Summary:
Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act

This bill revises the standard under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) used to determine whether regulatory control of a certain chemical is warranted. If a chemical presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, the TSCA requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate rulemaking to reduce risks to a reasonable level. The bill requires that standard to be based on exposure to a chemical under its conditions of use. The conditions of use are the intended, known, or reasonably foreseeable circumstances under which a chemical is manufactured, processed, distributed, disposed of, or used. The safety standard must also protect potentially exposed or susceptible populations, not just the general population, from unreasonable risks. Further, costs or other nonrisk factors may not be considered in developing the safety standard.

(Sec. 4) Within two years, the EPA must develop any policies, procedures, and guidance necessary to carry out the bill's requirements with respect to: (1) requesting safety data from manufacturers or processors, (2) prioritizing existing chemicals for evaluation of their risks, (3) reviewing new chemicals or significant new uses of existing chemicals, and (4) conducting safety assessments and safety determinations on whether a chemical meets the safety standard. Those policies, procedures, and guidances must be reviewed every five years and revised as necessary to reflect new scientific developments or understandings. In carrying out those requirements, the EPA must take into consideration information relating to chemicals that is reasonably available.

The EPA must also establish policies and procedures for the testing of chemicals. The EPA may not interpret the lack of exposure information as a lack of exposure to a chemical.

The EPA must inform the public of the schedule for the completion of each safety assessment and safety determination as soon as practicable after designating a chemical as a high-priority chemical for risk evaluation purposes. A safety assessment is an assessment of the risk posed by a chemical under the conditions of use, integrating hazard, use, and exposure information regarding the chemical. A safety determination is a decision made by the EPA as to whether a chemical meets the safety standard under the conditions of use.

At the beginning of each year, the EPA must identify the chemical safety assessments and determinations to be completed that year. The EPA must make available to the public a summary, and the final version, of each safety assessment and determination. The public must be given an opportunity to comment on each proposed assessment and determination.

The EPA must establish the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals to provide independent advice to the EPA with respect to the scientific and technical aspects of issues relating to the implementation of this bill.

(Sec. 5) The bill revises requirements on testing chemicals to evaluate their risks.

The bill eliminates a requirement that the EPA must first make a preliminary finding about risks before the EPA can require testing by manufacturers or processors. Instead, the EPA may now require the development of information on chemicals for certain purposes, including the development of information that is necessary for reviewing new chemicals, performing safety assessments or determinations, implementing certain control actions on chemicals, and establishing the priority of a chemical.

 Currently, the EPA is limited to requiring the development of information through a rule. This bill allows the EPA to require the development of information through a consent agreement or an order as well.

In determining testing procedures and related deadlines that must be required under those rules, agreements, or orders, the EPA must take into consideration: (1) the relative costs of the test protocols and methodologies that may be required, and (2) the reasonably foreseeable availability of facilities and personnel required to perform the testing.

The EPA must minimize, to the extent practicable, the use of vertebrate animals in testing chemicals. To promote the development and timely incorporation of new testing methods that are not based on vertebrate animals, the EPA must: (1) develop a strategic plan to promote the development and implementation of alternative test methods and testing strategies to generate information under the TSCA that can reduce, refine, or replace the use of vertebrate animals; and (2) fund and carry out research, development, performance assessment, and translational studies to accelerate the development of those alternative test methods and strategies. The EPA must ensure that the elements in the strategic plan are reflected in the development of testing requirements. Any person who voluntarily develops information under the TSCA must first attempt to develop the information by an alternative or nonanimal test method or testing strategy before conducting new animal testing.

The EPA may require the development of information by manufacturers and processors of chemicals.

The EPA must employ a tiered screening and testing process that uses the results of screening-level tests or assessments of available information to inform the decision as to whether additional tests are necessary. The EPA may require more advanced testing without conducting screening-level testing when other information available to the EPA justifies the advanced testing.

Testing information that is not confidential must be made publicly available.

(Sec. 6) Within a year, the EPA must establish a risk-based screening process and explicit criteria for identifying existing chemicals that are a high or low priority for a safety assessment and safety determination.

Within 180 days, the EPA must publish an initial list of high- and low- priority chemicals. The list must contain at least 10 high-priority chemicals as well as 10 low-priority chemicals. At least five of the high-priority chemicals must be drawn from the October 2014 TSCA Work Plan (i.e. existing chemicals that the EPA has already prioritized for review). Insofar as possible, at least 50% of all chemicals subsequently identified as high-priority chemicals must be from the Work Plan until all Work Plan chemicals have been designated.

In developing the initial list and in identifying additional high-priority chemicals, the EPA must give preference to chemicals scored as high for persistence and bioaccumulation in the Work Plan.

Within three years, the EPA must add to the list additional high-priority chemicals sufficient to ensure that at least 20 high-priority chemicals have undergone or are undergoing the safety assessments and determination process, and additional low-priority chemicals sufficient to ensure that at least 20 low-priority chemicals have been designated. Within five years, those numbers must increase to at least 25 high-priority chemicals and 25 and low-priority chemicals.

In carrying out the prioritization screening process, the EPA must consider chemicals active in commerce during the last 10 years. The EPA may take into consideration inactive chemicals if they: (1) have not been subject to enforceable actions by the EPA to ban or phase out the chemicals and have the potential for high hazard and widespread exposure, or (2) have been subject to enforceable actions by the EPA to ban or phase out the chemicals and there is the potential for residual high hazards or widespread exposures not otherwise addressed by the actions.

Once a safety assessment and determination process is completed for a high-priority chemical, it must be replaced on the high-priority list by another chemical until a safety assessment and determination is completed for all high-priority chemicals.

The EPA must complete the designation of all active substances as high- or low-priority chemicals in a timely manner.

The EPA must publish an annual goal for the number of chemicals to be subject to the prioritization screening process. The EPA must also keep current and publish a list of chemicals: (1) that are being considered in the prioritization screening process, and (2) that are designed as high- or low-priority chemicals.

The EPA may screen categories of chemicals to ensure an efficient prioritization screening process.

The prioritization screening decision regarding a chemical must integrate any hazard and exposure information relating to the chemical that is available to the EPA.

The EPA must identify a chemical as a high-priority chemical if it has the potential for significant hazard and significant exposure. The EPA may identify a chemical as high-priority if it has the potential for either a significant hazard or significant exposure. A chemical must be identified as a low-priority chemical if the EPA has information sufficient to establish that the chemical is likely to meet the safety standard.

Prioritization screening decisions may be deferred for a reasonable period if additional information is required to establish the priority of a chemical.

If the EPA requests the development or submission of information under the prioritization screening process, the EPA must establish a deadline for submission of the information.

Prioritization screening decisions are subject to public notice and comment.

The EPA may revise a priority designation based on information available to the EPA after the date of the determination. If limited availability of relevant information was a basis in the designation of a chemical as a high-priority chemical, the EPA must reevaluate the prioritization screening of the chemical on receiving that information.

A state must notify the EPA if it proposes or takes administrative action or enacts a law to prohibit or restrict the manufacturing, processing, distribution, or use of a chemical that the EPA has not designated as a high-priority chemical. If certain conditions are met, the EPA must conduct a prioritization screening for that chemical.

The EPA must review the prioritization screening process every five years and modify the process as necessary.

A priority designation for a chemical does not affect the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, or disposal of the chemical or the regulation of those activities.

A manufacturer or processor of an active chemical may request the EPA to prioritize a safety assessment and determination for that chemical upon payment of a fee. A limit is placed on the number of those requests that the EPA may grant.

(Sec. 7) The bill modifies the process of reviewing new chemicals and significant new uses of existing chemicals, including by requiring the EPA to make a determination that a new chemical or use is likely to meet the safety standard before it can be commercially manufactured or processed.

The EPA must: (1) conduct an initial review of a premanufacture notice (PMN) for a new chemical or a significant new use of an existing chemical; (2) develop a profile of the relevant chemical and the potential for exposure to humans and the environment; and (3) make any necessary safety standard determinations. The review must be made within 90 days after receiving the PMN, but the EPA may extend that period for a good cause for up to 90 days. Any relevant information available to the EPA must be considered when the EPA evaluates the PMN.

Before the end of the initial review period, the EPA must determine that: (1) the relevant chemical or significant new use is not likely to meet the safety standard, (2) the new chemical or use is likely to meet the standard, or (3) additional information is necessary in order to make a determination.

The EPA may extend the review period of a PMN to allow for the development and submission of additional information.

In selecting among restrictions for chemicals that rank high for persistence and bioaccumulation to ensure that the chemical is likely to meet the safety standard, the EPA must select a restriction to reduce potential exposure to the chemicals to the maximum extent practicable.

(Sec. 8) The bill outlines requirements and deadlines for conducting safety assessments and determinations, and promulgates control measures on chemicals.

The EPA must conduct a safety assessment and make a safety determination for each high-priority chemical. Both must be completed within three years of a high-priority designation. Within two years of completing a negative safety determination, the EPA must promulgate a rule establishing restrictions necessary to ensure the chemical meets the safety standard. The EPA must ban or phase out the chemical if the safety standard cannot be met with restrictions. A ban or phase-out must be implemented in as short a period as practicable.

If there is adequate public justification, the EPA may extend the deadlines for conducting the assessments and determinations and promulgating those restrictions for a reasonable period of time that does not exceed two years.

The EPA must decide if a chemical meets the safety standard or if additional information is required. If additional information is needed, the EPA must: (1) provide an opportunity for interested persons to submit the additional information, and (2) establish a deadline for the submission of the information when it requests the development of the information.

Restrictions for persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals must reduce exposure to the chemical to the maximum extent practicable.

When establishing restrictions for chemicals that do not meet the safety standard, the EPA must consider the costs and benefits of the proposed regulatory action and the primary alternatives to those actions. That consideration must be given to the extent practicable based on reasonably available information. The bill revokes the requirement that the EPA must apply the least burdensome regulatory option to restrict a chemical that warrants regulation.

Certain exemptions from restrictions, bans, and phase-out on chemicals are established. The EPA may exempt uses of chemicals from restrictions if complying with the restrictions would: (1) harm national security, (2) cause significant disruption in the national economy, or (3) interfere with a critical or essential use for which no technically and economically feasible safer alternative is available. The EPA may also exempt uses of chemicals from restrictions if the chemical provides a substantial benefit to health, the environment, or public safety.

The EPA may declare a proposed rule that outlines restrictions to be effective on publication and until final action is taken.

(Sec. 10) The bill revises TSCA's reporting requirements, including nomenclature requirements for chemicals.

The EPA must categorize chemicals on the TSCA Inventory (chemicals of concern) list as active or inactive.

Any confidential business information (CBI) claims to protect the specific identities of existing, active chemicals on the list from disclosure would need to be reaffirmed and substantiated. The EPA must maintain both a confidential and non-confidential portion of the Inventory.

Within five years of compiling that list of active chemicals, the EPA must establish a plan to review all CBI claims.

 (Sec. 13) The bill revises exemption and notice provisions for the exports of chemicals that are not likely to meet, or do not meet, the safety standard.

(Sec. 14) The bill revises provisions concerning the protection of CBI under the TSCA.

The bill enumerates certain categories of information that are presumed to be protected from disclosure. It also specifies certain CBI that is not protected, including information relating to safety assessments and safety determinations and banned or phased-out chemicals. The bill provides exceptions from CBI protection, including an exemption for sharing CBI information with public health or environmental officials in emergencies.

EPA approvals of CBI claims are limited to 10 years. The EPA may grant a 10-year extension.

(Sec. 16) The penalty amounts for violations of the TSCA are increased. A new criminal penalty is established for violators that knowingly place parties in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

(Sec. 17) The bill amends TSCA to revise requirements related to federal preemption of state statutes or administrative actions to manage risks from chemicals. Subject to exemptions, states may not establish or continue to enforce statutes or administrative actions concerning: (1) testing information on chemicals that is likely to produce the same information required by the EPA; (2) restrictions on the manufacture, processing, or distribution in commerce or use of a chemical, and (3) significant new uses of chemicals.

Federal preemption applies only to: (1) the chemical or categories of chemicals subject to a rule, order, or consent agreement; (2) the uses or conditions of use of chemicals that are identified by the EPA as subject to review in a safety assessment and included in the scope of the safety determination, or of any rule establishing restrictions necessary to ensure that the chemical meets the safety standard; and (3) the uses of those chemicals that the EPA has specified as significant new uses and for which the EPA has required a significant new use notification.

States are prohibited from adopting new restrictions for a high-priority chemical between the time the EPA defines the scope of a safety assessment and determination for a chemical and the time the safety determination is published.

The bill caps the penalties and sanctions available to states at the level available to the EPA. The EPA may not access a penalty for a violation for which a state has already assessed a penalty.

The bill preserves certain state requirements, rights, causes of actions, and remedies from being preempted by EPA actions under TSCA. State actions taken before August 1, 2015, or taken under laws in effect on August 31, 2003, are exempted from preemption.

 (Sec. 21) The bill repeals a requirement for the EPA to conduct an indemnification study and a study on classifying, storing, and retrieving information on chemicals.

(Sec. 22) The bill expands the EPA's authority under TSCA to access fees on chemical manufacturers, importers, or processors.

The EPA must establish a fee on manufactures or processors of certain chemicals to defray approximately 25% the cost of implementing certain requirements of the bill. The bill caps the total amount that may be collected from those fees to $18 million. The amounts generated by the fee must be deposited in the TSCA Implementation Fund that is established by the bill.

The authority to access fees is conditioned on continued federal appropriations at a certain level. Fees may not be assessed for a fiscal year unless the amount of appropriations, excluding fees, is at least equal to the amount of appropriations for FY2015.

The EPA's authority to access fees is terminated after 10 years.

(Sec. 23) The President must establish: (1) an interagency Sustainable Chemistry Program to promote and coordinate federal sustainable chemistry research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training activities; and (2) an interagency working group to oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the program.

frank chemical safety 21st century act bill revises standard toxic_substances_control_act tsca determine regulatory control certain chemical warranted chemical presents unreasonable risk injury health environment tsca requires environmental_protection_agency epa initiate rulemaking reduce risks reasonable level bill requires standard based exposure chemical conditions use conditions use intended known reasonably foreseeable circumstances chemical manufactured processed distributed disposed safety standard protect potentially exposed susceptible populations general population unreasonable risks costs factors considered developing safety standard sec years epa develop policies procedures guidance necessary carry bill requirements respect requesting safety data manufacturers processors prioritizing existing chemicals evaluation risks reviewing new chemicals significant new uses existing chemicals conducting safety assessments safety determinations chemical meets safety standard policies procedures reviewed years revised necessary reflect new scientific developments carrying requirements epa consideration information relating chemicals reasonably available epa establish policies procedures testing chemicals epa interpret lack exposure information lack exposure chemical epa inform public schedule completion safety assessment safety determination soon practicable designating chemical high priority chemical risk evaluation purposes safety assessment assessment risk posed chemical conditions use integrating hazard use exposure information chemical safety determination decision epa chemical meets safety standard conditions use beginning year epa identify chemical safety assessments determinations completed year epa available public summary final version safety assessment determination public given opportunity comment proposed assessment determination epa establish science advisory_committee chemicals provide independent advice epa respect scientific technical aspects issues relating implementation bill sec bill revises requirements testing chemicals evaluate risks bill eliminates requirement epa preliminary finding risks epa require testing manufacturers processors instead epa require development information chemicals certain purposes including development information necessary reviewing new chemicals performing safety assessments determinations implementing certain control actions chemicals establishing priority chemical currently epa limited requiring development information rule bill allows epa require development information consent agreement order determining testing procedures related deadlines required rules agreements orders epa consideration relative costs test protocols methodologies required reasonably foreseeable availability facilities personnel required perform testing epa minimize extent practicable use animals testing chemicals promote development timely incorporation new testing methods based animals epa develop strategic plan promote development implementation alternative test methods testing strategies generate information tsca reduce refine replace use animals fund carry research development performance assessment translational studies accelerate development alternative test methods strategies epa ensure elements strategic plan reflected development testing requirements person voluntarily develops information tsca attempt develop information alternative test method testing strategy conducting new animal testing epa require development information manufacturers processors chemicals epa employ tiered screening testing process uses results screening level tests assessments available information inform decision additional tests necessary epa require advanced testing conducting screening level testing information available epa justifies advanced testing testing information confidential publicly available sec year epa establish risk based screening process explicit criteria identifying existing chemicals high low priority safety assessment safety determination days epa publish initial list high- low- priority chemicals list contain high priority chemicals low priority chemicals high priority chemicals drawn october tsca work plan existing chemicals epa prioritized review insofar possible chemicals subsequently identified high priority chemicals work plan work plan chemicals designated developing initial list identifying additional high priority chemicals epa preference chemicals high persistence work plan years epa add list additional high priority chemicals sufficient ensure high priority chemicals undergone undergoing safety assessments determination process additional low priority chemicals sufficient ensure low priority chemicals designated years numbers increase high priority chemicals low priority chemicals carrying prioritization screening process epa consider chemicals active commerce years epa consideration inactive chemicals subject enforceable actions epa ban phase chemicals potential high hazard widespread exposure subject enforceable actions epa ban phase chemicals potential residual high hazards widespread exposures addressed actions safety assessment determination process completed high priority chemical replaced high priority list chemical safety assessment determination completed high priority chemicals epa complete designation active substances high- low priority chemicals timely manner epa publish annual goal number chemicals subject prioritization screening process epa current publish list chemicals considered prioritization screening process designed high- low priority chemicals epa screen categories chemicals ensure efficient prioritization screening process prioritization screening decision chemical integrate hazard exposure information relating chemical available epa epa identify chemical high priority chemical potential significant hazard significant exposure epa identify chemical high priority potential significant hazard significant exposure chemical identified low priority chemical epa information sufficient establish chemical likely meet safety standard prioritization screening decisions deferred reasonable period additional information required establish priority chemical epa requests development submission information prioritization screening process epa establish deadline submission information prioritization screening decisions subject public notice comment epa revise priority designation based information available epa date determination limited availability relevant information basis designation chemical high priority chemical epa reevaluate prioritization screening chemical receiving information state notify epa proposes takes administrative action enacts law prohibit restrict manufacturing processing distribution use chemical epa designated high priority chemical certain conditions met epa conduct prioritization screening chemical epa review prioritization screening process years modify process necessary priority designation chemical affect manufacture processing distribution use disposal chemical regulation activities manufacturer processor active chemical request epa prioritize safety assessment determination chemical payment fee limit placed number requests epa grant sec bill modifies process reviewing new chemicals significant new uses existing chemicals including requiring epa determination new chemical use likely meet safety standard commercially manufactured processed epa conduct initial review notice new chemical significant new use existing chemical develop profile relevant chemical potential exposure humans environment necessary safety standard determinations review days receiving epa extend period good cause days relevant information available epa considered epa evaluates end initial review period epa determine relevant chemical significant new use likely meet safety standard new chemical use likely meet standard additional information necessary order determination epa extend review period allow development submission additional information selecting restrictions chemicals rank high persistence ensure chemical likely meet safety standard epa select restriction reduce potential exposure chemicals maximum extent practicable sec bill outlines requirements deadlines conducting safety assessments determinations promulgates control measures chemicals epa conduct safety assessment safety determination high priority chemical completed years high priority designation years completing negative safety determination epa promulgate rule establishing restrictions necessary ensure chemical meets safety standard epa ban phase chemical safety standard met restrictions ban phase implemented short period practicable adequate public justification epa extend deadlines conducting assessments determinations promulgating restrictions reasonable period time exceed years epa decide chemical meets safety standard additional information required additional information needed epa provide opportunity interested persons submit additional information establish deadline submission information requests development information restrictions persistent bioaccumulative chemicals reduce exposure chemical maximum extent practicable establishing restrictions chemicals meet safety standard epa consider costs benefits proposed regulatory action primary alternatives actions consideration given extent practicable based reasonably available information bill revokes requirement epa apply burdensome regulatory option restrict chemical warrants regulation certain exemptions restrictions bans phase chemicals established epa exempt uses chemicals restrictions complying restrictions harm national security cause significant disruption national economy interfere critical essential use technically economically feasible safer alternative available epa exempt uses chemicals restrictions chemical provides substantial benefit health environment public safety epa declare proposed rule outlines restrictions effective publication final action taken sec bill revises tsca reporting requirements including requirements chemicals epa categorize chemicals tsca inventory chemicals concern list active inactive confidential business information claims protect specific identities existing active chemicals list disclosure need substantiated epa maintain confidential non confidential portion inventory years compiling list active chemicals epa establish plan review claims sec bill revises exemption notice provisions exports chemicals likely meet meet safety standard sec bill revises provisions concerning protection tsca bill enumerates certain categories information presumed protected disclosure specifies certain protected including information relating safety assessments safety determinations banned phased chemicals bill provides exceptions protection including exemption sharing information public health environmental officials emergencies epa approvals claims limited years epa grant year extension sec penalty amounts violations tsca increased new criminal penalty established violators knowingly place parties imminent danger death bodily injury sec bill amends tsca revise requirements related federal preemption state statutes administrative actions manage risks chemicals subject exemptions states establish continue enforce statutes administrative actions concerning testing information chemicals likely produce information required epa restrictions manufacture processing distribution commerce use chemical significant new uses chemicals federal preemption applies chemical categories chemicals subject rule order consent agreement uses conditions use chemicals identified epa subject review safety assessment included scope safety determination rule establishing restrictions necessary ensure chemical meets safety standard uses chemicals epa specified significant new uses epa required significant new use notification states prohibited adopting new restrictions high priority chemical time epa defines scope safety assessment determination chemical time safety determination published bill caps penalties sanctions available states level available epa epa access penalty violation state assessed penalty bill preserves certain state requirements rights causes actions remedies preempted epa actions tsca state actions taken august taken laws effect august exempted preemption sec bill repeals requirement epa conduct indemnification study study classifying storing retrieving information chemicals sec bill expands epa authority tsca access fees chemical manufacturers importers processors epa establish fee manufactures processors certain chemicals defray approximately cost implementing certain requirements bill bill caps total collected fees million amounts generated fee deposited tsca implementation fund established bill authority access fees conditioned continued federal appropriations certain level fees assessed fiscal year appropriations excluding fees equal appropriations fy2015 epa authority access fees terminated years sec president establish interagency sustainable chemistry program promote coordinate federal sustainable chemistry research development demonstration technology transfer commercialization education training activities interagency_working_group oversee planning management coordination program


Summary:
Alan Reinstein and Trevor Schaefer Toxic Chemical Protection Act

This bill amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to revise the regulation of chemicals.

 A safety standard is established to ensure with reasonable certainty that no harm to human health or the environment will result from exposure to a chemical under the intended or reasonable foreseeable conditions of use. The standard includes the protection of potentially exposed or susceptible populations. The standard does not take cost or other non-risk factors into consideration.

 The bill expands the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to require the development of new information about a chemical.

By specified deadlines, the EPA must designate a certain number of existing chemicals as high or low priority for safety assessments and determinations and conduct risk-based safety assessments and determinations for high priority chemicals. Low-priority designations are subject to judicial review.

 The EPA must prohibit or restrict the manufacture, processing, use, distribution, or disposal of a new chemical, or a significant new use of an existing chemical, if the chemical will not likely meet the safety standard, or additional information is necessary to make a safety determination.

If a chemical does not meet the safety standard, the EPA must impose restrictions to assure that it meets the standard, or ban or phase out the chemical when the safety standard cannot be met with the application of those restrictions.

The EPA may declare a proposed rule effective upon publication to protect the public interest when certain activities involving chemicals are likely to result in a significant risk of serious or widespread injury to health or the environment.

The EPA must: (1) list all forms of asbestos as high-priority chemicals; and (2) expedite identification, assessment, and action on persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic chemicals.

 Confidential business information claims to protect information related to chemicals must be substantiated by manufacturers or processors and reviewed by the EPA. The bill sets forth the types of information that are protected from disclosure and the duration of such protection.

The EPA must require manufacturers of chemical substances to pay fees to defray the cost of administering this bill.

The EPA must operate Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Centers and Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Teams and may award grants for technical assistance for the investigation and mitigation of a community-based disease cluster. A "disease cluster" means the occurrence of a greater-than-expected number of cases of a particular disease within a group of individuals, a geographic area, or a period of time.

toxic chemical protection act bill amends toxic_substances_control_act tsca revise regulation chemicals safety standard established ensure reasonable certainty harm human health environment result exposure chemical intended reasonable foreseeable conditions use standard includes protection potentially exposed susceptible populations standard cost non risk factors consideration bill expands environmental_protection_agency epa authority require development new information chemical specified deadlines epa designate certain number existing chemicals high low priority safety assessments determinations conduct risk based safety assessments determinations high priority chemicals low priority designations subject judicial review epa prohibit restrict manufacture processing use distribution disposal new chemical significant new use existing chemical chemical likely meet safety standard additional information necessary safety determination chemical meet safety standard epa impose restrictions assure meets standard ban phase chemical safety standard met application restrictions epa declare proposed rule effective publication protect public interest certain activities involving chemicals likely result significant risk widespread injury health environment epa list forms asbestos high priority chemicals expedite identification assessment action persistent bio toxic chemicals confidential business information claims protect information related chemicals substantiated manufacturers processors reviewed epa bill sets forth types information protected disclosure duration protection epa require manufacturers chemical substances pay fees defray cost administering bill epa operate regional disease cluster information response centers regional disease cluster information response teams award grants technical assistance investigation mitigation community based disease cluster disease cluster means occurrence greater expected number cases particular disease group individuals geographic area period time


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2015 or the BUILD Act

This bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to revise programs and funding regarding brownfields. (Brownfields are certain commercial properties that are hindered from reuse or redevelopment due to the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.)

(Sec. 2) The bill makes certain nonprofit organizations and community development entities eligible for brownfields revitalization funding.

(Sec. 3) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must establish a program to provide multipurpose grants to carry out inventory, characterization, assessment, planning, or remediation activities at brownfield sites.

(Sec. 4) The brownfield site characterization and assessment grant program is revised by authorizing eligible governmental entities to receive grants for property that was acquired before January 11, 2002, even if the entities do not qualify as bona fide prospective purchasers.

(Sec. 5) The bill increases the cap on the amount that may be given in grants and loans for each site to be remediated.

(Sec. 7) The EPA must establish a grant program that provides training, research, and technical assistance to facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments, remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, or site preparation. (Currently, the EPA may provide funding for this purpose.) The bill authorizes the EPA to use up to a specified amount of the funding made available for the grant program on grants to assist small communities, Indian tribes, rural areas, or disadvantaged areas. (A small community is one with a population of no more than 15,000 individuals and a disadvantaged area has an annual median household income that is less than 80% of the state-wide annual median household income.)

(Sec. 8) The EPA must give consideration to waterfront brownfield sites located adjacent to bodies of water or federally designated floodplains when providing brownfield grants.

(Sec. 9) The EPA must establish a program to provide grants to: (1) carry out inventory, characterization, assessment, planning, feasibility analysis, design, or remediation activities to locate a clean energy project at brownfield sites; and (2) capitalize a revolving loan fund for those purposes. A clean energy project means: (1) a facility that generates renewable electricity from wind, solar, or geothermal energy; and (2) any energy efficiency improvement project at a facility.

(Sec. 11) The bill: (1) reauthorizes through FY2018 and revises brownfields revitalization funding, and (2) reauthorizes through FY2018 state and tribal response programs (programs responding to brownfields).

measure amended introduced expanded summary senate reported version repeated brownfields utilization investment local development act build act bill amends comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act revise programs funding brownfields brownfields certain commercial properties reuse redevelopment presence hazardous substance pollutant contaminant sec bill makes certain nonprofit organizations community development entities eligible brownfields revitalization funding sec environmental_protection_agency epa establish program provide multipurpose grants carry inventory characterization assessment planning remediation activities brownfield sites sec brownfield site characterization assessment grant program revised authorizing eligible governmental entities receive grants property acquired january entities qualify bona fide prospective purchasers sec bill increases cap given grants loans site sec epa establish grant program provides training research technical assistance facilitate inventory brownfield sites site assessments remediation brownfield sites community involvement site preparation currently epa provide funding purpose bill authorizes epa use specified funding available grant program grants assist small communities indian tribes rural areas disadvantaged areas small community population individuals disadvantaged area annual median household income state wide annual median household income sec epa consideration waterfront brownfield sites located adjacent bodies water federally designated floodplains providing brownfield grants sec epa establish program provide grants carry inventory characterization assessment planning feasibility analysis design remediation activities locate clean energy project brownfield sites capitalize revolving loan fund purposes clean energy project means facility generates renewable electricity wind solar geothermal energy energy efficiency improvement project facility sec bill reauthorizes fy2018 revises brownfields revitalization funding reauthorizes fy2018 state tribal response programs programs responding brownfields


Summary:
Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act of 2015

This bill entitles persons to compensation for allowable damages (i.e., property, business, or financial losses) under the Federal Tort Claims Act if they were injured by the spill into Cement Creek from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado. The spill occurred on August 5, 2015.

The bill establishes an Office of Gold King Mine Spill Claims within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to process and pay compensation claims.

The EPA must work with affected states and Indian tribes to develop, fund, and implement a long-term monitoring program for water quality of the Animas and San Juan Rivers in response to the spill.

The bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 by requiring certain agencies to work with affected states as well as research universities to: (1) identify the most dangerous abandoned and inactive mines, (2) establish a priority plan for cleaning up those mines, (3) update the plan as new information becomes available, and (4) develop a long-term research initiative. That initiative must evaluate the physical, chemical, and geological attributes of closed, abandoned, and inactive mines and pursue technological developments to aid in the cleanup of those mines.

Prior to carrying out mine remediation activities, agencies must: (1) provide affected tribal, state, and local governments notice of such activities; and (2) develop a spill prevention, control, and countermeasures plan for avoiding and mitigating the impacts of a spill.

gold king spill recovery_act bill entitles persons compensation allowable damages property business financial losses federal tort claims act injured spill cement creek gold king near colorado spill occurred august bill establishes office gold king spill claims environmental_protection_agency epa process pay compensation claims epa work affected states indian tribes develop fund implement long term monitoring program water quality san_juan rivers response spill bill amends comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act requiring certain agencies work affected states research universities identify dangerous abandoned inactive mines establish priority plan cleaning mines update plan new information available develop long term research initiative initiative evaluate physical chemical geological attributes closed abandoned inactive mines pursue technological developments aid cleanup mines prior carrying remediation activities agencies provide affected tribal state local governments notice activities develop spill prevention control countermeasures plan avoiding mitigating impacts spill


Summary:
This bill removes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) immunity from claims relating to the August 2015 spill of hazardous waste from an abandoned gold mine in Colorado into the Animas River and the San Juan River.

Civil actions relating to that spill must be commenced within 10 years after the cause of action accrues.

The EPA must work with states and Indian tribes affected by the spill to develop, fund, and implement a long-term monitoring program for water and sediment quality of those rivers.

bill removes environmental_protection_agency epa immunity claims relating august spill hazardous waste abandoned gold colorado river san_juan_river civil actions relating spill commenced years cause action accrues epa work states indian tribes affected spill develop fund implement long term monitoring program water sediment quality rivers


Summary:
Superfund Polluter Pays Restoration Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reinstate the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate beginning 60 days after enactment of this Act; (2) increase such rate from 9.7 cents to 15.8 cents per barrel of crude oil; (3) adjust for inflation in taxable years beginning after 2016 the $3.5 billion Superfund threshold after which no tax is imposed; (4) reinstate and increase the rates of tax on taxable chemicals; and (5) modify the definition of "crude oil" to include any bitumen or bituminous mixture, any oil derived from such mixture (including oil derived from tar sands), and any oil derived form kerogen-bearing sources (including oil derived from oil shale).

The bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to allow the use of the Superfund for environmental remediation without further appropriation.

polluter pays restoration act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code reinstate hazardous_substance_superfund financing rate beginning days enactment act increase rate cents cents barrel crude oil adjust inflation taxable years beginning billion threshold tax imposed reinstate increase rates tax taxable chemicals modify definition crude oil include bitumen bituminous mixture oil derived mixture including oil derived tar_sands oil derived form bearing sources including oil derived oil_shale bill amends comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act allow use environmental remediation appropriation


Summary:
Creating Livable Environments And New Usable Property Act or the CLEAN UP Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2019: (1) the exclusion of gain or loss on the sale or exchange of brownfield sites (land used for commercial or industrial purposes that has been contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution and has been cleaned up and made suitable for commercial or industrial uses) from unrelated business taxable income, and (2) the election to expense environmental remediation expenditures.

creating livable environments new usable property act clean act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code extend exclusion gain loss sale exchange brownfield sites land commercial industrial purposes contaminated hazardous waste pollution cleaned suitable commercial industrial uses unrelated business taxable income election expense environmental remediation expenditures


Summary:
Fertilizer Access and Responsible Management Act or the FARM Act

This bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to withdraw its revised enforcement policy published on July 22, 2015, concerning the exemption of retail facilities from coverage of the process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals standard. (The standard contains requirements for managing hazards associated with processes using highly hazardous chemicals.)

OSHA, when promulgating a rule relating to the exemption of retail facilities from coverage of the standards, must provide an opportunity for the public to submit comments as specified by the bill and invite meaningful public input in the rulemaking.

fertilizer access responsible management act farm act bill requires occupational_safety_and_health_administration osha withdraw revised enforcement policy published july concerning exemption retail facilities coverage process safety management highly hazardous chemicals standard standard contains requirements managing hazards associated processes highly hazardous chemicals osha promulgating rule relating exemption retail facilities coverage standards provide opportunity public submit comments specified bill invite meaningful public input rulemaking


Summary:
Illegal Synthetic Drug Safety Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to modify the treatment of controlled substance analogues (i.e., substances that have substantially similar chemical structures and pharmacological effects to schedule I controlled substances).

Under current law, a controlled substance analogue that is intended for human consumption is treated as a schedule I controlled substance. This bill replaces the "intended for human consumption" qualifier with a "not a chemical substance subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act" qualifier. Specifically, a controlled substance analogue that is not a chemical substance under the Toxic Substances Control Act is treated as a schedule I controlled substance.

illegal synthetic drug safety act bill amends controlled substances act modify treatment controlled substance substances substantially similar chemical structures pharmacological effects schedule controlled substances current law controlled substance analogue intended human consumption treated schedule controlled substance bill replaces intended human consumption chemical substance subject toxic_substances_control_act specifically controlled substance analogue chemical substance toxic_substances_control_act treated schedule controlled substance


Summary:
Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2016

This bill amends the Toxic Substances Control Act by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) identify and assess the importation, sale, and uses of, and exposures to, asbestos; and (2) impose requirements that permanently eliminate the possibility of human or environmental exposure to asbestos.

The bill allows the President to exempt any use of asbestos from the requirements if: (1) the use is necessary to protect national security interests, (2) no reasonable alternative to the asbestos use exists for the intended purpose, and (3) the use of asbestos will not result in an unreasonable risk to health or the environment.

ban asbestos act bill amends toxic_substances_control_act requiring environmental_protection_agency identify assess importation sale uses exposures asbestos impose requirements permanently eliminate possibility human environmental exposure asbestos bill allows president exempt use asbestos requirements use necessary protect national security interests reasonable alternative asbestos use exists intended purpose use asbestos result unreasonable risk health environment


Summary: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for a permanent hold harmless provision for sole community hospitals under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for covered outpatient department (OPD) services.Declares that, in the case of a sole community hospital for covered OPD services furnished after December 31, 2005, for which the PPS amount is less than the pre-BBA amount, the amount of payment shall be increased by the amount of such difference.(Pre-BBA amount means an amount equal to the product of the reasonable cost of the hospital for such services for the portions of the hospital's cost reporting period (or periods) occurring in the year and the base OPD payment-to-cost ratio for the hospital.)

amends title xviii medicare social_security_act provide permanent hold harmless provision sole community hospitals medicare prospective payment system pps covered outpatient department opd services declares case sole community hospital covered opd services furnished december pps pre payment shall increased means equal product reasonable cost hospital services portions hospital cost reporting period periods occurring year base opd payment cost ratio hospital


Summary: Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prescribe requirements for a long-term care hospital (LTCH) and patient criteria for prospective payment to an LTCH. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) determine the LTCH diagnosis related groups (LTCH-DRGs) associated with a high severity of illness for specified medical conditions; and (2) study and report to Congress on appropriate quality measures for Medicare patients receiving care in LTCHs.Directs the Secretary to choose three quality measures from the study for LTCHs to report.Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 to require annual updates of LTCH base rates and wage indices and the reweighting of LTCH-DRGs. Prohibits the Secretary from extending application of the 25% (or applicable percentage) patient threshold payment adjustment to freestanding LTCHs.

medicare long-term_care hospital improvement act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act prescribe requirements long-term_care hospital ltch patient criteria prospective payment ltch directs secretary health_and_human_services determine ltch diagnosis related groups ltch associated high severity illness specified medical conditions study report congress appropriate quality measures medicare patients receiving care ltchs directs secretary choose quality measures study ltchs report amends medicare medicaid schip benefits improvement protection act require annual updates ltch base rates wage indices ltch prohibits secretary extending application applicable percentage patient threshold payment adjustment freestanding ltchs


Summary: Puerto Rico Medicare Reimbursement Equity Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the formula for the Medicare inpatient hospital services payment rate for Puerto Rico hospitals to: (1) reduce the applicable Puerto Rico percentage from 25% to zero; and (2) increase the applicable federal percentage from 75% to 100%.

puerto_rico medicare reimbursement equity act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act revise formula medicare inpatient hospital services payment rate puerto_rico hospitals reduce applicable puerto_rico percentage zero increase applicable federal percentage


Summary: Puerto Rico Hospitals Medicare DSH Equity Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prescribe a formula for the calculation of Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for prospective payment system hospitals in Puerto Rico.

puerto_rico hospitals medicare dsh equity act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act prescribe formula calculation medicare disproportionate share hospital dsh payments prospective payment system hospitals puerto_rico


Summary: Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) collect, compile, and disseminate information on achievements and problems in providing trauma care and emergency medical services; and (2) promote the collection and categorization of trauma data in a consistent and standardized manner.(Sec. 3) Removes authorization for the National Clearinghouse on Trauma Care and Emergency Medical Services. (Sec. 4) Allows the Secretary to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities to carry out demonstration projects to improve emergency medical services in rural areas by increasing communication and coordination with state trauma systems. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to make grants to states, political subdivisions, or consortia thereof to improve access to and enhance the development of trauma care systems. Requires grant funds be used to: (1) integrate and broaden the reach of such a system; (2) strengthen, develop, and improve an existing system; (3) expand communications between the system and emergency medical services through improved equipment or a telemedicine system; (4) improve data collection and retention; or (5) increase education, training, and technical assistance opportunities. Requires the Secretary to give preference in awarding grants to applicants that: (1) have developed a process, using national standards, for designating trauma centers; (2) recognize protocols for the delivery of seriously injured patients to trauma centers; (3) implement a process for evaluating the performance of the trauma system; and (4) agree to participate in specified information systems by collecting, providing, and sharing information. Requires the Secretary to give priority to applicants that will use the grants to focus on improving access to trauma care systems. Requires the Secretary to give special consideration to projects that demonstrate strong state or local support. (Sec. 6) Revises the matching requirements for states to be eligible for grants to improve emergency medical services by decreasing the amount of matching funds required after the fourth and subsequent years of grant payments to the state. (Sec. 7) Prohibits the Secretary from making trauma care grants to a state unless the state's emergency medical services plan coordinates planning for trauma systems with state disaster emergency planning and bioterrorism hospital preparedness planning. Requires the Secretary to update the model plan for the designation of trauma centers and for triage, transfer, and transportation policies. (Sec. 8) Prohibits the Secretary from making trauma grants to a state unless the state submits to the Secretary any changes to, and any plans to address deficiencies in, the trauma care component. (Sec. 9) Removes the requirement that states, in order to receive trauma grant funds, must agree not to expend such payments to purchase any major medical or communication equipment, ambulances, or aircraft. (Sec. 10) Removes provisions related to annual reporting requirements for states. (Sec. 11) Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 12) Authorizes appropriation for FY2008-FY2012. (Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012 for residency training programs in emergency medicine.

trauma care systems planning development act sec amends public_health_service_act direct secretary health_and_human_services collect compile disseminate information achievements problems providing trauma care emergency medical services promote collection categorization trauma data consistent standardized removes authorization national_clearinghouse trauma care emergency medical services sec allows secretary grants public nonprofit private entities carry demonstration projects improve emergency medical services rural areas increasing communication coordination state trauma systems sec authorizes secretary acting administrator health_resources_and_services_administration grants states political subdivisions consortia thereof improve access enhance development trauma care systems requires grant funds integrate broaden reach system strengthen develop improve existing system expand communications system emergency medical services improved equipment telemedicine system improve data collection retention increase education training technical assistance opportunities requires secretary preference awarding grants applicants developed process national standards designating trauma centers recognize protocols delivery seriously injured patients trauma centers implement process evaluating performance trauma system agree participate specified information systems collecting providing sharing information requires secretary priority applicants use grants focus improving access trauma care systems requires secretary special consideration projects demonstrate strong state local support sec revises matching requirements states eligible grants improve emergency medical services decreasing matching funds required fourth subsequent years grant payments state sec prohibits secretary making trauma care grants state state emergency medical services plan coordinates planning trauma systems state disaster emergency planning bioterrorism hospital preparedness planning requires secretary update model plan designation trauma centers transfer transportation policies sec prohibits secretary making trauma grants state state submits secretary changes plans address deficiencies trauma care component sec removes requirement states order receive trauma grant funds agree expend payments purchase major medical communication equipment aircraft sec removes provisions related annual reporting requirements states sec sets forth reporting requirements sec authorizes appropriation fy2008 fy2012 sec authorizes appropriations fy2008 fy2012 residency training programs emergency medicine


Summary: Amends the Public Health Service Act to deem certain physicians or other licensed or certified health care practitioners to be employees of the Public Health Service for purposes of any civil action that may arise due to services provided in an emergency area by a contractor or an employee of a qualified health center. Provides that such services must be provided under an arrangement with a qualified health center or with a federal agency with responsibility for providing health services in the emergency area.

amends public_health_service_act deem certain physicians licensed certified health_care practitioners employees public_health_service purposes civil action arise services provided emergency area contractor employee qualified health center provides services provided arrangement qualified health center federal agency responsibility providing health services emergency area


Summary: Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007 - Establishes the United States Bipartisan Commission on Access to Emergency Medical Services to: (1) identify and examine factors in the health care delivery, financing, and legal systems that affect the effective delivery of screening and stabilization services furnished in hospitals that have emergency departments pursuant to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); and (2) make specific recommendations to Congress with respect to federal programs, policies, and financing needed to assure the availability of such screening and stabilization services and the coordination of state, local, and federal programs for responding to disasters and emergencies. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for additional payments for certain physicians' emergency services furnished pursuant to EMTALA. Requires critical access hospitals with an emergency department to report annually to the Secretary of Health and Human Services information on the hospital's average admission period for the year. Requires the Secretary to post the reported information promptly on the official public Internet site of the Department of Health and Human Services. Directs the Secretary, based on the information reported for 2008, to develop an emergency department quality measure, if it is determined that one should be included in the performance measures hospitals are required to report.

access emergency medical services act establishes united_states bipartisan commission access emergency medical services identify examine factors health_care delivery financing legal systems affect effective delivery screening stabilization services furnished hospitals emergency departments pursuant emergency medical treatment labor act specific recommendations congress respect federal programs policies financing needed assure availability screening stabilization services coordination state local federal programs responding disasters emergencies amends title xviii medicare social_security_act provide additional payments certain physicians emergency services furnished pursuant requires critical access hospitals emergency department report annually secretary health_and_human_services information hospital average admission period year requires secretary post reported information promptly official public internet site department_of_health_and_human_services directs secretary based information reported develop emergency department quality measure determined included performance measures hospitals required report


Summary: Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide medical personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with access to all information provided in the Department of Defense (DOD) patient tracking and management system for the purpose of treating an individual at a VA medical facility for injuries sustained while serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom.

directs secretary defense provide medical personnel department_of_veterans_affairs access information provided department_of_defense dod patient tracking management system purpose treating individual medical facility injuries sustained serving operations iraqi_freedom enduring_freedom


Summary: Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require public reporting of health care-associated infections data by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot program under Medicare to provide financial incentives or grants to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers that demonstrate a satisfactory reduction in the rate of occurrence (or elimination) of health care-associated infections in the applicable hospital or ambulatory surgical center. Expresses the sense of Congress that health care providers and facilities should take measures to reduce the rate of occurrence of health care-associated infections to zero, with respect to patients to whom such providers and facilities furnish services.

healthy hospitals act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act require public reporting health_care associated infections data hospitals ambulatory surgical centers authorizes secretary health_and_human_services establish pilot program medicare provide financial incentives grants hospitals ambulatory surgical centers demonstrate satisfactory reduction rate occurrence elimination health_care associated infections applicable hospital ambulatory surgical center expresses sense congress health_care providers facilities measures reduce rate occurrence health_care associated infections zero respect patients providers facilities furnish services


Summary: Sole Community Hospital Preservation Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the prospective payment system (PPS) for hospital outpatient department (OPD) services, particularly the transitional adjustment for sole community hospitals to limit any decline in payment. Holds sole community hospitals permanently harmless from any decline in payment. Increases the payment for covered OPD services in a sole community hospital by the amount of any difference between the pre-Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (pre-BBA) amount and a lesser PPS amount.Specifies the rebasing of the payment-to-cost ratio for sole community hospitals for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2007.

sole community hospital preservation act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act respect prospective payment system pps hospital outpatient department opd services particularly transitional adjustment sole community hospitals limit decline payment holds sole community hospitals permanently harmless decline payment increases payment covered opd services sole community hospital difference pre balanced_budget act pre lesser pps specifies rebasing payment cost ratio sole community hospitals cost reporting periods beginning october


Summary: Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project for a replacement facility for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.

authorizes secretary veterans_affairs carry major medical facility project replacement facility department_of_veterans_affairs_medical_center denver colorado


Summary: VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and implement a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Requires the Secretary, at least semiannually, to publish reports on VA hospital quality, including assessments of effectiveness, safety, timeliness, and efficiency.

hospital quality report card act directs secretary veterans_affairs establish implement hospital quality report card initiative report health_care quality department_of_veterans_affairs hospitals requires secretary semiannually publish reports hospital quality including assessments effectiveness safety timeliness efficiency


Summary: Senior Safety and Dignity Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include in the nursing home patient's bill of rights the right to receive care from a creditable caregiver. Requires a skilled nursing facility (SNF), before hiring a worker, to conduct a background check on the applicant. Prohibits the hiring of abusive workers or workers convicted of a relevant crime. Establishes civil penalties for violations of this Act, including knowing retention of SNF workers who fail background checks. Applies such requirements and prohibitions to a long-term care facility or provider.Directs the Secretary to establish a national criminal background check program, after evaluation of the pilot program under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, in order to prevent abuse of nursing facility and SNF residents and individuals receiving home health care services and other long-term care services under the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct such criminal background checks.Requires the national criminal background check program to be made available to a long-term care facility or provider.Adds to the nursing home patient's bill of rights the right to a safe environment during an emergency or natural disaster. Requires a SNF under Medicare and Medicaid to: (1) have a clear and preestablished disaster plan; and (2) inform residents and next-of-kin about it and the location of possible evacuation in case of an emergency disaster. Applies the same requirement to other long-term care facilities.

senior safety dignity act amends title xviii medicare title xix medicaid social_security_act ssa include nursing home patient bill rights right receive care creditable caregiver requires skilled nursing facility snf hiring worker conduct background check applicant prohibits hiring abusive workers workers convicted relevant crime establishes civil penalties violations act including knowing retention snf workers fail background checks applies requirements prohibitions long-term_care facility provider directs secretary establish national criminal background check program evaluation pilot program medicare_prescription_drug improvement modernization act order prevent abuse nursing facility snf residents individuals receiving home health_care services long-term_care services medicare medicaid programs requires federal_bureau_of_investigation conduct criminal background checks requires national criminal background check program available long-term_care facility provider adds nursing home patient bill rights right safe environment emergency natural disaster requires snf medicare medicaid clear disaster plan inform residents kin location possible evacuation case emergency disaster applies requirement long-term_care facilities


Summary: Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2007 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require state Medicaid plans to provide that the state will establish and maintain laws to require disclosure of information on hospital charges, to make such information available to the public, and to provide individuals with information about estimated out-of-pocket costs for health care services. Directs the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to research and report to Congress on: (1) the types of information on the charges and out-of-pocket costs for health care services that individuals find useful in making decisions about where, when, and from whom to receive care; (2) how such types of information vary by whether they have health benefits coverage, and what kinds; and (3) ways in which such information may be available on a timely basis and in easy-to-understand form to individuals facing such decisions.

health_care price transparency promotion act amends title xix medicaid social_security_act require state medicaid plans provide state establish maintain laws require disclosure information hospital charges information available public provide individuals information estimated pocket costs health_care services directs director agency healthcare_research_and_quality research report congress types information charges pocket costs health_care services individuals find useful making decisions receive care types information vary health benefits coverage kinds ways information available timely basis easy understand form individuals facing decisions


Summary: Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to permit the designation of a certain critical access hospital in Cass County, Minnesota, by exempting it from the requirement that it be certified by the state on or after January 1, 2006, as being a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area. (Thus restores to Minnesota state authority to waive the application of the 35-mile rule.)

amends medicare_prescription_drug improvement modernization act permit designation certain critical access hospital county minnesota exempting requirement certified state january necessary provider health_care services residents area restores minnesota state authority waive application mile rule


Summary: Ambulatory Surgical Center Medicare Payment Modernization Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the requirements and the formula for payments for services, including an implantable medical device, furnished to individuals in ambulatory surgical centers.

ambulatory surgical center medicare payment modernization act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act revise requirements formula payments services including implantable medical device furnished individuals ambulatory surgical centers


Summary: Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police Training Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that while the United States is conducting combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should better prepare its police force to interact with patients and visitors at VA medical facilities who suffer from mental illness. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that all VA police officers receive training on such interaction.

veterans_affairs police training_act expresses sense congress united_states conducting combat operations afghanistan iraq department_of_veterans_affairs better prepare police force interact patients visitors medical facilities suffer mental illness directs secretary veterans_affairs ensure police officers receive training interaction


Summary: Enhanced Options for Rural Health Care Act of 2007 - Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that nothing in such title shall be construed as preventing a critical access hospital from using any of its designated number of beds to provide assisted living or from accepting private payments for related services. Declares that such use shall not increase the total number of beds that the facility may have and maintain its designation as such a hospital.

enhanced options rural health_care act amends hospital insurance title xviii medicare social_security_act provide title shall construed preventing critical access hospital designated number beds provide assisted living accepting private payments related services declares use shall increase total number beds facility maintain designation hospital


Summary: Provides for the reclassification of Chautauqua County, New York, for purposes of payment for inpatient hospital services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Deems the large urban area of Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York, to include Chautauqua County, effective for discharges occurring on or after September 30, 2007.

provides reclassification county new_york purposes payment inpatient hospital services title xviii medicare social_security_act deems large urban area buffalo falls new_york include county effective discharges occurring september


Summary: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that a facility located in a non-urbanized area so designated by the Bureau of the Census before January 1, 2000, that also satisfies all other applicable conditions, shall qualify as a rural health clinic for purposes of Medicare and SSA title XIX (Medicaid), whether or not such area remains so designated.

amends title xviii medicare social_security_act provide facility located non urbanized area designated bureau_of_the_census january satisfies applicable conditions shall qualify rural health clinic purposes medicare ssa title xix medicaid area remains designated


Summary: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to criteria for designation of a critical access hospital under the Medicare rural hospital flexibility program, to reduce from 35 to 30 driving miles the distance such a facility must be from a hospital or another such facility.

amends title xviii medicare social_security_act respect criteria designation critical access hospital medicare rural hospital flexibility program reduce driving miles distance facility hospital facility


Summary: Wakefield Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend by one year the length of time for which a grant may be awarded under the emergency medical services for children grant program, which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states or schools of medicine to support projects to expand and improve emergency medical services for children who need treatment for trauma or critical care. Reauthorizes appropriations for such grant program for FY2009-FY2013. Sets forth as the purpose of the program the reduction of child and youth morbidity and mortality by supporting improvements in the quality of all emergency medical care children receive. Requires the Secretary to support emergency medical services for children by supporting projects that: (1) develop and present scientific evidence; (2) promote existing innovative technologies appropriate for the care of children; and (3) provide information on health outcomes and effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Directs that such program: (1) strive to enhance the pediatric capability of emergency medical service systems; and (2) be coordinated with all research, evaluations, and awards undertaken by the federal government related to emergency medical services for children.

act_-_amends public_health_service_act extend year length time grant awarded emergency medical services children grant program allows secretary health_and_human_services grants states schools medicine support projects expand improve emergency medical services children need treatment trauma critical care reauthorizes appropriations grant program fy2009 fy2013 sets forth purpose program reduction child youth morbidity mortality supporting improvements quality emergency medical care children receive requires secretary support emergency medical services children supporting projects develop present scientific evidence promote existing innovative technologies appropriate care children provide information health outcomes effectiveness cost effectiveness directs program strive enhance pediatric capability emergency medical service systems coordinated research evaluations awards undertaken federal_government related emergency medical services children


Summary: Extends the minimum wage index established by regulation for each all-urban state under the inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS) under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.

extends minimum wage index established regulation urban state inpatient hospital prospective payment system pps title xviii medicare social_security_act


Summary: Veterans' Epilepsy Treatment Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate an epilepsy center of excellence at each of the five centers currently designated for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research, education, and clinical activities on complex multi-trauma associated with combat injuries. Requires each center to: (1) employ expert clinical and research staff, including board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons; and (2) among other things, research the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term effects of epilepsy, and develop a national system of coordinated care for veterans with epilepsy. Directs the Secretary to designate a national coordinator for epilepsy programs. Authorizes appropriations.

veterans treatment act directs secretary veterans_affairs designate center_of_excellence centers currently designated department_of_veterans_affairs research education clinical activities complex multi trauma associated combat injuries requires center employ expert clinical research staff including board certified things research diagnosis treatment long term effects develop national system coordinated care veterans directs secretary designate national coordinator programs authorizes appropriations


Summary: Long-Term Care Life Safety Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to award grants to nursing homes, hospice facilities, assisted living facilities, residential care program facilities, board and care facilities and other appropriate facilities for the purpose of retrofitting such facilities with a professionally installed fire alarm detection system or other fire detection and prevention technology. Requires the Secretary to give priority to applicants that demonstrate a need or hardship. Allows the Secretary to consider such factors as the age and condition of the facilities, the need for facility beds in the community involved, and requirements imposed on the applicant to meet fire safety regulations under Medicare, Medicaid, other federal programs, or state or local licensing or building code standards.

long-term_care life safety act requires secretary health_and_human_services establish program award grants nursing homes hospice facilities assisted living facilities residential care program facilities board care facilities appropriate facilities purpose retrofitting facilities professionally installed fire alarm detection system fire detection prevention technology requires secretary priority applicants demonstrate need hardship allows secretary consider factors age condition facilities need facility beds community involved requirements imposed applicant meet fire safety regulations medicare medicaid federal programs state local licensing building code standards


Summary: Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, with respect to payments for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals. Declares that such hospitals shall be treated as being located in a rural area to permit pass-through of such payments, regardless of any geographic reclassification of the hospital, including reclassification as located in an urban county ("Lugar county"). Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include on-call and standby costs in determining reasonable costs for such services.

amends omnibus_budget_reconciliation_act amended omnibus_budget_reconciliation_act respect payments reasonable costs certified registered nurse anesthetist services critical access hospitals declares hospitals shall treated located rural area permit pass payments regardless geographic reclassification hospital including reclassification located urban county county requires secretary health_and_human_services include standby costs determining reasonable costs services


Summary: Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and state background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers. Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (1) require screening, including national criminal history background checks, of direct patient access employees of skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, and other long-term care facilities and providers; and (2) prohibit hiring of abusive workers. Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure that the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System of the FBI has the capacity to store and retrieve fingerprints from its database. Provides that, in the case where a direct patient access employee is convicted of a crime following the initial national criminal history background check, and the employee's fingerprint matches the prints on file with the FBI, the FBI shall inform the state law enforcement department in order for the state to inform the skilled nursing facility, nursing facility, or long-term care facility or provider of such conviction.

patient safety abuse prevention act amends medicare_prescription_drug improvement modernization act provide nationwide expansion pilot program national state background checks direct patient access employees long-term_care facilities providers amends titles xviii medicare xix medicaid social_security_act require screening including national criminal history background checks direct patient access employees skilled nursing facilities nursing facilities long-term_care facilities providers prohibit hiring abusive workers requires director federal_bureau_of_investigation fbi ensure integrated automated fingerprint identification system fbi capacity store retrieve fingerprints database provides case direct patient access employee convicted crime following initial national criminal history background check employee fingerprint matches prints file fbi fbi shall inform state law enforcement department order state inform skilled nursing facility nursing facility long-term_care facility provider conviction


Summary: Amends the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 to increase the authorization of appropriations for a major medical facility project to consolidate the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers at the University Drive and H. John Heinz III divisions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

amends veterans benefits health_care information technology act increase authorization appropriations major medical facility project consolidate department_of_veterans_affairs medical centers university drive john iii divisions pittsburgh pennsylvania


Summary: Southern New Jersey Veterans Comprehensive Health Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to determine, and notify Congress, whether the needs of veterans in southern New Jersey (the counties of Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May) for full-service medical care shall be met through a project for: (1) inpatient and outpatient services and long-term care to veterans at an existing facility in southern New Jersey; or (2) construction of a new full-service, Department of Veterans Affairs medical center to provide inpatient and outpatient services and long-term care to veterans in southern New Jersey. Directs the Secretary: (1) if the existing facility option is chosen, to enter into an appropriate agreement for the provision of such care and services; or (2) if the new construction option is chosen, to carry out an appropriate major medical facility construction project for such purpose.

southern new_jersey veterans comprehensive health_care act_-_directs secretary veterans_affairs determine notify congress needs veterans southern new_jersey counties ocean cumberland atlantic cape service medical care shall met project inpatient outpatient services long-term_care veterans existing facility southern new_jersey construction new service department_of_veterans_affairs_medical_center provide inpatient outpatient services long-term_care veterans southern new_jersey directs secretary existing facility option chosen enter appropriate agreement provision care services new construction option chosen carry appropriate major medical facility construction project purpose


Summary: Declares that certain closed critical access hospitals and adjoining skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that seek to reopen on or after the enactment of this Act shall be deemed to continue to be designated as a critical access hospital, and both the hospital and the SNF shall be deemed to continue to meet the applicable life safety code standards, for purposes of titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Confines the application of this Act to a hospital and an adjoining SNF that operated under common management before 1983 and closed during 2005, if before such closure the hospital was designated as a critical access hospital and the hospital and SNF both met the National Fire Protection Agency Life Health Safety Code as a facility existing as of March 16, 1982.

declares certain closed critical access hospitals adjoining skilled nursing facilities snfs seek reopen enactment act shall deemed continue designated critical access hospital hospital snf shall deemed continue meet applicable life safety code standards purposes titles xviii medicare xix medicaid social_security_act application act hospital adjoining snf operated common management closed closure hospital designated critical access hospital hospital snf met national fire protection agency life health safety code facility existing march


Summary: National Trauma Institute Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a National Trauma Institute in San Antonio, Texas. States that the Institute shall: (1) develop medical technologies to improve injury prevention and diagnosis, survival, and quality of life for victims of trauma and burn injury; and (2) implement a multidisciplinary, multi-center collaborative research effort, including coordination of trauma research carried out at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, University Hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, and Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.

national trauma institute act_-_directs secretary defense establish national trauma institute san_antonio texas states institute shall develop medical technologies improve injury prevention diagnosis survival quality life victims trauma burn injury implement multidisciplinary multi center collaborative research effort including coordination trauma research carried hall medical center san_antonio texas university hospital university texas health science center san_antonio texas army medical center san_antonio texas


Summary: Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) require each participating hospital to adopt and implement a staffing system that ensures a number of registered nurses on each shift and in each unit of the hospital to ensure appropriate staffing levels for patient care; (2) provide for the public reporting of certain staffing information, including a daily posting for each shift in the hospital of the current number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible for patient care; (3) prescribe recordkeeping, data collection, and evaluation requirements for participating hospitals; (4) specify civil monetary penalties for violations of such requirements; and (5) provide whistleblower protections.

registered nurse safe staffing act amends miscellaneous title xviii medicare social_security_act ssa require participating hospital adopt implement staffing system ensures number registered nurses shift unit hospital ensure appropriate staffing levels patient care provide public reporting certain staffing information including daily posting shift hospital current number licensed unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible patient care prescribe recordkeeping data collection evaluation requirements participating hospitals specify civil monetary penalties violations requirements provide whistleblower protections


Summary: Ensuring Medicare Access to Recreational Therapy Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking, or a transmittal amending the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual, or both, specifying that: (1) recreational therapy is a covered service under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs); (2) recreational therapy is a skilled rehabilitative modality included in the bundle of services as part of the payment rates for such facilities under Medicare's respective prospective payment systems (PPS) for these inpatient settings; and (3) any recreational therapy that is provided to a Medicare beneficiary in such a facility prescribed by a physician as part of the facility's plan of care for the patient must be provided by a qualified recreational therapist.

ensuring medicare access recreational therapy act directs secretary health_and_human_services acting administrator centers medicare medicaid_services issue notice_of_proposed_rulemaking transmittal amending medicare benefits policy manual specifying recreational therapy covered service title xviii medicare social_security_act inpatient rehabilitation facilities inpatient psychiatric facilities skilled nursing facilities snfs recreational therapy skilled rehabilitative modality included bundle services payment rates facilities medicare respective prospective payment systems pps inpatient settings recreational therapy provided medicare beneficiary facility prescribed physician facility plan care patient provided qualified recreational therapist


Summary: CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the Medicare rural hospital flexibility program a state may establish. Authorizes state designation of a Medicare critical access hospital (CAH), even if it does not comply with the requirement that it be located more than a 35-mile drive from another hospital, if it is certified by the state on or after enactment of this Act as being a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area. (Thus restores state authority that existed before January 1, 2006, to waive the 35-mile rule.)

designation waiver authority act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act respect medicare rural hospital flexibility program state establish authorizes state designation medicare critical access hospital comply requirement located mile drive hospital certified state enactment act necessary provider health_care services residents area restores state authority existed january waive mile rule


Summary: Hospital Price Reporting and Disclosure Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require a hospital or ambulatory surgical center to: (1) report data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the frequency of performing certain services and administering certain drugs and the charge by the hospital or center for such services or drugs; and (2) prominently post such information at each admission site. Requires the Secretary to: (1) publicly post such information in a manner that promotes charge comparisons among hospitals and centers; and (2) select which services or drugs are to be reported based on how frequently each service is performed or each drug is administered. Allows the Secretary to impose a civil monetary penalty for violations of this Act.

hospital price reporting disclosure act amends public_health_service_act require hospital ambulatory surgical center report data secretary health_and_human_services frequency performing certain services administering certain drugs charge hospital center services drugs prominently post information admission site requires secretary publicly post information manner promotes charge comparisons hospitals centers select services drugs reported based frequently service performed drug administered allows secretary impose civil monetary penalty violations act


Summary: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force on Medical Facility Improvements in Puerto Rico to: (1) consider options to renovate or replace the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Puerto Rico; (2) recommend to the Secretary which of the options should be implemented; and (3) report to the Secretary on its findings and recommendations.

directs secretary veterans_affairs establish task_force medical facility improvements puerto_rico consider options renovate replace department_of_veterans_affairs hospital puerto_rico recommend secretary options implemented report secretary findings recommendations