SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. PET INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
              STALKING.

    (a) Interstate Stalking.--Section 2261A of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
                and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
                            ``(iv) the pet of that person; or''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A)--
                    (A) by inserting after ``to a person'' the
                following: ``or a pet''; and
                    (B) by striking ``or (iii)'' and inserting ``(iii),
                or (iv)''.
    (b) Interstate Violation of Protection Order.--Section 2262 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``another
                person'' the following: ``or the pet of that person'';
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting after
                ``proximity to, another person'' the following ``or the
                pet of that person''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting after ``in any other
        case,'' the following: ``including any case in which the
        offense is committed against a pet,''.
    (c) Restitution To Include Veterinary Services.--Section 2264 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended in subsection (b)(3)--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G);
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
                    ``(F) veterinary services relating to physical care
                for the victim's pet; and''.
    (d) Pet Defined.--Section 2266 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
            ``(11) Pet.--The term `pet' means a domesticated animal,
        such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other
        animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial
        purposes.''.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL PET SHELTER AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting in consultation with
the Office of the Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice,
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, shall award grants under this section to
eligible entities to carry out programs to provide the assistance
described in subsection (c) with respect to victims of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the pets of
such victims.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
        this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
        the Secretary may reasonably require, including--
                    (A) a description of the activities for which a
                grant under this section is sought;
                    (B) such assurances as the Secretary determines to
                be necessary to ensure compliance by the entity with
                the requirements of this section; and
                    (C) a certification that the entity, before
                engaging with any individual domestic violence victim,
                will disclose to the victim any mandatory duty of the
                entity to report instances of abuse and neglect
                (including instances of abuse and neglect of pets).
            (2) Additional requirements.--In addition to the
        requirements of paragraph (1), each application submitted by an
        eligible entity under that paragraph shall--
                    (A) not include proposals for any activities that
                may compromise the safety of a domestic violence
                victim, including--
                            (i) background checks of domestic violence
                        victims; or
                            (ii) clinical evaluations to determine the
                        eligibility of such a victim for support
                        services;
                    (B) not include proposals that would require
                mandatory services for victims or that a victim obtain
                a protective order in order to receive proposed
                services; and
                    (C) reflect the eligible entity's understanding of
                the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence,
                sexual assault, or stalking.
            (3) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
        shall be construed to require--
                    (A) domestic violence victims to participate in the
                criminal justice system in order to receive services;
                or
                    (B) eligible entities receiving a grant under this
                section to breach client confidentiality.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section may only be
used for programs that provide--
            (1) emergency and transitional shelter and housing
        assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, including
        assistance with respect to any construction or operating
        expenses of newly developed or existing emergency and
        transitional pet shelter and housing (regardless of whether
        such shelter and housing is co-located at a victim service
        provider or within the community);
            (2) short-term shelter and housing assistance for domestic
        violence victims with pets, including assistance with respect
        to expenses incurred for the temporary shelter, housing,
        boarding, or fostering of the pets of domestic violence victims
        and other expenses that are incidental to securing the safety
        of such a pet during the sheltering, housing, or relocation of
        such victims;
            (3) support services designed to enable a domestic violence
        victim who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating
        violence, sexual assault, or stalking to--
                    (A) locate and secure--
                            (i) safe housing with the victim's pet; or
                            (ii) safe accommodations for the victim's
                        pet; or
                    (B) provide the victim with pet-related services,
                such as pet transportation, pet care services, and
                other assistance; or
            (4) for the training of relevant stakeholders on--
                    (A) the link between domestic violence, dating
                violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the abuse and
                neglect of pets;
                    (B) the needs of domestic violence victims;
                    (C) best practices for providing support services
                to such victims;
                    (D) best practices for providing such victims with
                referrals to victims' services; and
                    (E) the importance of confidentiality.
    (d) Grant Conditions.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section shall, as a condition of such receipt, agree--
            (1) to be bound by the nondisclosure of confidential
        information requirements of section 40002(b)(2) of the Violence
        Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(2)); and
            (2) that the entity shall not condition the receipt of
        support, housing, or other benefits provided pursuant to this
        section on the participation of domestic violence victims in
        any or all of the support services offered to such victims
        through a program carried out by the entity using grant funds.
    (e) Duration of Assistance Provided to Victims.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance
        provided with respect to a pet of a domestic violence victim
        using grant funds awarded under this section shall be provided
        for a period of not more than 24 months.
            (2) Extension.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
        under this section may extend the 24-month period referred to
        in paragraph (1) for a period of not more than 6 months in the
        case of a domestic violence victim who--
                    (A) has made a good faith effort to acquire
                permanent housing for the victim's pet during that 24-
                month period; and
                    (B) has been unable to acquire such permanent
                housing within that period.
    (f) Report to the Secretary.--Not later than 1 year after the date
on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section and
each year thereafter, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a report
that contains, with respect to assistance provided by the entity to
domestic violence victims with pets using grant funds received under
this section, information on--
            (1) the number of domestic violence victims with pets
        provided such assistance; and
            (2) the purpose, amount, type of, and duration of such
        assistance.
    (g) Report to Congress.--
            (1) Reporting requirement.--Not later than November 1 of
        each even-numbered fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to
        the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
        and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
        the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the
        information contained in the reports submitted under subsection
        (f).
            (2) Availability of report.--The Secretary shall transmit a
        copy of the report submitted under paragraph (1) to--
                    (A) the Office on Violence Against Women of the
                Department of Justice;
                    (B) the Office of Community Planning and
                Development of the Department of Housing and Urban
                Development; and
                    (C) the Administration for Children and Families of
                the Department of Health and Human Services.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
        carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017
        through 2021.
            (2) Limitation.--Of the amount made available under
        paragraph (1) in any fiscal year, not more than 5 percent may
        be used for evaluation, monitoring, salaries, and
        administrative expenses.
    (i) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Domestic violence victim defined.--The term ``domestic
        violence victim'' means a victim of domestic violence, dating
        violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) a unit of local government;
                    (C) an Indian tribe; or
                    (D) any other organization that has a documented
                history of effective work concerning domestic violence,
                dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (as
                determined by the Secretary), including--
                            (i) a domestic violence and sexual assault
                        victim service provider;
                            (ii) a domestic violence and sexual assault
                        coalition;
                            (iii) a community-based and culturally
                        specific organization;
                            (iv) any other nonprofit, nongovernmental
                        organization; and
                            (v) any organization that works directly
                        with pets and collaborates with any
                        organization referred to in clauses (i) through
                        (iv), including--
                                    (I) an animal shelter; and
                                    (II) an animal welfare
                                organization.
            (3) Pet.--The term ``pet'' means a domesticated animal,
        such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, horse, or other
        animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial
        purposes.
            (4) Other terms.--Except as otherwise provided in this
        subsection, terms used in this section shall have the meaning
        given such terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against
        Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)).

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that States should encourage the
inclusion of protections against violent or threatening acts against
the pet of a person in domestic violence protection orders.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Phone Scam Prevention Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF WHITELIST SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Part I of title II of the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:

``SEC. 232. AVAILABILITY OF WHITELIST SERVICES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `voice service' means any service that
        furnishes voice communications to an end user using resources
        from the North American Numbering Plan or any successor plan
        adopted by the Commission under section 251(e)(1);
            ``(2) the term `exempt entity' means--
                    ``(A) the Federal Government, a State, a political
                subdivision of a State, or an agency thereof; and
                    ``(B) any entity with respect to which the
                Commission determines that allowing calls that
                originate from that entity to connect directly with the
                voice service customer premises equipment (commonly
                referred to as `CPE') of a subscriber would serve the
                public interest; and
            ``(3) the term `whitelist' means a list of telephone
        numbers, designated by a subscriber, for which calls
        originating from those numbers to the subscriber are permitted
        to connect directly with the voice service CPE of the
        subscriber.
    ``(b) Requirement To Offer Whitelist Service.--A provider of a
voice service shall offer each subscriber the option to designate a
whitelist, if technically feasible (as determined by the Commission on
a periodic basis).
    ``(c) Treatment of Nonapproved Telephone Numbers.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a subscriber elects to designate a
        whitelist under subsection (b), the provider of the voice
        service of the subscriber shall ensure that any call the
        provider receives for termination that is not associated with a
        telephone number on the whitelist of the subscriber or the
        telephone number of an exempt entity is processed according to
        preferences set by the subscriber with respect to the
        whitelist, including by limiting or disabling the ability of an
        incoming call to connect with the CPE of the subscriber.
            ``(2) Safe harbor.--Whitelist processing that, in
        accordance with the preferences of a subscriber, limits or
        disables connection with the CPE of a subscriber shall not be
        considered to be--
                    ``(A) blocking traffic; or
                    ``(B) an unjust or unreasonable practice under
                section 201 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
                U.S.C. 201).
    ``(d) Number of Telephone Numbers on Whitelist Free of Charge.--
            ``(1) In general.--A provider of a voice service shall
        allow a subscriber (or a designated representative thereof) to
        designate not less than 10 telephone numbers to be on the
        whitelist under subsection (b), free of charge.
            ``(2) Telephone numbers of exempt entities.--The telephone
        number of an exempt entity shall not be considered to be on the
        whitelist of a subscriber for purposes of calculating the 10
        telephone numbers that may be designated under paragraph
        (1).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Section 232 of the Communications Act of 1934,
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 2
years after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. AUTHENTICATION OF CALL ORIGINATION.

    Part I of title II of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 201
et seq.), as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the
following:

``SEC. 233. AUTHENTICATION OF CALL ORIGINATION.

    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `voice service' means
any service that furnishes voice communications to an end user using
resources from the North American Numbering Plan or any successor plan
adopted by the Commission under section 251(e)(1).
    ``(b) Development of Authentication Standards by Commission.--Not
later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Phone Scam
Prevention Act of 2014, the Commission shall develop authentication
standards for providers of a voice service to validate the calling
party number and caller identification information of a call originated
through a voice service so that the subscriber receiving the call may
obtain--
            ``(1) a secure assurance of the origin of the call,
        including--
                    ``(A) the calling party number; and
                    ``(B) caller identification information for the
                call; or
            ``(2) notice that an assurance described in paragraph (1)
        is unavailable.
    ``(c) Adoption of Authentication Standards by Entities.--Each
provider of a voice service that is allocated telephone numbers from
the portion of the North American Numbering Plan that pertains to the
United States shall adopt the authentication standards developed under
subsection (b).''.

SEC. 4. EXPANDING AND CLARIFYING PROHIBITION ON INACCURATE CALLER ID
              INFORMATION.

    (a) Communications From Outside the United States.--Section
227(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(1)) is
amended by striking ``in connection with any telecommunications service
or IP-enabled voice service'' and inserting ``or any person outside the
United States if the recipient of the call is within the United States,
in connection with any voice service''.
    (b) Coverage of Text Messages and Other Voice Services.--Section
227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(8)) is
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``telecommunications
        service or IP-enabled voice service'' and inserting ``voice
        service (including a text message sent using a text messaging
        service)'';
            (2) in the first sentence of subparagraph (B), by striking
        ``telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice service'' and
        inserting ``voice service (including a text message sent using
        a text messaging service)''; and
            (3) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the
        following:
                    ``(C) Text message.--The term `text message'--
                            ``(i) means a real-time or near real-time
                        message consisting of text, images, sounds, or
                        other information that is transmitted from or
                        received by a device that is identified as the
                        transmitting or receiving device by means of a
                        telephone number;
                            ``(ii) includes a short message service
                        (commonly referred to as `SMS') message, an
                        enhanced message service (commonly referred to
                        as `EMS') message, and a multimedia message
                        service (commonly referred to as `MMS')
                        message; and
                            ``(iii) does not include a real-time, 2-way
                        voice or video communication.
                    ``(D) Text messaging service.--The term `text
                messaging service' means a service that permits the
                transmission or receipt of a text message, including a
                service provided as part of or in connection with a
                voice service.
                    ``(E) Voice service.--The term `voice service'
                means any service that furnishes voice communications
                to an end user using resources from the North American
                Numbering Plan or any successor plan adopted by the
                Commission under section 251(e)(1).''.
    (c) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to modify, limit, or otherwise affect--
            (1) the authority, as of the day before the date of
        enactment of this Act, of the Federal Communications Commission
        to interpret the term ``call'' to include a text message (as
        defined under section 227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of
        1934, as added by subsection (b)); or
            (2) any rule or order adopted by the Federal Communications
        Commission in connection with--
                    (A) the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991
                (Public Law 102-243; 105 Stat. 2394) or the amendments
                made by that Act; or
                    (B) the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C. 7701 et
                seq.).
    (d) Regulations.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall
prescribe regulations to implement the amendments made by this section.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date that is 6 months after the date on which the Federal
Communications Commission prescribes regulations under subsection (d).


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Police Creating Accountability by
Making Effective Recording Available Act of 2015'' or the ``Police
CAMERA Act''.

SEC. 2. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY-WORN CAMERAS.

    Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
(42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``PART LL--MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY-WORN CAMERAS

``SEC. 3021. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Assistant Attorney General for the Office of
Justice Programs (in this section referred to as the `Assistant
Attorney General') may make grants to States, units of local
government, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras
for use by State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers (as
defined in section 2503) and expenses related to the implementation of
a body-worn camera program in order to deter excessive force, improve
accountability and transparency of use of force by law enforcement
officers, assist in responding to complaints against law enforcement
officers, and improve evidence collection.
    ``(b) Duration of Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Grants awarded under this part shall be
        2 years in duration.
            ``(2) Disbursement of grant amount.--In disbursing a grant
        awarded to an entity under this section--
                    ``(A) upon awarding the grant to the entity, the
                Assistant Attorney General shall disburse 50 percent of
                the total grant amount to the entity; and
                    ``(B) upon demonstration by the entity of
                completion of the requirements in subsection (d)(1),
                the Assistant Attorney General shall disburse the
                remaining 50 percent of the total grant amount to the
                entity.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be--
            ``(1) distributed directly to the State, unit of local
        government, or Indian tribe; and
            ``(2) used for--
                    ``(A) the purchase or lease of body-worn cameras
                for law enforcement officers on patrol in the
                jurisdiction of the grantee;
                    ``(B) any costs relating to the implementation of a
                body-worn camera program, including law enforcement
                officer training or the storage or maintenance of data
                collected under a body-worn camera program; or
                    ``(C) implementing policies or procedures to comply
                with the requirements described in subsection (d).
    ``(d) Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Attorney General shall
        award a grant under this section to a State, unit of local
        government, or Indian tribe requesting the grant that commits
        to--
                    ``(A) establishing policies and procedures in
                accordance with the requirements described in paragraph
                (2) before law enforcement officers use of body-worn
                cameras;
                    ``(B) adopting data collection and retention
                protocols as described in paragraph (3) before law
                enforcement officers use of body-worn cameras;
                    ``(C) making the policies and protocols described
                in subparagraphs (A) and (B) available to the public;
                and
                    ``(D) complying with the requirements for use of
                data under paragraph (4).
            ``(2) Required policies and procedures.--An entity
        receiving a grant under this section shall--
                    ``(A) develop with community input and publish for
                public view policies and protocols for--
                            ``(i) the safe and effective use of body-
                        worn cameras;
                            ``(ii) the secure storage, handling, and
                        destruction of data collected by body-worn
                        cameras;
                            ``(iii) protecting the privacy rights of
                        any individual who may be recorded by a body-
                        worn camera; and
                            ``(iv) the release of any data collected by
                        a body-worn camera in accordance with the open
                        records laws, if any, of the State; and
                    ``(B) conduct periodic evaluations of the security
                of the storage and handling of the body-worn camera
                data.
            ``(3) Data collection and retention protocol.--The data
        collection and retention protocol described in this paragraph
        is a protocol that--
                    ``(A) requires--
                            ``(i) a law enforcement officer who is
                        wearing a body-mounted camera to provide an
                        explanation if an activity that is required to
                        be recorded by the body-mounted camera is not
                        recorded;
                            ``(ii) a law enforcement officer who is
                        wearing a body-mounted camera to obtain consent
                        to be recorded from a crime victim or witness
                        before interviewing the victim or witness;
                            ``(iii) the collection of data unrelated to
                        a legitimate law enforcement purpose be
                        minimized to the greatest extent practicable;
                            ``(iv) the system used to store data
                        collected by body-worn cameras shall log all
                        viewing, modification, or deletion of stored
                        data and shall prevent, to the greatest extent
                        practicable, the unauthorized access or
                        disclosure of stored data;
                            ``(v) any law enforcement officer be
                        prohibited from accessing the stored data
                        without an authorized purpose; and
                            ``(vi) the law enforcement agency to
                        collect and report data on--
                                    ``(I) incidences of use of force,
                                disaggregated by race, ethnicity,
                                gender, and age of the victim;
                                    ``(II) the number of complaints
                                filed against law enforcement officers;
                                    ``(III) the disposition of
                                complaints filed against law
                                enforcement officers; and
                                    ``(IV) the number of times camera
                                footage is used for evidence collection
                                in investigations of crimes;
                    ``(B) allows an individual to file a complaint with
                a law enforcement agency relating to the improper use
                of body-worn cameras; and
                    ``(C) complies with any other requirements
                established by the Assistant Attorney General.
            ``(4) Use or transfer of data.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Data collected by an entity
                receiving a grant under this section from a body-
                mounted camera shall be used only in internal and
                external investigations of misconduct by a law
                enforcement agency or officer, if there is reasonable
                suspicion that a recording contains evidence of a
                crime, or for limited training purposes. The Assistant
                Attorney General shall establish rules to ensure that
                the data is used only for the purposes described in
                this subparagraph.
                    ``(B) Prohibition on transfer.--Except as provided
                in subparagraph (B), an entity receiving a grant under
                this section may not transfer any data collected by the
                entity from a body-mounted camera to another law
                enforcement or intelligence agency.
                    ``(C) Exceptions.--
                            ``(i) Criminal investigation.--An entity
                        receiving a grant under this section may
                        transfer data collected by the entity from a
                        body-mounted camera to another law enforcement
                        agency or intelligence agency for use in a
                        criminal investigation if the requesting law
                        enforcement or intelligence agency has
                        reasonable suspicion that the requested data
                        contains evidence relating to the crime being
                        investigated.
                            ``(ii) Civil rights claims.--An entity
                        receiving a grant under this section may
                        transfer data collected by the law enforcement
                        agency from a body-mounted camera to another
                        law enforcement agency for use in an
                        investigation of any right, privilege, or
                        immunity secured or protected by the
                        Constitution or laws of the United States.
    ``(e) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the
        Federal share of the cost of a program carried out using a
        grant under this part may not exceed 75 percent of the total
        cost of the program.
            ``(2) Indian assistance.--Any funds appropriated by
        Congress for the activities of any agency of an Indian tribal
        government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs performing law
        enforcement functions on any Indian lands may be used to
        provide the non-Federal share of the matching requirement
        described in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Waiver.--The Assistant Attorney General may waive, in
        whole or in part, the matching requirement described in
        paragraph (1) in the case of fiscal hardship, as determined by
        the Assistant Attorney General.
    ``(f) Allocation of Funds.--For fiscal years 2015 and 2016, of the
amounts appropriated to the Office of Justice Programs, $10,000,000
shall be used to carry out this part.

``SEC. 3022. APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--To request a grant under this part, the chief
executive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall
submit an application to the Assistant Attorney General in such form
and containing such information as the Assistant Attorney General may
reasonably require.
    ``(b) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this part, the Assistant Attorney General shall promulgate
regulations to implement this part, including the information that
shall be included and the requirements that the States, units of local
government, and Indian tribes must meet in submitting the applications
required under this section.

``SEC. 3023. STUDY.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which
all grants are awarded under this part, the Assistant Attorney General
shall conduct a study on--
            ``(1) the efficacy of body-worn cameras in deterring
        excessive force by law enforcement officers;
            ``(2) the impact of body-worn cameras on the accountability
        and transparency of the use of force by law enforcement
        officers;
            ``(3) the impact of body-worn cameras on responses to and
        adjudications of complaints of excessive force;
            ``(4) the effect of the use of body-worn cameras on the
        safety of law enforcement officers on patrol;
            ``(5) the effect of the use of body-worn cameras on public
        safety;
            ``(6) the impact of body-worn cameras on evidence
        collection for criminal investigations;
            ``(7) issues relating to the secure storage and handling of
        data from the body-worn cameras;
            ``(8) issues relating to the privacy of citizens and
        officers recorded on body-worn cameras;
            ``(9) issues relating to the public's access to body-worn
        camera footage;
            ``(10) the need for proper training of law enforcement
        officers that use body-worn cameras;
            ``(11) best practices in the development of protocols for
        the safe and effective use of body-worn cameras; and
            ``(12) any other factors that the Assistant Attorney
        General determines are relevant in evaluating the efficacy of
        body-worn cameras.
    ``(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the
study required under subsection (a) is completed, the Assistant
Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the study.''.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Poll Tape Transparency Act of
2008''.

SEC. 2. REQUIRING STATES TO MEET STANDARDS FOR PUBLICATION OF POLL
              TAPES.

    (a) In General.--Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of
2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
            ``(7) Requirements for publication of poll tapes.--
                    ``(A) Requirements.--Each State shall meet the
                following requirements:
                            ``(i) Upon the closing of the polls at each
                        polling place, the appropriate election
                        official, under the observation of the
                        certified tabulation observers admitted to the
                        polling place under subparagraph (E) (if any),
                        shall announce the vote orally, post a copy of
                        the poll tape reflecting the totals from each
                        voting machine upon which votes were cast in
                        the election at the polling place, and prepare
                        and post a statement of the total number of
                        individuals who appeared at the polling place
                        to cast ballots, determined by reference to the
                        number of signatures in a sign-in book or other
                        similar independent count. Such officials shall
                        ensure that each of the certified tabulation
                        observers admitted to the polling place has
                        full access to observe the process by which the
                        poll tapes and statement are produced and a
                        reasonable period of time to review the poll
                        tapes and statement before the polling place is
                        closed, and (if feasible) shall provide such
                        observers with identical duplicate copies of
                        the poll tapes and statement.
                            ``(ii) As soon as practicable, but in no
                        event later than noon of the day following the
                        date of the election, the appropriate election
                        official shall display (at a prominent location
                        accessible to the public during regular
                        business hours and in or within reasonable
                        proximity to the polling place) a copy of each
                        poll tape and statement prepared under clause
                        (i), and the information shall be displayed on
                        the official public websites of the applicable
                        local election official and chief State
                        election official, together with the name of
                        the designated voting official who entered the
                        information and the date and time the
                        information was entered.
                            ``(iii) Each website on which information
                        is posted under clause (ii) shall include
                        information on the procedures by which
                        discrepancies shall be reported to election
                        officials. If any discrepancy exists between
                        the posted information and the relevant poll
                        tape or statement, the appropriate election
                        official shall display information on the
                        discrepancy on the website on which the
                        information is posted under clause (ii) not
                        later than 24 hours after the official is made
                        aware of the discrepancy, and shall maintain
                        the information on the discrepancy and its
                        resolution (if applicable) on such website
                        during the entire period for which results of
                        the election are typically maintained on such
                        website.
                            ``(iv) The appropriate election official
                        shall preserve archived copies of the poll
                        tapes and statements prepared under clause (i)
                        and reports of discrepancies filed by certified
                        tabulation observers for the period of time
                        during which records and papers are required to
                        be retained and preserved pursuant to title III
                        of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (42 U.S.C. 1974
                        et seq.) or for the same duration for which
                        archived copies of other records of the
                        election are required to be preserved under
                        applicable State law, whichever is longer.
                    ``(B) Treatment of ballots cast at early voting
                sites.--
                            ``(i) Application.--The requirements of
                        this subparagraph shall apply with respect to
                        poll tapes and statements of the number of
                        voters who voted in person at designated sites
                        prior to the date of the election.
                            ``(ii) Daily count of voters.--At the close
                        of business on each day on which ballots
                        described in clause (i) may be cast prior to
                        the date of the election, the appropriate
                        election official at each such site shall--
                                    ``(I) under the observation of
                                certified tabulation observers admitted
                                to the site under subparagraph (E) (if
                                any), prepare and post a statement of
                                the total number of individuals who
                                appeared at the site to cast ballots,
                                determined by reference to the number
                                of signatures in a sign-in book or
                                other similar independent count, and
                                the total number of ballots cast
                                (excluding information on the votes
                                received by individual candidates), and
                                shall ensure that each of the certified
                                tabulation observers admitted to the
                                site has full access to observe the
                                process by which the statement is
                                produced and a reasonable period of
                                time to review the statement before the
                                site is closed; and
                                    ``(II) display at the site during
                                regular business hours for the duration
                                of the early voting period a paper copy
                                of the statement prepared under
                                subclause (I).
                            ``(iii) Application of general requirements
                        for poll tapes and statements.--Upon the
                        closing of the polls on the date of the
                        election, the appropriate election official at
                        each designated site described in this
                        subparagraph shall meet the requirements of
                        subparagraph (A) (including requirements
                        relating to the role of certified tabulation
                        observers) in the same manner as an election
                        official at a polling place.
                    ``(C) Treatment of absentee ballots.--
                            ``(i) Daily count of ballots mailed and
                        received.--At the close of each business day on
                        which a State mails or accepts absentee ballots
                        cast in an election for Federal office prior to
                        the date of the election, the appropriate
                        election official shall--
                                    ``(I) under the observation of
                                certified tabulation observers admitted
                                under subparagraph (E) to the site at
                                which the ballots are mailed and
                                received (if any), prepare and post a
                                statement of the total number of
                                absentee ballots mailed and received by
                                the official during that day and a
                                separate count of the number of
                                absentee ballots received but rejected
                                (separated into categories of the
                                reasons for rejection), and ensure that
                                each of the certified tabulation
                                observers admitted to the site has full
                                access to observe the process by which
                                the statement is produced and a
                                reasonable period of time to review the
                                statement before the site is closed;
                                and
                                    ``(II) display at the site during
                                regular business hours for the duration
                                of the period during which absentee
                                ballots are processed a paper copy of
                                the statement prepared under subclause
                                (I).
                            ``(ii) Application of general requirements
                        for poll tapes and statements.--At the close of
                        business on the last day on which absentee
                        ballots are counted prior to the certification
                        of the election, the appropriate election
                        official at the site at which absentee ballots
                        are received and counted shall meet the
                        requirements of subparagraph (A) (including
                        requirements relating to the role of certified
                        tabulation observers) in the same manner as an
                        election official at a polling place.
                    ``(D) Daily count of provisional ballots.--At the
                close of business on the day on which the appropriate
                election official determines whether or not provisional
                ballots cast in an election for Federal office will be
                counted as votes in the election (as described in
                section 302(a)(4)), the official shall--
                            ``(i) under the observation of certified
                        tabulation observers admitted under
                        subparagraph (E) to the site at which the
                        determination is made (if any), prepare and
                        post a statement of the number of such ballots
                        for which a determination was made, the number
                        of ballots counted, and the number of ballots
                        rejected (separated into categories of the
                        reason for the rejection), and ensure that each
                        of the certified tabulation observers admitted
                        to the site has full access to observe the
                        process by which the statement is produced and
                        a reasonable period of time to review the
                        statement before the site is closed; and
                            ``(ii) display at the site during regular
                        business hours for the duration of the period
                        during which provisional ballots are processed
                        a paper copy of the statement prepared under
                        clause (i).
                    ``(E) Admission of certified tabulation
                observers.--
                            ``(i) Certified tabulation observer
                        defined.--In this paragraph, a `certified
                        tabulation observer' is an individual who is
                        certified by an appropriate election official
                        as authorized to carry out the responsibilities
                        of a certified tabulation observer under this
                        paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Selection.--In determining which
                        individuals to certify as tabulation observers
                        and admit to a polling place or other location
                        to serve as certified tabulation observers with
                        respect to an election for Federal office, the
                        election official shall give preference to
                        individuals who are affiliated with a candidate
                        in the election, except that--
                                    ``(I) the number of individuals
                                admitted who are affiliated with the
                                same candidate for Federal office may
                                not exceed one; and
                                    ``(II) the maximum number of
                                individuals who may be admitted shall
                                equal the number of candidates in the
                                election plus 3, or such greater number
                                as may be authorized under State law.
                            ``(iii) No effect on admission of other
                        observers.--Nothing in this subparagraph may be
                        construed to limit or otherwise affect the
                        authority of other individuals to enter and
                        observe polling place operations under any
                        other law, including international observers
                        authorized under any treaty or observers of the
                        Federal Government authorized under the Voting
                        Rights Act of 1965.
                    ``(F) No effect on other tabulation requirements.--
                Nothing in this Act may be construed to supersede any
                requirement that an election official at a polling
                place report vote totals to a central tabulation
                facility and address discrepancies the official finds
                in the aggregation of those totals with other vote
                totals.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Section 301(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
15481(d)) is amended by striking ``January 1, 2006'' and inserting
``January 1, 2006 (or, in the case of the requirements of subsection
(a)(7), shall meet such requirements with respect to the first election
for Federal office held after the date of the enactment of the Poll
Tape Transparency Act of 2008 and each subsequent election for Federal
office)''.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ports-to-Forts Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Seaports serve vital national interests by supporting
        the mobilization and deployment of United States troops,
        facilitating the flow of trade, and creating jobs.
            (2) The Commercial Strategic Seaport Grant Program is
        designed to facilitate the movement of military forces securely
        through United States seaports with minimal disruptions to
        commerce.
            (3) The exponential growth of commercial cargo over the
        past 20 years has generated concern over the potential for
        conflict between military and commercial needs and about the
        future adequacy of the commercial strategic seaport
        infrastructure to meet national security requirements.
            (4) The existing infrastructure at seaports may not be
        readily available when required by the Department of Defense.

SEC. 3. COMMERCIAL STRATEGIC SEAPORT GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Maritime Administrator, subject to the
availability of appropriations, may make a grant to a State or port
authority to assist that State or port authority to conduct repair or
construction activities relating to a commercial strategic seaport.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant under this
        section, a State or port authority shall submit to the
        Administrator, by not later than 1 year after publication of
        notice under paragraph (2), an application in such form and
        containing such information as the Administrator may require.
        The application shall include, at a minimum, a certification
        that any grant funds received by the State or port authority
        shall be used only as provided under subsection (c).
            (2) Notice.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in the Federal
        Register, publish notice that applications are being accepted
        for grants under subsection (a).
            (3) Application acceptability.--If the Administrator
        determines that an application received under paragraph (1) is
        incomplete or unacceptable, the Administrator shall--
                    (A) reject the application; and
                    (B) advise the State or port authority that
                submitted the application of the reasons for the
                rejection.
            (4) Reapplication.--If the Administrator rejects a State's
        or port authority's application under paragraph (1), that State
        or port authority may submit an additional application under
        that paragraph not later than the end of the 1-year application
        period established under that paragraph.
    (c) Use of Funds.--
            (1) State.--A State that receives a grant under subsection
        (a) may only use funds from such grant for direct or indirect
        costs of repair or construction activities relating to--
                    (A) a commercial strategic seaport; or
                    (B) bridges, roads, rail systems, and other
                infrastructure in the vicinity of such seaport.
            (2) Port authority.--A port authority that receives a grant
        under subsection (a) may only use funds from such grant for
        direct or indirect costs of repair or construction activities
        relating to infrastructure that is part of the commercial
        strategic seaport.
    (d) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date on
which a State or port authority receives a grant under subsection (a),
and annually thereafter until all repair or construction activities to
be carried out under the grant are completed, the State or port
authority shall submit a report to the Administrator that includes--
            (1) a description of the progress made with respect to such
        activities; and
            (2) a detailed list of all expenses related to such
        activities.
    (e) Authorization of Use of Department of Defense Appropriations.--
Such sums as are necessary to carry out this section may be used by the
Maritime Administrator from any amounts otherwise appropriated for the
Department of Defense after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commercial strategic seaport.--The term ``commercial
        strategic seaport'' means a port (including bridges, roads,
        rail systems, and other infrastructure that is part of the
        port) that the Secretary of Defense has determined to be vital
        to the readiness and cargo throughput capacity of the
        Department of Defense.
            (2) Port authority.--The term ``port authority'' means a
        local port authority with jurisdiction over a commercial
        strategic seaport.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
        States of the United States and Guam.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Preparing Teachers for Digital Age
Learners Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. TEACHER PREPARATION.

    Part B of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1041 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

         ``PART B--PREPARING TEACHERS FOR DIGITAL AGE LEARNERS

``SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this part:
            ``(1) Arts and sciences.--The term `arts and sciences'
        means--
                    ``(A) when referring to an organizational unit of
                an institution of higher education, any academic unit
                that offers 1 or more academic majors in disciplines or
                content areas corresponding to the academic subject
                matter areas in which teachers provide instruction; and
                    ``(B) when referring to a specific academic subject
                area, the disciplines or content areas in which
                academic majors are offered by the arts and sciences
                organizational unit.
            ``(2) High-need school.--The term `high-need school' means
        a public elementary school or public secondary school that--
                    ``(A) is among the highest 25 percent of schools
                served by the local educational agency that serves the
                school, in terms of the percentage of students from
                families with incomes below the poverty line; or
                    ``(B) is designated with a school locale code of
                Rural: Fringe, Rural: Distant, or Rural: Remote, as
                determined by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Poverty line.--The term `poverty line' means the
        poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community
        Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a
        family of the size involved.
            ``(4) Professional development.--The term `professional
        development' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

``SEC. 222. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with,
eligible consortia to pay the Federal share of the costs of projects
to--
            ``(1) graduate teacher candidates who are prepared to use
        modern information, communication, and learning tools to--
                    ``(A) improve student learning, assessment, and
                learning management; and
                    ``(B) help students develop skills to succeed in
                higher education and enter the workforce; and
            ``(2) strengthen and develop partnerships among the
        stakeholders in teacher preparation to transform teacher
        education and ensure technology rich learning environments
        throughout a teacher candidate's pre-service education,
        including clinical experiences.
    ``(b) Amount and Duration.--A grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this part--
            ``(1) shall be for not more than $2,000,000;
            ``(2) shall be for a 3-year period; and
            ``(3) may be renewed for one additional year.
    ``(c) Non-Federal Share Requirement.--The Federal share of the cost
of any project funded under this part shall not exceed 75 percent. The
non-Federal share of the cost of such project may be provided in cash
or in kind, fairly evaluated, including services.
    ``(d) Definition of Eligible Consortium.--In this part, the term
`eligible consortium' means a consortium of members that includes the
following:
            ``(1) At least one institution of higher education that
        awards baccalaureate or masters degrees and prepares teachers
        for initial entry into teaching.
            ``(2) At least one State educational agency or local
        educational agency.
            ``(3) A department, school, or college of education at an
        institution of higher education.
            ``(4) A department, school, or college of arts and sciences
        at an institution of higher education.
            ``(5) At least one entity with the capacity to contribute
        to the technology-related reform of teacher preparation
        programs, which may be a professional association, foundation,
        museum, library, for-profit business, public or private
        nonprofit organization, community-based organization, or other
        entity.

``SEC. 223. USES OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--An eligible consortium that receives a grant or
enters into a contract or cooperative agreement under this part shall
use funds made available under this part to carry out a project that--
            ``(1) develops long-term partnerships among members of the
        consortium that are focused on effective teaching with modern
        digital tools and content that substantially connect pre-
        service preparation of teacher candidates with high-needs
        schools; or
            ``(2) transforms the way departments, schools, and colleges
        of education teach classroom technology integration, including
        the principles of universal design, to teacher candidates.
    ``(b) Uses of Funds for Partnership Grants.--In carrying out a
project under subsection (a)(1), an eligible consortium shall--
            ``(1) provide teacher candidates, early in their
        preparation, with field experiences in educational settings
        with technology;
            ``(2) build the skills of teacher candidates to support
        technology-rich instruction, assessment and learning management
        in content areas, technology literacy, an understanding of the
        principles of universal design, and the development of other
        skills for success in higher education and for entering the
        workforce;
            ``(3) provide professional development in the use of
        technology for teachers, administrators, and content
        specialists who participate in field placement;
            ``(4) provide professional development of technology
        pedagogical skills for faculty of departments, schools, and
        colleges of education and arts and sciences;
            ``(5) implement strategies for the mentoring of teacher
        candidates with respect to technology implementation by members
        of the consortium;
            ``(6) evaluate teacher candidates during the first years of
        teaching to fully assess outcomes of the project;
            ``(7) build collaborative learning communities for
        technology integration within the consortium to sustain
        meaningful applications of technology in the classroom during
        teacher preparation and early career practice; and
            ``(8) evaluate the effectiveness of the project.
    ``(c) Uses of Funds for Transformation Grants.--In carrying out a
project under subsection (a)(2), an eligible consortium shall--
            ``(1) redesign curriculum to require collaboration between
        the department, school, or college of education faculty and the
        department, school, or college of arts and sciences faculty who
        teach content or methods courses for training teacher
        candidates;
            ``(2) collaborate between the department, school, or
        college of education faculty and the department, school, or
        college of arts and science faculty and academic content
        specialists at the local educational agency to educate pre-
        service teachers who can integrate technology and pedagogical
        skills in content areas;
            ``(3) collaborate between the department, school, or
        college of education faculty and the department, school, or
        college of arts and sciences faculty who teach courses to pre-
        service teachers to--
                    ``(A) develop and implement a plan for pre-service
                teachers and continuing educators that demonstrates
                effective instructional strategies and application of
                such strategies in the use of digital tools to
                transform the teaching and learning process; and
                    ``(B) better reach underrepresented pre-service
                teacher populations with programs that connect such
                pre-service teacher populations with applications of
                technology;
            ``(4) collaborate among faculty and students to create and
        disseminate case studies of technology applications in
        classroom settings with a goal of improving student achievement
        in high-need schools;
            ``(5) provide additional technology resources for pre-
        service teachers to plan and implement technology applications
        in classroom settings that provide evidence of student
        learning; and
            ``(6) bring together expertise from departments, schools,
        or colleges of education, arts and science faculty, and
        academic content specialists at the local educational agency to
        share and disseminate technology applications in the classroom
        through teacher preparation and into early career practice.

``SEC. 224. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

    ``To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract or
cooperative agreement under this part, an eligible consortium shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such
application shall include the following:
            ``(1) A description of the project to be carried out with
        the grant, including how the project will--
                    ``(A) develop a long-term partnership focused on
                effective teaching with modern digital tools and
                content that substantially connects pre-service
                preparation of teacher candidates with high-need
                schools; or
                    ``(B) transform the way departments, schools, and
                colleges of education teach classroom technology
                integration, including the principles of universal
                design, to teacher candidates.
            ``(2) A demonstration of--
                    ``(A) the commitment, including the financial
                commitment, of each of the members of the consortium
                for the proposed project; and
                    ``(B) the support of the leadership of each
                organization that is a member of the consortium for the
                proposed project.
            ``(3) A description of how each member of the consortium
        will participate in the project.
            ``(4) A description of how the State or local educational
        agency will incorporate the project into the agency's
        technology plan, if such a plan already exists.
            ``(5) A description of how the project will be continued
        after Federal funds are no longer available under this part for
        the project.
            ``(6) A description of how the project will incorporate--
                    ``(A) State teacher technology standards; and
                    ``(B) State student technology standards.
            ``(7) A plan for the evaluation of the project, which shall
        include benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project
        objectives.

``SEC. 225. EVALUATION.

    ``Not less than 10 percent of the funds awarded to an eligible
consortium to carry out a project under this part shall be used to
evaluate the effectiveness of such project.

``SEC. 226. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 to carry out
this part for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for
each of the 2 succeeding fiscal years.''.


SECTION 1. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Billing practices by telecommunications carriers may
        not reflect accurately the cost or basis of the additional
        telecommunications services and benefits that consumers receive
        as a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of
        1996 (Public Law 104-104) and other Federal regulatory actions
        taken since the enactment of that Act.
            (2) Congress has never enacted a law with the intent of
        permitting providers of telecommunications services to
        misrepresent to customers the costs of providing services or
        the services provided.
            (3) Certain providers of telecommunications services have
        established new, specific charges on customer bills commonly
        known as ``line-item charges''.
            (4) Certain providers of telecommunications services have
        described such charges as ``Federal Universal Service Fees'' or
        similar fees.
            (5) Such charges have generated significant confusion among
        customers regarding the nature of and scope of universal
        service and of the fees associated with universal service.
            (6) The State of New York is considering action to protect
        consumers by requiring telecommunications carriers to disclose
        fully in the bills of all classes of customers the fee
        increases and fee reductions resulting from the enactment of
        the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and other regulatory actions
        taken since the enactment of that Act.
            (7) The National Association of Regulatory Utility
        Commissioners adopted a resolution in February 1998 supporting
        action by the Federal Communications Commission to require
        interstate carriers to provide accurate customer notice
        regarding the implementation and purpose of end user charges.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to require the Federal
Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to protect
consumers of telecommunications services by assuring accurate cost
reporting and billing practices by telecommunications carriers
nationwide.

SEC. 2. INVESTIGATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS BILLING PRACTICES.

    (a) Investigation.--
            (1) Requirement.--The Federal Communications Commission and
        the Federal Trade Commission shall jointly conduct an
        investigation of the billing practices of telecommunications
        carriers.
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the investigation is to
        determine whether the bills sent by carriers to their customers
        accurately assess and correctly characterize any additional
        fees paid by such customers for telecommunications services as
        a result of the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
        (Public Law 104-104) and other Federal regulatory actions taken
        since the enactment of that Act.
    (b) Determinations.--In carrying out the investigation under
subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal
Trade Commission shall determine the following:
            (1) The amount, if any, of additional fees imposed by
        telecommunications carriers on their customers as a result of
        the requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
        (including the amendments made by that Act) and other Federal
        regulatory actions taken since the enactment of that Act during
        the period beginning on June 30, 1997, and ending on the date
        of enactment of that Act.
            (2) In the event that additional fees described in
        paragraph (1) are being imposed, the following:
                    (A) Whether the amount of such fees accurately
                reflect--
                            (i) the additional costs to carriers as a
                        result of the enactment of that Act (including
                        the amendments made by that Act) and other
                        Federal regulatory actions taken since the
                        enactment of that Act; and
                            (ii) any reductions in costs, or other
                        financial benefits, to carriers as a result of
                        the enactment of that Act (including such
                        amendments) and other Federal regulatory
                        actions taken since the enactment of that Act.
                    (B) Whether the bills that impose such fees
                characterize correctly the nature and basis of such
                fees.
    (c) Review of Records.--
            (1) Authority.--For purposes of the investigation under
        subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission and the
        Federal Trade Commission may obtain from any telecommunications
        carrier any record of the carrier that is relevant to the
        investigation.
            (2) Use.--The Federal Communications Commission and the
        Federal Trade Commission may use records obtained under this
        subsection only for purposes of the investigation.
    (d) Disciplinary Actions.--
            (1) In general.--In the event that the Federal
        Communications Commission or the Federal Trade Commission
        determine as a result of the investigation under subsection (a)
        that the bills sent by a telecommunications carrier to its
        customers does not accurately assess or correctly characterize
        any fee addressed in the investigation, the Federal
        Communications Commission or the Federal Trade Commission, as
        the case may be, shall take such actions against the carrier as
        such Commission is authorized to take under law.
            (2) Additional actions.--If the Federal Communications
        Commission or the Federal Trade Commission determines that such
        Commission does not have adequate authority under law to take
        appropriate actions under paragraph (1), the Federal
        Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission
        shall notify Congress of that determination in the report under
        subsection (e).
    (e) Report.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade
Commission shall jointly submit to Congress a report on the results of
the investigation under subsection (a). The report shall include the
determination, if any, of either Commission under subsection (d)(2) and
any recommendations for further legislative action that the Commissions
consider appropriate.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS IMPOSING CERTAIN
              FEES FOR SERVICES.

    (a) Requirements.--Any telecommunications carrier that includes on
any of the bills sent to its customers a charge described in subsection
(b) shall--
            (1) specify in the bill imposing such charge any reduction
        in charges or fees allocable to all classes of customers
        (including customers of residential basic service, customers of
        other residential services, small business customers, and other
        business customers) by reason of any regulatory action of the
        Federal Government; and
            (2) submit to the Federal Communications Commission the
        reports required to be submitted by the carrier to the
        Securities and Exchange Commission under sections 13(a) and
        15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
        78m(a), 78o(d)).
    (b) Covered Charges.--Subsection (a) applies in the case of the
following charges:
            (1) Any specific charge included after June 30, 1997, if
        the imposition of the charge is attributed to a regulatory
        action of the Federal Government.
            (2) Any specific charge included before that date if the
        description of the charge is changed after that date to
        attribute the imposition of the charge to a regulatory action
        of the Federal Government.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prescription Drug Fairness for
Seniors Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Manufacturers of prescription drugs engage in price
        discrimination practices that compel many older Americans to
        pay substantially more for prescription drugs than the drug
        manufacturers' most favored customers, such as health insurers,
        health maintenance organizations, and the Federal Government.
            (2) On average, older Americans who buy their own
        prescription drugs pay twice as much for prescription drugs as
        the drug manufacturers' most favored customers. In some cases,
        older Americans pay over 15 times more for prescription drugs
        than the most favored customers.
            (3) The discriminatory pricing by major drug manufacturers
        sustains their annual profits of $20,000,000,000, but causes
        financial hardship and impairs the health and well-being of
        millions of older Americans. More than one in eight older
        Americans are forced to choose between buying their food and
        buying their medicines.
            (4) Most federally funded health care programs, including
        Medicaid, the Veterans Health Administration, the Public Health
        Service, and the Indian Health Service, obtain prescription
        drugs for their beneficiaries at low prices. Medicare
        beneficiaries are denied this benefit and cannot obtain their
        prescription drugs at the favorable prices available to other
        federally funded health care programs.
            (5) It has been estimated that implementation of the policy
        set forth in this Act will reduce prescription prices for
        Medicare beneficiaries by more than 40 percent.
            (6) In addition to substantially lowering health care costs
        for older Americans, implementation of the policy set forth in
        this Act will significantly improve the health and well-being
        of older Americans and lower the costs to the Federal taxpayer
        of the Medicare program.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to protect Medicare
beneficiaries from discriminatory pricing by drug manufacturers and to
make prescription drugs available to Medicare beneficiaries at
substantially reduced prices, by allowing pharmacies to purchase drugs
for Medicare beneficiaries at the substantially reduced price available
under the Federal Supply Schedule.

SEC. 3. MEDICARE BENEFICIARY DRUG BENEFIT CARD.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall furnish to each
Medicare beneficiary a drug benefit card that enables the beneficiary
to purchase covered prescription drugs from participating pharmacies at
reduced prices pursuant to section 4.

SEC. 4. PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES.

    (a) Agreements to Participate.--Any qualified pharmacy may enter
into an agreement with the Secretary that enables the pharmacy to sell
covered outpatient drugs to holders of Medicare drug benefit cards at a
reduced price, by authorizing the pharmacy to operate as a
participating pharmacy under this Act.
    (b) Right of Participating Pharmacies To Obtain Drugs.--An
agreement under this section shall entitle the participating pharmacy
to purchase any covered outpatient drug that is listed on the Federal
Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration at the
participating pharmacy discount price for that drug determined under
subsection (d).
    (c) Quantity of Drugs Purchased.--An agreement under this section
shall permit the participating pharmacy to purchase under this Act as
much of a covered outpatient drug as is sold by the pharmacy to holders
of Medicare drug benefit cards.
    (d) Participating Pharmacy Discount Price.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall determine a
        participating pharmacy discount price for each covered
        outpatient drug.
            (2) Determination.--The participating pharmacy discount
        price for a covered outpatient drug shall be determined by
        adding--
                    (A) the price at which the drug is available to
                Federal agencies from the Federal Supply Schedule under
                section 8126 of title 38, United States Code; plus
                    (B) an amount that reflects the administrative
                costs incurred by the Secretary in administering this
                Act.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer this Act in a
manner that uses existing methods of obtaining and distributing drugs
to the maximum extent possible, consistent with efficiency and cost
effectiveness.
    (b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue such regulations as may
be necessary to implement this Act.

SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF ACT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
report to the Congress regarding the effectiveness of this Act in--
            (1) protecting Medicare beneficiaries from discriminatory
        pricing by drug manufacturers; and
            (2) making prescription drugs available to Medicare
        beneficiaries at substantially reduced prices.
    (b) Consultation.--In preparing such reports, the Secretary shall
consult with public health experts, affected industries, organizations
representing consumers and older Americans, and other interested
persons.
    (c) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall include in such reports
any recommendations they consider appropriate for changes in this Act
to further reduce the cost of covered outpatient drugs to Medicare
beneficiaries.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Covered outpatient drug.--The term ``covered outpatient
        drug'' has the meaning given that term in section 1927(k)(2) of
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-8(k)(2)).
            (2) Medicare beneficiary.--The term ``Medicare
        beneficiary'' means an individual entitled to benefits under
        part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled
        under part B of such title, or both.
            (3) Medicare drug benefit card.--The term ``Medicare drug
        benefit card'' means such a card issued under section 3.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The Secretary shall implement this Act as expeditiously as
practicable and in a manner consistent with the obligations of the
United States.