SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2015''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I--GUN BUYBACK GRANT PROGRAM Sec. 101. Program authorized. Sec. 102. Applications. Sec. 103. Term of grant. Sec. 104. Smart prepaid cards. Sec. 105. Uses of funds. Sec. 106. Definitions. Sec. 107. Authorization of appropriations. TITLE II--CRIMINAL PROVISION Sec. 201. Use of smart prepaid card to buy or sell a firearm. TITLE I--GUN BUYBACK GRANT PROGRAM SEC. 101. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. (a) In General.--The Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (referred to in this title as the ``Director'') may make grants to eligible entities to conduct gun buyback programs. (b) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this title, the term ``eligible entity'' means-- (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; or (3) a gun dealer if neither the unit of local government nor the State where such dealer is located receives a grant under this title. SEC. 102. APPLICATIONS. (a) Grants.--The chief executive of an eligible entity seeking a grant under this title shall submit an application to the Director at such time and containing such information as the Director may reasonably require. (b) Subgrants.--A gun dealer located in a unit of local government or State that does receive a grant under this title seeking a subgrant shall submit an application to the chief executive of such unit of local government or State at such time and containing such information as the chief executive may reasonably require, including proof of such dealer's license under section 923 of title 18, United States Code. SEC. 103. TERM OF GRANT. (a) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under this title shall be two years. (b) Availability of Grant Funds.-- (1) States or units of local government.--A State or unit of local government that receives a grant under this title shall return to the Director any remaining smart prepaid cards and any unused portion of such grant at the end of the two-year and 270-day period beginning on the date that the grant was awarded. (2) Gun dealers.--A gun dealer that receives a grant or subgrant under this title shall return to the Director any remaining smart prepaid cards and any unused portion of such grant or subgrant that was allocated to be used to buy back guns-- (A) in the case of a gun dealer receiving a grant, at the end of the two-year period beginning on the date that the grant was awarded; or (B) in the case of a gun dealer receiving a subgrant, at the end of the two-year period beginning on the date that the grant was awarded to the State or unit of local government from which the gun dealer received a subgrant. (c) Amounts Returned.--The Director shall return to the general fund of the Treasury any amounts returned under subsection (b). SEC. 104. SMART PREPAID CARDS. (a) In General.--In conducting the grant program authorized under section 101, the Director may reserve such funds as may be necessary to acquire and distribute smart prepaid cards to eligible entities that receive grants under this title. The Director shall distribute the smart prepaid cards without any funds loaded onto the cards. (b) Market Value of Guns.--The Director shall determine the market value of each gun that the Director determines should be included in the gun buyback program and make such information publicly available. (c) Prohibition on Use of Cards To Buy Guns.-- (1) In general.--A person may not use a smart prepaid card in the acquisition of a gun or ammunition, and a person may not accept a smart prepaid card in the transfer (including a loan) of a gun or ammunition. (2) Penalty.--A person that violates paragraph (1) shall pay to the Director an amount that is equal to the value of the prohibited sale. SEC. 105. USES OF FUNDS. (a) States and Units of Local Government.--A State or unit of local government receiving a grant under this title shall use such funds to do the following: (1) Gun buyback program.--Use such funds to-- (A) conduct a gun buyback program; or (B) make subgrants to gun dealers in such State or unit of local government to conduct gun buyback programs, and distribute the smart prepaid cards such State or unit of local government receives to gun dealers receiving subgrants. (2) Gun and ammunition recycling program.--Use not more than 10 percent of such funds to recycle the guns and ammunition that such State or unit of local government collects or receives from gun dealers. (3) Administrative costs.--Use not more than 15 percent of such funds for the administrative costs of carrying out the grant program under this title, including the criminal database checks under subsection (f). (b) Gun Dealers.-- (1) In general.--A gun dealer receiving a grant or subgrant under this title shall use such funds to conduct a gun buyback program. (2) Smart prepaid card amounts.-- (A) In order to purchase a gun through a gun buyback program, a gun dealer shall load onto a smart prepaid card 125 percent of the market value of the gun that the individual wishes to dispose of (as determined by the Director under section 104(b)). (B) A gun dealer may increase the purchase price of a gun and load an amount onto a smart prepaid card that is greater than 125 percent of the market value of the gun if the gun dealer determines that the gun has been altered in a way that would increase the market value of the gun (such as an altered grip, or the addition of a scope). (3) Guns received.-- (A) In the case of a gun dealer receiving a grant under this title, the gun dealer shall deliver a gun or ammunition the dealer receives under the gun buyback program to the closest office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives not later than 60 days after receiving such gun. (B) In the case of a gun dealer receiving a subgrant under this title, the gun dealer shall deliver a gun or ammunition the dealer receives under the gun buyback program to the State or unit of local government from which it receives the subgrant not later than 60 days after receiving such gun. (c) Ammunition Collection.--A State, unit of local government, or gun dealer conducting a gun buyback program under this title may accept ammunition from individuals wishing to dispose of it, which shall be recycled in accordance with paragraph (3), but may not use smart prepaid cards to purchase ammunition under the gun buyback program. (d) Incentives for Gun Dealer Participation.--To the extent that the Director determines necessary to facilitate participation of gun dealers in the gun buyback program, grant funds may be used to provide monetary or other incentives to gun dealers to participate in such program. For purposes of subsection (a), any such incentives shall be treated as part of the subgrant to the gun dealer described in paragraph (1)(B) thereof. (e) Resale of Guns Prohibited.--A State, unit of local government, or gun dealer conducting a gun buyback program under this title may not sell a gun or ammunition received under such program. (f) Criminal Database Check.--A State, unit of local government, or office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that receives a gun under a gun buyback program under this title shall, not later than 21 days after receiving the gun, use any database accessible to the State, unit of local government, or office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as applicable, in order to determine whether the gun was used in the commission of a crime. If such a gun was used in the commission of a crime, the gun shall be delivered to the appropriate prosecuting authority. SEC. 106. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) Ammunition.--The term ``ammunition'' has the meaning given such term in section 921(a)(17)(A) of title 18, United States Code. (2) Gun.--The term ``gun'' means ``firearm'' as defined in section 921(a)(3) of title 18, United States Code. (3) Gun buyback program.--The term ``gun buyback program'' means a program under which a State, a unit of local government, or a gun dealer, using smart prepaid cards as described in section 105(b)(2), purchases back from individuals wishing to dispose of them, a gun identified by the Director under section 104(b). (4) Gun dealer.--The term ``gun dealer'' means a dealer of firearms licensed under section 923 of title 18, United States Code. (5) Smart prepaid card.--The term ``smart prepaid card'' means a card issued by the Director that-- (A) is redeemable at multiple, unaffiliated merchants or service providers; (B) contains a mechanism, for the purpose of preventing the cardholder from using it to purchase a gun or ammunition, that recognizes the merchant category code of a merchant and prohibits the use of such card at a place of business subject to a license to deal in firearms under section 923 of title 18, United States Code; (C) is honored, upon presentation, by merchants solely for goods or services, except for merchants described in subparagraph (B); (D) is loaded on a prepaid basis by a State, unit of local government, or gun dealer for use in a gun buyback program; (E) clearly and conspicuously bears the words ``THIS CARD MAY NOT BE USED TO PURCHASE A GUN OR AMMUNITION'' in capital and raised letters on the card; and (F) may not redeemed for coins or currency. (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There is authorized to be appropriated $360,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2019 to carry out this title. TITLE II--CRIMINAL PROVISION SEC. 201. USE OF SMART PREPAID CARD IN THE ACQUISITION OR TRANSFER OF A FIREARM. (a) In General.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 932. Use of smart prepaid card in the acquisition or transfer of a firearm ``Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, uses a smart prepaid card (as such term is defined in section 106 of the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2015) in connection with the acquisition of, or accepts a smart prepaid card in connection with the transfer (including a loan) of a firearm or ammunition shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.''. (b) Clerical Amendments.-- (1) Conforming amendment.--Section 924(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after ``section 929'' the following: ``or section 932''. (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 931 the following: ``932. Use of smart prepaid card in the acquisition or transfer of a firearm.''.

Summary: Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to make grants to states, local governments, or gun dealers to conduct gun buyback programs. The BJA may distribute smart prepaid cards for use by a state, local government, or gun dealer to compensate individuals who dispose of firearms. Additionally, the bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to use or accept a smart prepaid card in the acquisition or transfer of a firearm or ammunition. A violator is subject to a fine, up to two years in prison, or both.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Independent Contractor Tax Simplification Act of 1996''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that: (1) Simplifying the tax rules with respect to independent contractors was the top vote-getter at the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business. Conference delegates recommended that Congress ``should recognize the legitimacy of an independent contractor''. The Conference found that the current common law is ``too subjective'' and called upon the Congress to establish ``realistic and consistent guidelines''. (2) It is in the best interests of taxpayers and the Federal Government to have fair and objective rules for determining who is an employee and who is an independent contractor. SEC. 3. STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT EMPLOYEES. (a) In General.--Chapter 25 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (general provisions relating to employment taxes) is amended by adding after section 3510 the following new section: ``SEC. 3511. STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT EMPLOYEES. ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of this title, and notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, if the requirements of subsections (b), (c), and (d) are met with respect to any service performed by any individual, then with respect to such service-- ``(1) the service provider shall not be treated as an employee, ``(2) the service recipient shall not be treated as an employer, ``(3) the payor shall not be treated as an employer, and ``(4) compensation paid or received for such service shall not be treated as paid or received with respect to employment. ``(b) Service Provider Requirements With Regard to Service Recipient.--For the purposes of subsection (a), the requirements of this subsection are met if the service provider, in connection with performing the service-- ``(1) has a significant investment in assets, training, or both, ``(2) incurs significant unreimbursed expenses, ``(3) agrees to perform the service for a particular amount of time or to complete a specific result and is liable for damages for early termination without cause, ``(4) is paid primarily on a commissioned basis or per unit basis, or ``(5) purchases products for resale. ``(c) Additional Service Provider Requirements With Regard to Others.--For the purposes of subsection (a), the requirements of this subsection are met if-- ``(1) the service provider-- ``(A) has a principal place of business, ``(B) does not primarily provide the service at the service recipient's facilities, ``(C) pays a fair market rent for use of the service recipient's facilities, or ``(D) operates primarily from equipment not supplied by the service recipient; or ``(2) the service provider-- ``(A) is not required to perform service exclusively for the service recipient, and ``(B) in the year involved, or in the preceding or subsequent year-- ``(i) has performed a significant amount of service for other persons, ``(ii) has offered to perform service for other persons through-- ``(I) advertising, ``(II) individual written or oral solicitations, ``(III) listing with registries, agencies, brokers, and other persons in the business of providing referrals to other service recipients, or ``(IV) other similar activities, or ``(iii) provides service under a business name which is registered with (or for which a license has been obtained from) a State, a political subdivision of a State, or any agency or instrumentality of 1 or more States or political subdivisions. ``(d) Written Document Requirements.--For purposes of subsection (a), the requirements of this subsection are met if the services performed by the individual are performed pursuant to a written contract between such individual and the person for whom the services are performed, or the payor, and such contract provides that the individual will not be treated as an employee with respect to such services for purposes of this subtitle. ``(e) Special Rules.--For purposes of this section-- ``(1) Failure to meet reporting requirements.--If for any taxable year any service recipient or payor fails to meet the applicable reporting requirements of sections 6041(a), 6041A(a), or 6051 with respect to a service provider, then, unless such failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, this section shall not apply in determining whether such service provider shall not be treated as an employee of such service recipient or payor for such year. ``(2) Related entities.--If the service provider is performing services through an entity owned in whole or in part by such service provider, then the references to `service provider' in subsections (b) through (d) may include such entity, provided that the written contract referred to in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) may be with either the service provider or such entity and need not be with both. ``(f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section-- ``(1) Service provider.--The term `service provider' means any individual who performs service for another person. ``(2) Service recipient.--Except as provided in paragraph (5), the term `service recipient' means the person for whom the service provider performs such service. ``(3) Payor.--Except as provided in paragraph (5), the term `payor' means the person who pays the service provider for the performance of such service in the event that the service recipients do not pay the service provider. ``(4) In connection with performing the service.--The term `in connection with performing the service' means in connection or related to-- ``(A) the actual service performed by the service provider for the service recipients or for other persons for whom the service provider has performed similar service, or ``(B) the operation of the service provider's trade or business. ``(5) Exceptions.--The terms `service recipient' and `payor' do not include any entity which is owned in whole or in part by the service provider.'' (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 25 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``Sec. 3511. Standards for determining whether individuals are not employees.'' (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply to services performed before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Independent Contractor Tax Simplification Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, for purposes of determining the employment status of individuals as employees, a service provider shall not be treated as an employee, a service recipient shall not be treated as an employer, a payor shall not be treated as an employer, and compensation paid or received for such service shall not be treated as paid or received with respect to employment if certain conditions are met.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Congressional Oversight Act of 2015''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Joint plan of action.--The term ``Joint Plan of Action''-- (A) means the Joint Plan of Action, signed at Geneva November 24, 2013, by Iran and the P5-plus-1 countries; and (B) includes all implementing materials and agreements related to the Joint Plan of Action, including the technical understandings reached on January 12, 2014, the extension agreed to on July 19, 2014, and the extension agreed to on November 24, 2014. (2) P5-plus-1 countries.--The term ``P5-plus-1 countries'' means the United States, France, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, and Germany. SEC. 3. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The acquisition of a nuclear weapon by the Islamic Republic of Iran would pose a grave and serious threat to international peace and security, including the national security of the United States and its allies. (2) The United States has led the international community in imposing unprecedented and crippling sanctions with respect to the nuclear program of Iran, which have helped to persuade the leadership of Iran to return to the negotiating table. (3) On November 24, 2013, Iran and the P5-plus-1 countries, made up of the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany, entered into the Joint Plan of Action in order to establish verifiable limits on the nuclear activities of Iran that are of greatest concern with respect to proliferation and to facilitate negotiations toward a final comprehensive arrangement that would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. (4) On November 24, 2014, the P5-plus-1 countries and Iran extended the Joint Plan of Action to allow negotiations to continue with the goal of achieving a political framework arrangement by the end of March 2015, and full technical details by July 1, 2015. (5) Under the Joint Plan of Action, the Government of Iran has, among other steps, ceased enrichment of uranium to near-20 percent fissile U-235, neutralized its stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium gas, halted major construction on its heavy water reactor at Arak, halted the installation of additional centrifuges and not operated its more advanced centrifuge machines to accumulate enriched uranium, allowed more frequent and intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and allowed managed access to centrifuge production- related facilities and uranium mines and mills. (6) The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported, including in a January 20, 2015, report, that Iran has complied with its obligations under the Joint Plan of Action. (7) Iran has a history of deceit when it comes to its nuclear program and any final comprehensive arrangement must be airtight and verifiable to ensure that Iran will live up to its commitments. (8) The United States reserves the option to impose or reimpose certain sanctions in the event that Iran violates the Joint Plan of Action or any successor arrangement agreed to by the P5-plus-1 countries and Iran. (9) In his State of the Union address on January 20, 2015, President Barack Obama said, ``[We have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran, secures America and our allies--including Israel, while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran.''. SEC. 4. ASSESSMENTS OF COMPLIANCE OF IRAN WITH NUCLEAR ARRANGEMENTS. (a) In General.--During the period during which the Joint Plan of Action or a successor arrangement with Iran is in effect, the President shall submit to Congress not less frequently than once every 90 days a report assessing the compliance of Iran with the Joint Plan of Action or the successor arrangement, as the case may be. (b) Determinations Required.--Each report required by subsection (a) with respect to the Joint Plan of Action or a successor arrangement shall include a determination by the President, made in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, of the following: (1) Whether Iran has failed to fulfill the terms of the Joint Plan of Action or the successor arrangement. (2) Whether Iran has attempted to circumvent inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency or has otherwise attempted to circumvent enforcement of the Joint Plan of Action or the successor arrangement. (3) Whether the International Atomic Energy Agency or any of the P5-plus-1 countries has accused Iran of violating the Joint Plan of Action or the successor arrangement and, if so, whether the accusation is credible and whether Iran has been apprised of the accusation. (c) Certification Required.--The President shall submit, with each report required by subsection (a), an unclassified certification by the President, made in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, of whether Iran has complied with or violated the terms of the Joint Plan of Action or a successor arrangement. (d) Form of Reports.--Expect as provided in subsection (c), each report required by subsection (a) may be submitted in classified form or containing a classified annex, as appropriate. SEC. 5. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION TO REINSTATE WAIVED OR SUSPENDED SANCTIONS AFTER A VIOLATION OF A NUCLEAR ARRANGEMENT BY IRAN. (a) In General.--If a report required by section 4(a) is accompanied by a certification under section 4(c) by the President that Iran has violated the Joint Plan of Action or any successor arrangement, Congress may initiate expedited consideration of qualifying legislation pursuant to this section. (b) Qualifying Legislation Defined.--For the purposes of this section, the term ``qualifying legislation'' means only a bill of either House of Congress-- (1) that is introduced not later than 3 calendar days after the date on which the report described in subsection (a) is received by Congress; (2) the title of which is as follows: ``A bill reinstating sanctions imposed with respect to Iran and prohibiting the release of funds or assets to Iran.''; and (3) the matter after the enacting clause of which is as follows: ``All sanctions imposed with respect to Iran that were waived or suspended pursuant to the Joint Action Plan (as defined in section 2 of the Iran Congressional Oversight Act of 2015) or a successor arrangement are reinstated and the release of funds or assets to Iran pursuant to the Joint Action Plan or a successor arrangement is prohibited.''. (c) Fast Track Consideration in House of Representatives.-- (1) Reconvening.--Upon receipt of a report described in subsection (a), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, if the House would otherwise be adjourned, shall notify the Members of the House that, pursuant to this section, the House shall convene not later than the second calendar day after receipt of the report. (2) Reporting and discharge.--Any committee of the House of Representatives to which qualifying legislation is referred shall report it to the House not later than 5 calendar days after the date of receipt of the report described in subsection (a). If a committee fails to report the qualifying legislation within that period, the committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the qualifying legislation and the qualifying legislation shall be referred to the appropriate calendar. (3) Proceeding to consideration.--After each committee authorized to consider qualifying legislation reports it to the House or has been discharged from its consideration, it shall be in order, not later than the sixth day after Congress receives the report described in subsection (a), to move to proceed to consider the qualifying legislation in the House. All points of order against the motion are waived. Such a motion shall not be in order after the House has disposed of a motion to proceed on the qualifying legislation. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening motion. The motion shall not be debatable. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order. (4) Consideration.--The qualifying legislation shall be considered as read. All points of order against the qualifying legislation and against its consideration are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the qualifying legislation to its passage without intervening motion except 2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the qualifying legislation shall not be in order. (d) Fast Track Consideration in Senate.-- (1) Reconvening.--Upon receipt of a report described in subsection (a), if the Senate has adjourned or recessed for more than 2 days, the majority leader of the Senate, after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, shall notify the Members of the Senate that, pursuant to this section, the Senate shall convene not later than the second calendar day after receipt of the report. (2) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in the Senate, the qualifying legislation shall be placed immediately on the calendar. (3) Floor consideration.-- (A) In general.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time during the period beginning on the fourth day after the date on which Congress receives a report described in subsection (a) and ending on the sixth day after the date on which Congress receives that report (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the qualifying legislation, and all points of order against the qualifying legislation (and against consideration of the qualifying legislation) are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the qualifying legislation is agreed to, the qualifying legislation shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of. (B) Debate.--Debate on the qualifying legislation, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between the majority and minority leaders or their designees. A motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the qualifying legislation is not in order. (C) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage shall occur immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the qualifying legislation, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the Senate. (D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to qualifying legislation shall be decided without debate. (e) Rules Relating to Senate and House of Representatives.-- (1) Coordination with action by other house.--If, before the passage by one House of qualifying legislation of that House, that House receives qualifying legislation from the other House, then the following procedures shall apply: (A) The qualifying legislation of the other House shall not be referred to a committee. (B) With respect to qualifying legislation of the House receiving the legislation-- (i) the procedure in that House shall be the same as if no qualifying legislation had been received from the other House; but (ii) the vote on passage shall be on the qualifying legislation of the other House. (2) Treatment of qualifying legislation of other house.--If one House fails to introduce or consider qualifying legislation under this section, the qualifying legislation of the other House shall be entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section. (3) Treatment of companion measures.--If, following passage of the qualifying legislation in the Senate, the Senate then receives the companion measure from the House of Representatives, the companion measure shall not be debatable. (4) Subsequent measures.--If qualifying legislation has been considered under this section in both Houses of Congress pursuant to a report described in subsection (a), no further qualifying legislation shall be in order until Congress receives a new report described in subsection (a). (f) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes qualifying legislation, debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section shall be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and minority leaders or their designees. (g) Rules of House of Representatives and Senate.--This section and section 6 are enacted by Congress-- (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such are deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of legislation described in those sections, and supersede other rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent with such rules; and (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. SEC. 6. CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE OF ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION TO FURTHER RESPOND TO A VIOLATION BY IRAN OF A NUCLEAR ARRANGEMENT. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time during the 30-day period beginning on the date on which a report described in section 5(a) is received by Congress (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of legislation described in subsection (b), and all points of order against the legislation (and against consideration of the legislation) are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the legislation is agreed to, the legislation shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of. (b) Legislation Described.--Legislation described in this subsection is such legislation as the majority leader of the Senate, after consultation with the minority leader, determines necessary to further respond to a violation by Iran the Joint Plan of Action or any successor arrangement. SEC. 7. ROLE OF CONGRESS IN LIFTING CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED SANCTIONS. If the United States is a party to a comprehensive long-term arrangement with Iran relating to its nuclear program under which the United States commits to lifting sanctions imposed pursuant to any provision of law included in a duly enacted Act of Congress, that provision of law shall remain in effect until, consistent with section 7 of article I of the Constitution of the United States and notwithstanding the arrangement, repealed by an Act of Congress or terminated pursuant to another provision of law.

Summary: Iran Congressional Oversight Act of 2015 This bill directs the President, during the period which the Joint Plan of Action or a successor arrangement with Iran is in effect, to report Congress at least once every 90 days regarding Iran's compliance with the Joint Plan of Action or a successor arrangement. (The Joint Plan of Action: (1) means the November 2013 Joint Plan of Action signed by Iran and the P5-plus-1 countries, and (2) includes all implementing materials and agreements related to it.) Each report shall include a presidential determination and certification, made in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, on whether Iran has complied with or violated the terms of the Joint Plan of Action or a successor arrangement. Congress may initiate expedited consideration of legislation to reinstate waived or suspended sanctions if a report is accompanied by a presidential certification that Iran has violated the Joint Plan of Action or any successor arrangement. It is in order during the 30-day period beginning on the date on which a report is received by Congress for the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of legislation to further respond to an Iranian violation of the Joint Plan of Action or any successor arrangement. The following shall apply: all points of order against the legislation are waived; the motion to proceed is not debatable; the motion is not subject to a motion to postpone; a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order; and if a motion to proceed to the consideration of the legislation is agreed to, the legislation shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of. If the United States is a party to a comprehensive long-term arrangement with Iran relating to its nuclear program under which the United States commits to lifting sanctions imposed pursuant to a provision of law included in a duly enacted Act of Congress, that provision shall remain in effect until repealed by an Act of Congress or terminated pursuant to another provision of law.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Price Stability Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following: (1) Price stability is a prerequisite for sustainable long- term economic growth, job creation, and moderate interest rates. (2) Inflation erodes the value of Americans' income and savings. (3) Inflation distorts the pricing system and the efficient allocation of resources in the economy. (4) Inflation makes long-term planning difficult and raises the effective tax rate on capital, thereby impeding investment. (5) Through its determination of monetary policy, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is ultimately responsible for controlling the long-run rate of inflation in the economy. (6) The multiple policy goals of the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 cause confusion and ambiguity about the appropriate role and aims of monetary policy, which can add to volatility in economic activity and financial markets. (7) There is a need for the Congress to clarify the proper role of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in economic policymaking, in order to achieve the best environment for long-term economic growth and job creation. (8) An explicit price stability goal would promote transparency, accountability and credibility in monetary policy. (9) Price stability should be the primary long-term goal of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States that-- (1) the principal economic responsibilities of the Government are to establish and ensure an environment that is conducive to both long-term economic growth and increases in living standards, by establishing and maintaining free markets, low taxes, respect for private property, and the stable, long- term purchasing power of the United States currency; and (2) the primary long-term goal of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should be to promote price stability. SEC. 3. MONETARY POLICY. (a) Amendment to the Federal Reserve Act.--Section 2A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 225a) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 2A. MONETARY POLICY. ``(a) Price Stability.--The Board and the Federal Open Market Committee (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Committee') shall-- ``(1) establish an explicit numerical definition of the term `price stability'; and ``(2) maintain a monetary policy that effectively promotes long-term price stability. ``(b) Market Stability and Liquidity.--Subsection (a) shall not be construed as a limitation on the authority or responsibility of the Board-- ``(1) to provide liquidity to markets in the event of a disruption that threatens the smooth functioning and stability of the financial sector; or ``(2) to serve as a lender of last resort under this Act when the Board determines such action is necessary. ``(c) Congressional Consultation.--Not later than February 20 and July 20 of each year, the Board shall consult with the Congress at semiannual hearings before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, about the objectives and plans of the Board and the Committee with respect to achieving and maintaining price stability. ``(d) Congressional Oversight.--The Board shall, concurrent with each semiannual hearing required by subsection (c), submit a written report to the Congress containing-- ``(1) numerical measures to help assess the extent to which the Board and the Committee are achieving and maintaining price stability in accordance with subsection (a); ``(2) a description of the intermediate variables used by the Board to gauge the prospects for achieving the objective of price stability; and ``(3) the definition, or any modifications thereto, of the term `price stability' established in accordance with subsection (a)(1).''. (b) Compliance Estimate.--Concurrent with the first semiannual hearing required by section 2A(b) of the Federal Reserve Act (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) following the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the Congress a written estimate of the length of time it will take for the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee to fully achieve price stability. The Board and the Committee shall take into account any potential short-term effects on employment and output in complying with the goal of price stability. SEC. 4. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS. (a) Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978.--The Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is hereby repealed. (b) Employment Act of 1946.--The Employment Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended-- (1) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 1022)-- (A) in the section heading, by striking ``and short-term economic goals and policies''; (B) by striking ``(a)''; and (C) by striking ``in accord with section 11(c) of this Act'' and all that follows through the end of the section and inserting ``in accordance with section 5(c).''; (2) in section 9(b) (15 U.S.C. 1022f(b)), by striking ``, the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978,''; (3) in section 10 (15 U.S.C. 1023)-- (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``in the light of the policy declared in section 2''; (B) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``section 9'' and inserting ``section 3''; and (C) in the matter immediately following paragraph (2) of subsection (e), by striking ``and the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978''; (4) by striking section 2; (5) by striking sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and (6) by redesignating sections 3, 9, 10, and 11 as sections 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. (c) Congressional Budget Act of 1974.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended-- (1) in section 301-- (A) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively; (B) in subsection (d), in the second sentence, by striking ``the fiscal policy'' and all that follows through the end of the sentence and inserting ``fiscal policy.''; (C) in subsection (e)(1), in the second sentence, by striking ``as to short-term and medium-term goals''; and (D) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following: ``(f) Repealed''; and (2) in section 305-- (A) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting before the period at the end ``, as described in section 2 of the Price Stability Act of 2008''; (B) in subsection (a)(4)-- (i) by striking ``House sets forth the economic goals'' and all that follows through ``designed to achieve,'' and inserting ``House of Representatives sets forth the economic goals and policies, as described in section 2 of the Price Stability Act of 2008,''; and (ii) by striking ``such goals,'' and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting ``such goals and policies.''; (C) in subsection (b)(3), by inserting before the period at the end ``, as described in section 2 of the Price Stability Act of 2008''; and (D) in subsection (b)(4)-- (i) by striking ``goals (as'' and all that follows through ``designed to achieve,'' and inserting ``goals and policies, as described in section 2 of the Price Stability Act of 2008,''; and (ii) by striking ``such goals,'' and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting ``such goals and policies.''.

Summary: Price Stability Act of 2008 - Declares it is US policy that the principal economic responsibilities of the Government are to establish both long-term economic growth and increases in living standards, maintain free markets, low taxes, respect for private property, and the stable, long-term purchasing power of US currency. Declares that the promotion of price stability should be the primary long-term goal of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to revise the mandate of the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee to require them to: (1) establish a numerical definition of the term "price stability"; and (2) maintain a monetary policy that promotes long-term price stability. Requires the Board to consult with, and report to, Congress semi-annually about Board and Committee objectives and plans to achieve and maintain price stability. Repeals the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor Vegetation Management Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) the lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary surrounding Fort Stanton, New Mexico, contain historic and natural resources that warrant special management considerations by the Bureau of Land Management; (2) the adjudication process for establishing grazing preferences under the Act of June 28, 1934 (commonly known as the ``Taylor Grazing Act'') (43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.) and other applicable laws has not been conducted on lands acquired by the Secretary at and near Fort Stanton, New Mexico, including lands along the Rio Bonito in Lincoln County, New Mexico; (3) in the management of renewable forage resources on lands surrounding Fort Stanton, New Mexico, vegetation sales contracts would be a beneficial tool for the Bureau of Land Management to use to maintain and enhance the condition of the forage and other natural resources of the area; (4) the management of grazing animals under vegetation sales contracts requires fiscal resources and personnel that exceed that of the grazing preference system in place on other public domain lands; and (5) disputes over the legal description of lands acquired by the Secretary along the Rio Bonito in Lincoln County, New Mexico, make it necessary for the Bureau of Land Management to pursue reasonable legal remedies under existing authorities to resolve such disputes with adjacent landowners. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. (a) Fort Stanton.--The term ``Fort Stanton'' means land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary at Fort Stanton, New Mexico, as depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor, NM'', dated May 13, 1997. (b) Rio Bonito Corridor.--The term ``Rio Bonito Corridor'' means land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary near Fort Stanton, New Mexico, within the area identified as the ``Rio Bonito Corridor'', as depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor, NM'', dated May 13, 1997, which-- (1) was acquired by the Secretary before May 13, 1997; or (2) is acquired by the Secretary (by purchase or exchange) from willing landowners after May 13, 1997. (c) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. SEC. 4. MAPS. The maps referred to in section 3 shall be made available for public inspection by the Bureau of Land Management at the Roswell District Office in Roswell, New Mexico, and at the New Mexico State Office in Santa Fe, New Mexico. SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF FORT STANTON AND RIO BONITO LAND. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of the Act of June 28, 1934 (43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.), or any other law relating to the establishment, leasing, or permitting of grazing under a grazing preference, the Secretary, in managing land within Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor that is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, may solicit competitive bids for and enter into vegetation sales contracts for the purpose of using livestock grazing as a vegetation management tool. Any such contracts entered into with respect to the land before the date of enactment of this Act are ratified. (b) Consistency With Land and Resource Management Plans.-- Management of Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor shall be consistent with any applicable land and resource management plan under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). (c) Distribution and Use of Proceeds.--Of the proceeds of vegetation sales contracts entered into under subsection (a)-- (1) 12\1/2\ percent shall be paid to the State of New Mexico for distribution to Lincoln County, New Mexico, to be used for purposes authorized by section 10 of the Act of June 28, 1934 (43 U.S.C. 315i); (2) 12\1/2\ percent shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States; and (3) 75 percent shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury of the United States and shall be available to the Secretary, without further Act of appropriation, for use in managing Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor and to achieve the management goals and prescriptions identified in applicable resource management plans for the Rio Bonito acquired lands and the Fort Stanton area of critical environmental concern, but none of the proceeds provided to the Secretary under this paragraph shall be available for land acquisition.

Summary: Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor Vegetation Management Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in managing land within Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor that is under the Secretary's jurisdiction, to solicit competitive bids for and enter into vegetation sales contracts for the purpose of using livestock grazing as a vegetation management tool. Ratifies any such contracts entered into with respect to the land before the date of this Act's enactment. Requires management of Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor to be consistent with any applicable land and resource management plan under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Directs that, of the proceeds of such vegetation sales contracts: (1) 12.5 percent be paid to the State of New Mexico for distribution to Lincoln County, New Mexico, for purposes authorized by the Act of June 28, 1934 (Taylor Grazing Act); (2) 12.5 percent be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury; and (3) 75 percent be deposited in a special Treasury account for use in managing Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor and to achieve the management goals and prescriptions identified in applicable resource management plans for the Rio Bonito acquired lands and the Fort Stanton area of critical environmental concern, but not for land acquisition.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Foundation. (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National Science Foundation established under section 2 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861). (3) Major multi-user research facility.--The term ``major multi-user research facility'' means a science and engineering infrastructure construction project that exceeds the lesser of 10 percent of a Directorate's annual budget or $100,000,000 in total project cost that is funded in the major research equipment and facilities construction account, or any successor thereto. SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FACILITIES. (a) Large Facilities Office.--The Director shall maintain a Large Facilities Office. The functions of the Large Facilities Office shall be to support the research directorates in the development, implementation, and assessment of major multi-user research facilities, including by-- (1) serving as the Foundation's primary resource for all policy or process issues related to the development and implementation of major multi-user research facilities; (2) serving as a Foundation-wide resource on project management, including providing expert assistance on nonscientific and nontechnical aspects of project planning, budgeting, implementation, management, and oversight; (3) coordinating and collaborating with research directorates to share best management practices and lessons learned from prior projects; and (4) assessing projects during preconstruction and construction phases for cost and schedule risk. (b) Oversight of Large Facilities.--The Director shall appoint a senior agency official as head of the Large Facilities Office whose responsibility is oversight of the development, construction, and transfer to operations of major multi-user research facilities across the Foundation. (c) Policies for Large Facility Costs.-- (1) In general.--The Director shall ensure that the Foundation's polices for developing and maintaining major multi-user research facility construction costs are consistent with the best practices described in the March 2009 Government Accountability Office Report GAO-09-3SP, or any successor report thereto, the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation as appropriate. (2) Cost proposal analysis.-- (A) General requirement.--The Director shall ensure that an external cost proposal analysis is conducted for any major multi-user research facility. (B) Resolution of issues found.--The Director, or a senior agency official within the Office of the Director designated by the Director, shall certify in writing that all issues identified during the cost analysis, including any findings of unjustified or questionable cost items, are resolved before the Foundation may execute a construction agreement with respect to the project. (C) Transmittal to congress.--The Director shall transmit each certification made under subparagraph (B) to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (3) Incurred cost audits.--The Director shall ensure that an incurred cost audit is conducted at least biennially on any major multi-user research facility, in accordance with Government Auditing Standards as established in Government Accountability Office Report GAO-12-331G, or any successor report thereto, with the first incurred cost audit to commence no later than 12 months after execution of the construction agreement. (4) Contingencies.-- (A) In general.--Except as provided for in subparagraph (C)(ii), the Foundation shall-- (i) provide oversight for contingency in accordance with Cost Principles Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200.433, or any successor thereto, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation as appropriate, except as provided in this paragraph; and (ii) not make any award which provides for contributions to a contingency reserve held or managed by the awardee, as defined in 2 CFR part 200.433(c). (B) Updating policy manual.--The Foundation shall update its Large Facilities Manual and any other applicable guidance for contingencies on major multi- user research facilities with regard to estimating, monitoring, and accounting for contingency. (C) Foundation requirements.--The policy updated under subparagraph (B) shall require that the Foundation-- (i) may only include contingency amounts in an award in accordance with Cost Principles Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200.433, or any successor thereto, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation as appropriate; and (ii) shall retain control over funds budgeted for contingency, but may disburse budgeted contingency funds incrementally to the awardee to ensure project stability and continuity. (D) Awardee requirements.--The policy updated under subparagraph (B) shall require that an awardee shall-- (i) provide verifiable documentation to support any amounts proposed for contingencies; and (ii) support requests for the release of contingency funds with evidence of a bona fide need and that the amounts allocated to the performance baseline are reasonable and allowable. (E) Current awardees.--The Foundation shall work with awardees for whom awards with contingency provisions have been made before the date of enactment of this Act-- (i) to determine if any of their use of contingency funds represents out-of-scope changes for which Foundation's prior written approval was not obtained; and (ii) if out-of-scope changes are found, to identify any financial action that may be appropriate. (5) Management fees.-- (A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term ``management fee'' means a portion of an award made by the Foundation for the purpose of covering ordinary and legitimate business expenses necessary to maintain operational stability which are not otherwise allowable under Cost Principles Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E, or any successor regulation thereto. (B) Limitation.--The Foundation may provide a management fee under an award only if the awardee provides justification as to the need for such funds. In such cases, the Foundation shall take into account the awardee's overall financial circumstances when determining the amount of the fee if justified. (C) Financial information.--The Foundation shall require award applicants to provide income and financial information covering a period of no less than 3 prior years (or in the case of an entity established less than 3 years prior to the entity's application date, the period beginning on the date of establishment and ending on the application date), including cash on hand and net asset information, in support of a request for management fees. The Foundation shall also require awardees to report to the Foundation annually any sources of non-Federal funds received in excess of $50,000 during the award period. (D) Expense reporting.--The Foundation shall require awardees to track and report to the Foundation annually all expenses reimbursed or otherwise paid for with management fee funds, in accordance with Federal accounting practices as established in Government Accountability Office Report GAO-12-331G, or any successor report thereto. (E) Audits.--The Inspector General of the Foundation may audit any Foundation award for compliance with this paragraph. (F) Prohibited uses.--An awardee may not use management fees for-- (i) costs allowable under Cost Principles Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E, or any successor regulation thereto; (ii) alcoholic beverages; (iii) tickets to concerts, sporting, or other entertainment events; (iv) vacation or other travel for nonbusiness purposes; (v) charitable contributions, except for a charitable contribution of direct benefit to the project or activity supported by the management fee; (vi) social or sporting club memberships; (vii) meals or entertainment for nonbusiness purposes; (viii) luxury or personal items; (ix) lobbying, as described in the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.450; or (x) any other purpose the Foundation determines is inappropriate. (G) Review.--The Foundation shall review management fee usage for each Foundation award on at least an annual basis for compliance with this paragraph and the Foundation's Large Facilities Manual. (6) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress a report describing the Foundation's policies for developing and managing major multi-user research facility construction costs, including a description of any aspects of the policies that diverge from the best practices recommended in Government Accountability Office Report GAO-09-3SP, or any successor report thereto, and the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200. (7) Noncompliance.--The Director shall ensure that the Foundation shall take the enforcement actions specified in 45 CFR 92.43 for noncompliance with this section. SEC. 4. WHISTLEBLOWER EDUCATION. (a) In General.--The Foundation shall be subject to section 4712 of title 41, United States Code. (b) Education and Training.--The Foundation shall provide education and training for Foundation managers and staff on the requirements of such section 4712, and provide information on such section to all awardees, contractors, and employees of such awardees and contractors. Passed the House of Representatives June 14, 2016. Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, Clerk.

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 13, 2016. NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016 (Sec. 3) This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to maintain a Large Facilities Office to support its research directorates in the development, implementation, and assessment of major multi-user research facilities. The NSF shall appoint a senior agency official to head the Office, whose responsibility shall be to oversee development, construction, and transfer to operations of major multi-user facilities across the NSF. The bill requires: an external cost proposal analysis for any major multi-user research facility; the resolution of all issues identified, including any unjustified or questionable cost items; and biennial incurred cost audits of any such facility. The NSF shall not make any award which arranges for contributions to an awardee's contingency reserve. (Contingency is the part of a budget estimate of future costs associated with possible events or conditions arising from causes whose precise outcome is indeterminable at the time of estimate, and that experience shows will likely result, in aggregate, in additional costs for the approved activity or project.) The NSF shall update its Large Facilities Manual and any other applicable guidance for estimating, monitoring, and accounting for contingencies on major multi-user research facilities. The updated policy shall state that the NSF: (1) may only include contingency amounts in an award meeting specified criteria; and (2) shall retain control over funds budgeted for contingency, but may disburse budgeted contingency funds incrementally to an awardee to ensure project stability and continuity. An awardee shall: (1) furnish verifiable documentation to support proposed contingency amounts, and (2) support requests for the release of contingency funds with evidence of a bona fide need and reasonable and allowable allocations to the performance baseline. The NSF shall work with current awardees to: (1) determine if any of their use of contingency funds represents out-of-scope changes for which prior NSF written approval was not obtained, and (2) identify appropriate financial action regarding any out-of-scope changes found. The NSF may include management fees under an award for ordinary and legitimate business expenses, not otherwise allowable, only if the awardee furnishes a justification of need. The NSF shall require award applicants to report: income and financial information covering at least three prior years, including cash on hand and net asset information, in support of a request for management fees; and any sources of nonfederal funds received in excess of $50,000 during the award period. The NSF shall require awardees to track and report annually all expenses reimbursed or otherwise paid for with management fee funds. The bill specifies prohibited uses for management fees. (Sec. 4) The bill subjects the NSF to the pilot program for enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for (whistleblower) disclosure of certain information. The NSF shall arrange for education and training for NSF managers and staff on the pilot program and furnish information on it to all awardees and contractors and their employees.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) The National Institute of Standards and Technology, because of the electronic commerce, information technology and security expertise in its laboratories and the healthcare component of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and its long history of working with the information technology and healthcare industries, is well equipped to complement the healthcare information technology implementation efforts as established by Executive Order 13335 of April 27, 2004, by addressing the technical challenges posed by healthcare information enterprise integration. (2) Therefore, it is in the national interest for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to accelerate its efforts-- (A) to participate in the development of technical standards, standards conformance tests, and enterprise integration processes that are necessary to increase efficiency and quality of care, and lower costs in the healthcare industry; and (B) ensuring that all components of the United States healthcare infrastructure can be a part of an electronic information network that is reliable, interoperable, and secure. SEC. 3. HEALTHCARE INFORMATION ENTERPRISE INTEGRATION INITIATIVE. (a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish an initiative for advancing healthcare information enterprise integration within the United States. In carrying out this section, the Director shall involve various units of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including its laboratories and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program. This initiative shall build upon ongoing efforts of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the private sector, and other Federal agencies, shall involve consortia that include government and industry, and shall be designed to permit healthcare information enterprise integration. These efforts shall complement ongoing activities occurring under Executive Order 13335 of April 27, 2004. (b) Technical Activities.--In order to carry out this section, the Director may focus on-- (1) information technology standards and interoperability analysis, which may include the development of technical testbeds; (2) supporting the establishment of conformance testing infrastructure, including software conformance and certification; (3) security; (4) medical device communication; (5) supporting the provisioning of technical architecture products for management and retrieval; and (6) information management including electronic health records management, health information usability, and access and decision support. (c) Other Activities.--The Director may assist healthcare representatives and organizations and Federal agencies in the development of technical roadmaps that identify the remaining steps needed to ensure that technical standards for application protocols, interoperability, data integrity, and security, as well as the corollary conformance test protocols, will be in place. These roadmaps shall rely upon voluntary consensus standards where possible consistent with Federal technology transfer laws. (d) Plans and Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the activities of the National Institute of Standards and Technology under this section. SEC. 4. FEDERAL HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) Guidelines and Standards.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with industry and appropriate Federal agencies, shall report on development of technology-neutral information technology infrastructure guidelines and standards, or the adoption of existing technology-neutral industry guidelines and private sector standards, for use by Federal agencies to enable those agencies to effectively select and utilize healthcare information technologies in a manner that is-- (1) sufficiently secure to meet the needs of those agencies (as is consistent with the Computer Security Act of 1987, as amended, section 225 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and title III of the E-Government Act of 2002), their transaction partners, and the general public; (2) interoperable, to the maximum extent possible; and (3) inclusive of ongoing Federal efforts that provide technical expertise to harmonize existing standards and assist in the development of interoperability specifications. (b) Elements.--The guidelines and standards developed under subsection (a) shall-- (1) promote the use by Federal agencies of commercially available products that incorporate the guidelines and standards developed under subsection (a); (2) develop uniform testing procedures suitable for determining the conformance of commercially available and Federal healthcare information technology products with the guidelines and standards; (3) support and promote the testing of electronic healthcare information technologies utilized by Federal agencies; (4) provide protection and security profiles; (5) establish a core set of interoperability specifications in transactions between Federal agencies and their transaction partners; and (6) include validation criteria to enable Federal agencies to select healthcare information technologies appropriate to their needs. (c) Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the Congress a report that includes a description and analysis of-- (1) the level of interoperability and security of technologies for sharing healthcare information among Federal agencies; and (2) the problems Federal agencies are having with, and the progress such agencies are making toward, ensuring interoperable and secure healthcare information systems and electronic healthcare records. SEC. 5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. (a) Healthcare Information Enterprise Integration Research Centers.-- (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation the Director of the National Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall establish a program of assistance to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof which may include nonprofit entities and Federal Government laboratories) to establish multidisciplinary Centers for Healthcare Information Enterprise Integration. (2) Review; competition.--Grants shall be awarded under this subsection on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis. (3) Purpose.--The purposes of the Centers shall be-- (A) to generate innovative approaches to healthcare information enterprise integration by conducting cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research on the systems challenges to healthcare delivery; and (B) the development and use of information technologies and other complementary fields. (4) Research areas.--Research areas may include-- (A) the interfaces between human information and communications technology systems; (B) voice-recognition systems; (C) software that improves interoperability and connectivity among systems; (D) software dependability in systems critical to healthcare delivery; (E) measurement of the impact of information technologies on the quality and productivity of healthcare; (F) healthcare information enterprise management; and (G) information technology security and integrity. (5) Applications.--An institution of higher education (or a consortium thereof) seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum, a description of-- (A) the research projects that will be undertaken by the Center and the respective contributions of the participating entities; (B) how the Center will promote active collaboration among scientists and engineers from different disciplines, such as information technology, biologic sciences, management, social sciences, and other appropriate disciplines; (C) technology transfer activities to demonstrate and diffuse the research results, technologies, and knowledge; and (D) how the Center will contribute to the education and training of researchers and other professionals in fields relevant to healthcare information enterprise integration. (b) National Information Technology Research and Development Program.--The National High-Performance Computing Program established by section 101 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) shall coordinate Federal research and development programs related to the development and deployment of health information technology, including activities related to-- (1) computer infrastructure; (2) data security; (3) development of large-scale, distributed, reliable computing systems; (4) wired, wireless, and hybrid high-speed networking; (5) development of software and software-intensive systems; (6) human-computer interaction and information management technologies; and (7) the social and economic implications of information technology. (c) Strategic Plan for Healthcare Technologies and Classification.-- (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, shall establish a task force whose membership includes representatives of other Federal agencies and industry groups (such as the American Health Information Management Association and the American Medical Informatics Association) to develop a strategic plan including recommendations for-- (A) the development, adoption, and maintenance of terminologies and classifications; (B) gaining commitment of terminology and classification stakeholders (such as developers, end users, and other service and technology suppliers) to principles and guidelines for open and transparent processes to enable cost-effective interoperability and complete and accurate information; (C) the design of a centralized authority or governance model, including principles for its operation and funding scenarios; (D) United States participation in the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization; and (E) any other issues identified by the task force. (2) Task force report.--The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. The task force shall terminate after transmitting such report. (3) Federal advisory committee act.--The task force established under this subsection shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology for carrying out this Act $8,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010, to be derived from amounts authorized under section 3001 of Public Law 110- 69.

Summary: Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act - (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish an initiative for advancing health care information enterprise integration within the United States. Authorizes the Director to focus on: (1) information technology standards and interoperability analysis; (2) supporting the establishment of conformance testing infrastructure; (3) security; (4) medical device communication; (5) supporting the provisioning of technical architecture products for management and retrieval; and (6) information management. Allows the Director to assist health care representatives and organizations and federal agencies in the development of technical roadmaps that identify the remaining steps needed to ensure that standards will be in place. Requires such roadmaps to rely upon voluntary consensus standards, where possible, consistent with federal technology transfer laws. (Sec. 4) Requires the Director to report on the development or adoption of technology-neutral information technology infrastructure guidelines and standards to enable federal agencies to effectively select and utilize health care information technologies in a manner that is: (1) sufficiently secure; (2) interoperable; and (3) inclusive of ongoing federal efforts that provide technical expertise to harmonize existing standards and assist in the development of interoperability specifications. Requires such guidelines and standards to: (1) promote the use by federal agencies of commercially available products; (2) develop uniform testing procedures suitable for determining product conformance; (3) support and promote the testing of electronic health care information technologies utilized by federal agencies; (4) provide protection and security profiles; (5) establish a core set of interoperability specifications in federal agency transactions; and (6) include validation criteria to enable federal agencies to select appropriate health care information technologies. Requires the Director to report on: (1) the level of interoperability and security of technologies for sharing health care information among federal agencies; and (2) federal agency problems and progress in ensuring interoperable and secure health care information systems and electronic health care records. (Sec. 5) Requires the Director to establish a program of assistance to institutions of higher education to establish multidisciplinary Centers for Healthcare Information Enterprise Integration in order to: (1) generate innovative approaches to health care information enterprise integration; and (2) develop and use information technologies and other complementary fields. Directs the National High-Performance Computing Program to coordinate federal research and development programs related to the development and deployment of health information technology. Requires the Director to establish a task force to develop a strategic plan, including recommendations for: (1) the development, adoption, and maintenance of terminologies and classifications; (2) gaining commitment of terminology and classification stakeholders to principles and guidelines for an open and transparent process to enable cost-effective interoperability and complete and accurate information; (3) the design of a centralized authority or governance model; and (4) U.S. participation in the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization. (Sec. 6) Authorizes Appropriations for FY2009-FY2010.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pay Accountability Act''. SEC. 2. WITHHOLDING OF PAY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS IN EFFECT OR PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT IS REACHED. (a) Holding Salaries in Escrow.--If during any pay period during a Congress a Government shutdown is in effect or the public debt limit is reached, the payroll administrator of a House of Congress shall-- (1) withhold from the payments otherwise required to be made with respect to the pay period for the compensation of each Member of Congress who serves in that House of Congress an amount equal to the product of-- (A) an amount equal to one day's worth of pay under the annual rate of pay applicable to the Member under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) for the pay period; and (B) the number of 24-hour periods during which the Government shutdown is in effect or the public debt limit is reached (as the case may be) which occur during the pay period; and (2) deposit in an escrow account all amounts withheld under paragraph (1). (b) Transfer to Secretary of the Treasury at End of the Congress.-- (1) Transfer.--The payroll administrator of a House of Congress shall transfer to the Secretary of the Treasury any amounts remaining in any escrow account under this section on the last day of the Congress involved. (2) Requiring amounts to be used for deficit reduction.-- Any amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction. (c) Role of Secretary of the Treasury.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall provide the payroll administrators of the Houses of Congress with such assistance as may be necessary to enable the payroll administrators to carry out this section. (d) Definitions.--In this section-- (1) the term ``Member of Congress'' means an individual serving in a position under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31); and (2) the ``payroll administrator'' of a House of Congress means-- (A) in the case of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, or an employee of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer who is designated by the Chief Administrative Officer to carry out this section; and (B) in the case of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate who is designated by the Secretary to carry out this section. SEC. 3. WITHHOLDING OF PAY OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT IF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OCCURS OR PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT IS REACHED. (a) Holding Salaries in Escrow.--If during any pay period during a President's or Vice President's term of office a Government shutdown is in effect or the public debt limit is reached, the White House Office shall-- (1) withhold from the payments otherwise required to be made with respect to the pay period for the compensation of the President or the Vice President an amount equal to the product of-- (A) an amount equal to one day's worth of pay under the annual rate of compensation of the President under 102 of title 3, United States Code, or the annual rate of salary of the Vice President under section 104 of title 3, United States Code (as the case may be), for the pay period; and (B) the number of 24-hour periods during which the Government shutdown is in effect or the public debt limit is reached (as the case may be) which occur during the pay period; and (2) deposit in an escrow account all amounts withheld under paragraph (1). (b) Role of Secretary of the Treasury.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall provide the White House Office with such assistance as may be necessary to enable the White House Office to carry out this section. (c) Transfer to Secretary of the Treasury at End of Term of Office.-- (1) Transfer.--The White House Office shall transfer to the Secretary of the Treasury any amounts remaining in any escrow account under this section on the last day of the President's or Vice President's term of office involved. (2) Requiring amounts to be used for deficit reduction.-- Any amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction. SEC. 4. DETERMINATIONS. (a) Government Shutdown.--For purposes of this Act, a Government shutdown shall be considered to be in effect if there is a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution. (b) Public Debt Limit.--For purposes of this Act, the public debt limit shall be considered to be reached if the Federal Government is unable to make payments or meet obligations because the public debt limit under section 3101 of title 31, United States Code, has been reached.

Summary: Pay Accountability Act - Requires the pay of Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President to be withheld during any period of: (1) a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution, or (2) the federal government's inability to make payments or meet obligations because the public debt limit. Provides for such withheld amounts to be deposited in an escrow account to be transferred (on the last day of the Congress involved with respect to a Member, or the last day of the term of office involved with respect to the President or Vice President) to the Secretary of the Treasury and deposited in the Treasury for deficit reduction.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural Credit Expansion Act''. SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR FARM LOANS. (a) Farm Ownership Loans.--Section 302(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(a)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``(a) In General.--The'' and inserting the following: ``(a) In General.-- ``(1) Eligibility requirements.--The''; (2) in the 1st sentence, by inserting after ``limited liability companies'' the following: ``, and such other legal entities as the Secretary deems appropriate,''; (3) in the 2nd sentence, by redesignating clauses (1) through (4) as clauses (A) through (D), respectively; (4) in each of the 2nd and 3rd sentences, by striking ``and limited liability companies'' each place it appears and inserting ``limited liability companies, and such other legal entities''; and (5) by adding at the end the following: ``(2) Special deeming rules.-- ``(A) Eligibility of certain operating-only entities.--An entity that is or will become only the operator of a family farm is deemed to meet the owner- operator requirements of paragraph (1) if the individuals that are the owners of the family farm own more than 50 percent (or such other percentage as the Secretary determines is appropriate) of the entity. ``(B) Eligibility of certain embedded entities.--An entity that is an owner-operator described in paragraph (1), or an operator described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph that is owned, in whole or in part, by other entities, is deemed to meet the direct ownership requirement imposed under paragraph (1) if at least 75 percent of the ownership interests of each embedded entity of such entity is owned directly or indirectly by the individuals that own the family farm.''. (b) Conservation Loans.--Section 304(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(c)) is amended by inserting after ``limited liability companies'' the following: ``, or such other legal entities as the Secretary deems appropriate,''. (c) Farm Operating Loans.--Section 311(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1941(a)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``(a) In General.--The'' and inserting the following: ``(a) In General.-- ``(1) Eligibility requirements.--The''; (2) in the 1st sentence, by inserting after ``limited liability companies'' the following: ``, and such other legal entities as the Secretary deems appropriate,''; (3) in the 2nd sentence, by redesignating clauses (1) through (4) as clauses (A) through (D), respectively; (4) in each of the 2nd and 3rd sentences, by striking ``and limited liability companies'' each place it appears and inserting ``limited liability companies, and such other legal entities''; and (5) by adding at the end the following: ``(2) Special deeming rule.--An entity that is an operator described in paragraph (1) that is owned, in whole or in part, by other entities, is deemed to meet the direct ownership requirement imposed under paragraph (1) if at least 75 percent of the ownership interests of each embedded entity of such entity is owned directly or indirectly by the individuals that own the family farm.''. (d) Emergency Loans.--Section 321(a) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``owner-operators (in the case of loans for a purpose under subtitle A) or operators (in the case of loans for a purpose under subtitle B)'' each place it appears and inserting ``(in the case of farm ownership loans in accordance with subtitle A) owner-operators or operators, or (in the case of loans for a purpose under subtitle B) operators''; (2) by inserting after ``limited liability companies'' the 1st place it appears the following: ``, or such other legal entities as the Secretary deems appropriate''; and (3) by inserting after ``limited liability companies'' the 2nd place it appears the following: ``, or other legal entities''; (4) by striking ``and limited liability companies,'' and inserting ``limited liability companies, and such other legal entities''; (5) by striking ``ownership and operator'' and inserting ``ownership or operator''; and (6) by adding at the end the following: ``An entity that is an owner-operator or operator described in this subsection is deemed to meet the direct ownership requirement imposed under this subsection if the entity is owned, in whole or in part, by other entities and each individual that is an owner of the family farm involved has a direct or indirect ownership interest in each of the other entities.''. (e) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Section 304(c)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(c)(2)) by striking ``paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 302(a)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 302(a)(1)''. (2) Section 310D of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1934) is amended-- (A) by inserting after ``partnership'' the following: ``, or such other legal entities as the Secretary deems appropriate,''; and (B) by inserting after ``partners'' the following: ``, or owners,''. (3) Section 343(a)(11) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(11)) is amended-- (A) by inserting after ``joint operation,'' the 1st place it appears the following: ``or such other legal entity as the Secretary deems appropriate,''; (B) by striking ``or joint operators'' each place it appears and inserting ``joint operators, or owners''; and (C) by inserting after ``joint operation,'' each other place it appears the following: ``or such other legal entity,''. (4) Section 359(b)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2006a(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``section 302(a)(2) or 311(a)(2)'' and inserting ``section 302(a)(1)(B) or 311(a)(1)(B)''.

Summary: Agricultural Credit Expansion Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand eligibility for Farm Service Agency operating loans, farm ownership loans, conservation loans, and emergency loans. Deems specified embedded entities (an entity owned wholly or in part by another entity) eligible for farm ownership and operating loans. Deems specified operating-only entities eligible for farm ownership loans. Deems an entity that is an owner-operator or operator to meet the direct ownership loan requirement if it is owned in whole or in part by other entities and each individual that is an owner of the family farm involved has an ownership interest in each of the other entities.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Telemedicine Enhancing Community Health (TECH) Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH PILOT PROJECTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish 3- year telehealth pilot projects for the purpose of analyzing the clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness associated with telehealth services in a variety of geographic areas. The Secretary shall provide evaluation and treatment services to entities participating in the pilot projects. (b) Eligible Entities.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select eligible entities to participate in the pilot projects under this section. (2) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to participate in the pilot projects under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to such entities located in medically underserved areas and facilities of the Indian Health Service. (c) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall, through the pilot projects, evaluate-- (1) the effective and economic delivery of care in treating behavioral health issues (including post-traumatic stress disorder) with the use of telehealth services in medically underserved and tribal areas, including collaborative uses of health professionals, integration of the range of telehealth and other technologies, and exploration of appropriate reimbursement methods for third party payers; (2) the effectiveness of improving the capacity of non- medical providers and non-specialized medical providers to provide health services for chronic complex diseases in medically underserved and tribal areas; and (3) the effectiveness of using telehealth services to provide acute stroke evaluation and treatment, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology services to treat cerebrovascular disease in medically underserved and tribal areas. (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the pilot projects are established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the outcomes of such pilot projects and providing recommendations for expanding the use of telehealth services. (e) Expansion of Project.--If the Secretary determines that the pilot projects under this section enhance outcomes for patients and reduce expenditures for participating entities, the Secretary may initiate similar projects for additional medical conditions and geographic areas. (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $13,500,000 for fiscal years 2011 through 2014. SEC. 3. EXPANDING ACCESS TO STROKE TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) Expansion of Originating Sites for Stroke Telehealth Services.--Section 1834(m)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (C)-- (A) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking ``The term'' and inserting ``Subject to clause (iii), the term''; and (B) by adding at the end the following new clause: ``(iii) Expansion of originating sites for stroke telehealth services.--In the case of stroke telehealth services, the term `originating site' means any site described in clause (ii) at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system, regardless of where the site is located.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(G) Stroke telehealth services.--The term `stroke telehealth services' means a telehealth service used for the evaluation or treatment of individuals with acute stroke, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology services furnished subsequent to a stroke, and stroke prevention and education services.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to telehealth services furnished on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. IMPROVING ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES AT IHS FACILITIES AND FQHCS. (a) Inclusion of IHS Facilities as Originating Sites.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subclause: ``(IX) A facility of the Indian Health Service, whether operated by such Service or by an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).''. (b) Access to Store-and-Forward and Videoconferencing Technologies.-- (1) In general.--Section 1834(m)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following sentence: ``For purposes of the first sentence, in the case of telehealth services described in subclause (I) of paragraph (4)(F)(iii) that are furnished by a facility of the Indian Health Service (whether operated by such Service or by an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act)) or a federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)), the term `telecommunications system' includes store-and-forward technologies described in the preceding sentence and, in the case of telehealth services described in subclause (II) of such paragraph that are furnished by such a facility or federally qualified health center, such term includes videoconferencing technologies.'' (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1834(m)(4)(F) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clauses: ``(iii) Telehealth services described.--For purposes of paragraph (1): ``(I) The telehealth services described in this subclause include consultations related to neurosurgery, neurology, cardiology, dermatology, pediatric specialty, and orthopedic (as specified by the Secretary). ``(II) The telehealth services described in this subclause are services related to hepatitis and other chronic conditions and behavioral health services (as specified by the Secretary).''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to telehealth services furnished on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 5. IMPROVING CREDENTIALING AND PRIVILEGING STANDARDS FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES. Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(5) Establishment of remote credentialing and privileging standards.-- ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall establish reasonable regulations for considering the remote credentialing and privileging standards applicable to telehealth services, including interpretative services, for originating sites under this subsection. Such regulations shall allow an originating site to accept, and not duplicate, the credentialing and privileging processes and decisions made by another site. ``(B) Clarification regarding acceptance of processes and decisions prior to enactment of regulations.--During the period beginning on such date of enactment and ending on the effective date of the regulations under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall not take any punitive action under any rule or regulation against an originating site on the basis of that site's acceptance, for purposes of receiving telehealth services (including interpretive services), the credentialing and privileging processes and decisions made by another site that is accredited by a national accreditation body recognized by the Secretary under section 1865(a)(1) if the site accepting such credentialing and privileging processes is also so accredited and complies with the applicable requirements for such acceptance.''.

Summary: Rural Telemedicine Enhancing Community Health (TECH) Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish telehealth pilot projects for the purpose of analyzing the clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness associated with telehealth services in a variety of geographic areas. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for expansion of originating telehealth sites for stroke telehealth services; (2) provide access to store-and-forward telehealth services in facilities of the Indian Health Service and federally qualified health centers; and (3) direct the Secretary to establish reasonable regulations to consider the remote credentialing and privileging standards for originating sites with respect to telehealth services.