Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cyber Defense of Federal Networks
Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. CYBER DEFENSE OF FEDERAL NETWORKS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new sections:

``SEC. 230. CYBERSECURITY PLANS.

    ``(a) Intrusion Detection and Response Plan.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
shall develop and implement an intrusion detection and response plan to
detect, identify, and remove intruders in agency information systems.
The Secretary, in coordination with the Director, shall update such
plan as necessary.
    ``(b) Exception.--The intrusion detection and response plan
required under subsection (a) shall not apply to the Department of
Defense or an element of the intelligence community.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section and sections 231, 232, and 233:
            ``(1) Agency.--The term `agency' has the meaning given such
        term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.
            ``(2) Cybersecurity risk.--The term `cybersecurity risk'
        has the meaning given such term in the second section 226
        (relating to the national cybersecurity and communications
        integration center).
            ``(3) Information system.--The term `information system'
        has the meaning given such term in the second section 226
        (relating to the national cybersecurity and communications
        integration center).
            ``(4) Intelligence community.--The term `intelligence
        community' has the meaning given such term in section 3(4) of
        the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).

``SEC. 231. ADVANCED INTERNAL DEFENSES.

    ``(a) Advanced Network Security Tools.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall include in the
        Department's efforts to continuously diagnose and mitigate
        cybersecurity risks advanced network security tools to improve
        visibility of network activity, including through the use of
        commercial and free or open source tools, to detect and
        mitigate intrusions and anomalous activity in agencies'
        information systems.
            ``(2) Development of plan.--The Secretary, in coordination
        with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall
        develop and implement a plan to ensure advanced network
        security tools, including tools described in paragraph (1), to
        detect and mitigate intrusions and anomalous activity are
        available for use by each agency.
    ``(b) Prioritizing Advanced Security Tools.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
and in consultation with the heads of appropriate agencies, shall--
            ``(1) review and update operational capabilities to ensure
        appropriate prioritization and use of network security
        monitoring tools within such agency networks; and
            ``(2) brief the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
        of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate on such prioritization and
        use.
    ``(c) Improved Metrics.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall review and
update the metrics used to measure security under section 3554 of title
44, United States Code, to include measures of intrusion and incident
detection and response times.
    ``(d) Transparency and Accountability.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
shall increase transparency to the public on agency cybersecurity
postures, including by increasing the number of metrics available on
Federal Government performance websites and, to the greatest extent
practicable, displaying metrics for agencies.
    ``(e) Maintenance of Technologies.--Subparagraph (B) of section
3553(b)(6) of title 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting `,
operating, and maintaining' after `deploying'.

``SEC. 232. FEDERAL CYBERSECURITY BEST PRACTICES.

    ``The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, shall regularly assess and require
implementation of best practices for--
            ``(1) securing agency information systems against
        intrusion; and
            ``(2) preventing data exfiltration from such systems in the
        event of an intrusion.

``SEC. 233. ASSESSMENT; REPORTS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
        `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on
        Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
        Senate.
            ``(2) Intrusion assessments.--The term `intrusion
        assessments' means actions taken under the intrusion detection
        and response plan described in section 230 to detect, identify,
        and remove intruders in agency information systems.
            ``(3) Intrusion detection and response plan.--The term
        `intrusion detection and response plan' means the intrusion
        detection and response plan described in section 230.
    ``(b) GAO Assessment.--Not later than three years after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study and publish a report on the effectiveness
of the approach and strategy of the Department's capabilities and plans
in securing agency information systems, including in the plans and
assessments under sections 230, 231, and 232.
    ``(c) Report to Congress.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall--
            ``(1) not later than six months after the date of the
        enactment of this section and 30 days after any update thereto,
        submit to the appropriate congressional committees the
        intrusion detection and response plan described in section 230;
        and
            ``(2) not later than one year after the date of the
        enactment of this section and annually thereafter, submit to
        Congress--
                    ``(A) a description of the implementation of such
                intrusion detection and response plan;
                    ``(B) the findings of the intrusion assessments
                conducted pursuant to such intrusion detection and
                response plan;
                    ``(C) a description of the advanced network
                security tools referred to in section 231;
                    ``(D) information relating to the results of the
                assessment of the Secretary of Federal cybersecurity
                best practices under section 232; and
                    ``(E) the improved metrics referred to in section
                231.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) of the second section 226
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148; relating to the
national cybersecurity and communications integration center) are
amended to read as follows:
            ``(1)(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term
        `cybersecurity risk' means threats to and vulnerabilities of
        information or information systems and any related consequences
        caused by or resulting from unauthorized access, use,
        disclosure, degradation, disruption, modification, or
        destruction of such information or information systems,
        including such related consequences caused by an act of
        terrorism; and
            ``(B) such term does not include any action that solely
        involves a violation of a consumer term of service or a
        consumer licensing agreement;
            ``(2) the term `incident' means an occurrence that actually
        or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, the
        integrity, confidentiality, or availability of information on
        an information system, or actually or imminently jeopardizes,
        without lawful authority, an information system;''.
    (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents for subtitle C of
title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by adding at
the end the following new items:

``Sec. 230. Cybersecurity plans.
``Sec. 231. Advanced internal defenses.
``Sec. 232. Federal cybersecurity best practices.
``Sec. 233. Assessment; reports.''.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY RELATED TO
              INFORMATION SECURITY.

    Section 3553(b)(6) of title 44, United States Code, is amended by
striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the following:
                    ``(C) providing incident detection, analysis,
                mitigation, and response information, disseminating
                related homeland security information, and providing
                remote or onsite technical assistance to the head of an
                agency;
                    ``(D) compiling and analyzing data on agency
                information security and disseminating related homeland
                security information;
                    ``(E) developing and conducting targeted risk
                assessments, including assessments of the risk of
                terrorism, and operational evaluations for agency
                information and information systems in consultation
                with the heads of other agencies or governmental and
                private entities that own and operate such systems,
                that may include threat, vulnerability, and impact
                assessments;
                    ``(F) in conjunction with other agencies and the
                private sector, assessing and fostering the development
                of information security technologies and capabilities
                for use across multiple agencies; and
                    ``(G) coordinating with appropriate agencies and
                officials to ensure, to the maximum extent feasible,
                that policies and directives issued under paragraph (2)
                are complementary with--
                            ``(i) standards and guidelines developed
                        for national security systems; and
                            ``(ii) policies and directives issued by
                        the Secretary of Defense and the Director of
                        National Intelligence under subsection (e)(1);
                        and''.

SEC. 4. DIRECTIVES AND IMMINENT THREATS.

    Section 3553 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
    ``(h) Direction to Agencies.--
            ``(1) Authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 3554,
                and subject to subparagraph (B), in response to a known
                or reasonably suspected information security threat,
                vulnerability, risk, or incident, including an act of
                terrorism, that represents a substantial threat to the
                information security of an agency, the Secretary may
                issue a directive to the head of an agency to take any
                lawful action with respect to the operation of the
                information system, including such systems owned or
                operated by another entity on behalf of an agency, that
                collects, processes, stores, transmits, disseminates,
                or otherwise maintains agency information, for the
                purpose of protecting the information system from, or
                mitigating, an information security threat or an act of
                terrorism.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The authorities of the Secretary
                under this subsection shall not apply to a system
                described in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (e).
            ``(2) Procedures for use of authority.--The Secretary
        shall--
                    ``(A) in coordination with the Director and in
                consultation with Federal contractors, as appropriate,
                establish procedures under which a directive may be
                issued under this subsection, which shall include--
                            ``(i) thresholds and other criteria;
                            ``(ii) privacy and civil liberties
                        protections; and
                            ``(iii) providing notice to potentially
                        affected third parties;
                    ``(B) specify the reasons for the required action
                and the duration of the directive;
                    ``(C) minimize the impact of a directive under this
                subsection by--
                            ``(i) adopting the least intrusive means
                        possible under the circumstances to secure the
                        agency information systems; and
                            ``(ii) limiting the directive to the
                        shortest period practicable; and
                    ``(D) notify the Director and the head of any
                affected agency immediately upon the issuance of a
                directive under this subsection.
            ``(3) Imminent threats.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If the Secretary determines that
                there is an imminent threat, including a threat of
                terrorism, to agency information systems and a
                directive under this subsection is not reasonably
                likely to result in a timely response to the threat,
                the Secretary may authorize the use of protective
                capabilities under the control of the Secretary for
                communications or other system traffic transiting to or
                from or stored on an agency information system without
                prior consultation with the affected agency for the
                purpose of ensuring the security of the information,
                information system, or other agency information
                systems.
                    ``(B) Limitation on delegation.--The authority
                under this paragraph may not be delegated to an
                official in a position lower than an Assistant
                Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
                    ``(C) Notice.--The Secretary shall immediately
                notify the Director and the head and chief information
                officer (or equivalent official) of each affected
                agency of--
                            ``(i) any action taken under this
                        subsection; and
                            ``(ii) the reasons for and duration and
                        nature of the action.
                    ``(D) Other law.--Any action of the Secretary under
                this paragraph shall be consistent with applicable law.
            ``(4) Limitation.--The Secretary may direct or authorize
        lawful action or protective capability under this subsection
        only to--
                    ``(A) protect agency information from unauthorized
                access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or
                destruction; or
                    ``(B) require the remediation of or protect against
                identified information security risks, including acts
                of terrorism, with respect to--
                            ``(i) information collected or maintained
                        by or on behalf of an agency; or
                            ``(ii) that portion of an information
                        system used or operated by an agency or by a
                        contractor of an agency or other organization
                        on behalf of an agency.''.

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS REGARDING DHS FUNCTIONS.

    Section 3553 of title 44, United States Code, as amended by section
3, is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
    ``(i) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than February 1 of
every year, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, regarding the specific
actions the Secretary has taken pursuant to subsections (b) and (h).''.

Output: Cyber Defense of Federal Networks Act of 2015 Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to implement plans to: (1) detect, identify, and remove intruders in federal agencies' information systems; and (2) make advanced network security tools available for agencies to improve visibility of network activity to detect and mitigate intrusions and anomalous activity. Directs DHS to coordinate with the OMB to: (1) update government information security metrics to include measures of intrusion and incident detection and response times, and (2) display additional metrics about agency cybersecurity postures on federal government performance websites.  Authorizes DHS, upon an agency's request, to operate and maintain technology that is deployed to agencies to diagnose and mitigate cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Requires DHS to regularly assess and require implementation of best practices for securing agency information systems and preventing data exfiltration. Redefines for purposes of DHS's national cybersecurity and communications integration center: (1) "cybersecurity risk" to exclude actions that solely involve a violation of a consumer term of service or a consumer licensing agreement; and (2) "incident" to include occurrences that actually or imminently jeopardize, without lawful authority, an information system, thereby replacing a standard that currently includes a violation or imminent threat of violation of law, security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies. Requires DHS to assist agencies in implementing information security practices by: (1) providing incident detection, analysis, mitigation, and response information, disseminating related homeland security information, and providing remote or onsite technical assistance; (2) developing and conducting impact assessments in consultation with other governmental and private entities; (3) assessing and fostering technologies for use across multiple agencies; and (4) ensuring that policies are coordinated with standards for national security systems and policies of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Director of National Intelligence. Authorizes the DHS Secretary to: (1) issue a directive to an agency to take any lawful action with respect to the operation of an agency's information system in response to a known or reasonably suspected information security threat, vulnerability, risk, or incident, including an act of terrorism, that represents a substantial threat to information security; or (2) authorize, without prior consultation with the affected agency, the use of protective capabilities under the Secretary's control for communications or system traffic transiting to or from or stored on an agency information system if there is an imminent threat and a directive is unlikely to be timely. Exempts DOD and the intelligence community from such procedures.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Save America's Utility
Infrastructure and Secure America Now Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that:
            (1) The blackout of August 2003 in the Northeast, Midwest,
        and adjoining parts of Canada highlighted the need for
        infrastructure and operating improvements.
            (2) In 2005 Hurricane Wilma destroyed power in most of
        southern Florida, and within 6 months, Florida utility
        regulators inserted requirements that utilities harden their
        system over time and create a regular schedule of clearing
        vegetation from power lines to ensure electric reliability.
            (3) In Iowa, in 2008, over two dozen people were killed and
        148 injured as a result of flooding. Flood warnings covered a
        span of about 325 miles from Dubuque, Iowa to St. Louis,
        Missouri with over 35,000 families evacuated from their homes.
            (4) The devastation from Hurricane Katrina and its
        calamitous results can still be seen across the Gulf Coast.
        Hurricane Katrina cost over 1,800 lives, billions of dollars in
        damage and catastrophic loss and the largest single loss in the
        history of insurance at $40.6 billion with more than 1.7
        million claims across 6 States (Louisiana, Mississippi,
        Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia).
            (5) Early estimates of Hurricane Ike's destruction are $9.8
        billion in insured damages, which would make it the 4th most
        expensive hurricane in the history of the United States,
        according to the Insurance Information Institute. Hurricane
        Katrina caused $43 billion in damages.
            (6) Cedric Delane passed away September 14, 2008, due in
        part to a lack of electricity and not being identified as part
        of the vulnerable class of people that needed assistance
        immediately. Cedric was a 5th grade student at Blackshear
        Elementary in Houston, Texas. Cedric was an asthmatic and
        suffered a severe attack during Hurricane Ike. The lack of
        electrical power prevented the use of his breathing machine,
        which could possibly have saved his life. The paramedics were
        called and Cedric was transported to the hospital, but he did
        not survive.
            (7) There have been more than 370,000 overnight shelter
        stays, over 8.77 million meals served, and over 190,000 clean-
        up kits and comfort kits distributed in the Houston-Galveston
        area of Texas after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
            (8) The Texas Public Utility Commissioners did not require
        electric companies on the coast to ensure reliability in their
        distribution systems against hurricanes after the Texas Public
        Utility Commission staff recommended aggressive tree-trimming
        programs and major upgrades, including replacing wooden
        electric polls with metal or concrete polls in 2005 after
        Hurricane Rita.
            (9) Texas Public utility companies fought the
        recommendations on the grounds that upgrading the distribution
        system would cost far more than repairing it after a storm,
        however the Texas Public Utility Commission ordered a cost-
        benefit analysis of only one recommendation: moving electric
        substations out of flood zones.
            (10) There were 28 Houston-area deaths attributed to
        Hurricane Ike with over a half a million people without
        electrical power for more than a week including many elderly,
        disabled, and medically-dependent persons.
            (11) Without criminal enforcement of reliability standards
        with penalties by FERC and cost-benefit studies that include
        United States Census and Federal Emergency Management Agency
        data on vulnerable populations and loss of electricity on those
        populations, greater loss of property and life will occur.

SEC. 3. FERC ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.

    Section 215(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o) is amended
as follows:
            (1) In paragraph (1) by striking ``ERO may impose, subject
        to paragraph (2),'' and inserting ``Commission may impose'' and
        by striking ``if the ERO'' and inserting ``if the Commission''.
            (2) Paragraph (2) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) Any person who violates any standard approved by the
        Commission under subsection (d) shall, upon conviction, be
        fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or
        imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.''.
            (3) Paragraph (4) is repealed.
            (4) In paragraph (6) by striking ``penalty imposed under
        this section'' and inserting ``civil penalty imposed under
        paragraph (1) of this section''.

SEC. 4. DISTURBANCES LASTING LONGER THAN 5 DAYS.

    Within 180 days after the enactment of this Act the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission shall issue a rule under section 215 of the
Federal Power Act amending the reliability standards under that section
to prohibit disturbances (other than planned maintenance) lasting
greater than 5 days at substations subject to section 215.

SEC. 5. STUDY AND REPORT ON EMERGENCY PLANNING PREPAREDNESS FOR
              VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Office of the
Infrastructure Protection, shall conduct a study to examine gaps in
emergency planning preparedness and management as related to vulnerable
populations including--
            (1) individuals with physical and mental disabilities,
        visual impairments, hearing impairments, limited English
        proficiency, and literacy barriers;
            (2) socially and economically disadvantaged households and
        communities;
            (3) individuals over 65 years old;
            (4) minor children; and
            (5) individuals with pets or service animals.
    (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act the Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Office of the
Infrastructure Protection, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report containing the
results of the study under subsection (a) and any recommendations of
the Secretary.

Output:
Save America's Utility Infrastructure and Secure America Now Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Power Act to grant the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enforcement powers with respect to electric reliability standards. (Currently such powers are exercised by an Electric Reliability Organization [ERO].)

Revises penalty guidelines to subject to federal criminal law any person who violates a FERC-approved electric reliability standard.

Requires FERC to issue a rule in connection with electric reliability standards to prohibit disturbances (other than planned maintenance) lasting greater than five days at certain substations.

Instructs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to study and report to Congress on gaps in emergency planning preparedness and management as related to specified, vulnerable populations.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Preserve Rights Of States and
Political subdivisions to Encourage Retirement Savings Act'' or the
``PROSPERS Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(29 U.S.C. 1002) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph
                (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(C)(i) The terms `employee pension benefit plan' and `pension
plan' do not include an individual retirement plan (as defined in
section 7701(a)(37) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) established
and maintained pursuant to a payroll deduction savings program of a
State or qualified political subdivision of a State, provided that--
            ``(I) the program is specifically established pursuant to
        State or qualified political subdivision law;
            ``(II) the program is implemented and administered by the
        State or qualified political subdivision establishing the
        program (or by a governmental agency or instrumentality of
        either), which is responsible for investing the employee
        savings or for selecting investment alternatives for employees
        to choose;
            ``(III) the State or qualified political subdivision (or
        governmental agency or instrumentality of either) assumes
        responsibility for the security of payroll deductions and
        employee savings, including by requiring that amounts withheld
        from wages by the employer be transmitted to the program
        promptly and by providing an enforcement mechanism to assure
        compliance with this requirement;
            ``(IV) the State or qualified political subdivision (or
        governmental agency or instrumentality of either) adopts
        measures to ensure that employees are notified of their rights
        under the program, and creates a mechanism for enforcement of
        those rights;
            ``(V) participation in the program is voluntary for
        employees;
            ``(VI) all rights of the employee, former employee, or
        beneficiary under the program are enforceable only by the
        employee, former employee, or beneficiary, an authorized
        representative of such a person, or by the State or qualified
        political subdivision (or governmental agency or
        instrumentality of either);
            ``(VII) the involvement of the employer is limited to--
                    ``(aa) collecting employee contributions through
                payroll deductions and remitting them to the program;
                    ``(bb) providing notice to the employees and
                maintaining records regarding the employer's collection
                and remittance of payments under the program;
                    ``(cc) providing information to the State or
                qualified political subdivision (or governmental agency
                or instrumentality of either) necessary to facilitate
                the operation of the program; and
                    ``(dd) distributing program information to
                employees from the State or qualified political
                subdivision (or governmental agency or instrumentality
                of either) and permitting the State or qualified
                political subdivision (or governmental agency or
                instrumentality of either) to publicize the program to
                employees;
            ``(VIII) the employer contributes no funds to the program
        and provides no bonus or other monetary incentive to employees
        to participate in the program;
            ``(IX) the employer's participation in the program is
        required by the law of the State law or qualified political
        subdivision;
            ``(X) the employer has no discretionary authority, control,
        or responsibility under the program; and
            ``(XI) the employer receives no direct or indirect
        consideration in the form of cash or otherwise, other than
        consideration (including tax incentives and credits) received
        directly from the State or qualified political subdivision (or
        governmental agency or instrumentality of either) that does not
        exceed an amount that reasonably approximates the employer's
        (or a typical employer's) costs under the program.
    ``(ii) A State savings program will not fail to satisfy the
requirements of subclauses (I) through (XI) of clause (i) merely
because the program--
            ``(I) is directed toward those employers that do not offer
        some other workplace savings arrangement;
            ``(II) utilizes one or more service or investment providers
        to operate and administer the program, provided that the State
        (or governmental agency or instrumentality of the State)
        retains full responsibility for the operation and
        administration of the program; or
            ``(III) treats employees as having automatically elected
        payroll deductions in an amount or percentage of compensation,
        including any automatic increases in such amount or percentage,
        unless the employee specifically elects not to have such
        deductions made (or specifically elects to have the deductions
        made in a different amount or percentage of compensation
        allowed by the program), provided that the employee is given
        adequate advance notice of the right to make such elections and
        provided, further, that a program may also satisfy the
        requirements of such subclauses (I) through (XI) without
        requiring or otherwise providing for automatic elections such
        as those described in this subclause.
    ``(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ``qualified
political subdivision'' means any governmental unit of a State,
including a city, county, or similar governmental body, that--
            ``(I) has the authority, implicit or explicit, under State
        law to require employers' participation in the program as
        described in clause (i); and
            ``(II) at the time of the establishment of the political
        subdivision's payroll deduction savings program--
                    ``(aa) has a population equal to or greater than
                the population of the least populated State (excluding
                the District of Columbia and territories listed in
                paragraph (10));
                    ``(bb) has no geographic overlap with any other
                political subdivision that has enacted a mandatory
                payroll deduction savings program for private-sector
                employees and is not located in a State that has
                enacted such a program statewide; and
                    ``(cc) has implemented and administers a plan,
                fund, or program that provides retirement income to its
                employees, or results in a deferral of income by its
                employees for periods extending to the termination of
                covered employment or beyond.
    ``(iv) For purposes of clause (i)(III), amounts withheld from an
employee's wages by the employer are deemed to be transmitted promptly
if such amounts are transmitted to the program as of the earliest date
on which such contributions can reasonably be segregated from the
employer's general assets, but in no event later than the last day of
the month following the month in which such amounts would otherwise
have been payable to the employee in cash.''.

Output: Preserve Rights Of States and Political subdivisions to Encourage Retirement Savings Act or the PROSPERS Act  This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to specify that states and certain political subdivisions may establish and administer voluntary payroll deduction retirement savings programs for private sector employees that are not considered employee pension benefit plans or pension plans covered by ERISA if the plans meet certain requirements.  The bill requires the plans to be established, implemented, and administered by states or political subdivisions. The plans must also be voluntary for employees and meet other specified requirements, including restrictions on the involvement of employers and obligations to enforce the rights of employees.


Input:
SEC.   . STANDING FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS WITH REGARD TO SALE OF NET
              OPERATING LOSSES.

    (a) Subsection (c) of section 5021 of the Technical and
Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-647) is amended to
read as follows:
    ``(c) Special Administrative Rules.--
            ``(1) Income included in native corporation return.--At the
        joint election of a Native Corporation and a corporation
        (referred to in this subsection (c) as the `buyer corporation')
        with which the Native Corporation entered into a transaction
        permitted under section 60(b)(5) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984
        and section 1804(e)(4) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (referred
        to in this subsection (c) as a `Native Corporation
        transaction'), income assigned, transferred or otherwise made
        available by the buyer corporation through the use of a
        corporation (referred to in this subsection (c) as the `profit
        subsidiary') by reason of such transaction for a period in
        which the profit subsidiary qualified as a member of the
        affiliated group of which the Native Corporation was the common
        parent shall be included in the taxable income of the Native
        Corporation affiliated group solely for purposes of section
        6212 of the Internal Revenue Code--
                    ``(A) Election.--The election under this subsection
                (c) for the taxable year to which the election relates
                shall be made no later than 120 days after the date of
                enactment of this amendment. The election shall be
                irrevocable and shall be made by filing with the
                district director for the Anchorage district office of
                the Internal Revenue Service a written statement signed
                by responsible officers of the Native Corporation and
                the electing buyer corporation that--
                            ``(i) identifies the Native Corporation,
                        the profit subsidiary, and the buyer
                        corporation (and their taxpayer identification
                        numbers) and states their agreement to make the
                        election provided in this subsection (c);
                            ``(ii) states the amount of income
                        assigned, transferred or otherwise made
                        available to the profit subsidiary for the
                        taxable year by reason of the Native
                        Corporation transaction;
                            ``(iii) if profit subsidiaries related to a
                        buyer corporation other than the electing buyer
                        corporation were members of the affiliated
                        group of which the Native Corporation was the
                        common parent, describes the order and the
                        amount of the losses and credits of the Native
                        Corporation affiliated group that were used to
                        offset the income of each profit subsidiary;
                            ``(iv) states the agreement of the buyer
                        corporation to consent under section 6501(c)(4)
                        of the Internal Revenue Code to extend the
                        periods of limitations for assessment and
                        collection solely with respect to the income of
                        the profit subsidiary for the affected taxable
                        period(s) to a date not less than 180 days
                        after the date the tax liability for the
                        taxable year in which the Native Corporation
                        transaction occurred is finally determined;
                            ``(v) states the agreement of the Native
                        Corporation to consent under section 6501(c)(4)
                        of the Internal Revenue Code to extend the
                        periods of limitations for assessment and
                        collection solely with respect to the income of
                        the profit subsidiary for the affected taxable
                        period(s) to a date not less than 120 days
                        after the date on which the Native Corporation
                        makes the election under this subsection; and
                            ``(vi) the Native Corporation and the buyer
                        corporation agree that the Service is
                        authorized to make any refund of any
                        overpayment that is determined to be due,
                        jointly to the Native Corporation and the
                        electing buyer corporation.
                If a Native Corporation has engaged in multiple Native
                Corporation transactions, such election shall be
                independently made by each buyer corporation on
                separate written statements. A buyer corporation that
                elects under this provision must so elect for all
                Native Corporation transactions with the particular
                Native Corporation with whom the election is made for
                which the statue of limitations for assessment is open.
                    ``(B) Taxable rate.--Notwithstanding section 11 of
                the Internal Revenue Code, any income of the profit
                subsidiary that is subject to the election provided in
                this subsection (c) shall be taxed at the rate that
                such income would have been taxed if it had been
                included in the return of the buyer corporation for the
                taxable year from which such income was assigned,
                transferred or otherwise made available. Solely for
                purposes of issuing a notice under section 6212 of the
                Internal Revenue Code to a Native Corporation for a
                Native Corporation transaction for which an election
                has been made under this subsection (c), the tax may be
                computed by applying the maximum corporate rate under
                section 11 of the Internal Revenue Code.
            ``(2) Treatment of native corporation as common parent as
        sole agent.--The common parent of an affiliated group which
        includes a Native Corporation that elects under subsection
        (c)(1) shall be the sole agent for the profit subsidiary for
        purposes of the Native Corporation transaction for the period
        of affiliation.
            ``(3) Collection of tax from buyer corporation.--For
        purposes of this subsection, the amount of any tax, interest,
        addition to tax, penalty or other amount attributable to the
        income of the profit subsidiary shall be paid by and be
        collectible from the profit subsidiary and the buyer
        corporation for the taxable year for which income was assigned,
        transferred or otherwise made available by the buyer
        corporation in connection with the Native Corporation
        transaction.
            ``(4) Payment of tax by native corporation.--If, after the
        election provided in subsection (c)(1) is made, the Native
        Corporation pays all or any part of the tax, interest, addition
        to tax, penalty or other amount attributable to the income of
        the profit subsidiary, such payment shall be deemed to be a
        payment by the buyer corporation for the taxable year for which
        such income would otherwise have been included in the buyer
        corporation's return if the election provided in subsection
        (c)(1) was not made--
                    ``(A) Filing of refund claim.--A Native Corporation
                that elects under subsection (c)(1) shall be treated as
                the taxpayer for purposes of sections 6402 and 6511 of
                the Internal Revenue Code with respect to all payments
                of tax, interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other
                amounts attributable to the income of the profit
                subsidiary and shall be entitled to file a claim for
                refund as the taxpayer with respect to any taxes,
                interest, additions to tax, penalties or other amounts
                attributable to the income of the profit subsidiary.
                    ``(B) Filing of refund suit.--A Native Corporation
                that elects under subsection (c)(1) shall be treated as
                the taxpayer for purposes of section 7422 of the
                Internal Revenue Code with respect to all payments of
                tax, interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other
                amounts attributable to the income of the profit
                subsidiary, and as the plaintiff for purposes of
                section 1402 of title 28, United States Code, and shall
                be entitled to file and maintain a proceeding in court
                as the taxpayer for the recovery of such amounts.
                    ``(C) Refund of overpayment.--In the event that an
                overpayment is determined to be due, whether by final
                administrative or judicial decision, with respect to a
                Native Corporation transaction (c)(1), the Native
                Corporation shall be treated as the person who made the
                overpayment within the meaning of section 6402(a) of
                the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any law or
                rule of law, including the preceding sentence, any
                refund of such overpayment may be made jointly to the
                Native Corporation and to the electing buyer
                corporation, as agreed to under paragraph (A)(v) of
                subsection (c)(1).
            ``(5) Participatory rights of electing buyer corporation.--
        Any buyer corporation that makes an election under subsection
        (c)(1) shall have the right to--
                    ``(A) submit a written statement and participate
                with the Native Corporation in any administrative
                proceeding relating to any proposed adjustment
                regarding a Native Corporation transaction for which an
                election has been made; and
                    ``(B) file an amicus brief in any proceeding in a
                Federal court or the United States Tax Court that has
                been filed by the Native Corporation involving a
                proposed adjustment regarding such a Native Corporation
                transaction.
        All written notices or other reports issued by the Secretary or
        his delegate with respect to such a Native Corporation
        transaction shall be issued to the Native Corporation, and it
        shall be the obligation of the Native Corporation to provide
        copies thereof to the electing buyer corporation. Rules similar
        to the rules of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (7)
        shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.
            ``(6) Final determination of issues.--
                    ``(A) All issues with respect to the Native
                Corporation transaction with respect to which an
                election is made under subsection (c)(1), including the
                applicability of any interest, addition to tax, penalty
                or other amount, shall be determined by administrative
                or judicial decision with respect to the consolidated
                return of the Native Corporation affiliated group.
                    ``(B) Upon such determination, any income of the
                profit subsidiary that is not offset in the Native
                Corporation transaction shall be reported on the buyer
                corporation's return as if it were originally reported
                thereon and subject to all adjustments, including net
                operating loss or other carrybacks, to which such
                income would otherwise be subject.
            ``(7) No effect on nonelecting corporations.--The absence
        of an election by a Native Corporation and a buyer corporation
        with respect to a Native Corporation transaction shall not
        restrict the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury or his
        delegate to settle or litigate with any nonelecting buyer
        corporation with respect to any issue relating to such a
        transaction--
                    ``(A) Rights of native corporation.--For any such
                Native Corporation transaction for which no election is
                made under subsection (c)(1), the Native Corporation
                shall have the right to submit a written statement and
                participate with the buyer corporation in any
                administrative proceeding relating to any proposed
                adjustment regarding such Native Corporation
                transaction; and to file an amicus brief in any
                proceeding in a Federal court or the United States Tax
                Court that has been filed by the non-electing buyer
                corporation involving a proposed adjustment regarding
                such Native Corporation transaction.
                    ``(B) Extension of statute of limitations.--
                Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the Secretary of
                the Treasury or his delegate determines that an
                extension of the statute of limitations is necessary to
                permit the participation described in subparagraph (A)
                and the taxpayer and the Secretary or his delegate have
                not agreed to such extension.
                    ``(C) Failures.--For purposes of the 1986 Code, any
                failure by the Secretary of the Treasury or his
                delegate to comply with the provisions of this
                subsection shall not affect the validity of the
                determination of the Internal Revenue Service of any
                adjustment of tax liability of any non-electing buyer
                corporation.
            ``(8) Effective date.--This provision shall be effective
        for all taxable years for which the statute of limitations for
        assessment with respect to an electing Native Corporation has
        not expired prior to the date of enactment of this Act--
                    ``(A) Extension of statute of limitations.--Any
                Native Corporation for which the statue of limitations
                for assessment will expire within 120 days after the
                date of enactment of this section shall have the right
                upon request to extend such statute of limitations
                pursuant to section 6501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
                Code to a date not less than 120 days after the date of
                enactment of this section.
                    ``(B) Period for assessments.--If the statute of
                limitations for assessments with respect to an electing
                Native Corporation has not expired prior to the date of
                the enactment of this Act, such period shall not expire
                before the date 120 days after the date on which the
                Native Corporation makes the election under this
                subsection.''.
    (b) Section 5021 of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of
1988 (Public Law 100-647) is amended by adding, after subsection (e),
new subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Increase in Underpayment Rate.--For purposes of determining
the amount of interest payable under section 6601 of the Internal
Revenue Code on a tax underpayment attributable to a Native Corporation
transaction for which an election has been made under subsection (c)
hereof, the underpayment rate otherwise applicable under section
6621(a) (2) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be
increased by 0.5 percentage points.''.

Output: Amends the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 to permit Alaska Native Corporations to litigate the validity of the sale of their net operating losses to other corporate buyers as reported on their tax returns, if the buyers so agree.  Increases the interest on the underpayment rate for any underpayments resulting from such litigation.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Part D Drug Class
Protection Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL TREATMENT UNDER MEDICARE PART D FOR DRUGS IN 6
              SPECIFIED THERAPEUTIC CATEGORIES.

    (a) Medicare Part D Formularies Required To Cover All Drugs in 6
Specified Therapeutic Categories.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1860D-4(b)(3) of the Social
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-104(b)(3)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C)(i), by inserting ``, except
                as provided in subparagraph (G),'' after ``although'';
                and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(G) Required inclusion of drugs in certain
                therapeutic categories and classes.--
                            ``(i) Requirement.--The formulary must
                        include, subject to clause (iii), all or
                        substantially all drugs in each of the
                        following therapeutic categories of covered
                        part D drugs:
                                    ``(I) Immunosuppresessants.
                                    ``(II) Antidepressants.
                                    ``(III) Antipsychotics.
                                    ``(IV) Anticonvulsants.
                                    ``(V) Antiretrovials.
                                    ``(VI) Antineoplastics.
                            ``(ii) Coverage of all unique dosage
                        forms.--To meet the requirement under clause
                        (i), the formulary must include all covered
                        part D drugs and unique dosages and forms of
                        such drugs in the categories specified in such
                        clause, except for--
                                    ``(I) multi-source brands of the
                                identical molecular structure;
                                    ``(II) extended release products in
                                the case that the immediate release
                                product involved is included on the
                                formulary;
                                    ``(III) products that have the same
                                active ingredient; and
                                    ``(IV) dosage forms that do not
                                provide a unique route of
                                administration, such as tablets and
                                capsules.
                            ``(iii) Application to new fda-approved
                        drugs.--In the case of a drug that becomes a
                        covered part D drug and that is included in a
                        category specified in clause (i), clause (i)
                        shall apply to such drug 30 days after the drug
                        has been placed on the market. Nothing in the
                        previous sentence shall be construed as
                        preventing a pharmacy and therapeutic committee
                        from advising a PDP sponsor of a prescription
                        drug plan on the clinical appropriateness of
                        formulary management practices and policies
                        related to new drugs in such categories.
                            ``(iv) Utilization management tools not
                        permitted.--A PDP sponsor of a prescription
                        drug plan may not apply a utilization
                        management tool, such as prior authorization or
                        step therapy, to a drug required under clause
                        (i) to be included on the formulary.
                            ``(v) Rules of construction.--
                                    ``(I) Issuance of guidance or
                                regulations to establish formulary or
                                utilization management requirements
                                permitted.--Nothing in this
                                subparagraph shall be construed as
                                prohibiting the Secretary from issuing
                                guidance or regulations to establish
                                formulary or utilization management
                                requirements under this section for any
                                category or class of covered part D
                                drugs if such guidance or regulations
                                are consistent with the requirements of
                                this subparagraph.
                                    ``(II) Additional therapeutic
                                categories permitted.--Nothing in this
                                subparagraph shall be construed as
                                prohibiting the Secretary from
                                including any additional therapeutic
                                category or class of covered part D
                                drugs under clause (i) for purposes of
                                this subparagraph.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
        shall apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1,
        2008.
    (b) Special Requirements for Coverage Determinations,
Reconsiderations, and Appeals for Drugs Included in Specified
Therapeutic Categories.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1860D-4(g) of the Social Security
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-104(g)) is amended by adding at the end
        the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Reconsideration of determinations related to drugs
        included in specified therapeutic categories conducted by
        independent review entity.--With respect to a part D eligible
        individual enrolled in a prescription drug plan, in the case of
        a determination under this subsection that denies such
        individual coverage (in whole or in part) of a drug in a
        category specified in subsection (b)(3)(G)(i), the individual
        may request that the reconsideration of such determination
        authorized under section 1852(g)(2) (as applied by paragraph
        (1)) be conducted by the independent, outside entity described
        in paragraph (4) of section 1852(g) in accordance with the
        procedures for an expedited reconsideration under paragraph (3)
        of such section.
            ``(4) Required coverage of drugs included in specified
        therapeutic categories during determinations, reconsiderations,
        and appeals.--If a part D eligible individual enrolled in a
        prescription drug plan offered by a PDP sponsor requests a
        redetermination or reconsideration under this subsection (or an
        appeal under subsection (h)) with respect to an utilization
        management requirement or denial of coverage (in whole or in
        part) of a drug in a category specified in subsection
        (b)(3)(G)(i), such sponsor shall provide such individual with
        coverage of such drug as prescribed during the pendency of such
        redetermination, reconsideration, or appeal until 60 days after
        the date of receipt of a written notification of--
                    ``(A) in the case that the individual does not
                request a reconsideration or appeal, the determination
                on such redetermination;
                    ``(B) in the case that the individual requests a
                reconsideration but not an appeal, the determination on
                such reconsideration; or
                    ``(C) in the case that the individual requests an
                appeal, the determination on such appeal or the
                dismissal of the appeal;
        except that in no case shall such coverage end before the end
        of the period in which an individual may file an appeal with
        respect to the determination involved.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
        shall apply to requests for redeterminations, reconsiderations,
        and appeal hearings made on or after the effective date
        described in subsection (a)(2).
    (c) Reporting Requirements for Drugs Included in Specified
Therapeutic Categories.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1860D-4(b) of the Social Security
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-104(b)) is amended by adding at the end
        the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Reporting requirements for drugs included in
        specified therapeutic categories.--
                    ``(A) Reports by pdp sponsors.--A PDP sponsor
                offering a prescription drug plan shall submit to the
                Secretary (in a form and manner specified by the
                Secretary), with respect to drugs in a category of
                covered part D drugs specified in subsection
                (b)(3)(G)(i), information on the number of favorable
                and unfavorable decisions under the plan relating to
                coverage determinations, redeterminations,
                reconsiderations, appeals, and enrollee requests for
                exceptions to formulary policies for such drugs.
                    ``(B) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall
                submit an annual report to Congress summarizing the
                information submitted under subparagraph (A) and shall
                publish each report in the Federal Register.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
        shall apply to prescription drug plans and MA plans for plan
        years beginning on or after the effective date described in
        subsection (a)(2).

Output:
Medicare Part D Drug Class Protection Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require that Medicare prescription drug plans using formularies cover all drugs included in six specified therapeutic categories.

Sets forth special requirements for reconsideration of coverage determinations, and appeals for drugs included in such categories.

Establishes reporting requirements for drugs in these categories.


Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Connect with Veterans Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF VETERANS.

    (a) Program Required.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
        coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a
        program to facilitate outreach to veterans by covered entities.
            (2) Covered entities.--For purposes of this section, a
        covered entity is any of the following:
                    (A) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
                    (B) The agency or department of a State that is the
                primary agency or department of the State for the
                administration of benefits and services for veterans in
                the State.
                    (C) A political subdivision of a State.
                    (D) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the
                Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
                (25 U.S.C. 450b)).
            (3) National directory.--To carry out the program required
        by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) establish a national directory of veterans as
                described in subsection (b); and
                    (B) share information in the directory in
                accordance with subsection (c).
    (b) National Directory.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
        establish the national directory required by subsection (a)(3)
        using information received from the Secretary of Defense under
        subsection (d)(4).
            (2) Updates.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
        ensure that the national directory includes a mechanism by
        which a participating individual can update the information in
        the national directory that pertains to the participating
        individual.
            (3) Disenrollment.--The Secretary shall establish a
        mechanism by which a participating individual can indicate to
        the Secretary that the individual would no longer like to
        receive information from participating entities under the
        program.
            (4) Reenrollment.--The Secretary shall establish a
        mechanism for the inclusion of information in the national
        directory of individuals who were previously participating
        individuals but who had made an indication under paragraph (3)
        and subsequently indicate that they would like to receive
        information from participating entities under the program.
            (5) Privacy and security.--The Secretary shall take such
        actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect--
                    (A) the privacy of individuals participating in the
                program; and
                    (B) the security of the information stored in the
                national directory.
            (6) Ebenefits.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use
        the system and architecture of the eBenefits Internet website
        of the Department of Veterans Affairs to support and operate
        the national directory as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (c) Outreach.--
            (1) Sharing of directory information.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
                (2), in order to connect participating individuals with
                information about the programs they could be eligible
                for or services, support, and information they may be
                interested in receiving, the Secretary of Veterans
                Affairs may share, under the program established under
                subsection (a)(1), information in the national
                directory concerning such individuals with entities
                applicable to participating individuals.
                    (B) Entities applicable to participating
                individuals.--For purposes of this subsection, an
                entity that is applicable to a participating individual
                is a covered entity from whom a participating
                individual has expressed interest in receiving
                information under the program.
                    (C) Updated information.--In a case in which a
                participating individual updates the information
                pertaining to the participating individual under
                subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall transmit such
                information to each entity applicable to the
                participating individual.
                    (D) Notification of disenrollment.--In a case in
                which a participating individual indicates to the
                Secretary under subsection (b)(3) that the individual
                would no longer like to receive information from
                participating entities under the program, the Secretary
                shall inform each entity applicable to the
                participating individual that the individual would no
                longer like to receive information from the entity
                under the program.
            (2) Limitations.--
                    (A) Limitations on the secretary.--
                            (i) Information shared.--Under the program,
                        the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may only
                        share from the national directory the
                        following:
                                    (I) The name of a participating
                                individual.
                                    (II) The e-mail address of a
                                participating individual.
                                    (III) The postal address of a
                                participating individual.
                                    (IV) The phone number of a
                                participating individual.
                            (ii) Prohibition on sale of information.--
                        The Secretary may not sell any information
                        collected under this section.
                            (iii) Entities.--The Secretary may not
                        share any information collected under the
                        program with any entity that is not a
                        participating entity.
                    (B) Limitations on participating entities.--
                            (i) Sharing with third-party and for-profit
                        entities.--As a condition of participation in
                        the program, a participating entity shall agree
                        not to share any information the participating
                        entity receives under the program with any
                        third-party or for-profit entities.
                            (ii) Purchases of products or services.--As
                        a condition of participation in the program, a
                        participating entity shall agree not to include
                        in any information sent by the participating
                        entity to a participating individual a
                        requirement that the participating individual
                        or the family of the participating individual
                        purchase a product or service.
                            (iii) Political communication.--As a
                        condition of participation in the program, a
                        participating entity shall agree not to use any
                        information received under the program for any
                        political communication.
            (3) Disenrollment by participating entities.--The Secretary
        shall establish a mechanism by which a participating entity may
        indicate to the Secretary that the participating entity would
        no longer like to receive information about participating
        individuals from the national directory.
            (4) Sense of congress.--
                    (A) Consolidation of requests.--It is the sense of
                Congress that covered entities described in subsection
                (a)(2)(C) who are located in the same region should
                work together in a manner such that only one of them
                requests receipt of information under the program.
                    (B) Collaboration.--It is the sense of Congress
                that covered entities described in subsection (a)(2)(C)
                should work with third parties, such as veterans
                service organizations, military community groups, and
                other entities with an interest in assisting veterans,
                to develop the information the covered entities send to
                participating individuals under the program.
            (5) Publicity.--The Secretary shall develop a plan to
        publicize the program and inform covered entities of the
        benefits of participating in the program.
    (d) Collection of Contact Information.--
            (1) In general.--To each member of the Armed Forces
        separating from service in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of
        Defense shall provide a form for the collection of information
        to be included in the national directory established under
        subsection (a).
            (2) Form.--
                    (A) Development.--The Secretary of Defense shall,
                in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
                develop the form provided under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Elements.--The form developed under
                subparagraph (A) shall allow a member of the Armed
                Forces who is in the process of separating from service
                in the Armed Forces to indicate the following:
                            (i) Where the member intends to reside
                        after separation.
                            (ii) How the individual can best be
                        contacted, such as a telephone number, an e-
                        mail address, or a postal address.
                            (iii) For which types of benefits and
                        services the member would like to receive
                        communication and outreach, such as health
                        care, education, employment, and housing.
                            (iv) From which of the following the member
                        would like to receive the communication and
                        outreach specified under clause (iii):
                                    (I) The Department of Veterans
                                Affairs.
                                    (II) The agency or department of
                                the State in which the member intends
                                to reside after separation that is the
                                primary agency or department of the
                                State for the administration of
                                benefits and services for veterans in
                                the State.
                                    (III) A political subdivision of a
                                State.
                    (C) Notice.--The form developed under subparagraph
                (A) shall include notice of the following:
                            (i) Information provided to agencies and
                        departments described in subparagraph
                        (B)(iv)(III) will only be provided as
                        authorized and upon request by such agencies
                        and departments.
                            (ii) Political subdivisions of States that
                        receive information under the program
                        established under subsection (a) may--
                                    (I) share such information with
                                such nonprofit organizations as the
                                political subdivisions consider
                                appropriate; and
                                    (II) work with such organizations
                                to provide the veterans with relevant
                                information about benefits and services
                                offered by such organizations.
                            (iii) Information provided on the form
                        developed under subparagraph (A) will never be
                        sold, provided to a for-profit entity, or used
                        to send any sort of political communication.
                    (D) Manner.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure
                that the form provided under paragraph (1) is not
                primarily electronic in nature.
            (3) Voluntary participation.--The Secretary of Defense
        shall ensure that completion of the form provided under
        paragraph (1) is voluntary and submittal of such form to the
        Secretary by a member of the Armed Forces shall be considered
        an indication to the Secretary that the member would like to
        receive information from participating entities under the
        program.
            (4) Transmittal of information to secretary of veterans
        affairs.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which a
        member of the Armed Forces who submitted information to the
        Secretary of Defense under this subsection separates from
        service in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense shall
        transmit such information to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (5) Privacy and security.--The Secretary of Defense shall
        take such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to
        protect--
                    (A) the privacy of individuals who submit
                information under this subsection; and
                    (B) the security of such information--
                            (i) while it is in the possession of the
                        Secretary; and
                            (ii) while it is in transit to the
                        Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (6) Integration with transition assistance program.--The
        Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly
        take such actions as the secretaries consider appropriate to
        integrate the collection of information under this subsection
        into the Transition Assistance Program.
    (e) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
        and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to the
        appropriate committees of Congress a report on the program
        established under subsection (a)(1).
            (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
        shall include an examination and assessment of the following:
                    (A) The signup process and the effectiveness of the
                forms developed and provided under subsection (d).
                    (B) The ways in which contact information is
                transferred from the Secretary of Defense to the
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the program and the
                plans of the secretaries to overcome challenges
                encountered by the secretaries in transferring such
                information.
                    (C) The number of covered entities described in
                subsection (a)(2)(C) participating in the program and
                any challenges they report in receiving the contact
                information from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
                under the program.
                    (D) The effectiveness of efforts of the Secretary
                of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to
                protect the personal information of participating
                individuals.
                    (E) The effectiveness of efforts of covered
                entities described in subsection (a)(2)(C) to protect
                the personal information of participating individuals.
                    (F) Whether additional limitations on the use of
                information collected under the program are necessary
                to protect participating individuals from unwanted
                contact, or contact that is inconsistent with the
                program.
                    (G) Whether participating individuals are
                benefitting by participating in the program and whether
                changing the program would improve such benefits.
                    (H) The overall participation in the program,
                utilization of the program, and how such participation
                and utilization could be improved.
                    (I) Such other matters as the secretaries consider
                appropriate.
            (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
        subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
        means the following:
                    (A) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the
                Committee on Armed Services, and the Subcommittee on
                Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related
                Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the
                Senate.
                    (B) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the
                Committee on Armed Services, and the Subcommittee on
                Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related
                Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the
                House of Representatives.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Participating entity.--The term ``participating
        entity'' means a covered entity that has indicated to the
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs that the covered entity would
        like to receive information about participating individuals
        from the national directory and has made no subsequent
        indication that the covered entity would like to stop receiving
        such information.
            (2) Participating individual.--The term ``participating
        individual'' means an individual with respect to whom
        information is stored in the national directory and who has
        indicated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary
        of Defense that the individual would like to receive
        information from participating entities under the program and
        has made no subsequent indication that the individual would
        like to stop receiving such information.

Output: Connect with Veterans Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a program to facilitate outreach to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the primary agencies of states for the administration of veterans' benefits and services, political subdivisions of states, and Indian tribes; and (2) publicize such program and the benefits to such entities of participating. Requires the Secretary, to carry out such program, to: (1) establish a national directory of veterans, and (2) share information in the directory with any such entities from whom a participating individual has expressed interest in receiving information.  Prohibits: (1) the Secretary from selling information collected under this Act, (2) the Secretary or any participating entity from sharing such information with a non-participating entity, or (3) any participating entity from using any such information for any political communication or from requiring any participating individual to purchase any product or service. Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) provide to each member of the Armed Forces separating from service a form for the collection of information to be included in the directory, (2) ensure that completion of the form is voluntary, and (3) protect the privacy of individuals who submit information and the security of information. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Labor to jointly take appropriate steps to integrate the collection of information under this Act into the Transition Assistance Program.