) is entering the United States from Canada or Mexico. Authorizes a person under 18 years old to enter the United States with a birth certificate if the person is traveling under adult supervision with a public or private school group, religious group, social or cultural organization, or a youth sports team. Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a state driver's license and identity card enrollment program to permit a US citizen with a qualifying driver's license or identity card or a Canadian citizen with a qualifying comparable document to enter the United States from Canada by land or sea without providing other citizenship documentation. Authorizes program expansion to include other countries. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for any US citizen who is traveling from one part of a state to a noncontiguous part of that state through Canada if: (1) the citizen cannot travel by land to such part of the state without traveling through Canada. And (2) the travel in Canada is limited to no more than two hours. Directs the Secretary of State, during the two-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a final rule in the Federal Register to carry out the Initiative, to: (1) provide one facility in each of at least six designated cites or ports of entry in which a passport or passport card may be procured without an execution fee. And (2) develop at least six mobile teams along the US northern and southern borders to issue passports or other identity documents without an execution fee. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to do a cost-benefit analysis of the Initiative prior to publishing such final rule. States that Congress' intent in enacting section 546 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 was to prevent the Secretary of Homeland Security from implementing the Initiative before the earlier of June 1, 2009, or the date on which the Secretary certifies to Congress that an alternative travel document has been developed and widely distributed to eligible US citizens. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to extend passport processing authorities for civil service and foreign service annuitants.

A bill to amend section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Federal File Sharing Act''.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Updated Guidance on Use of Certain Software Programs.--Not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, after consultation
with the Federal Chief Information Officers Council, shall issue
guidance on the use of peer-to-peer file sharing software--
            (1) to prohibit the download, installation, or use by
        Government employees and contractors of open-network peer-to-
        peer file sharing software on all Federal computers, computer
        systems, and networks, including those operated by contractors
        on the Government's behalf, unless such software is approved in
        accordance with procedures under subsection (b); and
            (2) to address the download, installation, or use by
        Government employees and contractors of such software on home
        or personal computers as it relates to telework and remotely
        accessing Federal computers, computer systems, and networks,
        including those operated by contractors on the Government's
        behalf.
    (b) Approval Process for Certain Software Programs.--Not later than
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget shall develop a procedure by which
the Director, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, may
receive requests from heads of agencies or chief information officers
of agencies for approval for use by Government employees and
contractors of specific open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software
programs that are--
            (1) necessary for the day-to-day business operations of the
        agency;
            (2) instrumental in completing a particular task or project
        that directly supports the agency's overall mission;
            (3) necessary for use between, among, or within Federal,
        State, or local government agencies in order to perform
        official agency business; or
            (4) necessary for use during the course of a law
        enforcement investigation.
    (c) Agency Responsibilities.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget shall--
            (1) direct agencies to establish or update personal use
        policies of the agency to be consistent with the guidance
        issued pursuant to subsection (a);
            (2) direct agencies to require any contract awarded by the
        agency to include a requirement that the contractor comply with
        the guidance issued pursuant to subsection (a) in the
        performance of the contract;
            (3) direct agencies to update their information technology
        security or ethics training policies to ensure that all
        employees, including those working for contractors on the
        Government's behalf, are aware of the requirements of the
        guidance required by subsection (a) and the consequences of
        engaging in prohibited conduct; and
            (4) direct agencies to ensure that proper security controls
        are in place to prevent, detect, and remove file sharing
        software that is prohibited by the guidance issued pursuant to
        subsection (a) from all Federal computers, computer systems,
        and networks, including those operated by contractors on the
        Government's behalf.

SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the implementation
of this Act, including--
            (1) a justification for each open-network peer-to-peer file
        sharing software program that is approved pursuant to
        subsection (b); and
            (2) an inventory of the agencies where such programs are
        being used.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning provided
        the term ``Executive agency'' by section 105 of title 5, United
        States Code.
            (2) Open-network.--The term ``open-network'', with respect
        to software, means a network in which--
                    (A) access is granted freely, without limitation or
                restriction; or
                    (B) there are little or no security measures in
                place.
            (3) Peer-to-peer file sharing software.--The term ``peer-
        to-peer file sharing software''--
                    (A) means a program, application, or software that
                is commercially marketed or distributed to the public
                and that enables--
                            (i) a file or files on the computer on
                        which such program is installed to be
                        designated as available for searching and
                        copying to one or more other computers;
                            (ii) the searching of files on the computer
                        on which such program is installed and the
                        copying of any such file to another computer--
                                    (I) at the initiative of such other
                                computer and without requiring any
                                action by an owner or authorized user
                                of the computer on which such program
                                is installed; and
                                    (II) without requiring an owner or
                                authorized user of the computer on
                                which such program is installed to have
                                selected or designated another computer
                                as the recipient of any such file; and
                            (iii) an owner or authorized user of the
                        computer on which such program is installed to
                        search files on one or more other computers
                        using the same or a compatible program,
                        application, or software, and copy such files
                        to such owner or user's computer; and
                    (B) does not include a program, application, or
                software designed primarily--
                            (i) to operate as a server that is
                        accessible over the Internet using the Internet
                        Domain Name system;
                            (ii) to transmit or receive email messages,
                        instant messaging, real-time audio or video
                        communications, or real-time voice
                        communications; or
                            (iii) to provide network or computer
                        security (including the detection or prevention
                        of fraudulent activities), network management,
                        maintenance, diagnostics, or technical support
                        or repair.
            (4) Contractor.--The term ``contractor'' means a prime
        contractor or a subcontractor, as defined by the Federal
        Acquisition Regulation.

SEC. 5. BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF PAYGO LEGISLATION FOR THIS ACT.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2010.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.

Summary: Secure Federal File Sharing Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance to: (1) prohibit the download, installation, or use by government employees and contractors of open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software on all federal computers, computer systems, and networks, unless approved in accordance with procedures under this Act. And (2) address the download, installation, or use by government employees and contractors of such software on home or personal computers as it relates to telework and remotely accessing federal computers, computer systems, and networks. Requires the Director to develop a procedure for receiving requests from heads or chief information officers of agencies for approval for use by government employees and contractors of specific open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software programs that are: (1) necessary for day-to-day business operations, for use in the course of a law enforcement investigation, or to perform official agency business. Or (2) instrumental in completing a particular task or project that directly supports the agency's overall mission. Requires the Director to direct agencies to: (1) establish or update personal use policies to be consistent with the guidance issued under this Act, (2) require contracts to require contractor compliance with that guidance. (3) update their information technology security or ethics training policies to ensure that all employees are aware of the requirements of that guidance and the consequences of engaging in prohibited conduct. And (4) ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent, detect, and remove file sharing software that is prohibited. Requires the Director to report annually to specified congressional committees, including: (1) a justification for each open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software program that is approved under this Act. And (2) an inventory of the agencies where such programs are being used. Requires the budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, to be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

To require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance on the use of peer-to-peer file sharing software to prohibit the personal use of such software by Government employees, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Local Zoning Preservation Act of
1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress
        preserved local zoning authority over decisions regarding the
        placement, construction and modification of personal wireless
        service facilities, except that (A) the zoning application must
        be acted upon within a reasonable amount of time; (B) the
        decision must be in writing and be supported by substantial
        evidence; (C) the decision must not be based on concerns about
        the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions from
        facilities; and (D) the State or locality must not discriminate
        among personal wireless service providers.
            (2) State and municipal zoning decisions traditionally have
        been afforded virtually complete deference by Federal courts.
        Issues of land use are distinctly local and therefore fall on
        the State-side of the federalism divide.
            (3) When Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of
        1996, it anticipated the need for and proliferation of personal
        wireless service facilities. Congress, however, included the
        provisions on the preservation of local zoning authority
        because it also realized the need to protect State and local
        authority to regulate the placement, construction, and
        modification of these facilities, with few limitations.
            (4) The limitations in the Act have forced States and
        localities into needless litigation regarding denials of
        facility applications. In some cases, the courts have
        misinterpreted the intent of the limitations in the Act on
        State and local authority, forcing many States and localities
        to approve applications for construction of unsightly mammoth
        personal wireless service towers in their community.
            (5) Many residents of States and local towns have expressed
        concerns about the impact of personal wireless facilities and
        towers on property values, aesthetics, and the character of
        local communities.
            (6) Many localities have refused to approve personal
        wireless service facility applications in response to citizen
        concerns about the facility and tower impacts on property
        values, aesthetics, and character of the community.
            (7) A specific limitation included in the section
        332(c)(7)(B)(iii) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended
        by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, provides that any
        decision by a state or local government to deny a request to
        place, construct, or modify personal wireless service
        facilities shall be in writing and supported by ``substantial
        evidence'' contained in the written record. The conference
report for the Telecommunications Act of 1996 defined ``substantial
evidence contained in the written record'' as the traditional standard
used for judicial review of agency actions--more than a scintilla of
evidence but less than a preponderance.
            (8) Denials of these personal wireless service facility
        applications have led to litigation in Federal courts,
        sometimes resulting in federal judges overturning local zoning
        board decisions.
            (9) The Federal courts are split on what constitutes
        ``substantial evidence'' to uphold a local zoning board's
        decision to deny a permit for construction, placement, or
        modification of personal wireless service facility.
            (10) Some Federal courts have refused to acknowledge
        citizen concerns about aesthetics or a decline in property
        value as legitimate reasons for denying a personal wireless
        service facility application, holding that such concerns do not
        constitute ``substantial evidence''. See, e.g., APT
        Minneapolis, Inc. v. City of Maplewood, 1998 WL 634224, at *5
        (D. Minn. Aug. 12, 1998) (concluding that ``[c]ourts construing
        the TCA have universally held that general aesthetic
        considerations fail to meet the substantial evidence test'');
        Omnipoint Communications Enterprises, Inc. v. Town of Amherst,
        N.H., Civil No. 97-614-JD (D. N.H. Aug. 21, 1998) (stating that
        ``[a]lthough aesthetic considerations may be properly taken
        into account by local governments in some circumstances, they
        cannot be used to exclude PWS towers entirely'').
            (11) Other Federal courts, however, have held that local
        residents' concerns about the personal wireless service
        facility's impact on aesthetics of the community constitute
        ``substantial evidence''. See, e.g., Cellular Telephone Co., v.
        Town of Oyster Bay, 1999 WL 35195, at *7 (2d Cir. Jan. 29,
        1999) (concluding that ``aesthetics qualify as a permissible
        ground for denial of a permit only if we can conclude that
        there was `more than a scintilla' of evidence . . . before the
        [Zoning] Board on the negative visual impact of the cell
        cites''); AT&T Wireless PCS, Inc. v. City Council of the City
        of Virginia Beach, 155 F.3d 423, 427-28 (4th Cir. 1998)
        (concluding that testimony from citizens ``demonstrating
        concerns about the aesthetics of the towers and their
        incompatibility with the residential character'' of the
        community ``is more than enough to demonstrate the real, and
        surely reasonable, concerns animating the democratically
        elected'' city council's decision).
            (12) To provide the courts better guidance the
        Telecommunications Act of 1996 must be amended to clarify that
        the substantial evidence test may be satisfied by testimony of
        local residents expressing concerns about the impact of
        personal wireless service facilities on aesthetics, property
        values, and the character of residential neighborhoods. Such a
        legislative change would not discriminate against personal
        wireless service providers or impede their attempts to provide
        personal wireless services, but instead would encourage
        providers and States and localities to work together to design
        towers, facilities, or other feasible alternatives that do not
        intrude or diminish the aesthetics of residential communities,
        thus avoiding costly and protracted litigation.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Substantial Evidence.--Section 332(c)(7)(B)(iii) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7)(B)(iii)) is amended by
adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of this clause, the
term `substantial evidence' includes testimony by local residents
expressing their concerns about the impact of personal wireless service
facilities on the aesthetics, property values, and the character of the
community.''.
    (b) Burden of Proof.--Section 332(c)(7)(B)(v) of such Act is
amended by inserting after the second sentence the following: ``In any
such action in which a person seeking to place, construct, or modify a
tower facility is a party, such person shall bear the burden of
proof.''.

Summary: Local Zoning Preservation Act of 1999 - Amends provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 relating to the placement, construction, or modification of personal wireless service facilities to: (1) state that a decision by a State or local government to deny a request for the placement of such facilities must be supported by substantial evidence, including testimony by local residents expressing their concern about the impact of such facilities on the aesthetics, property values, and character of the local community. And (2) require a person seeking to place, construct, or modify a tower facility to bear the burden of proof that such action shall have no adverse effect on such community or any person.

Local Zoning Preservation Act of 1999


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping College Students Cross the
Finish Line Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE AWARDS TO UNDERGRADUATE AND
              VOCATIONAL STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ASSIST IN
              COMPLETION OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

    Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070 et seq.) is amended by inserting after subpart 7 the following new
subpart:

``Subpart 8--Grants to Institutions To Provide Awards to Undergraduate
and Vocational Students With Financial Need To Assist in Completion of
                    Degree and Certificate Programs

``SEC. 420. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE AWARDS TO UNDERGRADUATE
              AND VOCATIONAL STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ASSIST IN
              COMPLETION OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Grants for Establishment of Financial Assistance Program.--
The Secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education to
establish programs of financial assistance for students in accordance
with this section.
    ``(b) Financial Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--An institution of higher education
        receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall establish a
        financial assistance program to award funds to not less than
        100 eligible students per academic year in accordance with this
        subsection.
            ``(2) Student eligibility.--A student shall be eligible for
        an award under a financial assistance program established by an
        institution of higher education in accordance with this
        subsection if--
                    ``(A) such student is enrolled as an undergraduate
                or vocational student at such institution on a not less
                than half-time basis;
                    ``(B) such student is academically able to complete
                the degree or certificate program for which such
                student is enrolled within an academic year;
                    ``(C) such student is in good academic standing at
                such institution (as determined by such institution) at
                the time of the distribution of the award;
                    ``(D) in the case of a student who previously
                received an award under this section, such student
                maintained good academic standing during the academic
                period for which the student received such previous
                award under this section;
                    ``(E) such student has an outstanding tuition
                payment due to such institution and is unable to fully
                pay the amount due; and
                    ``(F) the institution determines that without
                financial assistance, such student will discontinue the
                degree or certificate program for which such student is
                enrolled due to an inability to pay tuition.
            ``(3) Grant amount.--The amount of an award to a student
        under a financial assistance program established by an
        institution of higher education in accordance with this
        subsection for a semester or equivalent shall be the lesser
        of--
                    ``(A) $1,000; or
                    ``(B) the amount of tuition such institution
                determines the student is unable to pay for such
                semester or equivalent.
            ``(4) Limitation on number of grants.--A student may only
        receive an award under a financial assistance program
        established by an institution of higher education in accordance
        with this subsection for a total of two semesters or the
        equivalent of two semesters.
            ``(5) Information on other financial assistance.--
                    ``(A) Information required.--Each institution of
                higher education receiving a grant under subsection (a)
                shall provide information to each covered student
                attending such institution on financial assistance
                available from any source other than this section.
                    ``(B) Covered student defined.--In this paragraph,
                the term `covered student' means a student receiving an
                award under a financial assistance program established
                by an institution of higher education in accordance
                with this subsection in an amount that does not fully
                pay an outstanding tuition payment due to such
                institution.
    ``(c) Financial Literacy Survey.--The Secretary shall create, and
each student receiving an award under a financial assistance program
established by an institution of higher education in accordance with
subsection (b) shall complete, an online survey concerning financial
literacy. Such survey shall include matters relating to budgeting and
saving, student loan debt, and career planning.
    ``(d) Reports.--
            ``(1) Institutions of higher education.--Each institution
        of higher education receiving a grant under subsection (a)
        shall annually submit to the Secretary a report containing, for
        the academic year preceding the date of the submission of such
        report--
                    ``(A) the number of students enrolled at such
                institution that received an award under a financial
                assistance program established by such institution in
                accordance with subsection (b);
                    ``(B) the number of such students who completed the
                degree or certificate program in which such students
                were enrolled during such academic year;
                    ``(C) the number of such students who, following
                completion of the degree or certificate program in
                which such students were enrolled, subsequently
                enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a higher
                level;
                    ``(D) the number of such students who, following
                completion of the degree or certificate program in
                which such students were enrolled, subsequently
                obtained full-time employment and the average salary
                for such students; and
                    ``(E) any other information that the Secretary
                considers necessary.
            ``(2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall annually submit to
        Congress a report on the implementation of this section. Such
        report shall include--
                    ``(A) the aggregate data submitted by all
                institutions of higher education in accordance with
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) an analysis of the grant program under this
                section and any suggestions for improving such program;
                and
                    ``(C) any other information that the Secretary
                considers necessary.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal years 2015 through 2020.''.

Summary: Helping College Students Cross the Finish Line Act - Amends title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to establish a financial assistance program that awards funds to at least 100 of the IHE's undergraduate or vocational students each academic year who: are enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Are academically able to complete the degree or certificate program in which they are enrolled within an academic year, are in good academic standing. If they previously received such an award, maintained good academic standing during the academic period for which they received such award. Are unable to fully pay an outstanding tuition payment that is due. And without financial assistance, will discontinue the degree or certificate program in which they are enrolled. Caps the amount of such award. Prohibits a student from receiving an award for more than two semesters or the equivalent of two semesters. Requires the IHEs to provide each student who receives an award that does not fully cover the amount due on the student's outstanding tuition with information on the financial assistance available from any other source. Directs the Secretary to create, and each student that receives an award to complete, an online financial literacy survey that includes matters relating to budgeting and saving, student loan debt, and career planning.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Access to Child Care
Act''.

SEC. 2. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH CARE
              AND OTHER INTENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental
              health care and other intensive health care services
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide child care
assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran--
            ``(1) receives covered health care services at a facility
        of the Department; and
            ``(2) is required travel to and return from such facility
        for the receipt of such health care services.
    ``(b) Child Care Assistance.--(1) Child care assistance provided
under this section may include any of the following:
            ``(A) A stipend for the payment of child care offered by a
        licensed child care center (either directly or through a
        voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable,
        modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care
        Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 590 of title
        40.
            ``(B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility
        of the Department.
            ``(C) A payment made directly to a private child care
        agency.
            ``(D) A collaboration with a facility or program of another
        Federal department or agency.
            ``(E) Such other form of assistance as the Secretary
        considers appropriate.
    ``(2) In the case that child care assistance under this section is
provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover
the full cost of such child care.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `eligible veteran' means a veteran who--
                    ``(A) is the primary caretaker of a child or
                children; and
                    ``(B) is--
                            ``(i) receiving covered health care
                        services from the Department; or
                            ``(ii) in need of covered health care
                        services, and but for lack of child care
                        services, would receive such covered health
                        care services from the Department.
            ``(2) The term `covered health care services' means--
                    ``(A) regular mental health care services;
                    ``(B) intensive mental health care services; or
                    ``(C) such other intensive health care services
                that the Secretary determines that provision of
                assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would
                improve access to such health care services by the
                veteran.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental health
                            care and other intensive health care
                            services.''.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF REDUCTION IN AMOUNT OF PENSION FURNISHED BY
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR CERTAIN VETERANS
              COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY
              NURSING FACILITIES.

    Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION OF FEES FOR HOUSING
              LOANS GUARANTEED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (D)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30,
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2024''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 28, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Summary: Veterans' Access to Child Care Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran: (1) receives covered health care services at a VA facility, and (2) is required to travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such services. The bill defines: (1) quot, covered health care servicesquot. To mean regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or such other intensive health care services to which the VA determines that provision of child care assistance would improve the veteran's access, and (2) quot, eligible veteranquot. As a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and who is receiving covered health care services from the VA or who is in need of, and who would receive, such services from the VA but for lack of child care. Included among child care assistance to be provided under this bill are: a stipend for the payment of the full cost of child care offered by a licensed child care center, which shall be modeled after the VA's Child Care Subsidy Program, direct provision of child care at an on-site VA facility, a payment made directly to a private child care agency. And collaboration with a facility or program of another federal department or agency. The bill extends through September 30, 2026, the $90 monthly limit on a VA pension paid to veterans residing in nursing homes when their nursing costs are paid through title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. The bill extends through December 31, 2024, VA authority to collect funding fees for certain VA, VA-guaranteed, or VA-insured housing loans.

Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act