113 S2413 IS: Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014
U.S. Senate
2014-06-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
This Act may be cited as the Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014
.
(b)
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
TITLE I—Health Care Matters
Subtitle A—Improvement of Access to Care by Strengthening Management, Technology, and Metrics
Sec. 101. Implementation of upgraded Department of Veterans Affairs electronic scheduling system
for appointments for receipt of health care from the Department.
Sec. 102. Independent assessment of the scheduling process for medical appointments for care from
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 103. Modification of liability for breach of period of obligated service under Health
Professionals Educational Assistance Program for primary care physicians.
Sec. 104. Program of education at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences with
specialization in primary care.
Sec. 105. Treatment of staffing shortage and biannual report on staffing of medical facilities of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 106. Clinic management training program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 107. Inclusion of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in National Health Service Corps
Scholarship and loan repayment programs.
Sec. 108. Improvement of access by veterans to health care from non-Department of Veterans Affairs
providers.
Sec. 109. Extension of and report on joint incentives program of Department of Veterans Affairs and
Department of Defense.
Sec. 110. Transfer of authority for payments for hospital care, medical services, and other health
care from non-Department providers to the Chief Business Office of the
Veterans Health Administration of the Department.
Sec. 110A. Contracting for hospital care, medical services, and other health care.
Sec. 110B. Enhancement of collaboration between Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health
Service.
Sec. 110C. Enhancement of collaboration between Department of Veterans Affairs and Native Hawaiian
health care systems.
Sec. 110D. Improvement of access of veterans to mobile vet centers of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Sec. 110E. Commission on Access to Care.
Sec. 110F. Removal of Senior Executive Service employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs for
performance.
Sec. 110G. Authorization of emergency appropriations.
Subtitle B—Expansion and Improvements of Benefits Generally
Sec. 111. Further extension of period of eligibility for health care for veterans of combat service
during certain periods of hostilities and war.
Sec. 112. Expansion of assistance and support services for caregivers of veterans.
Sec. 113. Improved access to appropriate immunizations for veterans.
Sec. 114. Expansion of provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans.
Sec. 115. Modification of commencement date of period of service at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina,
for eligibility for hospital care and medical services in connection with
exposure to contaminated water.
Sec. 116. Expansion of emergency treatment reimbursement for certain veterans.
Sec. 117. Extension of sunset date regarding transportation of individuals to and from facilities
of Department of Veterans Affairs and requirement of report.
Sec. 118. Extension and modification of pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with
traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 119. Reauthorization and modification of pilot program of enhanced contract care authority for
health care needs of veterans.
Subtitle C—Health Care Administration
Sec. 121. Extension of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program.
Sec. 122. Expansion of availability of prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans.
Sec. 123. Limitation on expansion of dialysis pilot program.
Sec. 124. Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs policy on reporting cases of infectious
diseases at facilities of the Department.
Sec. 125. Independent assessment of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 126. Requirements in connection with next update of current strategic plan for Office of Rural
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 127. Report on provision of telemedicine services.
Sec. 128. Designation of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center.
Subtitle D—Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Sec. 131. Expansion of research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative
medicine to veterans.
Sec. 132. Program on integration of complementary and alternative medicine within Department of
Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Sec. 133. Studies of barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and
clinicians in providing, complementary and alternative medicine services
furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 134. Program on use of wellness programs as complementary approach to mental health care for
veterans and family members of veterans.
Subtitle E—Mental Health Care
Sec. 141. Inclusion of mental health professionals in the education and training program for health
personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 142. Report on provision of mental health services for families of certain veterans at
facilities of the Department.
Sec. 143. Annual report on community mental health partnership pilot program.
Subtitle F—Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement
Sec. 151. Restorative dental services for veterans.
Sec. 152. Pilot program on expansion of furnishing of dental care to all enrolled veterans.
Sec. 153. Program on education to promote dental health in veterans.
Sec. 154. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle G—Health Care Related to Sexual Trauma
Sec. 161. Expansion of eligibility for sexual trauma counseling and treatment to veterans on
inactive duty training.
Sec. 162. Provision of counseling and treatment for sexual trauma by the Department of Veterans
Affairs to members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 163. Department of Veterans Affairs screening mechanism to detect incidents of domestic abuse.
Sec. 164. Reports on military sexual trauma and domestic abuse.
Subtitle H—Reproductive treatment and services
Sec. 171. Clarification that fertility counseling and treatment are medical services which the
Secretary may furnish to veterans like other medical services.
Sec. 172. Reproductive treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of veterans.
Sec. 173. Adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans.
Sec. 174. Regulations on furnishing of fertility counseling and treatment and adoption assistance
by Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 175. Coordination between Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense on
furnishing of fertility counseling and treatment.
Sec. 176. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research.
Sec. 177. Annual report on provision of fertility counseling and treatment furnished by Department
of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 178. Program on assistance for child care for certain veterans.
Sec. 179. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the
Armed Forces.
Subtitle I—Major Medical Facility Leases
Sec. 181. Authorization of major medical facility leases.
Sec. 182. Budgetary treatment of Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facilities leases.
TITLE II—Survivor and Dependent Matters
Sec. 201. Extension of initial period for increased dependency and indemnity compensation for
surviving spouses with children.
Sec. 202. Eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation, educational assistance, and
housing loans for surviving spouses who remarry after age 55.
Sec. 203. Extension of marriage delimiting date for surviving spouses of Persian Gulf War veterans
to qualify for death pension.
Sec. 204. Making effective date provision consistent with provision for benefits eligibility of a
veteran's child based upon termination of remarriage by annulment.
Sec. 205. Expansion of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.
Sec. 206. Expansion of Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program.
Sec. 207. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida.
Sec. 208. Program on assisted living for children of Vietnam veterans and certain Korea service
veterans born with spina bifida.
Sec. 209. Program on grief counseling in retreat settings for surviving spouses of members of the
Armed Forces who die while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces.
Sec. 210. Program evaluation on survivors' and dependents' educational assistance authorities.
TITLE III—Education Matters
Sec. 301. Approval of courses of education provided by public institutions of higher learning for
purposes of All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and
Post-9/11 Educational Assistance conditional on in-State tuition rate for
veterans.
Sec. 302. Extension and expansion of authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for
purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 303. Prohibitions relating to references to GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Sec. 304. Review of utilization of educational assistance to pursue programs of training on the job
and participating employers.
Sec. 305. Report on debt management and collection.
Sec. 306. Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers.
TITLE IV—Employment and Related Matters
Subtitle A—Training and other services for veterans seeking employment
Sec. 401. Extension of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide rehabilitation and
vocational benefits to members of Armed Forces with severe injuries or
illnesses.
Subtitle B—Employment of veterans and recognition of veteran status with respect to employment
related matters
Sec. 411. Employment of veterans with the Federal Government.
Sec. 412. State recognition of military experience of veterans in issuing licenses and credentials
to veterans.
Sec. 413. Report on discrimination against members of reserve components of Armed Forces and
veterans in civilian labor market.
Subtitle C—Improving employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services
Sec. 421. Suspension, termination, or debarment of contractors for repeated violations of
employment or reemployment rights of members of uniformed services.
Subtitle D—Small Business Matters
Sec. 431. Expansion of contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs to
include conditionally owned small business concerns 100 percent owned by
veterans.
Sec. 432. Modification of treatment under contracting goals and preferences of Department of
Veterans Affairs for small businesses owned by veterans of small
businesses after death of disabled veteran owners.
Sec. 433. Treatment of businesses after deaths of servicemember-owners for purposes of Department
of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences.
Sec. 434. Special rule for treatment under contracting goals and preferences of Department of
Veterans Affairs of small business concerns licensed in community property
States.
Sec. 435. Report on assistance for veterans in obtaining training on purchasing and operating a
franchise.
TITLE V—Accountability and Administrative Improvements
Sec. 501. Administration of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
Sec. 502. Regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
Sec. 503. Commission on Capital Planning for Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities.
Sec. 504. Advance appropriations for certain accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 505. Public access to Department of Veterans Affairs research and data sharing between
Departments.
Sec. 506. Assessment by Comptroller General of the United States of information made available by
Veterans Benefits Administration.
Sec. 507. Comptroller general report on advisory committees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
TITLE VI—Improvement of Processing of Claims for Compensation
Subtitle A—Claims Based on Military Sexual Trauma
Sec. 601. Medical examination and opinion for disability compensation claims based on military
sexual trauma.
Sec. 602. Case representative officers for military sexual trauma support.
Sec. 603. Report on standard of proof for service-connection of mental health conditions related to
military sexual trauma.
Sec. 604. Reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma.
Subtitle B—Claims for dependency and indemnity compensation
Sec. 611. Program on treatment of certain applications for dependency and indemnity compensation as
fully developed claims.
Sec. 612. Report by Secretary of Veterans Affairs on improving timeliness and accuracy of
administration of claims for dependency and indemnity compensation and
pension for surviving spouses and children.
Subtitle C—Agency of Original Jurisdiction
Sec. 621. Working group to improve employee work credit and work management systems of Veterans
Benefits Administration in an electronic environment.
Sec. 622. Task force on retention and training of Department of Veterans Affairs claims processors
and adjudicators.
Sec. 623. Reports on requests by the Department of Veterans Affairs for records of other Federal
agencies.
Sec. 624. Recognition of representatives of Indian tribes in the preparation, presentation, and
prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.
Sec. 625. Program on participation of local and tribal governments in improving quality of claims
for disability compensation submitted to Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 626. Department of Veterans Affairs notice of average times for processing compensation
claims.
Sec. 627. Quarterly reports on progress of Department of Veterans Affairs in eliminating backlog of
claims for compensation that have not been adjudicated.
Sec. 628. Reports on use of existing authorities to expedite benefits decisions.
Sec. 629. Reports on Department disability medical examinations and prevention of unnecessary
medical examinations.
Subtitle D—Board of Veterans' Appeals and Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Sec. 631. Determination of manner of appearance for hearings before Board of Veterans' Appeals.
TITLE VII—Outreach Matters
Sec. 701. Program to increase coordination of outreach efforts between the Department of Veterans
Affairs and Federal, State, and local agencies and nonprofit
organizations.
Sec. 702. Cooperative agreements between Secretary of Veterans Affairs and States on outreach
activities.
Sec. 703. Advisory committee on outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 704. Advisory boards on outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs relating to
health care.
Sec. 705. Modification of requirement for periodic reports to Congress on outreach activities of
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 706. Budget transparency for outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs.
TITLE VIII—Enhancement of rights under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Sec. 801. Modification of period determining which actions are covered under stay of proceedings
and adjustment of obligation protections concerning mortgages and trust
deeds of members of uniformed services.
Sec. 802. Protections for members of uniformed services regarding professional licenses.
Sec. 803. Prohibition on denial of credit because of eligibility for protection.
Sec. 804. Interest rate limitation on debt entered into during military service to consolidate or
refinance student loans incurred before military service.
Sec. 805. Termination of residential leases after assignment or relocation to quarters of United
States or housing facility under jurisdiction of uniformed service.
Sec. 806. Protection of surviving spouse with respect to mortgage foreclosure.
Sec. 807. Improved protection of members of uniformed services against default judgments.
Sec. 808. Clarification regarding application of enforcement authority of Attorney General and
private right of action under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Sec. 809. Clerical amendments.
TITLE IX—Other Matters
Sec. 901. Repeal of certain reductions made by Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.
Sec. 902. Consideration by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of resources disposed of for less than
fair market value by individuals applying for pension.
Sec. 903. Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services
furnished by nursing facilities.
Sec. 904. Conditions on award of per diem payments by Secretary of Veterans Affairs for provision
of housing or services to homeless veterans.
Sec. 905. Exception to certain recapture requirements and treatment of contracts and grants with
State homes with respect to care for homeless veterans.
Sec. 906. Extended period for scheduling of medical exams for veterans receiving temporary
disability ratings for severe mental disorders.
Sec. 907. Authority to issue Veterans ID Cards.
Sec. 908. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in the reserve components of
the Armed Forces.
Sec. 909. Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to obtain information from
Secretary of the Treasury and Commissioner of Social Security for income
verification purposes.
Sec. 910. Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue and guarantee certain
loans.
Sec. 911. Eligibility for interment in national cemeteries for certain naturalized individuals.
Sec. 912. Canadian Forces Base Gagetown independent study and registry.
Sec. 913. Review of determination of certain service in Philippines during World War II.
Sec. 914. Review of determination of certain service of merchant mariners during World War II.
Sec. 915. Report on practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs to adequately provide services
to veterans with hearing loss.
Sec. 916. Report on joint programs of Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense with
respect to hearing loss of members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
Sec. 917. Designation of American World War II Cities.
2.
References to title 38, United States Code
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in
terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision
of title 38, United States Code.
<enum>I</enum>
<header>Health Care Matters</header>
<subtitle id="idD978F7ABCA7C4108B04F07605117699F" style="OLC">
<enum>A</enum>
<header>Improvement of Access to Care by Strengthening Management, Technology, and Metrics</header>
<section id="id10A5738F353B4C93AA0DC4B45196318E">
<enum>101.</enum>
<header>Implementation of upgraded Department of Veterans Affairs electronic scheduling system for
appointments for receipt of health care from the Department</header>
<subsection id="id853AB3E689D7428AAF9220E4C7632DF9">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Implementation</header>
<paragraph id="id40EE12BAB6104400B584C71802D67FF2">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than March 31, 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall fully implement an
upgraded
and centralized electronic scheduling system described in subsection (b)
for appointments
by eligible individuals for health care from the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id05642F61F690428B9273D384FEB0F647">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Agile software development methodologies</header>
<text>In implementing the upgraded electronic scheduling system required by paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall use agile software development methodologies to fully implement
portions of such system every 180 days beginning on the date on which the
Secretary begins the implementation of such system, or enters into a
contract for the implementation of such system, and ending on the date on
which such system is fully
implemented.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0EFF4EEAB0294BE08DB9EE24C8A70EFD">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Electronic scheduling system</header>
<text>The upgraded electronic scheduling system described in this subsection shall include mechanisms to
achieve the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idEF9A9B8B48F74D808C20949B0F00713C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>An efficient and effective graphical user interface with a calendar view for use by employees of
the Department in scheduling appointments that enables error-free
scheduling of the health care resources of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb6489b51a09945058e106734777b1356">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>A capability to assist employees of the Department to easily and consistently implement policies of
the Department with respect to scheduling of appointments, including with
respect to priority for appointments for certain eligible individuals.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC7D504002DDC41C68F2E64CE8B99E80F">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A capability for employees of the Department to sort and view through a unified interface the
availability for each health care
provider of the Department or other health care resource of the
Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id200BAEEC6ADC4E879D541291782BBD6C">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>A capability for employees of the Department to sort and view appointments for and appointment
requests made by a particular eligible individual.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF5213BA169444AC690BEAB28F520E758">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>A capability for seamless coordination of appointments for primary care, specialty care,
consultations, or any other health care matter among facilities of the
Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA7BD034C344748D3AE005A584FAD49C6">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>A capability for eligible individuals to access the system remotely and schedule appointments
directly through the system.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD9FE7D6578A940B49D3A2DDDC71F10CE">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>An electronic timestamp of each activity made by an eligible individual or on behalf of such
individual with respect to an appointment or the scheduling of an
appointment that shall be kept in the medical record of such individual.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA275AB06A26645118BBDEA102CC16345">
<enum>(8)</enum>
<text>A seamless connection to the Computerized Patient Record System of the Department so that employees
of the Department, when scheduling an appointment for an eligible
individual, have access to recommendations from the health care provider
of such individual with respect to when such individual should receive an
appointment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0FE4EC5234AD412397ADBEC3699F45E7">
<enum>(9)</enum>
<text>A capability to provide automated reminders to eligible individuals on upcoming appointments
through various electronic and voice media.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4AC13EB09282408B8812B6CBDEF9A85B">
<enum>(10)</enum>
<text>A capability to provide automated reminders to employees of the Department when an eligible
individual who is on the wait-list for an appointment becomes eligible to
schedule an appointment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6FFF6A4D4E1643F1A62B73DCD6ADBA6A">
<enum>(11)</enum>
<text>A dashboard capability to support efforts to track the following metrics in aggregate and by
medical facility with respect to health care provided
to eligible
individuals under the laws administered by the Secretary:</text><subparagraph id="idF556B1DF5DCB4675B86B4607D666EF76">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of days into the future that the schedules of health care providers are available to
schedule an appointment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAFB1E2EB8F5D42CAB93251D9E9ED6284">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of providers available to see patients each day.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBEF559FAB05A4B799067AC3CD1C02A84">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of support personnel working each day.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4449347897F44444872C20D60565EF27">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The types of appointments available.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0F7112099C254630938BEC1196A56FA8">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The rate at which patients fail to appear for appointments.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4BF5DE06C04A4BC69277AE1A13062F2B">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>The number of appointments canceled by a patient on a daily basis.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98631F44035642408F5917F369ED29BA">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>The number of appointments canceled by a health care provider on a daily basis.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2F90DFFF400443C9BCCA2B187C198DBC">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>The number of patients on the wait list at any given time.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5C0AB1152708451183402457DEDB775A">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>The number of appointments scheduled on a daily basis.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB1D4F371AC7E40C4B5B3918C929E366B">
<enum>(J)</enum>
<text>The number of appointments available to be scheduled on a daily basis.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF5782A3A47124C39A5FFB9391B24F21C"><enum>(K)</enum><text>The number of patients seen on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA4D52A4D42CB40A7B799B16F2F401C6F">
<enum>(L)</enum>
<text>Wait-times for an appointment with a health care provider of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id514C543D8875427A9C842A386D4EE72F">
<enum>(M)</enum>
<text>Wait-times for an appointment with a non-Department health care provider.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58D2103180DD4B95B5417709D2154545">
<enum>(N)</enum>
<text>Wait-times for a referral to a specialist or consult.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id28BD47D747A24237ADABEA5924D1F279">
<enum>(12)</enum>
<text>A capability to provide data on the capacity of medical facilities of the Department for purposes
of determining the resources needed by the Department to provide health
care to eligible individuals.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBB42E2AF623B492C815AD63EC3BA2826">
<enum>(13)</enum>
<text>Any other capabilities as specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idED364D0D3BD84A25BE36811412C447CD">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Plan</header>
<paragraph id="id3A5A350DEA7E4F19AEABD0B9E4FB583F">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan for implementing
the upgraded electronic scheduling system required by subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB1ADC2E650CF4CBA81BDA2CC05572588">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The plan required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id5016B1E0CBD24881BABD9C94E57BB723">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A description of the priorities of the Secretary for implementing the requirements of the system
under subsection (b).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8065D657112249D6A0FF5DE4DDE386F5">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A detailed description of the manner in which the Secretary will fully implement such system,
including deadlines for completing each such requirement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id056F870240F344EA9C95C99268C4A20F">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Update</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the submittal of the plan required by paragraph (1), and not less
frequently than every 90 days thereafter until such system is fully
implemented, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House
of Representatives an update on the status of the implementation of such
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6690FFBF327145129DB2E1310D3BC1C0">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Use of amounts</header>
<text>The Secretary may use amounts available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the
appropriations account under the heading <quote><header-in-text level="appropriations-small" style="OLC">Medical
Services</header-in-text></quote> in implementing and carrying out the upgraded electronic scheduling system required by subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id7B7E0FEF919A4F8788E523FD5DE516BF">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Eligible individual defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>eligible individual</term> means an individual eligible for hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, medical care, or other
health care under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs.</text></subsection></section><section id="id6a6895a934b84b5385fc3edfe1baa0ad">
<enum>102.</enum>
<header>Independent assessment of the scheduling process for medical appointments for care from Department
of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="idf1321e25b92b45e389492a14c5a694e6">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Independent assessment</header>
<paragraph id="id910de0c5e7214c6da96f4bcaa8d0c07b">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Contract</header>
<text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall enter into a
contract with an independent third party to assess the process at each
medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for scheduling
appointments for veterans to receive hospital care, medical services, or
other health care from the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4b5712e1d6af413fa38899bcb59de2aa">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>In carrying out the assessment required by paragraph (1), the independent third party shall do the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id32a33058556d45a4b34debcb9a94000e">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Review all training materials pertaining to scheduling of appointments at each medical facility of
the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id111e9495ef9544ee82e8c89bf15ad20e">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Assess whether all employees of the Department conducting tasks related to scheduling are properly
trained for conducting such tasks.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc18c52816b3c4b04b990fec0f0f3a8bb">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Assess whether changes in the technology or system used in scheduling appointments are necessary to
limit access to the system to only those employees that have been
properly trained in conducting such tasks.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbeb5fa7208674a8c9a5babbe015f3609">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Assess whether health care providers of the Department are making changes to their schedules that
hinder the ability of employees conducting such tasks to perform such
tasks.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideb0ed99a3aeb4cdab7f443adaedb9f2b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Assess whether the establishment of a centralized call center throughout the Department for
scheduling appointments at medical facilities of the Department would
improve the process of scheduling such appointments.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ff066aee0494cf4bafa22b442477eae"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Assess whether booking templates for each medical facility or clinic of the Department would
improve the process of scheduling such appointments.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id999c482414054e6f8708f68ced10c723">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>Recommend any actions to be taken by the Department to improve the process for scheduling
such appointments, including the following:</text>
<clause id="idc5f04ee5fcb343789b7d6f77f0e3a807">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Changes in training materials provided to employees of the Department with respect to conducting
tasks related to scheduling such appointments.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id49fb8c4b12fc4a6488cc267444c9efaf">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Changes in monitoring and assessment conducted by the Department of wait-times of veterans for such
appointments.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id40c36e59598140d298d5044be7918539">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Changes in the system used to schedule such appointments, including changes to improve how the
Department—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="idBF9E253FD62547528C6D99BB3EAE27B4">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>measures wait-times of veterans for such appointments;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idB5328064822B470BA890494CBCEB1D8D">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>monitors the availability of health care providers of the Department; and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idD40C991FF21A4F89999B602945F5C749">
<enum>(III)</enum>
<text>provides veterans the ability to schedule such appointments.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="id16bcaa4379c04f82a28796e2f186ff12">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>Such other actions as the independent third party considers appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5fd37e5d06ee48ba9ee7b2ce87f8493e">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Timing</header>
<text>The independent third party carrying out the assessment required by paragraph (1) shall complete
such assessment not later than 180 days after entering into the contract
described in such paragraph.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDC18B36876C94342ACA08F44AAB2E228"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date on which the independent third party completes the assessment
under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of
the House of Representatives a report on the results of such assessment.</text></subsection></section><section id="id0C7801700BF140F4ABE25A47377140E7">
<enum>103.</enum>
<header>Modification of liability for breach of period of obligated service under Health Professionals
Educational Assistance Program for primary care
physicians</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7617 is amended—</text><paragraph id="id96E49DC7133F4847BB29C315FCD3F24B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(1), by striking <quote>If a participant</quote> and inserting <quote>Except as provided in subsection (d), if a participant</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id231CFC1439ED4965BCF08A53F7CE678C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B5202F6B63545E38D479C7781459D00" style="OLC"><subsection id="id9544ECEA24364A278A2C971F127B176C">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<text>Liability shall not arise under subsection (c) in the case of a participant otherwise covered by
that subsection who has pursued a course of education or training in
primary care if—</text>
<paragraph id="id9613286453654D6AB5046415796EF4ED">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the participant—</text>
<subparagraph id="id72456E21A43846B1BB550F1FA8C883C6">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>does not obtain, or fails to maintain, employment as a Department employee due to staffing changes
approved by the Under Secretary for Health; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0174494F0942468FB32AB445CA8F0052">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>does not obtain, or fails to maintain, employment in a position of primary care physician in the
Veterans Health Administration due, as determined by the Secretary, to a
number of primary care physicians in the Administration that is excess to
the needs of the Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8329E8716464401C82294F5B986C9587"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the participant agrees to accept and maintain employment as a primary care physician with
another department or agency of the Federal Government (with such
employment to be under such terms and conditions as are jointly agreed
upon by the participant, the Secretary, and the head of such department or
agency, including terms and conditions relating to a period of obligated
service as a primary care physician with such department or agency) if
such employment is offered to the participant by the Secretary and the
head of such department or agency.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section commented="no" id="idEADD74794F964CF59C360F0F277F2E51">
<enum>104.</enum>
<header>Program of
education at Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences with specialization in primary care</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="idE943503372254FD59492BD31EE4FC7E6">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required under Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id06C0E804188A4F6C9DC2B83CE01DAE85">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In
general</header>
<text>Chapter 76 is amended by
adding after subchapter VII the following new subchapter:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65E5D73767F343ACAD6D9CDCC6059DD0" style="USC">
<subchapter id="idFB56D2E471944781A27FD5C439AA93AD">
<enum>VIII</enum>
<header>Program of
Education at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences With
Specialization in Primary Care</header>
<section id="id0F1448EB4E47400DA415E58932F0A4F7">
<enum>7691.</enum>
<header>Authority for
program</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">As part of the
Educational Assistance Program, the Secretary shall, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Defense, carry out a program to permit individuals to enroll in
the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences under chapter 104 of
title 10 to pursue a medical education with a specialization in primary care.
The program shall be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Primary Care
Educational Assistance Program (in this chapter referred to as the
<quote>Primary Care Educational Assistance Program</quote>).</text>
</section><section id="id74FC1926D5CA456C95E47B0FD41582E1">
<enum>7692.</enum>
<header>Selection;
agreement; ineligibility for certain other educational assistance</header>
<subsection id="id1752B19220E84B908EDF0078B8D8B4C6">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Selection</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC2C9A1CE0E9A4924A9C7588EB3BB1C8F"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Medical students at the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences pursuant to the Primary
Care Educational Assistance Program shall be selected by the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, in accordance with procedures
established by the
Secretaries for purposes of the Program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9DDA8BA0A10B4BBB8F15D95311E8A583" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The procedures referred to in
paragraph (1) shall emphasize the basic requirement that students demonstrate a
motivation and dedication to a medical career in primary care.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id793EE35C858C4ED49CD46E473B63B54D" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>The number of medical students selected each year for first-year enrollment in the University
pursuant to this subsection shall be jointly determined by the Secretary
and the Secretary of Defense.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2B9142D842484AEBB6E7FB7EBD3A358F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Agreement</header>
<text>An
agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the Primary Care
Educational Assistance Program shall (in addition to the requirements set forth
in section 7604 of this title) include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idC719CA39B6174DEEAA90535C887FD9FC">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The Secretary's
agreement to cover the costs of the participant's education and training at the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences under chapter 104 of title
10 as if the participant were a medical student enrolled in the University
pursuant to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/2114">section 2114</external-xref> of title 10.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF802319905AC46CE92AF570937ED25DE">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The participant's
agreement to serve as a full-time employee in the Veterans Health
Administration in a position as a primary care physician for a period of time (in
this subchapter referred to as the <quote>period of obligated service</quote>)
of one calendar year for each school year or part thereof for which the
participant was a medical student at the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences pursuant to the Primary Care Educational Assistance Program,
but for not less than one year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id16604254ADD24163BFEE452A72AFA996">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Ineligibility
for other educational assistance</header>
<text>An individual who receives
education and training under the Primary Care Educational Assistance Program
shall not be eligible for other assistance under this chapter in connection
with such education and training.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id471DAA2479A144D59E2CDFA193E493AC">
<enum>7693.</enum>
<header>Obligated
service</header>
<subsection id="id65DDD291C8504AA09823590FF19D7ABE">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In
general</header>
<text>Each participant in the Primary Care Educational
Assistance Program shall provide service
as a full-time employee of the Department in the Veterans Health Administration
in a primary care position for the period of obligated service provided in the
agreement of the participant entered into for purposes of this subchapter.
Such service shall be provided in a full-time primary care clinical practice
in an assignment or location determined by
the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCF09022795A54432B488A21C83424CED">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Service commencement date</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3A40A3C92B814EF69E56CFF1A9E8C90B"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Not later than 60 days before a participant's service commencement date, the Secretary shall notify
the participant of that service commencement date. That date is the date
for the beginning of the participant's period of obligated service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCFE534708474410697F305D526FFA0CB" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>As soon as possible after a participant's service commencement date, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idcf665ec817a342f3b7b53b97264d8b4d">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in the case of a participant who is not a full-time employee in the Veterans Health Administration,
appoint the participant as such an employee; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide173e89057b549a98190335e37481ea8">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in the case of a participant who is an employee in the Veterans Health Administration but is not
serving in a position for which the participant's course of education or
training prepared the participant, assign the participant to such a
position.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7D3C88413FF442BFA5BF2FF448A86A7D" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A participant's service commencement for purposes of this subsection date is the date upon which
the participant becomes licensed to practice medicine in a State.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idFBE9B3C0F1AB4FF1B6C55817FD727564">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Commencement of obligated service</header>
<text>A participant in the Primary Care Educational Assistance Program shall be considered to have begun
serving the participant's period of obligated service—</text>
<paragraph id="idc277c813850d4970a28be873cf3f57cb">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>on the date on which the participant is appointed as a full-time employee in the Veterans Health
Administration pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(A); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1fec0a25b7ab46b6b7b6ea3ae49fe98d">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>if the participant is a full-time employee in the Veterans Health Administration and assigned to a
position pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(B), on the date on which the
participant is so assigned to such position.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idAF6B54E2A27E444888DAA48501D4F8BE">
<enum>7694.</enum>
<header>Breach of
agreement: liability</header>
<subsection id="id221e7e9be8d342f795baa7936144a787">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Liability during course of education or training</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idAE735DB1D2234B2C857E6489523EEE27"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>A participant in the Primary Care Educational Assistance Program shall be liable to the United
States for the amount which has been paid on behalf of the participant
under the agreement entered into for purposes of this subchapter if any of
the following occurs:</text>
<subparagraph id="id1cedf7a4e16e4bdaaf17af9fdd32d102" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The participant fails to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing in the Uniformed
Services University of the Health Sciences.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id08585a7623eb4685b404f42931ee894f" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The participant is dismissed from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences for
disciplinary reasons.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc81d6e23bf104937a86a7caf400d417c" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The participant voluntarily terminates the course of medical education and training in the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences before the completion
of such course of education and training.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb9c72cc22f17418c8f6c31f37df75c06" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The participant fails to become licensed to practice medicine in a State during a period of time
determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id07ea21dfb7fd4d48b4863a6568c175dc" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Liability under this subsection is in lieu of any service obligation arising under a participant's
agreement for purposes of this subchapter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id799C260ED0A048D9AF7EFF8C83B42A73">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Liability during period of obligated service</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idB24A11FAC216455986946759D6FFCE38"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Except as provided in subsection (c) and subject to paragraph (2), if a participant in the Primary
Care Educational Assistance Program breaches the agreement entered into
for purposes of this subchapter by failing for any reason to complete the
participant's period of obligated service, the United States shall be
entitled to recover from the participant an amount equal to—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC21281A429324FD0870FFC1CECEBB816" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the total amount paid under this subchapter on behalf of the participant; multiplied by</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA3165A23123B4A28A4E597399A195DE8" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>a fraction—</text>
<clause id="idD67D88CBD0544486B9CEBFCFCFE47D50">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the numerator of which is—</text>
<subclause id="idF0A457536E86466591E5AE695B7105A5">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>the total number of months in the participant's period of obligated service; minus</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id32B74407E8884D968EB318F19DB335C1">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the number of months served by the participant pursuant to the agreement; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id271AFEC694A7472DB2EF3EE2DECADF9A">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the denominator of which is the total number of months in the participant's period of obligated
service.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE639EF2AA7214E9EAF79A55F846F547C" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Any period of internship or residency training of a participant shall not be treated as satisfying
the participant's period of obligated service for purposes of this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3F15887A24204FBC9A71440FDB0267A5">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Exceptions</header>
<text>Liability shall not arise under subsection (b) in the case of a participant otherwise covered by
that subsection if—</text>
<paragraph id="id5BDCAF726D954242AC6EFB686C2783F1">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the participant—</text>
<subparagraph id="id61FDDF4B74F74A7D94CC79653F1CD1AF">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>does not obtain, or fails to maintain, employment as a Department employee due to staffing changes
approved by the Under Secretary for Health; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA3346154E01F407F842C905CE1F50D21">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>does not obtain, or fails to maintain, employment in a position of primary care physician in the
Veterans Health Administration due, as determined by the Secretary, to a
number of primary care physicians in the Administration that is excess to
the needs of the Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id168AB8CF3F0747BCB1A3E322984C6D20">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>the participant agrees to accept and maintain employment as a primary care physician with
another department or agency of the Federal Government (with such
employment to be under such terms and conditions as are jointly agreed
upon by the participant, the Secretary, and the head of such department or
agency, including terms and conditions relating to a period of obligated
service as a primary care physician with such department or agency) if
such employment is offered to the participant by the Secretary and the
head of such department or agency.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idF93CC1956C0540A29EE4452BED4CA70A">
<enum>7695.</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<subsection id="idD8CB8768948D4662B7068AA1E4ECFFAA">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts for the Primary Care Educational Assistance Program shall be derived from amounts available
to the Secretary for the Veterans Health Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id868B8CE7B044444287AAD17C06633E2E">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Transfer</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5CD6F5C11DDF4CC5AB1883DBBF3C3D35"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
transfer to the Secretary of Defense amounts required by the Secretary of
Defense to carry out the Primary Care Educational Assistance Program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2434E5D8016647DE8A99E4FA2F419803" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts transferred to the Secretary of Defense pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be credited to the
appropriation or account providing funding for the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences. Amounts so credited shall be merged
with amounts in the appropriation or account to which credited and shall
be available, subject to the terms and conditions applicable to such
appropriation or account, for the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subchapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEB6B32589216498D8B235247FE24437F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Clerical
amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 76 is amended by adding after the item relating
to section 7684 the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ide5493d6a-ebf3-4682-b1f3-32973e2133d6" style="USC">
<toc>
<toc-entry idref="idFB56D2E471944781A27FD5C439AA93AD" level="subchapter">SUBCHAPTER VIII—Program of Education at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences With
Specialization in Primary Care</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="id0F1448EB4E47400DA415E58932F0A4F7" level="section">7691. Authority for program.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="id74FC1926D5CA456C95E47B0FD41582E1" level="section">7692. Selection; agreement; ineligibility for certain other educational assistance.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="id471DAA2479A144D59E2CDFA193E493AC" level="section">7693. Obligated service.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="idAF6B54E2A27E444888DAA48501D4F8BE" level="section">7694. Breach of agreement: liability.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="idF93CC1956C0540A29EE4452BED4CA70A" level="section">7695. Funding.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id5CFAC4351DBF445B860E461B50DED548">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Inclusion of
program in Health Professionals Educational Assistance
Program</header>
<text>Section 7601(a) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idB9FC599B1D7D462CAB00D88DBEA04E36">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (4),
by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id4B2178402A504030BB44ACAA5351FACE">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (5),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idF430B667A7DD42168760878E1DB373D0">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC01D78CFFAB342E4A794F480361E1E3B" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="id38B8765332F146F0A76828D740FBD393">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>the enrollment of
individuals in the Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences for specialization in primary care provided for
in subchapter VIII of this
chapter.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id01BCC86255864C6E83FFDAA1C74B6E59">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Application requirements</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idC03C5AF7045A4BF1BC105D3DF75E4F75">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subsection (a)(1) of section 7603 is amended in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A) by striking <quote>, or VI</quote> and inserting
<quote>, VI, or VIII</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idB0C6C91341C94E1D8AC45E0FED76F458">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>No priority for applications</header>
<text>Subsection (d) of such section is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id67FCEA98D0D44655A497DCB55BED3477">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>In selecting</quote> and inserting <quote>(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in selecting</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idECB7A9CA8FF54279900D130DEB57692D">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1F1DDD2C34DA473C9A320F9F2DF9E91A" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="idE0A55F3ACCB24A088321510855149123" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to applicants for participation in the Program of
Education at Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences With Specialization in Primary Care pursuant to
subchapter VIII of this chapter.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54A53CF2AB8D4F50B4A8E7B05512862F">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Agreement requirements</header>
<text>Section 7604 is amended by striking <quote>, or VI</quote> each place
it appears and inserting <quote>, VI, or VIII</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="id845007E51D4B43EA91EFF2B462D24EBD">
<enum>105.</enum>
<header>Treatment of staffing shortage and biannual report on staffing of medical facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id736f8737bcba436c81cad06eed0dd97b">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Staffing shortage</header>
<paragraph id="id1D19476AC02F4D30B1891FEA6B25DED5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than September
30 each year thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
determine, and publish in the Federal
Register, the five occupations of health care providers of
the Department of Veterans Affairs for which there is the largest staffing
shortage throughout the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd40bf01feb1a4074b3969ac736d1a897">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Recruitment and appointment</header>
<text>Notwithstanding sections 3304 and 3309 through 3318 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary
may, upon a determination by the Secretary under paragraph (1) or a
modification to such determination under paragraph (2), that there
is a staffing shortage throughout the Department with respect to a
particular occupation of health care provider, recruit and directly
appoint highly qualified health care providers to a position to serve as a
health care provider in that particular occupation for the Department.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB6B1CCA22F3A4783AA6E4102F6275A5A">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Priority in Health Professionals Educational Assistance Program to certain
providers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7612(b)(5) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="idB8FB461042BA4A7BA09D9A8E9AD89B8B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDDF77BA9A9F44411A8F1399C3A6AB7C1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC17371C1886E4BFC81BAF8E270CAD38A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD7BB28F0D5F4455B856FD81BC9614753" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idD479686AE0994F90ADE2458BEF36D419" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall give priority to applicants pursuing a course of education or training towards a career in an
occupation for which the Secretary has, in the most current determination
published in the Federal Register pursuant to section 105(a)(1) of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>, determined that there is one of the largest staffing shortage throughout the Department with
respect to such occupation; and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb54bc399263b4c519902acd0a501a47e">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id140AF7A69B7743C2B13783424476252C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than December 31
of each even
numbered year thereafter until 2024, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report
assessing the staffing of each medical facility of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id608d8fc90dff4ddb810da73325dd5066">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="ide6724455ef514835ba82238b1236562a">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The results of a system-wide assessment of all medical facilities of the Department to ensure the
following:</text>
<clause id="id8704b0d44d9441d599d90461c612a7f2">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Appropriate staffing levels for health care providers to meet the goals of the Secretary for timely
access to care for veterans.</text>
</clause><clause id="id3bff526147f64f6983eecb3cb47ddbd9">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Appropriate staffing levels for support personnel, including clerks.</text>
</clause><clause id="idf3cac2e4d97f4a2cb1b215e3f26c6466">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Appropriate sizes for clinical panels.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id30913fd28f9c4c2cae36fa28e9354157">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>Appropriate numbers of full-time staff, or full-time equivalent, dedicated to direct care of
patients.</text>
</clause><clause id="id07e9c842cb434714928d5793152a4056">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>Appropriate physical plant space to meet the capacity needs of the Department in that area.</text>
</clause><clause id="id3a224aec119c42e388fabd41309aa9a9">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>Such other factors as the Secretary considers necessary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4710cdb7168947ef9a42ca77abf7c7c3">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A plan for addressing any issues identified in the assessment described in subparagraph (A),
including a timeline for
addressing such issues.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida704362530d2431c8ffe17f1d8d09ef0">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>A list of the current wait times and workload levels for the following clinics in each medical
facility:</text>
<clause id="id1ac85a12d8a34755b031af919aae76aa">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Mental health.</text>
</clause><clause id="ide30d39acaeb942cc8e0a748333d01575">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Primary care.</text>
</clause><clause id="idaa8ae4c8e74f4388a4dc033e1ee5e05d">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Gastroenterology.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1653a54744f746dd882e6303ae8b424c">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>Women’s health.</text>
</clause><clause id="id4ce16b087aac42c59ecb8590270331c1">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>Such other clinics as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79c4e8739cb245578dd60ab3f39c9202">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>A description of the results of the determination of the Secretary under paragraph (1) of
subsection (a) and a plan to use direct appointment authority under
paragraph (2) of such subsection to fill staffing shortages, including
recommendations for improving the speed at which the credentialing and
privileging process can be
conducted.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id14169a75d1e44ca9a8170cf66f0e2511">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The current staffing models of the Department for the following clinics, including recommendations
for
changes to such models:</text>
<clause id="id584491736D564C42A2222D567C06FAB6">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Mental health.</text>
</clause><clause id="id4F94C9095B3241BA823EEB2CDD8E04EF">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Primary care.</text>
</clause><clause id="idACF985823B7B4EC29378074C9AE40B04">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Gastroenterology.</text>
</clause><clause id="idD186E1E677FB4AF3A53A2688631A0C4A">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>Women’s health.</text>
</clause><clause id="id6BF865410BFF48B0BCB1CDEC2693AD44">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>Such other clinics as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idae8732d50b4047d4b5af9ddcf4d2cc27">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>A detailed analysis of succession planning at medical facilities of the Department, including the
following:</text>
<clause id="id07ac071d8c3d4a3fa2e4473eb09a5024">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The number of positions in medical facilities throughout the Department that are not filled by a
permanent
employee.</text>
</clause><clause id="idd0200de338ab41da921c538fb8a73a9c">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The length of time each such position described in clause (i) remained vacant or filled by a
temporary or acting employee.</text>
</clause><clause id="ida669d2cca4b747e8aaf267e59fc6f229">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>A description of any barriers to filling the positions described in clause (i).</text>
</clause><clause id="id8e414fa5904549dcb8573c8facff2d85">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>A plan for filling any positions that are vacant or filled by a temporary or acting employee for
more than 180
days.</text>
</clause><clause id="ida896e0e2f49f4aa4bc9f854133a361f3">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>A plan for handling emergency circumstances, such administrative leave or sudden medical leave for
senior officials.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE0376FB28F7A41E88EB92D97AB9D3F00"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The number of health care providers who have been removed from their position or have retired, by
provider type, during the two-year period preceding the submittal of the
report.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1B678B22BCE9442E8E3C0FDACEEA237E"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Of the health care providers specified in subparagraph (G) that have been removed from their
position, the following:</text><clause id="idBA7C28411D354521B476362C3726BFAD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The number of such health care providers who were reassigned to another position in the Department.</text></clause><clause id="id3DEA277242FC46ACB228DB5B15084669"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The number of such health care providers who left the Department.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idd77269180af94f05bb69b3954a42d5ed">
<enum>106.</enum>
<header>Clinic management training program of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="idE16A034D360747188A9DD64A016A676E">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall implement
a clinic management training program to provide in-person, standardized
education on health care management to all managers of, and health care
providers at, medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC554C2897742443E9593F701890F7E0F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The clinic management training program required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idbda99d5117af4ec2bf029bb25b634e5c">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Training on how to manage the schedules of health care providers of the Department, including the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idAD1CD993CABB485482FF2EB18D4B64FE">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Maintaining such schedules in a manner that allows appointments to be booked at
least eight weeks in advance.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC29A43CD0F1E4A7091C19BF0D6BA710D">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Proper planning procedures for vacation,
leave, and graduate medical education training schedules.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id127398ef8e3f45b39f1eccd7f829f26d">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Training on the appropriate number of appointments that a health care provider should conduct on a
daily basis, based on
specialty.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id42a3135b5ba947c19e3e645d781481a8">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Training on how to determine whether there are enough available appointment slots to manage demand
for
different appointment types and mechanisms for alerting management of
insufficient slots.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8d4ae7caf2204b9092a97ef96a3231ad">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Training on how to properly use the data produced by the scheduling dashboard required by
section 101(b)(11) of this Act to meet demand for health care, including
the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idc12848dbdb74409fb1842fbd3f050c1b">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Training on determining the next available appointment for each health care provider at the medical
facility.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc0e23310ff264790b030f97644c814c1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Training on determining the number of health care providers needed to meet demand for health care
at the medical facility.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8aa23fb7b3f045ce93bde81ac9d0fd80">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Training on determining the number of exam rooms needed to meet demand for such health care in an
efficient manner.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id82d592ffa13c485ba8b30bdbf91e6310">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Training on how to properly use the appointment scheduling system of the Department, including any
new scheduling system implemented by the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4f956e768f9f4c6bba579556cfabe95a">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>Training on how to optimize the use of technology, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idcea39810b3604ca39fb792cc0046eb59">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Telemedicine.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide35e7ce1d5724820b04f961c69cea2aa">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Electronic mail.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9916805ad4c74a8a963f343508a508be">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Text messaging.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd75f8e505a3a449191f5c8061f0f1f74">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Such other technologies as specified by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc4f43267543f41ec9e7c685dbb0e8efe">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>Training on how to properly use physical plant space at medical facilities of the Department to
ensure efficient flow and privacy for patients and
staff.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idC4E56A2228BA4FA996C82E3DD6373884">
<enum>107.</enum>
<header>Inclusion of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in National Health Service Corps Scholarship
and loan repayment programs</header>
<subsection id="id91CE49C2A0B341369370D67CD09DC185">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall use the funds transferred under subsection (e) to
award scholarship and loan repayment contracts under sections 338A and
338B of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/254l">42 U.S.C. 254l</external-xref>, 254l–1) to eligible
individuals who agree to a period of obligated service under section
338A(f)(1) or 338B(f)(1) of such Act, as applicable, at a health facility
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3436F623C7504C34B72144510631908B">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Health professional shortage areas</header>
<text>For purposes of selecting individuals eligible for the scholarships and loan repayment contracts
under subsection (a), all health facilities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs shall be deemed health professional shortage areas, as defined in
section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/254e">42 U.S.C. 254e</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id85A5B07E615D44219470DDFF629EC640">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Requirement</header>
<text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that a minimum of 5 scholarships or loan
repayment contracts are awarded to individuals who agree to a period of
obligated service at Veterans Affairs facilities in each State.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2274AE7626BB446AA0858B258501B761">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Applicability of NHSC program requirements</header>
<text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, the terms of the National Health Service Corps
Scholarship Program and the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment
Program shall apply to participants awarded a grant or loan repayment
contract under subsection (a) in the same manner that such terms apply to
participants awarded a grant or loan repayment contract under section 338A
or 338B of the Public Health Service Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id35C6126CB2304E94802C64CB32093975">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Inclusion of geriatricians</header>
<text>For purposes of awarding scholarships and loan repayments contracts to eligible
individuals who agree to a period of obligated service at a health
facility
of the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to this section, in
sections 338A and
338B of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/254l">42 U.S.C. 254l</external-xref>, 254l–1), the term <term>primary health services</term> shall include geriatrics.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1AFC7F8A72054229BFBBE69808C35EFD"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
transfer $20,000,000 from accounts of the Veterans Health Administration
to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to award scholarships and loan
repayment contracts, as described in subsection (a). All funds so
transferred shall be used exclusively for the purposes described in such
subsection.</text></subsection></section><section id="iddc7232ccd092482597711aeb6148e7ed">
<enum>108.</enum>
<header>Improvement of access by veterans to health care from non-Department of Veterans Affairs providers</header>
<subsection id="id1DD29197BB83450394FB37C2FBA098DB">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Improvement of access</header>
<paragraph id="id739B901EE80F4554B0F368C06C1E21C3">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall ensure timely access of all
veterans to the hospital care, medical services, and other health care for
which such veterans are
eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary through the enhanced
use of authorities specified in paragraph (2) on the provision of such
care and services through non-Department of Veterans Affairs providers
(commonly referred to as <quote>non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical care</quote>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6A0800E2924D4CC5AED9DA089F06FC6C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Authorities on provision of care through non-Department providers</header>
<text>The authorities specified in this paragraph are the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id5FAB91C33D444EA5A5BE9840F0BC64F6">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1703">Section 1703</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, relating to contracts for the provision of hospital
care and medical services through non-Department facilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id150F506B71A342DD9C1EE8A117B5A77D">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Section 1725 of such title, relating to reimbursement of certain veterans for the reasonable value
of emergency treatment at non-Department facilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEF6C0CF18B9E423BA0BB1BAC0549EE53">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Section 1728 of such title, relating to reimbursement of certain veterans for customary and usual
charges of emergency treatment from sources other than the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id433BF13969964A08A19981D64D736787">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Section 1786 of such title, relating to health care services furnished to newborn children of women
veterans who are receiving maternity care furnished by the Department at a
non-Department facility.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id24086BFEDEDF4C4AA0B1CE240B3DB68F">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Any other authority under the laws administered by the Secretary to provide hospital care, medical
services, or other health care from a
non-Department provider, including the following:</text><clause id="id7234876724AF46F392E02AC527B04035"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A Federally-qualified health center (as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>)).</text></clause><clause id="id1511068E61FF4142848AA757C895FEB7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The Department of Defense.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEBC8655D64A941AEB42AE309F4C835D7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The Indian Health Service.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3A04B4201E9545619BAAAB38F942D7E3">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Requirements</header>
<text>In ensuring timely access of all veterans to the care and services described in paragraph (1)
through the enhanced use of authorities specified in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall require the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id9e850a47e4e54603b5fd7bf0d95164b0">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>That each veteran who has not received hospital care, medical services, or other health care from
the Department and is seeking an appointment for primary care under the
laws
administered by the Secretary receive an appointment for primary care at a
time consistent with timeliness measures established by the Secretary for
purposes of providing primary care to all veterans.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb665d7d47e8940bdb4d9e2fdfebb406b">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>That the determination whether to refer a veteran for specialty care through a non-Department
provider shall take into account the urgency and acuity of such veteran's
need for
such care, including—</text>
<clause id="idE369B5CB538C4844B0623748AE750023">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the severity of the condition of such veteran requiring specialty care; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idE2A6E32C174B491DA7BB2A7446CE7A51">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the wait-time for an appointment with a specialist with respect to such condition at the nearest
medical facility of the Department with the capacity to provide such care.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8a7adaa0d96045288648c20b89a5a003">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>That the determination whether a veteran shall receive hospital care, medical services, or other
health care from the Department through
facilities of the Department or through non-Department providers pursuant
to the authorities specified in paragraph (2) shall take into account, in
the manner specified by the Secretary, the following:</text>
<clause id="id2251131FDF304E51AD92AF6D4E00AE58">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The distance the veteran would be required to travel to receive care or services through a
non-Department provider compared to the distance the veteran would be
required to travel to receive care or services from a medical facility of
the
Department.</text>
</clause><clause id="idCC8F2934F5754B17BCBE0F230666AA44">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Any factors that might limit the ability of the veteran to
travel, including age, access to transportation, and infirmity.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7ec55c7505814173b40b1ae6f4ed256f">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>The wait-time for the provision of care or services through a non-Department provider compared to
the
wait-time for the provision of care or services from a medical facility of
the
Department.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idcbc776a0b87f4c4ba092c348b47719b8">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>That the Department maximize the use of hospital care, medical services, and other health care
available to the Department through non-Department
providers, including providers available
to provide such care and services as follows:</text>
<clause commented="no" id="idEA620401A2614AFB994C25C88CD84282">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Pursuant to contracts under the Patient-Centered Community Care Program of the Department.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id056597e6d3064cb0b080893240684e04">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Pursuant to contracts between a facility or facilities of the Department and a local facility or
provider.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id06C711A850E04DBB9925B822C8338D5A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Pursuant to contracts with Federally-qualified health centers (as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B)
of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>)), the Department of Defense, or
the Indian Health Service.</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="idDDFA3003E4614DA290868977CD532BE3">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>On a fee-for-service basis.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id37a68deea2524b22a50133a059f6ce1d">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Medical records</header>
<text>In providing hospital care, medical services, and other health care to veterans through
non-Department providers pursuant to the authorities
specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ensure that
any such provider submits to the Department any
medical record related to the care and services provided to a veteran by
that
provider for inclusion in the electronic medical record
of such veteran maintained by the Department upon the completion of the
provision of such care and services to such veteran.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id571284e453054c9c934a7520bbfd4d68">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id8ea51dffaaa24253be62ce1d15daafbe">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Initial report</header>
<text>Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the implementation of the requirements under subsections (a) and
(b), including a plan to
enforce
the proper implementation of such requirements systematically throughout
the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id878ffe02d4b14db2abfddc4477c47dd2">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Periodic reports</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the submittal of the report required by paragraph (1), and every 90
days
thereafter for one year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of
the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id3318dfe3e7604b0a92f658c47965a6f1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The progress of the Secretary in carrying out the plan under paragraph (1) to enforce
the proper implementation of the requirements under subsections (a) and
(b)
systematically throughout
the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04964e4e9e6e46d0b1685c67bd348fe9">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The impact of the implementation of such requirements on wait-times for veterans to receive
hospital care, medical services, and other health care, disaggregated by—</text>
<clause id="id3B936FEA46334505AEF7ECBC77E2A782">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>new patients;</text>
</clause><clause id="idF9D94CD0A0E84763A4B7024DD4A1CC6C">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>existing patients;</text>
</clause><clause id="idD02B3207A4BC4BB0B7B42F653C14CA7A">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>primary care; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id3DA003243FAA47C0B4F1CF6988DF2B4A">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>specialty care.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id94dfc9c470ca43cba251c37d28f1046c">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Any recommendations for changes or improvements to such requirements.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id39f1e1b4aa7b4c999f51879718be7048">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Any requests for additional funding necessary to carry out such requirements.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1E3EB33016BD41BC89E95EF39EB54C3F">
<enum>109.</enum>
<header>Extension of and report on joint incentives program of Department of Veterans Affairs and
Department of Defense</header>
<subsection id="idB111ADE157A4469A819629ADFFDDEF5E">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Extension</header>
<text>Section 8111(d)(3) is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2015</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2020</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idE1293B4D3E984785A634E485F673656E">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="idD9F897C7B79741A086D41F8662DE285B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Report on implementation of recommendations</header>
<text>Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to Congress a
report on the implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Department of Defense of the findings and recommendations of the
Comptroller General of the United States in the September 2012 report
entitled <quote>VA and DoD Health Care: Department-Level Actions Needed to Assess Collaboration Performance,
Address Barriers, and Identify Opportunities</quote> (GAO–12–992).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC5A7946A09334FECA9F8DA1395B647D4">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Comptroller General report</header>
<subparagraph id="id6DA8DED1557E4932A699D355F7EAB318">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to Congress a report assessing and providing
recommendations for improvement to the program to identify, provide
incentives to, implement, fund, and evaluate
creative coordination and sharing initiatives between the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense required under section
8111(d) of such title.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDAE4FE376611455E8509D34A985839C0">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id53CD95A402C545B79A711ADED91BF370"><enum>(i)</enum><text>An assessment of the extent to which the program described in subparagraph (A) has accomplished the
goal of such program to improve
the access to, and quality and cost effectiveness of, the health care
provided by the Veterans Health Administration and the Military Health
System to the beneficiaries of both the Department of Veterans Affairs and
the Department of Defense.</text></clause><clause id="id284a3b74aa42456f9d44b67b9ff55bb8">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>An assessment of whether administration of such program through the
Health Executive Committee of the Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established under
section 320 of such title provides sufficient leadership attention and
oversight to ensure maximum benefits to the Department of Veterans
Affairs and the Department of Defense through collaborative efforts.</text>
</clause><clause id="id28f402ed3a7a4ba0912b65389dcaddd3">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>An assessment of whether additional authorities to jointly construct, lease, or acquire facilities
would facilitate additional collaborative efforts under such program.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1aef4813f5e846809064d562cf4e6e39">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>An assessment of whether the funding for such program is sufficient to ensure consistent
identification of potential opportunities for collaboration and oversight
of existing collaborations to ensure a meaningful partnership between the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense and remove
any barriers to integration or collaboration.</text>
</clause><clause id="idf4c39ab7439c4d068d99e3cd24320e48">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>An assessment of whether existing processes for identifying opportunities for collaboration are
sufficient to ensure maximum collaboration between the Veterans Health
Administration and the Military Health System.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6CFF1BA0F20041EAA598893624CDED33"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Such legislative or administrative recommendations for improvement to such program as the
Comptroller General
considers appropriate to enhance the use of such program to increase
access to health care.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idcb5f241a336a43cea45cdaf866d0f63b">
<enum>110.</enum>
<header>Transfer of authority for payments for hospital care, medical services, and other health care from
non-Department providers to the Chief
Business Office of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department</header>
<subsection id="idd17c1717bb4643febb763a598c6b3f87">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Transfer of authority</header>
<paragraph id="idD437654D4D4F40EAAE32DB75D688E653">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Effective on October 1, 2014, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall transfer the authority to pay
for hospital care, medical services, and other health care through
non-Department providers to the Chief Business Office of the Veterans
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs from the
Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of the Department
of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id43DBD04F274644E296EC38BC3CA03B4D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Manner of care</header><text>The Chief Business Office shall work in consultation with the Office of Clinical Operations and
Management of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that care and
services described in paragraph (1) is provided in a manner that is
clinically appropriate and effective.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id76945C2EFB944D039A508991AFC385C1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>No delay in payment</header>
<text>The transfer of authority under paragraph (1) shall be carried out in a manner that does not delay
or impede any payment by the Department for hospital care, medical
services, or other health care provided through a
non-Department provider under the laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD0BCE1F5E8414D34851B4941C1FF171F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Budgetary effect</header>
<text>The Secretary shall, for each fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act—</text>
<paragraph id="idB257DD5FB740425FAC5BEE57A3E846C9">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>include in the budget for the Chief Business Office of the Veterans Health Administration amounts
to pay for hospital care, medical services, and other health care provided
through non-Department providers, including any amounts necessary to carry
out the transfer of authority to pay for such care and services under
subsection (a), including any increase in staff; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6EEFEF1D33FA4E0EB8B5BDB473D87881">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>not include in the budget of each
Veterans Integrated Service Network and medical center of the Department
amounts to pay for such care and services.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide5da0cc55e1c496a93296abb50a0b161">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Removal from performance goals</header>
<text>For each fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
not include in the performance goals of any employee of a Veterans
Integrated
Service Network or medical center of the Department any performance goal
that
might disincentivize the payment of Department amounts to provide hospital
care, medical services, or other health care through a non-Department
provider.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id92172627690A4468A0910BF8793287F0">
<enum>110A.</enum>
<header>Contracting for hospital care, medical services, and other health care</header>
<subsection id="idFC641FEAF9B2484B82947010B99C56A7">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Use of contracts with certain entities</header>
<paragraph id="id2AAE619A56F34E76B1AB069DCBFE6111"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In providing hospital care, medical services, and other health care under the laws administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs through the use of contracts, the
Secretary shall prioritize the use of contracts or agreements with
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), medical facilities receiving
funding from the
Indian Health Service, and the Department of Defense.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5A8383E8D51A4E2B94BE7F254E6E17BD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Plan on increased use of contracts</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Indian
Health Service, develop a plan to increase the use of contracts described
in paragraph (1) to improve the ability of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to provide hospital care, medical services, and other health care
to veterans.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id259EF5A3F27F4AF79786B421CA4AC1AF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the plan required by
paragraph (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDB352CA2562A42ACB88C38EB4E41C73A">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Best practices</header>
<text>The Secretary shall modify the guidance of the Department of Veterans Affairs on contracts for
hospital care, medical services, and other health care in order to provide
for the incorporation into such
contracts of standardized requirements for best practices under such
contracts, including the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id06CB3D4667EA45479296F48A2453D36C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Requirements that contracts provide the Department on a regular basis information on scheduling and
appearance for appointments for hospital care, medical services, and other
health care on per-patient basis.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7B0AA3A0F0E84BE28282A542228881DE">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Such other best practices requirements as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC1747C4F50514C53A70C809C11C8E044">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Federally Qualified Health Center defined</header>
<text>In this section the term <term>Federally Qualified Health Center</term> means a Federally-qualified health center as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id9FCF35F8915A44A19552554020D7FA09">
<enum>110B.</enum>
<header>Enhancement of collaboration between Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service</header>
<subsection id="idC1E94CB3D24E4E63AE0093EF44AF1282">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Outreach to tribal-Run medical facilities</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Director of the Indian Health
Service, conduct outreach to each medical facility operated by an Indian
tribe or tribal organization through a contract or compact with the Indian
Health Service under the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450">25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.</external-xref>) to raise awareness of the ability
of such facilities, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to enter into
agreements with the Department of
Veterans Affairs under which the Secretary reimburses such facilities,
Indian tribes, or tribal organizations, as the case may be, for
health care provided to veterans eligible for health care at such
facilities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6CF7AAC0E9B6433CBEBE15F51AB800FD">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Metrics for memorandum of understanding performance</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement performance metrics for assessing the
performance by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health
Service under the memorandum of
understanding entitled <quote>Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health
Service (IHS)</quote> in increasing access to health care, improving quality and coordination of health care, promoting
effective patient-centered collaboration and partnerships between the
Department and the Service, and ensuring health-promotion and
disease-prevention services are appropriately funded and available for
beneficiaries under both health care systems.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id145E7D29B94C4B3FA28A5BC1B820CEFF">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and the Director of the Indian Health Service shall jointly submit
to
Congress a report on the feasibility and advisability of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id3CB52EEC4D9642EAA226F5EA05FD8C9D">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Entering into agreements for the reimbursement by the Secretary of the costs of direct care
services provided
through organizations receiving amounts pursuant to grants made or
contracts entered into under section 503 of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (25
U.S.C. 1653) to veterans who are otherwise eligible to receive health care
from such organizations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id52CFB76C00A04FCA8AFC3AC15D0471AA">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Including the reimbursement of the costs of direct care services provided to veterans who
are not Indians in agreements between the Department and the following:</text><subparagraph id="id189D503844374F6C830B400086C8917C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Indian Health Service.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBEF3924AC4424C9F876D72291E743135"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An Indian tribe or tribal organization operating a medical facility through a contract or compact
with the Indian
Health Service under the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450">25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id53DC946107414F1F9D3CDEC3D4A34FF4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A medical facility of the Indian Health Service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8738FD39F92D468A97C5EC0F4B6E8453">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id91C8E6E3B07545B39C9EAE3D4590A05D">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Indian</header>
<text>The terms <term>Indian</term> and <term>Indian tribe</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25
U.S.C. 1603).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3E405D97D88C439F8763D91CCE852340">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Medical facility of the Indian Health Service</header>
<text>The term <term>medical facility of the Indian Health Service</term> includes a facility operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization through a contract or
compact with the Indian Health Service under the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450">25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF995AF6D928245FF8B674FEE855C4B3D">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Tribal organization</header>
<text>The term <term>tribal organization</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450b">25 U.S.C. 450b</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9d8674cce378477b898e9a27e7dfb626"><enum>110C.</enum><header>Enhancement of collaboration between Department of Veterans Affairs and Native Hawaiian health care
systems</header><subsection id="id30EF22924ADD4A29932D585DE6F126D1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with Papa Ola Lokahi and such other
organizations involved in the delivery of health care to Native Hawaiians
as the Secretary considers appropriate, enter into contracts
or agreements with Native Hawaiian health care systems that are in receipt
of funds from
the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to grants awarded or
contracts entered into under section 6(a) of the Native Hawaiian Health
Care Improvement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/11705">42 U.S.C. 11705(a)</external-xref>) for the reimbursement of direct
care services provided to eligible veterans as specified in such contracts
or agreements.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6573E598CA8C4FBFB0E7506882EEC70F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the terms <term>Native Hawaiian</term>, <term>Native Hawaiian health care system</term>, and <term>Papa Ola Lokahi</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 12 of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement
Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/11711">42 U.S.C. 11711</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="ide0e609da34344ecfb5c96a31ee6b5186">
<enum>110D.</enum>
<header>Improvement of access of veterans to mobile vet centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id692116af513b4cd485ad7fd5e0ba432e">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Improvement of access</header>
<paragraph id="id65E3E9249CF04336B1ADFD13461B6158">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall improve the access of veterans to telemedicine and other
health care through the use of mobile vet centers of the Department of
Veterans Affairs by providing standardized requirements for the operation
of such centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2baa567cae6249d0b90bf17ee6231c26">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Requirements</header>
<text>The standardized requirements required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="ideb029586973e495db551fc1216fddb19">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of days each mobile vet center of the Department is expected to travel per year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc2955ef085374597aae2f45989ec43dc">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of locations each center is expected to visit per year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04e69c73651a44c497b7ec001b4a9ece">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of appointments each center is expected to conduct per year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84ebc9e373714c6f82634c9aa7335f29">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The method and timing of notifications given by each center to individuals in the area to which
such center is traveling, including notifications informing veterans of
the availability to schedule appointments at the center.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6a049ddafd3a424b9f8661b8b6812c50">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Use of telemedicine</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that each mobile vet center of the Department has the capability to
provide telemedicine services.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcb965e8ff8ce4011a0e6ebae06332ae6">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than September
30 each year thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="id5ead4e86f7644b209aa1a30ce5f5c142">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The use of mobile vet centers to provide telemedicine services to veterans during the year
preceding the submittal of the report, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id88DE9E15F76D4FAE9F2EAEFB29E940A0">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of days each mobile vet center was open to provide such services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB31304C50259449299B69CA748193AC4">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of days each mobile vet center traveled to a location other than the headquarters of the
mobile vet center to provide such services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1443DF792CE949DFA3756DC38422050C">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of appointments each center conducted to provide such services on average per month and
in total during such year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4f5ea3a614dd42c1908950b23fe4c6e9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>An analysis of the effectiveness of using mobile vet centers to provide health care services to
veterans through the use of telemedicine.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0aadddc2bbd84dc4896586d4f796306b">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Any recommendations for an increase in the number of mobile vet centers of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7f7abbf2ab1449b3bff6409106a40763">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Any recommendations for an increase in the telemedicine capabilities of each mobile vet center.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida4d8437e9bbf4b80a4ee604c63e602d9">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>The feasibility and advisability of using temporary health care providers, including locum tenens,
to provide direct health care services to veterans at mobile vet centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idad10abd2985b47f2bd9a12411404f7c7">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>Such other recommendations on improvement of the use of mobile vet centers by the Department as the
Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2592D01CF6AD41FABA3D63784329F632"><enum>110E.</enum><header>Commission on Access to Care</header><subsection id="id219713C9069046DB816F0AD4CC852B4F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of commission</header><paragraph id="idF543FC2DEC6740078812D06E1EE92AB1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established the Commission on Access to Care (in this section referred to as the <quote>Commission</quote>) to examine the access of veterans to health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs and
strategically examine how best to organize the Veterans Health
Administration, locate health care resources, and deliver health care to
veterans during the next 10 to 20 years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4FE1FCE412984BDD8B302FFC3563911B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Membership</header><subparagraph id="id4DBDBEC805714B4E9CD61986A1A252A9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Voting members</header><text>The Commission shall be composed of 10 voting members who are appointed by the President as
follows:</text><clause id="id701DCAE87F654C36808A49179A79F7B5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>At least two members who represent an organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
for the representation of veterans under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code.</text></clause><clause id="id35C7337DC96847FCA1DC34CAA8F621D9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>At least one member from among persons who are experts concerning a public or private hospital
system.</text></clause><clause id="id62ED7356209E41FF8E88FE94F1BE4265"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>At least one member from among persons who are familiar with government health care systems,
including those systems of the Department of Defense, the Indian Health
Service, and Federally-qualified health centers (as defined in section
1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>)).</text></clause><clause id="idE88FD32AA4104642943A1963BA4B25A6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>At least two members from among persons who are familiar with the Veterans Health Administration.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4C7C7B9DC16249FE98AC74D56AB211B2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Nonvoting members</header><text>In addition to members appointed under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall be composed of
10 nonvoting members who are appointed by the President as follows:</text><clause id="id60B13937427B46609FB36C72DD5CF3D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>At least two members who represent an organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
for the representation of veterans under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code.</text></clause><clause id="id2A49C22F89CE41BCA50E500CAFD6ABA0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>At least one member from among persons who are experts in a public or private hospital system.</text></clause><clause id="id60E77165DB714486809A091736FD43ED"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>At least one member from among persons who are familiar with government health care systems,
including those systems of the Department of Defense, the Indian Health
Service, and Federally-qualified health centers (as defined in section
1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>)).</text></clause><clause id="idA006A5883F464897A5881D1FB7531B4C"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>At least two members from among persons who are familiar with the Veterans Health Administration.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4781BFA8331842269F8919D7126F6560"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Date</header><text>The appointments of members of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4B5E820E7FE745689A8628B05E8EDEF5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Period of appointment; vacancies</header><text>Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3D93BC953AD949B39A0EE5D994AF24DA"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Initial meeting</header><text>Not later than 15 days after the date on which seven voting members of the Commission have been
appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id215ECAA13CFB40F69322B37B4A2D4B05"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text>The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id45C6B352F94C4224A842A4CE0D62B159"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0CD857AE9A57496A9CD822441CA7B761"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Chairperson and Vice Chairperson</header><text>The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2F9D157D1A4645B0BDAEAA77C5138B69"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties of commission</header><paragraph id="idB38FE0268E2444D28CDC91350434E8B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Evaluation and assessment</header><text>The Commission shall undertake a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of access to health care
at the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAE19C169E0C8449BAD5AD17A268B1317"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Matters evaluated and assessed</header><text>The matters evaluated and assessed by the Commission shall include the following:</text><subparagraph id="idB0C4EB0C9D1F44B485D82E9E4DF6EACF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The appropriateness of current standards of the Department of Veterans Affairs concerning access to
health care.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7827A85E63F34A4C945DDE815CBA1D7C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The measurement of such standards.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6E48884E3E894AD09B56D2A587A162C2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The appropriateness of performance standards and incentives in relation to standards described in
subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id67928E64E2F3472CB9A79C1A1180B598"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Staffing levels throughout the Veterans Health Administration and whether they are sufficient to
meet current demand for health care from the Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF4A58323276D43ED8C261CB6F8BFAB38"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>The Commission shall submit to the President, through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, reports as
follows:</text><subparagraph id="id08A6CA2F4ADA47BA956AC546D0869258"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, an interim report
on—</text><clause id="id0C8984DA9AA0419DAE2B328BA8D96916"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the findings of the Commission with respect to the evaluation and assessment required by this
subsection; and</text></clause><clause id="id670C0004C8BC4AA5B7C8B58FAD7B2CDA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such recommendations as the Commission may have for legislative or administrative action to improve
access to health care through the Veterans Health Administration.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF4508FDA87D54D5B9C80BF2E126F5B71"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, a final report on—</text><clause id="idE8BD2E22D7B94113B6208932DCE3D098"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the findings of the Commission with respect to the evaluation and assessment required by this
subsection; and</text></clause><clause id="idB2CAD4BBC71E498897CFAA63A64924A9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such recommendations as the Commission may have for legislative or administrative action to improve
access to health care through the Veterans Health Administration.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDBF35816E08534CFC835DB84FCD77111A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Powers of the
commission</header>
<paragraph id="ID78DA905C4EAE49B0AF74CB57183B6E1A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Hearings</header><text>The
Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take
such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable
to carry out this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID575D757C021D4B048F3625D80002BDAA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information
from Federal agencies</header><text>The Commission may secure directly from any
Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers
necessary to carry out this section. Upon request of the Chairperson of the
Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such
information to the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID5B2226B82D614F6AA60C08533C1FED30"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Commission
personnel matters</header>
<paragraph id="IDF9E4CF3EA6AC4F01B81923D97C022F5A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Compensation of
members</header><text>Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or
employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5315">section 5315</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, for each
day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the
performance of the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who
are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation
in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the
United States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8AB9CAB7544542CBBCD32562861B7980"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Travel
expenses</header><text>The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for
employees of agencies under subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID771CB422D4684EF88424586CBA7942C6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Staff</header>
<subparagraph id="ID99AD8891AD904A7EBF3A1D3EE5A99435"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the
civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director
and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall
be subject to confirmation by the Commission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB23DD631FF0E49B589B943F8049F018B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>The
Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director
and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and
General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive
director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDA9D71553FE6B470ABBF61FBF5DCE8D94"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Detail of
government employees</header><text>Any Federal Government employee may be
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be
without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD761928855434025A0BC6D8D636885FE"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Procurement of
temporary and intermittent services</header><text>The Chairperson of the
Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID8E18677BEB06432BA5DE4BCFA806C638"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Termination of
the commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission
shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits its
report under subsection (b)(3)(B).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8851F0971DED4D1A9C9709D1C88B7943"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available to the Commission from amounts appropriated
or otherwise made available to the Secretary such amounts as the
Secretary and the Chairperson of the Commission jointly consider
appropriate
for the Commission to perform its duties under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3B38A4074D9B4A73822080C40888D787"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Executive action</header><paragraph id="id9A3A0077F8A34E57B261417D7D053717"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Action on recommendations</header><text>The President shall require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and such other heads of relevant
Federal departments and agencies to implement each recommendation set
forth in a report submitted under subsection (b)(3) that the President—</text><subparagraph id="id3EE37FA7D46046DD80F7424E96412C5F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>considers feasible and advisable; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCF8A0D7FD5D24A1594F186BF32CB7C4A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>determines can be implemented without further legislative action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4D241784CAE7451683906D910BE1C8B9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President receives a report under subsection
(b)(3), the President shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and such other committees of Congress as the President
considers appropriate a report setting forth the following:</text><subparagraph id="id6EDB869D6A2E48108B55174C3279AF70"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of each recommendation contained in the report
received by the President.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id934BD7A7375B4020A889EC759AE5323F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>For each recommendation assessed as feasible and advisable under subparagraph (A) the following:</text><clause id="id8DE9516843C34FD3A9E882FA2A6505BF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Whether such recommendation requires legislative action.</text></clause><clause id="id037CFEFFB0904C68AA2BC553BC949135"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>If such recommendation requires legislative action, a recommendation concerning such legislative
action.</text></clause><clause id="idC0B79EE388464FCD9067A014EC5AB00F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>A description of any administrative action already taken to carry out such recommendation.</text></clause><clause id="idA3B623F6404D47318CBBBD4910DB70E6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>A description of any administrative action the President intends to be taken to carry out such
recommendation and by whom.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H25B2D31A711E471FB952A690EA2D7893">
<enum>110F.</enum>
<header>Removal of Senior Executive Service employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs for performance</header>
<subsection id="HC95D20FF7DE048A5AE142EB74A52016D">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Removal or transfer</header>
<paragraph id="idE8EFAB82E4034B67854D63898CA50776"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Chapter 7 is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB1186D1EE916489E83C4B1B4B9E7B0F0" style="USC">
<section id="H3008F43E14D94C02A5584C029CD335D2">
<enum>713.</enum>
<header>Senior Executive Service: removal based on performance</header>
<subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A2D2DFD3FE444658A4230E3675482FB">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary may remove any individual from the Senior
Executive Service if the Secretary determines the performance of the
individual warrants such removal. If the Secretary so removes such an
individual, the Secretary may—</text>
<paragraph id="HE080BF4AB0C345F5B619080CDEA13089">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>remove the individual from the civil service (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/2101">section 2101</external-xref> of title 5); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8369896E6BAE4492949AB00464B83AA9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>transfer the individual to a General Schedule position at any grade of the General Schedule for
which the individual is qualified and that the Secretary determines is
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE09D5FDF93B2428FA8630F4A03FF912F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Notice to Congress</header>
<text>Not later than 30 days after removing or transferring an individual from the Senior Executive
Service under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives notice in writing of
such removal or transfer and the reason for such removal or transfer.</text></subsection><subsection id="idC17C3724E109476D8B38CC5392D510B1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeal of removal or transfer</header><text>Any removal or transfer under subsection (a) may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection
Board under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/7701">section 7701</external-xref> of title 5 not later than 7 days after such
removal or transfer.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2423595DEBA44D2AA66F98C222A85629"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expedited review by Merit Systems Protection Board</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id47395F958BA0405681335D9C21C31191"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Merit Systems Protection Board shall expedite any appeal under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/7701">section 7701</external-xref> of title 5 of a
removal or transfer under subsection (a) and, in any such case, shall
issue a decision
not later than 21 days after the date of the appeal.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8374B01A9AF64FA2B10DCEAE5FE58A55" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In any case in which the Merit Systems Protection Board determines that it cannot issue a decision
in accordance with the 21-day requirement under paragraph (1), the Merit
Systems Protection Board shall submit to Congress a report that explains
the reason why the Merit Systems Protection Board is unable to issue a
decision in accordance with such requirement in such case.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6684A0B613AE468086BB2F6016E2CA12" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the Merit Systems
Protection Board to expedite appeals under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB42879F5245E4483BDC3E1B842B4BF3E" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Merit Systems Protection Board may not stay any personnel action taken under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB6C8922F9C9745F5A286634A17636BED">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD71C2700F91F44FB95783586834A2A12" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">713. Senior Executive Service: removal based on performance.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA753AB597C0F40F2945778C6A7C1025C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of expedited review process</header><paragraph id="idDFA773E6085C44F9A1E6BFD0895D0A0C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Merit Systems Protection
Board shall establish and put into effect a process to conduct expedited
reviews in accordance
with <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/713">section 713(d)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7A696D4D61ED4CC888576C3D143D6E80"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inapplicability of certain regulations</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="regulation" parsable-cite="cfr/5/1201.22">Section 1201.22</external-xref> of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the day before the date of
the enactment of this Act, shall not apply to expedited reviews carried
out under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/713">section 713(d)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0EB01ADA78EF48DC999AF693DADE3CF5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report by Merit Systems Protection Board</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Merit Systems Protection
Board shall submit to Congress a report on the actions the Board plans to
take to conduct expedited reviews under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/713">section 713(d)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, as added by subsection (a). Such report shall include a
description of the resources the Board determines will be necessary to
conduct such reviews and a description of whether any resources will be
necessary to conduct such reviews that were not available to the Board on
the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4086CDD486E749509E1B650760019352"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Temporary exemption from certain limitation on initiation of removal from Senior Executive Service</header><text>During the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, an action to remove
an individual from the Senior Executive Service at the Department of
Veterans Affairs pursuant to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/713">section 713</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), or <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/7543">section 7543</external-xref> of title 5, United States
Code, may be initiated, notwithstanding <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/3592">section 3592(b)</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, or any other provision of law.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAE9F18523F1343758C9D8B4A33229C91"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing in this section or <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/713">section 713</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a),
shall be construed to apply to an appeal of a removal, transfer, or other
personnel action that was pending before the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6E9EFD1654304A9790DE27CAFDA8571C"><enum>110G.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of emergency appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs such sums as may be
necessary to carry out sections 103 through 110C of this Act.</text></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idBED6D430F1ED42898A5500FE8A27CC7D">
<enum>B</enum>
<header>Expansion and Improvements of Benefits Generally</header>
<section id="idF9E9683DEE56463980A867FE748C2A17">
<enum>111.</enum>
<header>Further extension of period of eligibility for health care for veterans of combat service during
certain periods of hostilities and war</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1710(e)(3) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id2BD0C58F46F848DFB996CA49EE2A4369">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>the date that is five years before the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2008, after a period of five years</quote> and inserting <quote>January 27, 2003, after a period of 10 years</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idAF12FA0859BA4E7986E45BBDE07D00C9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>more than five years</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>before January 28, 2003, and who did not enroll in the patient enrollment system under section 1705
of this title before January 28, 2008, after January 27, 2018.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idFACDF28E30C0453997F3AE0801D8E70C">
<enum>112.</enum>
<header>Expansion of assistance and support services for caregivers of veterans</header>
<subsection id="id8C0717C3EA9046B4AC23739A39BE1B27">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Expansion of eligible veterans</header>
<text>Subsection (a)(2)(B) of section 1720G is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id8B0BC45DBEFE4F33A5B636CEA729F52E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>service on or after September 11, 2001; and</quote> and inserting “service—</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8B62D6BD68CA40C7B481897FE841780F" style="OLC">
<clause id="id64029619D8654737A96F932E01D05983" indent="up1">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>on or after September 11, 2001; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idD6141751D4E84320BCA2753527E08C39" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>that—</text>
<subclause id="id568ECB2EFE744927844B38E811CF0376">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>is rated as 50 percent or more disabling on the schedule of rating for disabilities of the
Department; and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idF188E364531745E1996E06262006A003">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>requires the maximum amount and degree of personal care services allowed under that schedule.</text>
</subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB5A2C2CBEF8E4E62B80E7FECF856B075">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Support services provided under program of general caregiver support services</header>
<text>Subsection (b)(3)(A) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id28F74ADD435E4FAB94C20EA4A0E0CEC3">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in clause (i)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC475E9E64A73436081D5833C659C1586">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subclauses (II) and (III) as subclauses (III) and (IV), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5E37E46B24D849FB8362F033E96476B8">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by inserting after subclause (I) the following new subclause (II):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0125B1B81FA943C88BC2B3629F9F0DA1" style="OLC">
<subclause id="id5FB4619AE7B744A38129491F09460C47" indent="up1">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>for caregivers undergoing educational sessions pursuant to subclause (I), payment of necessary
travel, lodging, and per diem expenses incurred by such caregivers in
undergoing such educational sessions in such amounts as the Secretary
shall prescribe for purposes of this subclause;</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA5F1E2E8D80C4B02A6CFA0B5642858B3">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following new clause:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23B5F8DD774346D6A4BD4FD58EC85606" style="OLC">
<clause id="id289F8C842B894EE79A2589A6B4DC0246" indent="up1">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Respite care of not less than 30 days annually that is medically and age-appropriate, including
in-home care and 24-hour per day care of the veteran commensurate with the
care provided by the caregiver to permit extended respite.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id452065F1393A4494A265904FDEC3D01C">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0C064F2A974440DDA90533E506AD5950">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>by inserting after clause (iii) the following new clause (iv):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idABF523F588ED4562AA26274D0B9A24D3" style="OLC">
<clause id="idCBA9BBC986204FFB8545EF8B3E3BD515" indent="up1">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>Such mental health services as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA7A5CCB9FA6B48ABA0AA91EA0658DC83">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2015.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H5A2DE752F4A642319101625B2BB7F877">
<enum>113.</enum>
<header>Improved access to appropriate immunizations for veterans</header>
<subsection id="H7FD2A46FACBD469AAEF56415EE6B0176">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Inclusion of recommended adult immunizations as medical services</header>
<paragraph id="H7D9AC2ADDC904FD8BFCE93C672413F63">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Covered benefit</header>
<text>Subparagraph (F) of section 1701(9) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H75A2EE8F67564C4A8C5DF82C7415003D" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H4DC5052C73B34F51BBE2494A854FD02C">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>immunizations against infectious diseases, including each immunization on the recommended adult
immunization schedule at the time such immunization is indicated on that
schedule;</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7C8CD6E22837405E931E710A66419EC8">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Recommended adult immunization schedule defined</header>
<text>Section 1701 is amended by adding after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HFB9501E187914AB7A70AB6C879106F06" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HB5EC5ED66DC149139026D9EB8206AE51">
<enum>(10)</enum>
<text>The term <term>recommended adult immunization schedule</term> means the schedule established (and periodically reviewed and, as appropriate, revised) by the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices established by the Secretary
of Health and Human Services and delegated to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3FD0285624A44BD9855BD3FE16E1AADE">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Inclusion of recommended adult immunizations in annual report</header>
<text>Section 1704(1)(A) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H7503D87C598546009F33D8A3D5D33442">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H24C3626BD44549118208582C3FDAB7C2">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEA91883975B047718136B4B7169CA8C2">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:</text>
<quoted-block id="H53F1CF1E9AD24BBAAADAD8EBD133C936" style="OLC">
<clause id="HF8C15713195D4346BAFD9E77E6EBFE19">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide veterans each immunization on the recommended adult immunization schedule at the time
such immunization is indicated on that schedule.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idED7AD618E3FA48B7BF9FA4F3B9B89073">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Report to Congress</header>
<paragraph id="id28CCBE2660C2469DA65FC24EE38F8CC3">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the development and implementation by the Department of Veterans
Affairs of quality measures and metrics, including targets for compliance,
to ensure that veterans receiving medical services under chapter 17 of
title 38, United States Code, receive each immunization on the recommended
adult immunization schedule at the time such immunization is indicated on
that schedule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id28EB44F22E324B5288D971C66E6AFDB3">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Recommended adult immunization schedule defined</header>
<text>In this subsection, the term <term>recommended adult immunization schedule</term> has the meaning given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1701">section 1701(10)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id078D60662E39491EA370A2A6E39BBF3D">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This subsection shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idD029ABD17F7445C0B53D9A5D7BBA12BC">
<enum>114.</enum>
<header>Expansion of provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans</header>
<subsection id="id7B48330A5AC44AF783EBF772CE877FE3">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program for provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 204(c) of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001
(<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/135">Public Law 107–135</external-xref>; 115 Stat. 2459; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1710">38 U.S.C. 1710</external-xref> note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H54DD934962B2405B835B19310DDE24D4">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>The program</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H565448A2FA43495E903DA410EA0C8663">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HE5E34AE887104CD090A7309E77B9EA44" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2640AF996F764510AB2ED088A6C145B5" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The program shall be carried out at not fewer than two medical centers or clinics in each Veterans
Integrated Service Network by not later than one year after the effective
date specified in section 114(c) of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>, and at not fewer than 50 percent of all medical centers in each Veterans Integrated Service
Network by not later than two years after such effective date.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFDFD37FE86AD4DB09EEF86D982F9DC75">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Expanded chiropractor services available to veterans</header>
<paragraph id="H6F4B4038EFD04696B9451C3B9DC28E44">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Medical services</header>
<text>Paragraph (6) of section 1701 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8E139E7449154E2D9AAFBE584C1CA47E" style="USC">
<subparagraph id="HE5D158694B584525A603C2039653099B">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>Chiropractic services.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H879138211E2D4FF9B0F8ED530E3EC4A6">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Rehabilitative services</header>
<text>Paragraph (8) of such section is amended by inserting <quote>chiropractic,</quote> after <quote>counseling,</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H312EC75462EF4AB3A33DFD10BD09AFDA">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Preventive health services</header>
<text>Paragraph (9) of such section is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDFAED8B19A804C158F5CCCD32B5D818E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) as subparagraphs (G) through (L), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A07F1DB393D4FCBA735189517698C8A">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph (F):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAE50FE94D74457AA4C6D2A3DA6D8316" style="USC">
<subparagraph id="H9BE552E5481C4CD4847029311461714C">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>periodic and preventive chiropractic examinations and services;</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB7D1D4239CA14750AFC5363A56BE6CF5">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="S1">
<enum>115.</enum>
<header>Modification of commencement date of period of service at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for
eligibility for hospital care and medical services in connection with
exposure to contaminated water</header>
<subsection id="id43DD31A657AB4377B7FC98EACC4BD755">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Modification</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1710(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking <quote>January 1, 1957,</quote> and inserting <quote>August 1, 1953 (or such earlier date for the commencement of exposure to contaminated water at Camp
Lejeune as the Secretary, in consultation with the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, shall specify),</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id732362A6F5F847468D5C26C8299A80DB">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Publication</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of any earlier
date for the commencement of exposure to contaminated water at Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina, for purposes of section 1710(e)(1)(F) of title
38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id105D68116FD444CFB9C3BF715E30BE83">
<enum>116.</enum>
<header>Expansion of emergency treatment reimbursement for certain veterans</header>
<subsection id="idA20593C761CD4A23AE277FFD109B595B">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1725(b)(2)(B) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idB73A3DC976574B3883E4367B53D74189">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(i)</quote> after <quote>(B)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC34EE07B9A2B4EF8BB9135E05FDC9B6C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9334A68AEB0B44CEA14D64F2A99C5113">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id00E889CA862F480FB90BFD811E0C7B30" style="OLC">
<clause id="id8D3B186601C54F16A07FA33330040CFA" indent="up2">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the veteran was unable to receive care under this chapter within such 24-month period because of a
waiting period imposed by the Department with respect to a new patient
examination of such veteran.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id506A0F9FA030491CBAD3E6CBA865B69F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id88217F35CC634EF68281C2FCF5398626">
<enum>117.</enum>
<header>Extension of sunset date regarding transportation of individuals to and from facilities of
Department of Veterans Affairs and requirement of report</header>
<subsection id="id706B7780C1BC48EFAC2B9D6CD7A46737">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Extension of sunset date</header>
<text>Subsection (a)(2) of section 111A is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2016</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6A7834DCCCA04E798787F21F3EC32B59">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Funding available</header>
<text>Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2A61A5CCD0214B75A7077D56AFBDCA31" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id668A29D4A02F4E1DAD495B53CA433796">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<text>There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Department to carry out this section the
following:</text><paragraph id="idF080F0E7FB4241CE9C12218FAE59AEDA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For fiscal year 2014, $2,000,000.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE6FA214A33F94873A411B09FF388ED2E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016, $4,000,000.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id6CC84223792E425C837C3FB5D45AA220">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on—</text>
<paragraph id="idC18CD887EDC54D5AAEDD3E2A810388A5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the efforts of the Secretary to carry out the transportation services required by section 111A(a)
of title 38, United States Code;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6FCB3C94422541D7943BF224B167CB32">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>the utilization of those services by covered veterans; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE89E49DC61534B48A649D2C4BAA13F03">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>the feasibility and advisability of the continuation of the provision of such services after
September 30, 2015.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id552FE20675004087883C2E98D325A2D0">
<enum>118.</enum>
<header>Extension and modification of pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic
brain injury</header>
<subsection id="id9DC7F8D7DF3844CB9B7BBE1B26DEFD4F">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Extension of program</header>
<text>Subsection (a) of section 1705 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
(<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/110/181">Public Law 110–181</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1710C">38 U.S.C. 1710C</external-xref> note) is amended by striking <quote>a five-year</quote> and inserting <quote>an eight-year</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idE0361941840440BDB60930C858F79E92">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Modification of locations</header>
<text>Subsection (b) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id01F8D902A5464685B438746C213AA5BD">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id009F0E0BA2394C5CBDD11A27C7821FC8">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBDCB57B58D59452F8F4F2D3A4FD775BF" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id31AF2D7AD290407D8252FEEF3BBAD2BA">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The pilot program shall be carried out at locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the
pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9686F7D255424191BDF8363A6DF7F8C1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Located in same region as polytrauma centers</header>
<text>Of the locations selected under paragraph (1), at least one location shall be in each health care
region of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans
Affairs that contains a polytrauma center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idCEE1DB34FCA74AE39F701200D7A0A030">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Modification of report requirements</header>
<text>Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id014EA0382B4D4782ABF4B953E263A39C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id17BFC574B8824946B8167C564C60ADC6">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id0C09BFFA76544D70BB312B9AE7632510">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Annual report</header>
<subparagraph id="id86E26F75A717457E88E84F1295A5BD19">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>, and not later than September 30 each year thereafter until 2018, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the pilot
program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idED9AA204C68F470D8FB1A13ECFD132EA">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id27589bb0ceef4e319afb1d46ff6bdaee">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals that participated in the pilot program during the year preceding the
submission of the report.</text>
</clause><clause id="id958c9b06ffd44de79a4de0e7e9060c9b">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals that successfully completed the pilot program during the year preceding
the submission of the report.</text>
</clause><clause id="idc34fd52eecc2415c8a713069c5088d1a">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>The degree to which pilot program participants and family members of pilot program participants
were satisfied with the pilot program.</text>
</clause><clause id="id9f2be8e78f3f4c4c8d27fb3ece508a62">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>The interim findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the success of the pilot
program and recommendations for improvement.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4A97F14C6F434F2987605EC815746135">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<subparagraph id="id15af6fdff9da4d5e8cfe40f141bea666">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 60 days after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a final report on the
pilot program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98afc7ec9ee5408c85937fdf18c6cf1f">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The final report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="idf8bf546cf7b74e909854f1e947decfb6">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>A description of the pilot program.</text>
</clause><clause id="idb6dc65fd8a7e4649823c60ef8a3e5b1e">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the utility of the activities under the pilot program in enhancing the
rehabilitation, quality of life, and community reintegration of veterans
with traumatic brain injury, including complex mild traumatic brain
injury.</text>
</clause><clause id="ide58af519943449ea962ca606bed3ad8c">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding improving the pilot program.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id7886BA382D5A4D5AB14A2F4890422E26">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Modification of definitions</header>
<paragraph id="id882010C30B3F49DBAEA46910A225F008">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care services</header>
<text>Such section is further amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="id0C60ED36334443A6B2179A508D5564BB">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">assisted living</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care</header-in-text></quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC33A1AE2D6FC4AF4A651CCF8329C7D92">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in subsection (c), in the subsection heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">assisted living</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">community-Based brain injury residential rehabilitative care</header-in-text></quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0F5F3E9594F64338AD2BCD614761061C">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>assisted living</quote> each place it appears, and inserting <quote>community-based brain injury rehabilitative care</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF9CB8108130D45E697AE610D23340162">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>in subsection (f)(1), by striking <quote>and personal care</quote> and inserting <quote>rehabilitation, and personal care</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id98F9748A618E4598A732651BA1B4D635">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Eligible veteran</header>
<text>Subsection (f)(3) of such section is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="idBCADB3ABE67B4B6BBB6B4474DD35B632">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id874FAEE7D19643C5825F6C7EBD255EDB">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2051EA8CFCC14211B9DB7F754961AE86">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5D9F9C049C404B1A9464D9B18528FE0A" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id55E50C4579D5489DBD15BE6581239D42">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>has a traumatic brain injury that is classified as complex-mild to severe.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0DC32A015AEA402CA0FB4AB8D56D62FD">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<text>There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015
$46,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under section 1705 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law
110–181; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1710C">38 U.S.C. 1710C</external-xref> note), as amended by this section. The amount so
authorized to be appropriated shall be available for obligation for the
three-year period beginning on the date that is one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1D409E867BFD40EAAA161A12375307DE">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2014.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H5A88E9FD18624F23A1CFBB8A32F4ED05">
<enum>119.</enum>
<header>Reauthorization and modification of pilot program of enhanced contract care authority for health
care
needs of veterans</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 403 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law
110–387; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1703">38 U.S.C. 1703</external-xref> note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id4230873A271E4B088E7669E90ED9ACFD">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id13A94761CDB146848D134B7A6DFA1BE8">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>90 days after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title></quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id884541D62286484DAC81BBEB022F4C35">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id153F772EB7534998B8FAD2492EE5AF50" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="id117ABB500F5B4F34B454A86336AA34D4">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Program locations</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at locations in the following Veterans Integrated
Service
Networks (and such other locations as the Secretary considers
appropriate):</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id69225EDA311F4078A892B4E4530AF0CD">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veterans Integrated Service Network 1.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5370D28C07BC4B19A577DEA4FD78AE02">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veterans Integrated Service Network 6.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD6A46214ADE742B499F312C44E8B7419">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veterans Integrated Service Network 15.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3D4E7351360740AEA9DBB5D2F4CD3DD7">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veterans Integrated Service Network 18.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id7A3820E58E2D4D54A9AF54C58711DA3D">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veterans Integrated Service Network 19.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idC01034590483498FB786A54F96EFE21B">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6C5E5B1D6DFE435F9D0AB06996FC27D2" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id5562ce070955481a965d57e3266a0aec">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Covered veterans</header>
<text>For purposes of the pilot program under this section, a covered veteran is any rural or highly
rural veteran who—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idA1453ADE0E67442698B2A39988218344">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>is—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idF1EA9796DADF43E596A2D4BEE7F144A3">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>enrolled in the system of patient enrollment established under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1705">section 1705(a)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id697CF756142E4E5DB150688C74C21F50">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>eligible for health care under the laws administered by the Secretary and enrolls in such system of
patient enrollment not later than 30 days after the veteran begins
receiving covered health services under the pilot program; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD80879DD92E6487E84657E5557E0E758">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>eligible for health care under section 1710(e)(3) of such title; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0f8c3730596c4dd08656abd5c1ef237e">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>resides in a location that is—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2c0c01230e3a44429244ed6ad35a2876">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>more than 60 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing
primary care services, if the veteran is seeking such services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1310ccbdc10c48f48e11c3f34a36b8cd">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>more than 120 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing
acute hospital care, if the veteran is seeking such care; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id905c101b8e1a48358e12d94514fc5cba">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>more than 240 minutes driving distance from the nearest Department health care facility providing
tertiary care, if the veteran is seeking such care.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7B3F6B849AD348C88E1410A7DB1B4D7E">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (j);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id77313BEDA53243DD87D3C5FC10265DAD">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28D98061A59F401A939CD05C1D1ABC67" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id2D3E327D8CC0486FAE3FC2D6AD58A1ED">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Appointments</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that medical
appointments for veterans occur during the 30-day period beginning on the
date that is 15 days after the date on which the appointment is requested.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8BF710AA685D48B5B577DB3A076FA2B0">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<header>Outreach</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that a veteran eligible for the pilot program under this section is
informed of such program.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5EAF0A637DD848EDA09DB546EF215316">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(B) of subsection (j), as redesignated by paragraph (3) of this section, by
striking the semicolon at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idE2974F65E74A4C53963A7C927A814075">
<enum>C</enum>
<header>Health Care Administration</header>
<section id="id69127E60E8D849DDAF04D3FDFF3585B3">
<enum>121.</enum>
<header>Extension of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7619 is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31, 2019</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id28896DF44D36484F9A8EB7BAC782AC8D">
<enum>122.</enum>
<header>Expansion of availability of prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans</header>
<subsection id="id42E11AD3976D4CA2AD6D8DACBB378486">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment or expansion of advanced degree programs To expand availability of provision of care</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall work with institutions of higher education to develop
partnerships for the establishment or expansion of programs of advanced
degrees in prosthetics and orthotics in order to improve and enhance the
availability of high quality prosthetic and orthotic care for veterans.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id13FEAE2EA30442339FA18A596BE6DDD0">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report setting forth a
plan for carrying out subsection (a). The Secretary shall develop the plan
in consultation with veterans service organizations, institutions of
higher education with accredited degree programs in prosthetics and
orthotics, and representatives of the prosthetics and orthotics field.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD694F07F4BF746AC93A74AE0A2ABB484">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<paragraph id="idA385320455874499A39D17458BEF1B8B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<text>There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 for the Department of Veterans
Affairs, $10,000,000 to carry out this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id825C7AD59F5D46FCBAA0D4005AEE297B">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Availability</header>
<text>The amount authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall remain available for expenditure
until September 30, 2017.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9125156DD96C49A590BE82A7C1CA1401">
<enum>123.</enum>
<header>Limitation on expansion of dialysis pilot program</header>
<subsection id="id376F820FCAF14B3FB6CD8D0982FFE714">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Limitation</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall not expand the dialysis pilot program to, or expand the
capacity to provide additional dialysis care at, any facility owned or
leased by the Department that is not an initial facility until after the
date that—</text>
<paragraph id="id022B28877CF04A60A65BF866BFEF33A4">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the Secretary has implemented the dialysis pilot program at each initial facility for a period of
not less than two years;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA3CFB036CB14492ABAC0290017AF6AFB">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>an independent analysis of the dialysis pilot program has been conducted at each initial facility,
including a consideration and comparison of factors including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC52C2E022D894D6BB8E3E05427F8CA2E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the ability of veterans to access care under the dialysis pilot program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB8DC481EAF4A44DDB70736C23E44126D">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the quality of care provided under the dialysis pilot program; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2D555819E2804155875E550B1E06CF67">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>the satisfaction of veterans who have received treatment under the dialysis pilot program; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7CA39AFCBD124234B6627ADE3A3AAD21">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>the report required by subsection (b) has been submitted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1060B2DCAF1D4941AEF2DCCDD38F48FA">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 60 days after the date of the completion of the independent analysis required by
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that—</text>
<paragraph id="id3E62EF56B6844D5F8479F471A871D491">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>includes the results of that independent analysis; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id89C308B3D327495DB2802C398D1343EC">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>addresses any recommendations with respect to the dialysis pilot program provided in a report
prepared by the Government Accountability Office.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3F099954283040FB86B04BF6F848F18A">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Utilization of existing dialysis resources</header>
<text>In order to increase the access of veterans to dialysis care and decrease the travel time of such
veterans to receive such care, the Secretary shall fully utilize existing
dialysis resources of the Department, including any community dialysis
provider with which the Department has entered into a contract or
agreement for the provision of such care.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id042F575FFD0D419687C0DACE7974E6D6">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="idA8C8CF7F34AD49E1AD350CB501B5928B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Dialysis pilot program</header>
<text>The term <term>dialysis pilot program</term> means the pilot demonstration program established by the Secretary in 2009 to provide dialysis
care to patients at certain outpatient facilities operated by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id562406AA0CA14AC08970A096D0F53390">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Initial facility</header>
<text>The term <term>initial facility</term> means one of the four outpatient facilities identified by the Secretary to participate in the
dialysis pilot program prior to the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id87BBED179270423280A9E55279FB281F">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idC0F3AEED6E6E417092A823F0E70C7EDA">
<enum>124.</enum>
<header>Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs policy on reporting cases of infectious diseases at
facilities of the Department</header>
<subsection id="id706CD6738BB04F3A83CB281A2A3DFB83">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter II of chapter 73 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0D29FE7EE70435E8F1D8592F5B68A53" style="USC">
<section id="id64E894952DE8462385EDB3D404C303A4">
<enum>7330B.</enum>
<header>Reporting of infectious diseases</header>
<subsection id="id5A96CD7EBDE34944B28260DAE13F6A5D">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Reporting</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that the Department has in effect an up-to-date policy on reporting a
notifiable infectious disease diagnosed at a facility under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of State
and local law in effect where such facility is located.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id756C65B9DA914FF695E9C4B1AFBB240C">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Notifiable infectious disease</header>
<text>For purposes of this section, a notifiable infectious disease is any infectious disease that is—</text>
<paragraph id="idD53D5BA73E094F27B4B070079BE98442">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>on the list of nationally notifiable diseases published by the Council of State and Territorial
Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC462552B26464E1A8290790FED81688F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>covered by a provision of law of a State that requires the reporting of infectious diseases.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF29884046F2D46559657A495EB77FE2C">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Performance measures</header>
<text>The Secretary shall develop performance measures to assess whether and to what degree the directors
of Veterans Integrated Service Networks and Department medical centers are
complying with the policy required by subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idF005F36C4BAC4D28AF609A13EC778AE6">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 7330A the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC2D95FACE08F4764910F1C3D8B9D80FA" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7330B. Reporting of infectious diseases.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id2481A84902304D62841E00C39A6EC002">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id2AB4877E258C49F99C20A3F6FEE61825">
<enum>125.</enum>
<header>Independent assessment of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers of
Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="idC462709097DC414B8BA883F11E6B9E7E">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Contract</header>
<paragraph id="idB87ACCDBF790406B9FBF7815B5F32254">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent
third party to perform the services covered by this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5524EBB2B70B4C5CB676CC014ED331C3">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Timing</header>
<text>The Secretary shall seek to enter into the contract described in paragraph (1) not later than 540
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idAD040D7128A749B49752FDE320F00BEE">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Independent study</header>
<paragraph id="id411D24D20B1A40EE881D1BC4577EFD42">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Under a contract between the Secretary and an independent third party under this section, the third
party shall carry out a study—</text>
<subparagraph id="idE25B996E6D774945BB8CCB03B30F36CE">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to assess the organizational structures of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEBA7507199574B6681D056BB069B52CE">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to improve succession planning among key leadership roles at Veterans Integrated Service Networks
and medical centers of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC1B69D9D43A644A5B71B8D56A814F16B">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Matters studied and proposed</header>
<text>In carrying out the study, the third party shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3F72DC72032A4091A193E3708900A936">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>assess whether the organizational structure of the medical centers of the Department is effective
for the furnishing of medical services, addressing issues that arise
regarding the furnishing of medical services, and addressing standard
business operations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9B078D45A7694BA1B910864B6E3615FB">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>propose one organizational chart for Department medical centers with a common set of base position
descriptions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1aa68cdacb7e4e19bbdb03dcefa8a4af">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>propose a base set of medical positions that should be filled to ensure that the health care
provided to veterans by the Department is of good quality; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida6498e77288b4e19bada7d152995ce16">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>identify which key leadership positions at Veterans Integrated Service Networks and Department
medical centers should have succession plans and propose how to implement
such plans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0456C7EB2E9B4D9F8F31FAC0A00DD5B4">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Timing</header>
<text>The third party shall complete the study under this section not later than 270 days after entering
into the contract described in subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id197542E1B7004362BCEC0EA28E330371">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date on which the third party completes the study under this
section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the results of such study.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0B333396E0564A41A1495D20E6E6F671">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idA15F455CBF494ED39873DC2AB3CBAA0B">
<enum>126.</enum>
<header>Requirements in connection with next update of current strategic plan for Office of Rural Health of
the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id1272961576E34BD29159E5DCDF30C204">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Requirements</header>
<paragraph id="idA5A04DF8027348E7A4037E8819EAC62B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The first update of the Strategic Plan Refresh for Fiscal Years 2012 through 2014 of the Office of
Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs after the date of the
enactment of this Act, whether an update or refresh of such Strategic Plan
Refresh or a strategic plan to supersede such Strategic Plan Refresh,
shall be prepared in accordance with this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id64681CF2731F4F4E84D20F9ABB5DFD42">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Consultation</header>
<text>The Director of the Office of Rural Health shall prepare the update in consultation with the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id108BB201927A4E7F9162509658F7FA32">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The Director of the Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id26CF111BC83F48F695915D83B46AA6E2">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The Director of the Office of Quality and Performance of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4C7C872AAB0846F6B12CBBEA6F8649B8">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The Director of the Office of Care Coordination Services of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE2CB02AB58ED46AE97E2FDFF3AD5B353">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The update described in subsection (a) shall include, for the period covered by the update, the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="id63658F03B2F74EE79C3169C0F6B4650C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Goals and objectives for the recruitment and retention by the Veterans Health Administration of
health care personnel in rural areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5D4F71E3C3FE404AB88419FF2A04F88C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Goals and objectives for ensuring timeliness and improving quality in the delivery of health care
services by the Veterans Health Administration in rural areas through
contract and fee-basis providers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id11D649E9DFDC4CD7B5DA8E4C1B3EE228">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Goals and objectives for the implementation, expansion, and enhanced use of telemedicine services
by the Veterans Health Administration in rural areas, including through
coordination with other appropriate offices of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF52BB2E4C68C4E78BD16B8690E6631CA">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Goals and objectives for ensuring the full and effective use of mobile outpatient clinics by the
Veterans Health Administration for the provision of health care services
in rural areas, including goals and objectives for the use of such clinics
on a fully mobile basis and for encouraging health care providers who
provide services through such clinics to do so in rural areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id45081CBAC2AB4A1E82ECFDE2984FBCBC">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Procedures for soliciting from each Veterans Health Administration facility that serves a rural
area the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id8FABF755A5764EAF90B25FF2333780F4">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A statement of the clinical capacity of such facility.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id120FFB4E8C6C4FC0A5A2B256630753BF">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The procedures of such facility in the event of a medical, surgical, or mental health emergency
outside the scope of the clinical capacity of such facility.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD99E88CECF3C45B99C90B83CFA0D4363">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The procedures and mechanisms of such facility for the provision and coordination of health care
for women veterans, including procedures and mechanisms for coordination
with local hospitals and health care facilities, oversight of primary care
and fee-basis care, and management of specialty care.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id39F669790739404AA272A383AA3FBB72">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>Goals and objectives for the modification of the funding allocation mechanisms of the Office of
Rural Health in order to ensure that the Office distributes funds to
components of the Department to best achieve the goals and objectives of
the Office and in a timely manner.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id27018DE2EEF246B1AA1E3529465A8F65">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>Goals and objectives for the coordination of, and sharing of resources with respect to, the
provision of health care services to veterans in rural areas between the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Indian
Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services, and other
Federal agencies, as appropriate and prudent.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id901A490A52BA4006AFEBFDE1A43119A7">
<enum>(8)</enum>
<text>Specific milestones for the achievement of the goals and objectives developed for the update.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEA5176D8CEEE44DA89372DE51AEAD975">
<enum>(9)</enum>
<text>Procedures for ensuring the effective implementation of the update.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB590A561752941BBADC28DFE6CF1058D">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Transmittal to Congress</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the issuance of the update described in subsection (a),
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall transmit the update to Congress,
together with such comments and recommendations in connection with the
update as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id6290AD2FF7FE4A108CEC8B299D488C83">
<enum>127.</enum>
<header>Report on provision of telemedicine services</header>
<subsection id="idDB7F2674D6BF40C6B011F68CD4F07093">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id29e1bb7d77964e8293b9f09c624b14c7">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Issues that may be impeding the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs of telemedicine
services for veterans, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idC5A791B975854F9EB2E22F23FEAE7E58">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Statutory or regulatory restrictions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0F363CE92BEA4D07846C9301E0CF9AAB">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Licensure or credentialing issues for any provider practicing telemedicine with veterans who live
in a different State than the provider.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id20BDAFEBC9FA4F8FA514D3442451516F">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Limited broadband access in rural areas.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD87C60FC390A4DDCA735B15994391269">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Limited information technology resources or capabilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idED8EE3031BDD43E1A32CAA45250E9A63">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Long distances veterans must travel to access a facility or clinic with telemedicine capabilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00B8410428E14187BBFC1C11541E40C7">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>Insufficient liability protection for providers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF5A949D8010B41CAB02F2DD8E361B8FF">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>Reimbursement issues faced by providers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idACB2B65DD4F348A6BC272492C3FCA648">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>Travel limitations for providers that are unaffiliated with the Department and are participating or
seeking to participate in a telemedicine program of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide9a303a4c39b4a3cae5b0e1aba4e53af">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Actions taken to address the issues identified in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id81646f20ad0046438d10aeab93e699c7">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>An update on efforts by the Department to carry out the initiative of teleconsultation for the
provision of remote mental health and traumatic brain injury assessments
required by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1709A">section 1709A</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id529bbe8f62884559b13b3db0f242f1b1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>An update on efforts by the Department to offer training opportunities in telemedicine to medical
residents, as required by section 108(b) of the Janey Ensminger Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/154">Public Law 112–154</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7406">38 U.S.C. 7406</external-xref> note).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idcd4dd992350e4bd3b20b1af2a7f901c2">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>An update on efforts by the Department to, in partnership with primary care providers, install
video cameras and instruments to monitor weight, blood pressure, and other
vital statistics in the homes of patients.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id865C7280B83B48E2B18F16179FC8115A">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Telemedicine defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>telemedicine</term> means the use by a health care provider of telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or
treatment of a patient’s medical condition.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90CC4832E4DE4725A6F6EA71C1B3AB77">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id254670FFD93C4910AC8FAC63D785D011">
<enum>128.</enum>
<header>Designation of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center</header>
<subsection id="H1A01BAA97C1347F48590ED604C411410">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Designation</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shall after the date of the enactment of this
Act be known and designated as the <quote>Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E2F1E4A175A44C6990E49506FB2C3C1">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>References</header>
<text>Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to
the medical center referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to be
a reference to the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id36462EDDF55B41AD88B31BD9E65924C9">
<enum>D</enum>
<header>Complementary and Alternative Medicine</header>
<section id="id8B8914EC2E0644078C184EE17605383E">
<enum>131.</enum>
<header>Expansion of research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine to
veterans</header>
<subsection id="id7f883221d470436e819591eea69bb7c8">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Development of plan To expand research, education, and delivery</header>
<text>Not later than six months after the effective date specified in subsection (f), the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to expand materially and
substantially the scope of research and education on, and delivery and
integration of, complementary and alternative medicine services into the
health care services provided to veterans.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id61EF167543EA4251929E15E3B0448DDC">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The plan required by subsection (a) shall provide for the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id18d9513619084f2098c25a3170de7e24">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Research on the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idF2E3CBD178C04EAF94087E5AD4B77C6C">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The comparative effectiveness of various complementary and alternative medicine therapies.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD702B4DEE0214AEA8D0DAE0C3208D461">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Approaches to integrating complementary and alternative medicine services into other health care
services provided by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA110FE9E3F8C412086639F891FAA4CEC">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Education and training for health care professionals of the Department on the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idD72694146626400E916DDB58E968787B">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Complementary and alternative medicine services selected by the Secretary for purposes of the plan.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAE484A17CCCF436F81DEE6FCCD5D3B64">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Appropriate uses of such services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id21465F6D6C814119914E72F979459AE3">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Integration of such services into the delivery of health care to veterans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5ad07d834d944e62aa1cd9c92f3c29f7">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Research, education, and clinical activities on complementary and alternative medicine at centers
of innovation at Department medical centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4F7BB205238648D5887B30ACFADC56FB">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Identification or development of metrics and outcome measures to evaluate the provision and
integration of complementary and alternative medicine services into the
delivery of health care to veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2f78b31a4a444dac989b005d75a856e6">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Integration and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine services with other health care
services provided by the Department.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id55DC924F521448F8B8A3AFA70E423C8C">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Consultation</header>
<paragraph id="id00CAC8CFB0224E5D8421435D436419C2">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id50f3194b32dc43998fdff845c589581e">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The Director of the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National
Institutes of Health.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0cda4f0a32a5411ba8aa4fe8a0d427b0">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The Commissioner of Food and Drugs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id344ade56b5254079b396e3d0ee1db7ac">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Institutions of higher education, private research institutes, and individual researchers with
extensive experience in complementary and alternative medicine and the
integration of complementary and alternative medicine practices into the
delivery of health care.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96adfec7fae14f518cfc2a40e0c77857">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Nationally recognized providers of complementary and alternative medicine.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd9ad395493a4e868876cb76aab74c02">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Such other officials, entities, and individuals with expertise on complementary and alternative
medicine as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idADFEDD5B6A924D9DB00B5055FF113999">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Scope of consultation</header>
<text>The Secretary shall undertake consultation under paragraph (1) in carrying out subsection (a) with
respect to the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id99c6495d22f94ad3b39df6964530136b">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>To develop the plan.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6224319e25a6470b8d5de86a761edfb8">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>To identify specific complementary and alternative medicine practices that, on the basis of
research findings or promising clinical interventions, are appropriate to
include as services to veterans.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5b2d97b82463498594ddcba9127c740e">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>To identify barriers to the effective provision and integration of complementary and alternative
medicine services into the delivery of health care to veterans, and to
identify mechanisms for overcoming such barriers.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc2dfdbf0c4bb4f89b128e2d8653ff1de">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out
this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id481F8F1F7361445A88DE5756EAC4D065">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Complementary and alternative medicine defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>complementary and alternative medicine</term> shall have the meaning given that term in regulations the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes
of this section, which shall, to the degree practicable, be consistent
with the meaning given such term by the Secretary of Health and Human
Services.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6A38E3D80B694F4EAFBF38952C95A343">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id67312e0292d346d2a87aa91ddc4aec4e">
<enum>132.</enum>
<header>Program on integration of complementary and alternative medicine within Department of Veterans
Affairs medical centers</header>
<subsection id="id9d3a433895d9447d96865a9bd79b45ff">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id4F6D5D7CB1E54965A4C7D15DF049DC01">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>carry out, through the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, a program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of integrating the delivery of complementary and alternative
medicine services selected by the Secretary with other health care
services provided by the Department for veterans with mental health
conditions, chronic pain conditions, other chronic conditions, and such
other conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE00BA3D5D4164E4286BC8CE5F64EA02E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in developing the program, identify and resolve barriers to the provision of complementary and
alternative medicine services selected by the Secretary and the
integration of those services with other health care services provided by
the Department.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id059caa5cc52e415fb3e382e7cf2089a9">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Duration of program</header>
<text>The program shall be carried out during the three-year period beginning on the effective date
specified in subsection (j).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2135322a44da4370bd1e274216668eb4">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Locations</header>
<paragraph id="ide67259fbeb3e4c81895d42ecc3b0027d">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the program at not fewer than 15 separate Department medical centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4B1D25AC247E4D68B481BA882D4D7C4D">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Polytrauma centers</header>
<text>Not less than two of the medical centers designated under paragraph (1) shall be located at
polytrauma rehabilitation centers of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id78c4eaea46e141f7b3365f62539ffe4e">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Selection of locations</header>
<text>In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall select locations that include the following areas:</text>
<subparagraph id="ide0524c62c76e427587d8b062fab2ad11">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Rural areas.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id47c19eade8494a599120eab96b9338fa">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military installation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idae889602caa04877bba5a04f9c9b852a">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Areas representing different geographic locations, such as census tracts established by the Bureau
of the Census.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id717D79CE0374495B8046A6445071C951">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Provision of services</header>
<text>Under the program, the Secretary shall provide covered services to covered veterans by integrating
complementary and alternative medicine services with other services
provided by the Department at the medical centers designated under
subsection (c)(1).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id113da0a9a6c749bf8197620c8e9bfb26">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Covered veterans</header>
<text>For purposes of the program, a covered veteran is any veteran who—</text>
<paragraph id="idf909d2580e4d41a6b6ecbbee0cf51cca">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>has a mental health condition diagnosed by a clinician of the Department;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idCF5853B52DFB43988366373634AFC39C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>experiences chronic pain; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB49A797D667B4443B1E42C1046308D08">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>has a chronic condition being treated by a clinician of the Department.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7472ca90faad482bbc4a834b40193ea2">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Covered services</header>
<paragraph id="idADB60F1503164BAC81FF54F4A1A06524">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>For purposes of the program, covered services are services consisting of complementary and
alternative medicine as selected by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id20B0D080AB2E4239BB6AF827A5799D1D">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Administration of services</header>
<text>Covered services shall be administered under the program as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="ida4880c37328f4c30801e03e978cb72a2">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Covered services shall be administered by clinicians employed by the Secretary for purposes of this
section who, to the extent practicable, shall provide services consisting
of complementary and alternative medicine, including those clinicians who
solely provide such services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0c6f61d6b81d47b9bb72415ced9be908">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Covered services shall be included as part of the Patient Aligned Care Teams initiative of the
Office of Patient Care Services, Primary Care Program Office, in
coordination with the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural
Transformation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE6877ED7D35742A38313B20BF0E3A543">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Covered services shall be made available to both—</text>
<clause id="idD5E5FB63E0AF4B04BCD21CE5D1800492">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>covered veterans with mental health conditions, pain conditions, or chronic conditions described in
subsection (e) who have received conventional treatments from the
Department for such conditions; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idB4A10EFC8D28431F9FE742332BBBBD12">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>covered veterans with mental health conditions, pain conditions, or chronic conditions described in
subsection (e) who have not received conventional treatments from the
Department for such conditions.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9cd6bbb85fba4bf782b65b492c243e39">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Voluntary participation</header>
<text>The participation of a veteran in the program shall be at the election of the veteran and in
consultation with a clinician of the Department.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6ce073dc377c4f48b4975c420b64b778">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Reports to Congress</header>
<paragraph id="id3DC7F0D5F4A144FB823225C916348E94">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Quarterly reports</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the commencement of the program and not less frequently
than once every 90 days thereafter for the duration of the program, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the efforts of the Secretary to carry out the program, including
a description of the outreach conducted by the Secretary to veterans and
community organizations to inform such organizations about the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA0A62951EDDA42BCA94EF4B59F70E02B">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<subparagraph id="id5F51249BE759462AB1CE2A67DC6D77F7">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the completion of the program, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29B2427A4554444D97AD31E31ED89043">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id8B79D714CE304066BBDD0BDFC04075EF">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program, including with respect
to—</text>
<subclause id="id26EDED89BE1F4CC7AA818548FDE8E519">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>the utilization and efficacy of the complementary and alternative medicine services established
under the program;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idDBE6AAFD5C0546D5AFCAB36E93F25EED">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>an assessment of the benefit of the program to covered veterans in mental health diagnoses, pain
management, and treatment of chronic illness; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id0928AE982E0D4572A1D9559E2A1504BB">
<enum>(III)</enum>
<text>the comparative effectiveness of various complementary and alternative medicine therapies.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="idDFBEB334EE4A48CE9A8C009FF035D40C">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Barriers identified under subsection (a)(2) that were not resolved.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFD49EAA710524D96BD95062F64A90EB1">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the program as the Secretary considers
appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCD3ACCED9A034E80B421383918DC933A">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<header>Complementary and alternative medicine defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>complementary and alternative medicine</term> shall have the meaning given that term in section 131(e) of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD3326CEA490B41F0AA3909482C32BD90">
<enum>(j)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id677b0a949a9a420bb1e0c47eefa1eea4">
<enum>133.</enum>
<header>Studies of barriers encountered by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in
providing, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by
the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="ida83235c51ed34601bc866332d5c999ec">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Studies required</header>
<paragraph id="id6043F47732EB452F960265E01B17C8DA">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct comprehensive studies of the barriers encountered
by veterans in receiving, and administrators and clinicians in providing,
complementary and alternative medicine services furnished by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC77A9625445E4C3A9CEB03E604D27D0E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Studies conducted</header>
<subparagraph id="id87144F575A27449D8A5CBF6855FFDE0E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>Veterans</header>
<text>In conducting the study of veterans, the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="id615bcd6722724b94ac160b8a2c12f750">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>survey veterans who seek or receive hospital care or medical services furnished by the Department,
as well as veterans who do not seek or receive such care or services;</text>
</clause><clause id="id426c92db6ae7421d94d5e31b8dc18150">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>administer the survey to a representative sample of veterans from each Veterans Integrated Service
Network; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id169810318e5143ba975b7c20d3cdef88">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>ensure that the sample of veterans surveyed is of sufficient size for the study results to be
statistically significant.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF736CDD94FC545ADBBAF083397865D5D">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Administrators and clinicians</header>
<text>In conducting the study of clinicians and administrators, the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="id4F2CBB148334499CA85BE898128576DB">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>survey administrators of the Department who are involved in the provision of health care services;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id8A846D9D886C4FDD829952F7B7AC6381">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>survey clinicians that have provided complementary and alternative medicine services through the
program established under section 132 of this Act, after those clinicians
have provided those services through such program for at least 90 days;
and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="idBEF3D7B534A6425FA33D8FAE73A70723">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>administer the survey to administrators under clause (i)—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="idA41881CA518F4E8FBAAFF98F07FAF12E">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>before the introduction of complementary and alternative medicine services through such program;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idCBA08C44FB8E4CE2806822D74B20EC17">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>not earlier than 90 days after the introduction of complementary and alternative medicine services
through such program.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfb01b666bf614eb88f247bd749034426">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements of studies</header>
<paragraph id="idCC5BCB10DBD04E1B88CC18CD100162ED">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Veterans</header>
<text>In conducting the study of veterans required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall study the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id8e7e9ee3be0b4b7ba176cc82fc1ad655">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The perceived barriers associated with obtaining complementary and alternative medicine services
from the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf2094972523544a0a01536f67bdb606c">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The satisfaction of veterans with complementary and alternative medicine services in primary care.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5422288330EF4B57B30D1F6BE2853D3A">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The degree to which veterans are aware of eligibility requirements for, and the scope of services
available under, complementary and alternative medicine services furnished
by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc50c650930b34068bad7abdc4a7b6549">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The effectiveness of outreach to veterans on the availability of complementary and alternative
medicine for veterans.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5f4504a8083045ed8a32e1fa0a2de86d">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Such other barriers as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id66867BABB915400DB06E0617BF24944F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Administrators and clinicians</header>
<text>In conducting the study of administrators and clinicians required by subsection (a), the Secretary
shall study the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id99E03D55A32148ADAFAAEB5F53D2DBE5">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The extent of the integration of complementary and alternative medicine services within the
services provided by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A6B6671C503408CA3BABC223E919C14">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The perception by administrators and clinicians of the structural and attitudinal barriers to the
delivery of high quality complementary and alternative medicine services
by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id52FF46819F6649B685D03C148519563C">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Strategies that have been used to reduce or eliminate such barriers and the results of such
strategies.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id519E4516682A40C6951EFDDAFB444FB7">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The satisfaction of administrators and clinicians regarding the integration of complementary and
alternative medicine services within the services provided by the
Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id77D4E3CB4ADF47A5AD35A0ECDFEC8EE0">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The perception by administrators and clinicians of the value of specific complementary and
alternative medicine services for inpatient and outpatient veteran
populations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id99f234fc7b354307b849762899efdd9b">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Discharge by contract</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a qualified independent entity or organization to
carry out the studies required by this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id02af28c4e6dc4500805551e96881f081">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Mandatory review of data by the National Research Advisory Council</header>
<paragraph id="idaff76937d3684a6a9d15a7e1855e00d5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that the head of the National Research Advisory Council reviews the
results of the studies conducted under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF3B44B04025A4F20A788850412D6B5C1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Submittal of findings</header>
<text>The head of the National Research Advisory Council shall submit findings with respect to the
studies to the Under Secretary for Health and to other pertinent program
offices within the Department with responsibilities relating to health
care services for veterans.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7846c24101464602a8165877cc9e6d32">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="idd6611276395d49ad9dd06dbfe27f9ac6">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Report on implementation</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the status of the implementation of this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id64b5d70d4dfe49baa6c90b3bac5365ec">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Report on study</header>
<subparagraph id="idBBA084996C994895AF998A3BF04DD9D0">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 45 days after the date of the completion of the study, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the study required by subsection (a).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3EE909482A7A4053A6F938696FE4F7BB">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="idBC3FD7D28FE7489EA2DFDF815303596E">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Recommendations for such administrative and legislative proposals and actions as the Secretary
considers appropriate.</text>
</clause><clause id="id94A784EAAC5E482A92B3CF091DEE0833">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The findings of the head of the National Research Advisory Council and of the Under Secretary for
Health.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida86cf462bb734932955d75daac9b6c2b">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<text>There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015 for the Department of Veterans Affairs,
$2,000,000 to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idF9723D5FD67F4B5D848112A74C021730">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Complementary and alternative medicine defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>complementary and alternative medicine</term> shall have the meaning given that term in section 131(e) of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id83DCAA4E21DA4886AC1C6DFB378E71FA">
<enum>134.</enum>
<header>Program on use of wellness programs as complementary approach to mental health care for veterans
and family members of veterans</header>
<subsection id="id2c7c6773d00d4011aa252d2584a7b60b">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required</header>
<paragraph id="id2F769D10819E4502A88856454CFA799A">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program through the award of grants to public
or private nonprofit entities to assess the feasibility and advisability
of using wellness programs to complement the provision of mental health
care to veterans and family members eligible for counseling under section
1712A(a)(1)(C) of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id56872680C5E24DA7B1046722525564B9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Matters to be addressed</header>
<text>The program shall be carried out so as to assess the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id20a8af65dfa440c0b26122150800d357">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Means of improving coordination between Federal, State, local, and community providers of health
care in the provision of mental health care to veterans and family members
described in paragraph (1).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB9A4B5BEEA0F49BA9B7CCBE3BBDD729B">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Means of enhancing outreach, and coordination of outreach, by and among providers of health care
referred to in subparagraph (A) on the mental health care services
available to veterans and family members described in paragraph (1).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id463FDD4E279E4CE7A170428867BF1976">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Means of using wellness programs of providers of health care referred to in subparagraph (A) as
complements to the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs of
mental health care to veterans and family members described in paragraph
(1).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81548754095e48b7a9466a96e41b7aaa">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) are effective in enhancing the quality of
life and well-being of veterans and family members described in paragraph
(1).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id419C1C571B7A40618EBBEBFE9AC7A8D3">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) are effective in increasing the adherence
of veterans described in paragraph (1) to the primary mental health
services provided such veterans by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF64063EDAADF49C4B1F4DC99A90DCD9F">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) have an impact on the sense of well-being
of
veterans described in paragraph (1) who receive primary mental health
services from the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45A4B53D51EC4F3CB666F8E883B2BCA2">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>Whether wellness programs described in subparagraph (C) are effective in encouraging veterans
receiving health care from the Department to adopt a more healthy
lifestyle.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7F733A6A66934DF88A363EE8F9A6E29A">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the program for a period of three years beginning on the date that is
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id52cd2a63e26b4ff88d98a108803dd5c6">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Locations</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the program at facilities of the Department providing mental health
care services to veterans and family members described in subsection
(a)(1).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idE579FA7ED1224C6D84CEBB049033B9C8">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Grant proposals</header>
<paragraph id="idCB8F5D6B95AD464EA5B25164F0673FC6">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>A public or private nonprofit entity seeking the award of a grant under this section shall submit
an application therefor to the Secretary in such form and in such manner
as the Secretary may require.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id80191febc81f43bfb7702a8dc9cddbe4">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Application contents</header>
<text>Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id86df4daaa9ae49b6aa082cf3e66da2f0">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A plan to coordinate activities under the program, to the extent possible, with the Federal, State,
and local providers of services for veterans to enhance the following:</text>
<clause id="id2037ABC339AE4E758DB89E3E8D9CE759">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Awareness by veterans of benefits and health care services provided by the Department.</text>
</clause><clause id="id4026099F6D254284AC0087FD91D4215F">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Outreach efforts to increase the use by veterans of services provided by the Department.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1760893EC07E45CBA634FCE29A88612B">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Educational efforts to inform veterans of the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13be0f9932b947f1be50ee899c0189d6">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A statement of understanding from the entity submitting the application that, if selected, such
entity will be required to report to the Secretary periodically on
standardized data and other performance data necessary to evaluate
individual outcomes and to facilitate evaluations among entities
participating in the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51B869A5E4B24EFCBCA9E3F388FFFEBA">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Other requirements that the Secretary may prescribe.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9CDB54EE64B446DFA6CF842A0FD5CC41">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Grant uses</header>
<paragraph id="idEAF48F65004F456099B73E7D0B92D94F">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>A public or private nonprofit entity awarded a grant under this section shall use the award for
purposes prescribed by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6D5FE4449EEA4BD491B021D5C195BDBF">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Eligible veterans and family</header>
<text>In carrying out the purposes prescribed by the Secretary in paragraph (1), a public or private
nonprofit entity awarded a grant under this section shall use the award to
furnish services only to individuals specified in section 1712A(a)(1)(C)
of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id756393FC01A84E128B9EAA48DCE97403">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="iddb1f4ac48f4e41d28af85e587b323541">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Periodic reports</header>
<subparagraph id="id6D9C1F831019408A9EB75F10483125EB">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the commencement of the program, and every 180 days
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id07a8a350c21c4f09b203f7ae56b8ec1b">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Report elements</header>
<text>Each report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="idb92580dec5864ae78a6798f8427de826">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program during the 180-day period
preceding the report.</text>
</clause><clause id="id0dfa9b909d254f9ea308ade38797bd3e">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the benefits of the program to veterans and their family members during the
180-day period preceding the report.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1bd365e4804477dadb5fe3b94110e99">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the end of the program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report detailing the recommendations of the Secretary as to the
advisability of continuing or expanding the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8CDA180B02A04418AAA504D7DC836677">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Wellness defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>wellness</term> has the meaning given that term in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idA54B0BA9ADC14451964F7138CA60AAD0" style="OLC">
<enum>E</enum>
<header>Mental Health Care</header>
<section id="idE21E2EF8DFFB4A5CAB862C6E979B1614">
<enum>141.</enum>
<header>Inclusion of mental health professionals in the education and training program for health personnel
of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="idEC0E418C0462432695BAE8B5A817C234">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>In carrying out the education and training program required under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7302">section 7302(a)(1)</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include
education and training of marriage and family therapists and licensed
professional mental health counselors.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC6072446169043409A9E74E72AF135D8">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<text>The Secretary shall apportion funding for the education and training program equally among the
professions included in the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0F1EE9D7B44E49D09829EEC2FA8DEE66">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id411E8A4F1CB6423F8983ECCDA6629D36">
<enum>142.</enum>
<header>Report on provision of mental health services for families of certain veterans at facilities of the
Department</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the feasibility and advisability of providing services under the
program established by section 304(a) of the Caregivers and Veterans
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/163">Public Law 111–163</external-xref>; 38 U.S.C. 1712A
note) at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id349C7BFABDC44D5E9693D2B389387507">
<enum>143.</enum>
<header>Annual report on community mental health partnership pilot program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAD6519B9622A4DCAA79B676AD0D050B7">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and not later than September 30
each year thereafter until the completion of the pilot program described
in subsection (b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on that pilot
program.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id31DCA9226F6048DB80C932760FAD8F28">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Pilot program described</header>
<text>The pilot program described in this subsection is the pilot program conducted by the Veterans
Health Administration to connect medical centers of the Department of
Veterans Affairs with community-based mental health care providers and
substance abuse treatment providers for the purpose of assisting in the
treatment of veterans with mental health disorders, commonly known as the <quote>Community Mental Health Partnership Pilot</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19CD0CC198C449E39E289CE8A87055CD">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idbdbdca30e1fd4f3a91ae4762d74c2e9e">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The number of sites participating in the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc2891505e3094affb277f720ef17f8fd">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals participating in the pilot program at each site.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7bc30eb6962e4a36b84d72f9f2a1bdeb">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A detailed assessment of the effectiveness of, the participation of veterans in, and the
satisfaction of veterans with the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id19736247981e45698c597b672244ab68">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>An analysis of barriers to the effectiveness of, the participation of veterans in, and the
satisfaction of veterans with the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id072f33ab7d1f4f8b94b33a01898ef290">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>A description of the plans of the Secretary to conduct outreach and provide information to veterans
and community mental health providers with respect to the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2c985cd1563141df82e5b1b6628cee80">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>A description of any plans to expand the pilot program, including plans that focus on the unique
needs of veterans located in rural areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1a60fc3ee8704e40b71f52c0b42e3f15">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>An explanation of how the care provided under the pilot program is consistent with the minimum
clinical mental health guidelines promulgated by the Veterans Health
Administration, including clinical guidelines contained in the Uniform
Mental Health Services Handbook of such Administration.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id26AD93D09175442F8BF684DFCF93EFA1" style="OLC">
<enum>F</enum>
<header>Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement</header>
<section id="idc9f8a4f5-2a53-4eda-bfd9-9385d55bd971">
<enum>151.</enum>
<header>Restorative dental services for veterans</header>
<subsection id="idE475810E5F69468A920A675E046C26D1">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1710(c) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id270f6973-0661-4f19-8e79-59a40aae9597">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in the second sentence—</text>
<subparagraph id="iddf8f292d-652e-4785-8524-18d33c4961c1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id298b2da3-ece5-4668-b75c-2c04b7587847">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id78b4d7cb-395d-4d64-bbcb-35b8d718d07f">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> after <quote>(c)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2b2caf61-5cf3-451f-b65c-06b0c35ffbd6">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>The Secretary</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide1f8f34d-6ee7-4c2a-9e61-6fb77fa7338a" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id612a3c2b-64ac-410d-b3a5-20ee6d99508b" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The Secretary</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3c8d74f2-227f-453c-84ea-9ae5ac90ce88">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4d0647bc-9ac7-4a0b-81cf-17016c73b608" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idda256227-b0db-4db0-bfa7-f7452d62c55d" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>In addition to the dental services, treatment, and appliances authorized to be furnished by
paragraph (2), the Secretary may furnish dental services and treatment,
and dental appliances, needed to restore functioning in a veteran that is
lost as a result of any services or treatment furnished under this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2EEF25618D5F417FB0DC8334DF5AE22E">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ide5abc70d-a09d-464a-9a8a-10539a91bd7c">
<enum>152.</enum>
<header>Pilot program on expansion of furnishing of dental care to all enrolled veterans</header>
<subsection id="id210c48cb-ea3a-4796-b09b-cd663bc0a9d9">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Pilot program required</header>
<text>Commencing not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility
and advisability of furnishing dental care to veterans enrolled in the
system of patient enrollment under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1705">section 1705</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code, who are not eligible for dental services and treatment, and related
dental appliances, under current authorities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ide86906d6-8005-48bc-9d13-a35f4fafa2e8">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Duration of pilot program</header>
<text>The pilot program shall be carried out during the three-year period beginning on the date of the
commencement of the pilot program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8d666147-ebc3-4d40-b5db-b9d48ad7258c">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Locations</header>
<paragraph id="idee861acf-f289-45b6-a1c6-d8a00232c783">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than 16 locations as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="idbfca5bc3-68eb-4c9f-9db9-106b2e7a3e04">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Four Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers with an established dental clinic with capacity
available for the furnishing of services and treatment under the pilot
program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45d226b1-1a35-4a26-94b9-b2cf05a23317">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Four Department medical centers with a current contract for the furnishing of dental care.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id489079c9-0ced-4414-bb13-1db02c5e42ef">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Four Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) with capacity available for the furnishing of
services
and treatment under the pilot program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6a78ca28-32c9-4dc3-adc3-a5b0dedd4d62">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Four facilities selected from among Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Indian Health
Service facilities with established dental clinics, of which—</text>
<clause id="id69ae9b60-2ae5-4b89-96f6-95900b660f58">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>at least one facility shall be such an Indian Health Service facility; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idf6e1a26d-4a4b-4138-b85d-a3a44b07c88e">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>any Indian Health Service facility so selected shall be selected in consultation with the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1c207be-b4cb-4309-93b3-2bea8441d9de">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Considerations</header>
<text>In selecting locations for the pilot program, the Secretary shall consider the feasibility and
advisability of selecting locations in each of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id84589db5-c181-408d-b572-1d1fae9722d7">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Rural areas.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id24b1fc43-22e9-4cb0-ba16-56005b32c59d">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Areas that are not in close proximity to an active duty military installation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id985c66fb-00df-4cb1-8a26-19f1f5f9ab4d">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Areas representing different geographic locations, such as census tracts established by the Bureau
of Census.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idCD5CD91688104526B61C36FBE0D440C1">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Limitation on number of participating veterans</header>
<paragraph id="id31CE2174DB7248C0887ED81645B17B70">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The total number of eligible veterans who may participate in the pilot program may not exceed
30,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8328B06156D0487DAFCDA3F49028A222">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Distribution of limitation</header>
<text>In applying the limitation in paragraph (1) to the pilot program, the Secretary shall distribute
the limitation across and among locations selected for the pilot program
in a manner that takes appropriate account of the size and need of
veterans for dental services at each such location.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd7092872-fd4e-44cc-8279-757f71a4c37a">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Scope of services</header>
<text>The dental services and treatment furnished to veterans under the pilot program shall be consistent
with the dental services and treatment furnished by the Secretary to
veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 100 percent disabling
under the laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id11d0ce2d-206a-47f6-83e9-a9a8a7d2d126">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Voluntary participation</header>
<text>The participation of a veteran in the pilot program shall be at the election of the veteran.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id07b1d17f-abea-476e-b420-11518080ce5d">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Limitation on amount of services</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id120a46a8-085a-438a-84d4-d64b81bc7105">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The total amount the Secretary may expend furnishing dental services and treatment to a veteran
participating in the pilot program during any one-year period may not
exceed such amount as the Secretary determines appropriate. The amount so
determined may not be less than $1,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id46bc6a10-3ec9-479b-8d5d-97c825102820">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Consultation</header>
<text>The Secretary shall make the determination under paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id31370c67-733e-41e3-8ee3-a50a3f783ed1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in consultation with the Director of the Indian Health Service; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5f0fe7ec-3e56-4c0a-a3b9-e911b0df7ecd">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in consultation with the Director of the Health Resources and Services Administration of the
Department of Health and Human Services if one or more Federally Qualified
Health Center is selected as a location for the pilot program under
subsection (c)(1)(D).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id7793e90a-12c7-4a73-bd4b-cf4fdbd50883">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Copayments</header>
<text>The Secretary may collect copayments for dental services and treatment furnished under the pilot
program in accordance with authorities on the collection of copayments for
medical care of veterans under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/17">chapter 17</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id684cabd8-43b9-4e11-a1ce-51319ccd4a05">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<header>Program administration</header>
<paragraph id="idfce3dc2a-095b-47bd-94a3-baa0fc17c0f8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Notice to eligible veterans on pilot program</header>
<text>In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall inform all veterans eligible to participate
in the pilot program of the services and treatment available under the
pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idebdd055b-a766-4c2f-85b1-05c68fdcb38f">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contracts</header>
<text>In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary may enter into contracts with appropriate entities
for the provision of dental services and treatment under the pilot
program. Each such contract shall specify performance standards and
metrics and processes for ensuring compliance of the contractor concerned
with such performance standards.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9cf208df-c181-4241-a9e6-4cebcd9c1ef4">
<enum>(j)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id8352a507-e845-4cc9-8950-a741ae836c3e">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Preliminary reports</header>
<subparagraph id="id0a0e2779-84e2-4029-8a96-b0c7482c043d">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than each of 540 days and three years after the date of the commencement of the pilot
program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the pilot program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e876a09-c802-49bc-983c-c93c865bb2ab">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>Each report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id3844ea9f-9dae-4faa-96c6-c51a52494678">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>A description of the implementation and operation of the pilot program.</text>
</clause><clause id="id73b79f60-7e03-4f83-b89f-baaa53abfc93">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The number of veterans receiving services and treatment under the pilot program, and a description
of the dental services and treatment furnished to such veterans.</text>
</clause><clause id="idfad8874d-91b8-4188-8909-512d6987f52c">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>An analysis of the costs and benefits of the pilot program, including a comparison of costs and
benefits by location type.</text>
</clause><clause id="id76835A3374DB44EF957AC65EDD072515">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the impact of the pilot program on medical care, wellness, employability, and
perceived quality of life of veterans.</text>
</clause><clause id="idff5edc38-fbe1-480e-b30b-fd92bac7289a">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>The current findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program.</text>
</clause><clause id="idbffd7152-ac6e-41c8-8440-b7d90d19f425">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program as the Secretary
considers appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9667df7-b5d3-4e3c-af26-89a44ff70c59">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<subparagraph id="idb6fd31d8-61ed-4dbc-916d-d5c33df87a8e">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the pilot
program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd35f3f46-2ea1-485d-8f27-77d393e14b0f">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="idbae3198b-b927-4c08-9f05-667bdf01eaba">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idac9d8751-8669-413a-a36e-f7ac53165217">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot program as the Secretary
considers appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE30EAF50806A479AB9B562F0116ADF4E">
<enum>(k)</enum>
<header>Federally Qualified Health Center defined</header>
<text>In this section the term <term>Federally Qualified Health Center</term> means a Federally-qualified health center as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id7FA27CCD2AFF495DB83F09367290A7F8">
<enum>(l)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id9e087179-2a40-4579-8da3-5ccdf033a6da">
<enum>153.</enum>
<header>Program on education to promote dental health in veterans</header>
<subsection id="idb66e69e2-9fbc-4873-849c-2b979c6d5c58">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required</header>
<paragraph id="idc925d062-9c6f-472b-9eec-2be9d4c21e40">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program of education to promote dental health
for veterans who are enrolled in the system of patient enrollment of the
Department of Veterans Affairs under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1705">section 1705</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idefc631eb-eab7-4c20-a516-0b13a8405ab4">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Construction</header>
<text>Nothing in the program shall be deemed to alter or revise the eligibility of any veteran for dental
care under the laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id50f11e22-7ce9-484e-bc24-71e3ec0f66d1">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The program required by subsection (a) shall provide education for veterans on the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id798c452f-083e-436d-87ff-2a2361221868">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The association between dental health and overall health and well-being.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id353d1fd6-b962-48c8-856e-67b35e25ce83">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Proper techniques for dental care.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd9f95150-dfa0-429d-a2d7-4ad537956f01">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Signs and symptoms of commonly occurring dental conditions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb0b1551e-4420-420b-9ae0-b03ba0eac5ef">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Treatment options for commonly occurring dental issues.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id71a9321c-0659-4acc-95ec-799641b92e57">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Options for obtaining access to dental care, including information on eligibility for dental care
through the Department and on purchasing private dental insurance.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4b82dc4b-7042-48d3-b6e9-4a99c638e876">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>Available and accessible options for obtaining low or no-cost dental care, including through dental
schools and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id147945eb-cf41-49d7-8242-a88dbec6da50">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>Such other matters relating to dental health as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3299e665-41ef-4111-8cfb-5962d3dd754c">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Delivery of educational materials</header>
<paragraph id="id0aa72e13-f08d-4e64-b53f-a17ceabe29b5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall provide educational materials to veterans under the program required by
subsection (a) through a variety of mechanisms, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id43e3a1f7-9205-441c-925e-d5d814f637b5">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The availability and distribution of print materials at Department facilities (including at medical
centers, clinics, Vet Centers, and readjustment counseling centers) and to
providers (including members of Patient Aligned Care Teams).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4e579d2e-66c7-4db3-a261-00587e752a3f">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The availability and distribution of materials over the Internet, including through webinars and My
HealtheVet.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4796c9d4-df95-4eb3-afd3-9c201c0d4891">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Presentations of information, including both small group and large group presentations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id351b7533-a36d-4d55-a2b4-4473d161dcf5">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Selection of mechanisms</header>
<text>In selecting mechanisms for purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall select mechanisms
designed to maximize the number of veterans who receive education under
the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC3D0EA5A4C1145EDB7E52A7CAE1C7B84">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Federally Qualified Health Center defined</header>
<text>In this section the term <term>Federally Qualified Health Center</term> means a Federally-qualified health center as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idAE8828DDBE2D4D0E804106223C4D2B9A">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id07F85976D51A43FA94125946E6211415">
<enum>154.</enum>
<header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2015
$305,000,000 to carry out this subtitle and the amendments made by this
subtitle. The amount so authorized to be appropriated shall be available
for obligation for the five-year period beginning on the date that is one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="id82B512410188414797511D7D019D0DA8" style="OLC">
<enum>G</enum>
<header>Health Care Related to Sexual Trauma</header>
<section id="id65C8AD353F394E44871AE4547C71C81D">
<enum>161.</enum>
<header>Expansion of eligibility for sexual trauma counseling and treatment to veterans on inactive duty
training</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1720D(a)(1) is amended by striking <quote>or active duty for training</quote> and inserting <quote>, active duty for training, or inactive duty training</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id9644CB67D3464550B8385AC2775A8CC7">
<enum>162.</enum>
<header>Provision of counseling and treatment for sexual trauma by the Department of Veterans Affairs to
members of the Armed Forces</header>
<subsection id="id379FE8D8E16C48ADA67E4872DD0BEB8A">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Expansion of coverage to members of the Armed Forces</header>
<text>Subsection (a) of section 1720D is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id23477BDAE1214F7E9B6FFF5D20BA9C5B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7CCE4863851A449A93CE8D82CE3AFE5F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id74BC7FD3BA4D49FF9102677F60CB79D0" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id48B2AA141F224B919A01438F0435AA19" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id03E1755E208D44B3929FBAB5BB3D5D7B"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>In operating the program required by paragraph (1), the Secretary may, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, provide counseling and care and services to members
of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves)
on active duty to overcome psychological trauma described in that
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDB6537B13EE047D392F108A13B93692C" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A member described in subparagraph (A) shall not be required to obtain a referral before receiving
counseling and care and services under this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6B5039667F5F42A0831B50A4C6025D9E">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idEA6982A8841D429E979648A872A9156B">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>a veteran</quote> and inserting <quote>an individual</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDCDD58842BF7473089ADE3DC948D07A1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>that veteran</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>that individual</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD48240CB1B9143C7B04A99D56C929ECD">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Information to members on availability of counseling and services</header>
<text>Subsection (c) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id66CA0D03E7D448B2BD8034A3F6027CCF">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>to veterans</quote> each place it appears; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idAFFDD5CF93E341718CE181AF459D9AC0">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (3), by inserting <quote>members of the Armed Forces and</quote> before <quote>individuals</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4E7D2E599DF341A09F4261E451CF42AA">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Inclusion of members in reports on counseling and services</header>
<text>Subsection (e) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id75B080FAF99B47E1812D6C028A8DA283">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>to veterans</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1A10AE56E75F43439F20ED61D9E69F42">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (2)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3E45364BFBF74F45B9C0829945B5477A">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>women veterans</quote> and inserting <quote>individuals</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id415839B622694369930B6C8314C6FD69">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>training under subsection (d).</quote> and inserting “training under subsection (d), disaggregated by—</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1E13CB72FD794E2AB374E365E80C6703" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id857AA19C7E0249188D2EDC9DE5083F32">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>veterans;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA59DB2A245AD4E398C31CDE0A42ABECB">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>members of the Armed Forces (including members of the National Guard and Reserves) on active duty;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id975B33A20D584E429FEAD2829447D921">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>for each of subparagraphs (A) and (B)—</text>
<clause id="idF7D2DCD6C20B41159DFB11B1EF0271BD">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>men; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id7AE2C7394739462B8D3507EED79C8492">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>women.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD51DC3DDD56F4BC2A6176139D53BE83F">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>veterans</quote> and inserting <quote>individuals</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB91323F29AEB44BFA0488BB80D514250">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (5)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idD054A00C08E0418B81A8CF8F8B775899">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>women veterans</quote> and inserting <quote>individuals</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF4EB46B904164933A12E0A1C172E4F34">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>, including specific recommendations for individuals specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C)
of paragraph (2)</quote> before the period at the end.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id660A89BBBA2247CB8F0DA5D992CB48A2">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id2DA68C109A9A4993A24D515A0D258296">
<enum>163.</enum>
<header>Department of Veterans Affairs screening mechanism to detect incidents of domestic abuse</header>
<subsection id="id69CABDB66B354512B19987AF60D7C418">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall develop and implement a screening mechanism to be used when
a veteran seeks healthcare services from the Department of Veterans
Affairs to detect if the veteran has been a victim of domestic abuse for
purposes of improving the treatment of the veteran and assessing the
prevalence of domestic abuse in the veteran population.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id563CC18FFC71449598845ACE641DB00C">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Readily available screening tools</header>
<text>In developing and implementing a screening mechanism under subsection (a), the Secretary may
incorporate into the screening mechanism such readily available screening
tools as the Secretary considers appropriate for the screening mechanism.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id1631532AD5854F40AA778ACA8C0EDBFB">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Domestic abuse defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>domestic abuse</term> means behavior with respect to an individual that—</text>
<paragraph id="id6D7F7013DE3A4CD78A846F8AA17C2361">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>constitutes—</text>
<subparagraph id="idA4D3BC7DC4634AF990B068DE9A9DDB25">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>a pattern of behavior resulting in physical or emotional abuse, economic control, or interference
with the personal liberty of that individual;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5C3C550282D04BE8A2110FA4237D5CEF">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>a violation of Federal or State law involving the use, attempted use, or threatened use of force or
violence against that individual; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7BE8EC6D2FB149358323446E08DDCCD9">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>a violation of a lawful order issued for the protection of that individual; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4D75F69AB5E44D5C803E05B33307067E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>is committed by a person who—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2E374CD755C140A88C36A36C1CFF7916">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>is a current or former spouse or domestic partner of that individual;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id07CD2B09186A48E0BA3E8F4B1589DB47">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>shares a child in common with that individual;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAFA8FC1C25C544A7AFAE8D4000856702">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>is a current or former intimate partner of that individual that shares or has shared a common
domicile with that individual;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id633329324FF04F4CB95AC8A0A91DA6B4">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>is a caregiver or family caregiver of that individual (as such terms are defined in section
1720G(d) of title 38, United States Code); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2285D873E44445F180B4127E52427B30">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>is in any other type of relationship with that individual that the Secretary may specify for
purposes of this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idD7ED49AD065546C3A1C31DF262481353">
<enum>164.</enum>
<header>Reports on military sexual trauma and domestic abuse</header>
<subsection id="idA1516EA0A055455BA90634C06C74DFA6">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Report on services available for military sexual trauma in the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<text>Not later than 630 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the treatment and services available from the Department of
Veterans Affairs for male veterans who experience military sexual trauma
compared to such treatment and services available to female veterans who
experience military sexual trauma.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id522267E2AA704230B4D70D3B98A369A9">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report on domestic abuse among veterans</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the implementation of the screening mechanism required by section
163(a) of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, shall jointly submit to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of
the House of Representatives a report on domestic abuse among veterans
that includes the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id24984664A5AD4C969DCB6A3BB19C9714">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>A summary of the types, outcomes, and circumstances of incidents of domestic abuse that have been
reported by veterans during the two-year period preceding the submission
of the report.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD8C3BA4E21DB405CB6222C45F8AA4FE6">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>A summary of the treatments available from the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who
experience domestic abuse and an assessment of the effectiveness of those
treatments.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEC603D4AE9F44B819B66CB3BDE8BB9BE">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Data and analysis on any correlation between an incident of military sexual trauma or sexual trauma
experienced after the age of 18 and domestic abuse.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE9738CA79F17494EB7E30CA31CC81ADD">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Any other issues that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention determines appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id627A3B06980847CBBC81BA7CC87B43DD">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Reports on transition of military sexual trauma and domestic abuse treatment from Department of
Defense to Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<text>Not later than 630 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for
five years, the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint
Executive Committee established by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/320">section 320(a)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on military sexual trauma and domestic abuse that includes the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="idEC896E3A2CF74978B7A47FFBF307EDE7">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The processes and procedures utilized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of
Defense to facilitate transition of treatment of individuals who have
experienced military sexual trauma or domestic abuse from treatment
provided by the Department of Defense to treatment provided by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1490D28EEE6D48CD8C945926A23DADE5">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>A description and assessment of the collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and
the Department of Defense in assisting veterans in filing claims for
disabilities related to military sexual trauma or domestic abuse,
including permitting veterans access to information and evidence necessary
to develop or support such claims.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2EDE6ED9D0224DB4B70FC9DE8816FE03">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id6C1BDA06D5A7412C8FFA23FBC4359892">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Appropriate committees of congress</header>
<text>The term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="idDFEC58934262419197D7697D065D8CE6">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1DD3AB86C1F641CDA7700A30DEAB8D17">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idABC40E23E58F423AB4B8EDF4437C6A08">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Domestic abuse</header>
<text>The term <term>domestic abuse</term> has the meaning given that term in section 163(c) of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id49E8CFE2CE2A43628AA48B704005F517">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Military sexual trauma</header>
<text>The term <term>military sexual trauma</term> means psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a mental health professional employed by the
Department, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery
of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the veteran
was serving on active duty or active duty for training.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6781AEC8D92D4E7E84BE9962FA2C005D">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Sexual harassment</header>
<text>The term <term>sexual harassment</term> means repeated, unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature which is threatening in
character.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id335DF9478406483E96891736B63D28C5">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<header>Sexual trauma</header>
<text>The term <term>sexual trauma</term> shall have the meaning given that term by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of this
section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCDC39F7A822B45219FA565456AC15AA9">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is 270 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id9601A5014E614DFC8267E9B29EE430ED" style="OLC"><enum>H</enum><header>Reproductive treatment and services</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26C453B2C56F443B865AC07147327F80"><enum>171.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification that fertility counseling and treatment are medical services which the Secretary may
furnish to veterans like other medical services</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1701(6), as amended by section 114(b)(1) of this Act, is further amended by adding at the
end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id34A50B422EC1497685E34FF3C64E80CC" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF160251DF15E42DA9ADBD1456640ECCE"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fertility counseling and treatment, including treatment using assisted reproductive technology.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE91788E47BBB432D9AE3FF1F0DEF5D8D"><enum>172.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reproductive treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of veterans</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id37536526303D492790BD79E9B7AADC87"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id764B30C7F5684433ACD8E4BEBC8F6981" style="USC"><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5A794F6170EF49DB9A86A51C35D98D4D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1788.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reproductive treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of veterans</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2A111D00194344228C3C25D30ACEEBEC"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall furnish fertility counseling and treatment, including through the use of
assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse or surrogate of a severely
wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has an infertility condition incurred
or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air
service and who is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment
established under section 1705(a) of this title if the spouse or surrogate
and the veteran apply jointly for such counseling and treatment through a
process prescribed by the Secretary.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id988EF864CB014B4BB296B0E29A91B61D"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination of care for other spouses and surrogates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a spouse or surrogate of a veteran not described in subsection (a) who is seeking
fertility counseling and treatment, the Secretary may coordinate fertility
counseling and treatment for such spouse or surrogate.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA3CB3C72A59049359500F75019424964"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7304265499AE4BF2B262B63A9371252E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to find or certify a surrogate for a veteran or to connect a surrogate with a veteran; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id422BC71F735B4547B03A4EFA21886E8E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to furnish maternity care to a spouse or surrogate of a veteran.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEA43209343D8480F9690FBFD80118FE1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Assisted reproductive technology defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>assisted reproductive technology</term> includes in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are
handled when clinically appropriate.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC2F5FB290A854F4F90CCD99223051EFB"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1787 the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id35D1CC51252F4D1681818B67285AEDEE" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1788. Reproductive treatment and care for spouses and surrogates of veterans.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id37692AAD0B054634ACF1FB7B5EDDB0B9"><enum>173.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Adoption assistance for severely wounded veterans</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1B2C6EA63558485DAB36445C685EC5E5"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter VIII of chapter 17, as amended by section 172(a) of this Act, is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8ACF97F3943C4348BBEF8DE391C03749" style="USC"><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF86A48F6B4CF4458910936A1FBE51DEE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1789.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Adoption assistance</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD82323A72FE404187BFC36EC3CFCE30"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may pay an amount, not to exceed the limitation amount, to assist a covered veteran
in the adoption of one or more children.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05AF442599984BF4AABDDE73E52F7FFD"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered veteran</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this section, a covered veteran is any severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran
who—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idED8C00A6C3624589917346774945B790"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval,
or air service; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id63225CC36F8B4DCF951E37374429B670"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established under section 1705(a) of this
title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id371D582FC0FC4E4CA2F6656D5F281DA6"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this section, the limitation amount is the amount equal to the lesser of—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BB1CEDE35EC46468BEAE1FEF037C102"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the cost the Department would incur if the Secretary were to provide a covered veteran with one
cycle of fertility treatment through the use of assisted reproductive
technology under section 1788 of this title, as determined by the
Secretary; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6E2B0F4176D944A0B1F9BF781B9BC8CA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the cost the Department would incur by paying the expenses of three adoptions by covered veterans,
as determined by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1010C9AB3CBE4893B190BC98A140AB53"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Assisted reproductive technology defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>assisted reproductive technology</term> has the meaning given that term in section 1788 of this title.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79F3DF8BF2D245C792030FC2951CA9A9"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17, as amended by section 172(b) of this Act, is
further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1788 the
following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4D2313198F9D4EDF9D39016B5FC66395" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1789. Adoption assistance.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id806E46DC0894431D831E8C7EBDEAA1B6"><enum>174.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations on furnishing of fertility counseling and treatment and adoption assistance by
Department of Veterans Affairs</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id846C71830CD1492C8D119C63A07253FC"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall prescribe regulations—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26A8AFDFBA084639ADAF1EBA1F1D9593"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on the furnishing of fertility treatment to veterans using assisted reproductive technology;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93A7367434DB4547B7615A064FB1DE49"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to carry out <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1788">section 1788</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 172 of this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6BD51FAFD8A54797B9D06A3607252D42"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to carry out section 1789 of such title, as added by section 173 of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB23CB8F241CC4865A861D7445D69D5DB"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which the Secretary
prescribes regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary may not
furnish—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD8540C76175484E8AE74C43C9111E1A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to a veteran any fertility treatment that uses an assisted reproductive technology that the
Secretary has not used in the provision of a fertility treatment to a
veteran before the date of the enactment of this Act;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0A8F3245CC384ABF8986E9FF226FAB17"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any fertility counseling or treatment under section 1788 of such title, as added by section 172 of
this Act; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD3FCFB3CB2354F5A92664C8B57940696"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any assistance under section 1789 of such title, as added by section 173 of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id66CFC5711E7C47F6AE0D0B860B2BF1D1"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assisted reproductive technology defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>assisted reproductive technology</term> has the meaning given the term in section 1788 of such title, as added by section 172 of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id033513F49AB34393A04993EF7BDAE262"><enum>175.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination between Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense on furnishing of
fertility counseling and treatment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall share best practices and
facilitate referrals, as they consider appropriate, on the furnishing of
fertility counseling and treatment.</text></section><section id="idEF7579D5E3D34455913EB3C46A3D10C2"><enum>176.</enum><header>Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research</header><subsection id="id2B50F745C2AC46A7A70F554B0F80FE28"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter II of chapter 73, as amended by section 124(a) of this Act, is further amended by adding
at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFA15112DA622462A80E06FFF97E20E9C" style="USC"><section id="idA271C7508A6943BDBFD97DB8203A4548"><enum>7330C.</enum><header>Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research</header><subsection id="id3524409BE78846B5B8FCE3B0C4164489"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Facilitation of research required</header><text>The Secretary shall facilitate research conducted collaboratively by the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the ability of the
Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the long-term reproductive health
care needs of veterans who have a genitourinary service-connected
disability or a condition that was incurred or aggravated in line of duty
in the active military, naval, or air service, such as a spinal cord
injury, that affects the veterans' ability to reproduce.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7E28E1E3C3F847B39F8EFA260C105F7A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Dissemination of information</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that information produced by the research facilitated under this section
that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans Health
Administration is disseminated throughout the Veterans Health
Administration.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id78331DDB3B134C81ACB65D93EC0D8327"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73, as amended by section 124(b) of this Act, is
further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330B the
following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47410DE1B4C74EADB9706428F19204EB" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7330C. Facilitation of reproduction and infertility research.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD9A3631B7424CBDB66407BF8EA8C183"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the research activities
conducted by the Secretary under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7330C">section 7330C</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3282E43B109E4D74996CD482479ED967"><enum>177.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual report on provision of fertility counseling and treatment furnished by Department of
Veterans Affairs</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB1A589614EE04EF4944C250487F78A55"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than
annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the
fertility counseling and treatment furnished by the Department of Veterans
Affairs during the year preceding the submittal of the report.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id89E3BA02D76443E3BC34D3C8B1C18520"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the
following:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id488EF08DCEED4FEBA54FED271AB3686B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of veterans who received fertility counseling or treatment furnished by the Department
of Veterans Affairs, disaggregated by era of military service of such
veterans.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id865952007AB94F9182E2909FF29C376C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of spouses and surrogates of veterans who received fertility counseling or treatment
furnished by the Department.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67ABB4F9C1804639B6272DF6EDD01488"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The cost to the Department of furnishing fertility counseling and treatment, disaggregated by cost
of services and administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC04EAACAA8E246BE91FA8020476EAC43"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The average cost to the Department per recipient of such counseling and treatment.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1CA3837BC195452DADE54F27D17565D9"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In cases in which the Department furnished fertility treatment through the use of assisted
reproductive technology, the average number of cycles per person
furnished.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id42AC732D59494D449E4F64BEF9D954F3"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of how fertility counseling and treatment services of the Department are coordinated
with similar services of the Department of Defense.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idA3FDBB3874CF43DEA486DC3F183060CA"><enum>178.</enum><header>Program on assistance for child care for certain veterans</header><subsection id="idE26667E3DBFF4CE6A31309D7EC2A82DA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care</header><paragraph id="id62BE34A9DB1C4DE5A0687E42FE9B800E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id18E0E7AFF5654F288C4FE79233062D84" style="USC"><section id="idD7F9361D92FC4BCE9CE4E69BBC466303"><enum>1709B.</enum><header>Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care</header><subsection id="idA853736A133F41C8BB21EAA6B1B20D6B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program required</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to
qualified veterans described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so
that such veterans can receive health care services described in
subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="id299DE7BEBC824B63A1F056DACBCE49B4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation on period of payments</header><text>Assistance may only be provided to a qualified veteran under this section for receipt of child care
during the period that the qualified veteran—</text><paragraph id="idD51FA49768D048B7A7713E71531048CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>receives health care services described in subsection (c) at a facility of the Department; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC6DDD80C1A5D429DBBD0BD8A7F1004EC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>requires travel to and from such facility for the receipt of such health care services.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id62359ECD8EF84488BB0712CECE9E2EF5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualified veterans</header><text>For purposes of this section, a qualified veteran is a veteran who is—</text><paragraph id="id0E2D9F0362EE4DCFAAD13F14B068A049"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the primary caretaker of a child or children; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6331E039B81547B19BA6271A20809FFB"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD59CCC6076A240A0923C82B99A0BBA2F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>receiving from the Department—</text><clause id="id913DD2579B5A4060A754D47B02AD43B4" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>regular mental health care services;</text></clause><clause id="id8A48A3A5DC7E4C5FA5C1D6DB9D5958AF" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>intensive mental health care services; or</text></clause><clause id="idE26259F0B8C444A5858B9EBC3CC10228" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>such other intensive health care services that the Secretary determines that provision of
assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would improve access to
such health care services by the veteran; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2BFB2C68080048AD8FE552CDD9185EF1" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in need of regular or intensive mental health care services from the Department, and but for lack
of child care services, would receive such health care services from the
Department.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4FBECD7C0ED74B1C9579E7B795E57BBF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Locations</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out the program in no fewer than three Veterans Integrated Service
Networks selected by the Secretary for purposes of the program.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7E64FA08AB6546DCB4E52FD421F322D4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Forms of child care assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4C28F5504905434E84A82A1B0EEC8CA7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Child care assistance under this section may include the following:</text><subparagraph id="idEAA641D072BE4E069FAFA5EB6B787B6C" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Stipends for the payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly or
through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable,
modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy
Program established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/67">Public Law 107–67</external-xref>; 115 Stat. 552).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6CEBD59EB5BA4C03B86E418303CBE07A" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility of the Department.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id49559B7439604E89AD4AC9249AF889FB" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Payments to private child care agencies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2AECDF34DA214B4C953BF65E14AE1871" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9E34BC3394E44F49B423310C863A90DC" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3D394F33A913465BB8669AA418ED7315" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the case that child care assistance under this section is provided as a stipend under paragraph
(1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id0DA47006E31149F4B6C291FE86CF7834"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1709A the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id086BFA7633EA43B293C282430DC27A1F" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1709B. Assistance for child care for certain veterans receiving health care.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id28A932967384491D8B858818246FBDFB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 205(e) of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law
111–163; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1710">38 U.S.C. 1710</external-xref> note) is amended by inserting <quote>but not after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title></quote> before the period at the end.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idAE15549275E9455C8777D98970902D8F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Assistance for child care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related mental
health services</header><paragraph id="id0B28F2703C3141269DB497A740A9B334"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter I of chapter 17, as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16DFF5221B5740F6992DF1B5968A66B3" style="USC"><section id="idC347DB4C2ED849A7B47AA785CEB8E53C"><enum>1709C.</enum><header>Assistance for child care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related mental
health services</header><subsection id="id816150355F0440A48930D9782EA4E2D5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program required</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out a program to provide, subject to subsection (b), assistance to
qualified individuals described in subsection (c) to obtain child care so
that such individuals can receive readjustment counseling and related
mental health services.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0564F808DD25414FBDD5559F6D2A787F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation on period of payments</header><text>Assistance may only be provided to a qualified individual under this section for receipt of child
care during the period that the qualified individual receives readjustment
counseling and related health care services at a Vet Center.</text></subsection><subsection id="idDCEC7DF0BB174022991852F1E3060571"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualified individuals</header><text>For purposes of this section, a qualified individual is an individual who is—</text><paragraph id="id4D3F39D9BC2E455BAB1566431276F273"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the primary caretaker of a child or children; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id84932324D0D74AB58A2F8061F3184FC5"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idE50E61DF84144C9B838015B4BC4463A1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>receiving from the Department regular readjustment counseling and related mental health services;
or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD1E8D647F36D48178192DEB1BD9FCEF6" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in need of readjustment counseling and related mental health services from the Department, and but
for lack of child care services, would receive such counseling and
services from the Department.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id499A2EB04AEE40869A6D1C89FA4C3813"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Locations</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in no fewer than three Readjustment
Counseling Service Regions selected by the Secretary for purposes of the
program.</text></subsection><subsection id="id777F80CB57694E7F90BCDB869171B83B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Forms of child care assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5AC2469212D745BEBC2E365D48F54C99"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Child care assistance under this section may include the following:</text><subparagraph id="idE521C71BBB5B49B3B22D3253DED28D64" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Stipends for the payment of child care offered by licensed child care centers (either directly or
through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable,
modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy
Program established pursuant to section 630 of the Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/67">Public Law 107–67</external-xref>; 115 Stat. 552).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD634692B59AC441EBAA42E9D83733339" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Payments to private child care agencies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF15E803ACD9C4D6AB9F9F6650CB1F357" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Collaboration with facilities or programs of other Federal departments or agencies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD35ECFA2C27641E78873FEA3A6A98AA7" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Such other forms of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3538225613474D008936D1DA77BF85BD" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the case that child care assistance under this subsection is provided as a stipend under
paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child
care.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD207F1D62804B1B8EBDB5574D52FFE8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Vet Center defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Vet Center</term> means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for individuals
under section 1712A of this title.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idD178885CB5CE43D09ED77A3078AB6582"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17, as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this
section, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 1709B the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id820F8F74DB2740798DF16870F74D4174" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1709C. Assistance for child care for individuals receiving readjustment counseling and related
mental health services.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id32DF0F67E2D94D41B0F8B1908299E31D"><enum>179.</enum><header>Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces</header><subsection id="id0B65A52660EA4F7989B576435F5A0C2E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Counseling in retreat settings</header><paragraph id="idAD45C90DE6044F55B4A19540EFAD8BCA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA2F3FBFB47B14995AFCAB267929F37BC" style="USC"><section id="id66a89f37c81a480e8f53403373719a90"><enum>1720H.</enum><header>Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed Forces</header><subsection id="id8ca1b99595c44205970bbc4afdc22b11"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide, through the Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health
Administration, reintegration and readjustment services described in
subsection (c) in group retreat settings to women veterans who are
recently separated from service in the Armed Forces after a prolonged
deployment.</text></subsection><subsection id="id44c958f7aa8f4c3abf46969a595c0be4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Election of veteran</header><text>The receipt of services under this section by a woman veteran shall be at the election of the
veteran.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2ba10e8fe9ca4fb5968a16e252db9031"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Covered services</header><text>The services provided to a woman veteran under this section shall include the following:</text><paragraph id="id8be6591caa4a4808ba7d09dc598c3849"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Information on reintegration into the veteran’s family, employment, and community.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id97e4c6146b7847648dae43980e255b60"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Financial counseling.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideffc7c9a4a7e4b5792ccb58a3e84888c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Occupational counseling.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9718cc0f399841939164a0c812297a16"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Information and counseling on stress reduction.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7467af2f8d414874a1bce07d875cd8f2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Information and counseling on conflict resolution.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id77fcb657ee604d86b37a8faad9a68d5c"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the veteran
in reintegration into the veteran’s family, employment, and community.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id468066CE40F046C5B7686FECE9D3C900"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1720G the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3CBE240471834E7AA6B3444CFB397034" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1720H. Counseling in retreat settings for women veterans newly separated from service in the Armed
Forces.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id94F289615C894AE59BE9708C521B2874"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repeal of superseded pilot program authority</header><text>Section 203 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/163">Public Law 111–163</external-xref>;
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1712A">38 U.S.C. 1712A</external-xref> note) is hereby repealed.</text></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id9ADF87CE92AA4F3B8AB5E2B99E571261" style="OLC">
<enum>I</enum>
<header>Major Medical Facility Leases</header>
<section id="H70CD4F9FB7F94C30A373510D629755E4">
<enum>181.</enum>
<header>Authorization of major medical facility leases</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major medical facility leases at the
locations specified, and in an amount for each lease not to exceed the
amount shown for such location (not including any estimated cancellation
costs):</text>
<paragraph id="HFF370C873E1F43EC8BC40193F7E322FA">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>For a clinical research and pharmacy coordinating center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, an amount not to
exceed $9,560,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2ABC8F142A4C4F7DB6579440DDCBFCAB">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Brick, New Jersey, an amount not to exceed $7,280,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD7C963AB9C92483185C3EE8881FDB372">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>For a new primary care and dental clinic annex, Charleston, South Carolina, an amount not to exceed
$7,070,250.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H90A80C9114A44D148A499B6D7FF23DBB">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>For the Cobb County community-based Outpatient Clinic, Cobb County, Georgia, an amount not to
exceed $6,409,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D75CDEBEE0B47DAAB4C3FECFB9CDF8D">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>For the Leeward Outpatient Healthcare Access Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, including a co-located
clinic with the Department of Defense and the co-location of the Honolulu
Regional Office of the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Kapolei
Vet Center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, an amount not to exceed
$15,887,370.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H255B937CF1CC4E5F9AFC6BD4D0721CD4">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Johnson County, Kansas, an amount not to exceed
$2,263,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7D4B99FEED0047D0BD3394CA70DA8BF1">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>For a replacement community-based outpatient clinic, Lafayette, Louisiana, an amount not to exceed
$2,996,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H43751530A0784F7980AD5EDD2743AE8E">
<enum>(8)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Lake Charles, Louisiana, an amount not to exceed
$2,626,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H27CF493A25AE42DD83E0E59692612F72">
<enum>(9)</enum>
<text>For outpatient clinic consolidation, New Port Richey, Florida, an amount not to exceed $11,927,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA8FBC79A2245451093E50AF4FAE6EC9E">
<enum>(10)</enum>
<text>For an outpatient clinic, Ponce, Puerto Rico, an amount not to exceed $11,535,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H17C78ADD6577488C97F955212EEB6B93">
<enum>(11)</enum>
<text>For lease consolidation, San Antonio, Texas, an amount not to exceed $19,426,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF95A0A1089D6486DBD807FAC3E4C6476">
<enum>(12)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, San Diego, California, an amount not to exceed
$11,946,100.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD5693F9186414798AF6CA473E6129488">
<enum>(13)</enum>
<text>For an outpatient clinic, Tyler, Texas, an amount not to exceed $4,327,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H968AED4F1F60450DB4A67619D1F30472">
<enum>(14)</enum>
<text>For the Errera Community Care Center, West Haven, Connecticut, an amount not to exceed $4,883,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5AB4D60B8BF842BBB2575CF4F51B2C56">
<enum>(15)</enum>
<text>For the Worcester community-based Outpatient Clinic, Worcester, Massachusetts, an amount not to
exceed $4,855,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED0EC9721D9049D3B44372FFCA243FA8">
<enum>(16)</enum>
<text>For the expansion of a community-based outpatient clinic, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, an amount not
to exceed $4,232,060.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCA73DF651D014A9BA27A3F74EACDF6A4">
<enum>(17)</enum>
<text>For a multispecialty clinic, Chattanooga, Tennessee, an amount not to exceed $7,069,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H448BAAE0E6A04FC59415F88DC00F1353">
<enum>(18)</enum>
<text>For the expansion of a community-based outpatient clinic, Chico, California, an amount not to
exceed $4,534,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H78478DE94E9A4AA090428164C4534E7E">
<enum>(19)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Chula Vista, California, an amount not to exceed
$3,714,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5F14DCD27FC9412CB358E90155D6E37D">
<enum>(20)</enum>
<text>For a new research lease, Hines, Illinois, an amount not to exceed $22,032,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDFD7ABCB2AED4E89B69B9F6D11930D8F">
<enum>(21)</enum>
<text>For a replacement research lease, Houston, Texas, an amount not to exceed $6,142,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE42C28C04764492CBC1ECFB4C0D96298">
<enum>(22)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Lincoln, Nebraska, an amount not to exceed $7,178,400.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H033992D19C3340DC8074A8F8A33BA683">
<enum>(23)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Lubbock, Texas, an amount not to exceed $8,554,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCC2BBB361F824D6DB2722FE465157D94">
<enum>(24)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic consolidation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, an amount not
to exceed $8,022,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8C503A2EAAA74DA184778B1F6A189C61">
<enum>(25)</enum>
<text>For a community-based outpatient clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, an amount not to exceed $20,757,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H36094DD15F0747209A35D143FD1C62CF">
<enum>(26)</enum>
<text>For the expansion of a community-based outpatient clinic, Redding, California, an amount not to
exceed $8,154,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5ED4E78C9DDE450E97D8B45B061012AD">
<enum>(27)</enum>
<text>For the expansion of a community-based outpatient clinic, Tulsa, Oklahoma, an amount not to exceed
$13,269,200.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H8C65AB4E60374435A2FC4D7CCAEC0A2D">
<enum>182.</enum>
<header>Budgetary treatment of Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facilities leases</header>
<subsection id="H08FF7AC375114907ABE7189A045C266D">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Findings</header>
<text>Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HC4E0F08BBFE7417694304255D0741011">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Title 31, United States Code, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to record the full cost
of its contractual obligation against funds available at the time a
contract is executed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD92D5E1DF18C40DA986A493D8311260C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Office of Management and Budget Circular A–11 provides guidance to agencies in meeting the
statutory requirements under title 31, United States Code, with respect to
leases.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0FF5402F8C6E4036AB2B9888B5CE06D5">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>For operating leases, Office of Management and Budget Circular A–11 requires the Department of
Veterans Affairs to record up-front budget authority in an <quote>amount equal to total payments under the full term of the lease or [an] amount sufficient to cover
first year lease payments plus cancellation costs</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4D9AB046B35943238966A7AB7674ABEF">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Requirement for obligation of full cost</header>
<paragraph id="idE5DE99CDB76F430C9C8D12C2FBC6EA02"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance, in exercising the authority of
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into leases provided in this
Act, the Secretary shall record, pursuant to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/1501">section 1501</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, as the full cost of the contractual obligation at the time a
contract is executed either—</text>
<subparagraph id="H880B5F8B723143BEB5B261B53A20576F">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>an amount equal to total payments under the full term of the lease; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE1967F9C9B5A4C9886B1109BCD7644D4">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>if the lease specifies payments to be made in the event the lease is terminated before its full
term, an amount sufficient to cover the first year lease payments plus the
specified cancellation costs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6BAEE38AF8EA4061AC818EAB19DAEAB3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Self-insuring authority</header><text>The requirements of paragraph (1) may be satisfied through the use of a self-insuring authority
consistent with Office of Management and Budget Circular A–11.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB026F80B9ECF46889610930F87ED40B5">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Transparency</header>
<paragraph id="HEE55C5A6F4F24320B44B67C0C4191DCC">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Compliance</header>
<text>Subsection (b) of section 8104 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H94CF07D9C69641F89952B6649C679E36" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H0F7822D7F9DE4B44AEF9B432E28BE79A">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>In the case of a prospectus proposing funding for a major medical facility lease, a detailed
analysis of how the lease is expected to comply with Office of Management
and Budget Circular A–11 and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/1341">section 1341</external-xref> of title 31 (commonly referred to as the <quote>Anti-Deficiency Act</quote>). Any such analysis shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H95601E44261242E2A6E9433BC203D6A7">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>an analysis of the classification of the lease as a <quote>lease-purchase</quote>, <quote>capital lease</quote>, or <quote>operating lease</quote> as those terms are defined in Office of Management and Budget Circular A–11;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H95C4964309B745DDAE7C7B106BDF9470">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>an analysis of the obligation of budgetary resources associated with the lease; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAEFF2E465296438286BEFCB7A02E2E4B">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>an analysis of the methodology used in determining the asset cost, fair market value, and
cancellation costs of the lease.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H47485FE558D1467EA9C78D00BBF08BD8">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Submittal to Congress</header>
<text>Such section 8104 is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="HD0FFA55A52CD4755A27498BAA11B414B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H493963BDCB09441193F72EF0FA83DC84">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H87439FBF41B344BA8ADCD4F72DF0A127"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less than 30 days before entering into a major medical facility lease, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House
of Representatives—</text>
<subparagraph id="H45DC397BAB494CD7942BE923F3D68452" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>notice of the Secretary’s intention to enter into the lease;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5663F934A904485491E032C47CE8ABAB" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>a detailed summary of the proposed lease;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5810C32AC8AB481EA822A796246866D1" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>a description and analysis of any differences between the prospectus submitted pursuant to
subsection (b) and the proposed lease; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7439104A12C54467AA3259C017917CD3" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a scoring analysis demonstrating that the proposed lease fully complies with Office of Management
and Budget Circular A–11.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H440EAE1B977C41AE856571677AAB219C" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Each committee described in paragraph (1) shall ensure that any information submitted to the
committee under such paragraph is treated by the committee with the same
level of confidentiality as is required by law of the Secretary and
subject to the same statutory penalties for unauthorized disclosure or use
as the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A68100E838447319788A2FDA722EED6" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not more than 30 days after entering into a major medical facility lease, the Secretary shall
submit to each committee described in paragraph (1) a report on any
material differences between the lease that was entered into and the
proposed lease described under such paragraph, including how the lease
that was entered into changes the previously submitted scoring analysis
described in subparagraph (D) of such paragraph.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDB84537B5D8942418E23F4EC6D686F13">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Rule of construction</header>
<text>Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to in any way
relieve the Department of Veterans Affairs from any statutory or
regulatory obligations or requirements existing prior to the enactment of
this section and such amendments.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle>
<enum>II</enum>
<header>Survivor and Dependent Matters</header>
<section id="id8133F7BB65804B1DB5096EB484E4568B">
<enum>201.</enum>
<header>Extension of initial period for increased dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving
spouses with children</header>
<subsection id="id14B0184647254A5AB1A42E21390B685E">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1311(f)(2) is amended by striking <quote>two-year</quote> and inserting <quote>three-year</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idEE99E712EDDF41A8BC2C828121498A39">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as of September 30, 2014, and shall apply to
any surviving spouse who was eligible for or in receipt of benefits under
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1311">section 1311(f)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idC675C3F395CF4C5788080630E447CEB4">
<enum>202.</enum>
<header>Eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation, educational assistance, and housing loans
for surviving spouses who remarry after age 55</header>
<subsection id="id1F2A3BCC006242B0B21A5D69D2256FE1">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2)(B) of section 103(d) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id32556052CEB54A749E5387973D80EDE2" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id4704DCF4010B4AF2B84632B8E2A7716E" indent="up2">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The remarriage after age 55 of the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of
benefits specified in paragraph (5) to such person as the surviving spouse
of the veteran.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id169BFE6F589A458FB5D271EDB6F3093C">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Conforming amendment</header>
<text>Paragraph (5) of such section is amended by striking <quote>Paragraphs (2)(A)</quote> and inserting <quote>Paragraphs (2)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2C15BF94877F435FBF02A93B7D33BAA6">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idF814A3D150AA45DC82434C1CEAA3CB47">
<enum>203.</enum>
<header>Extension of marriage delimiting date for surviving spouses of Persian Gulf War veterans to qualify
for death pension</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1541(f)(1)(E) is amended by striking <quote>January 1, 2001</quote> and inserting <quote>the date that is 10 years and one day after the date on which the Persian Gulf War was terminated,
as prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC3535BB5EDEA41D19CC653B9419D907A">
<enum>204.</enum>
<header>Making effective date provision consistent with provision for benefits eligibility of a veteran's
child based upon termination of remarriage by annulment</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5110(l) is amended by striking <quote>, or of an award or increase of benefits based on recognition of a child upon termination of the
child's marriage by death or divorce,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idEFC02D645D7B49EA9A77CBD3D6DFD7B0">
<enum>205.</enum>
<header>Expansion of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship</header>
<subsection id="id3071D96EE64B489CBEFCDB99A209EE13">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Expansion of entitlement</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (b)(9) of section 3311 is amended by inserting <quote>or spouse</quote> after <quote>child</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id97098BF767904F3F8A162A460FC0471D">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Limitation and election on certain benefits</header>
<text>Subsection (f) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id37603DBA56F64A71A9FF1DBD622E1485">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD84AFFA5340D469CB103F18B51863299">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43435579A08D41DB92A7FD258F283F2C" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id94C130353AAB4362AA0D25F52D449060">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Limitation</header>
<text>The entitlement of an individual to assistance under subsection (a) pursuant to paragraph (9) of
subsection (b) because the individual was a spouse of a person described
in such paragraph shall expire on the earlier of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id8CEE4EC8B0D6412082AA8EC5F36F2F43">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the date that is 15 years after the date on which the person died; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAB2AE1130688497E9E20540AC5E974BC">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the date on which the individual remarries.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0468681E4BBB40A0AFD9146DDFC6E5B2">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Election on receipt of certain benefits</header>
<text>A surviving spouse entitled to assistance under subsection (a) pursuant to paragraph (9) of
subsection (b) who is also entitled to educational assistance under
chapter 35 of this title may not receive assistance under both this
section and such chapter, but shall make an irrevocable election (in such
form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe) under which section or
chapter to receive educational assistance.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6b639f4b9d5147f5b15ea9567d2c6ad6">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Conforming amendment</header>
<text>Section 3321(b)(4) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id45F1FA22F840475C95E625374E1F7B17">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>an individual</quote> and inserting <quote>a child</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF6B0F214BBEB400495DB6984D0D5D304">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>such individual’s</quote> each time it appears and inserting <quote>such child’s</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6DBD0785E8164210A002965EB2669562">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is two years after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idD992DE8197F843C2B5FA3CC328BC623A">
<enum>206.</enum>
<header>Expansion of Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program</header>
<subsection id="idD1EDDA723F4A48F1A3E1501E9C57D528">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3317(a) is amended by striking <quote>in paragraphs (1) and (2)</quote> and inserting <quote>in paragraphs (1), (2), and (9)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAEDE841B6DBA4CAEADFE4DBB34C6788B">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to academic terms beginning after
July 1, 2015.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idD0EB13C8AB63468CB7D99B2CB8CAEB89">
<enum>207.</enum>
<header>Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida</header>
<subsection id="id3BB3A987BAD64C6681ECDFCA3AC3EEF8">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subchapter III of chapter 18 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0C4B7306954840F8A33A7BED0FC504E1" style="USC">
<section id="id6A5818C4BDDE4301B756425A77B162E8">
<enum>1822.</enum>
<header>Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida</header>
<subsection id="id4345151c7cc74c529d42799afe25515b">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Benefits authorized</header>
<text>The Secretary may provide to any child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand who is suffering
from spina bifida the health care, vocational training and rehabilitation,
and monetary allowance required to be paid to a child of a Vietnam veteran
who is suffering from spina bifida under subchapter I of this chapter as
if such child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand were a child of
a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida under such
subchapter.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id41e5fcbd167d43c2bf016e9722fd324d">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Spina bifida conditions covered</header>
<text>This section applies with respect to all forms and manifestations of spina bifida, except spina
bifida occulta.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id5362877b305c432ca65e5bc75ec1c94e">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Veteran of covered service in Thailand</header>
<text>For purposes of this section, a veteran of covered service in Thailand is any individual, without
regard to the characterization of that individual's service, who—</text>
<paragraph id="ida59549d7adbb4acfbe2193a410abbd84">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>served in the active military, naval, or air service in Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, during the period beginning on
January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7dd033a881c3478f8b0b8de9620ac2a1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to have been exposed
to a herbicide agent during such service in Thailand.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4c9b8b2a6dea498396d8e1b535b550e6">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Herbicide agent</header>
<text>For purposes of this section, the term <term>herbicide agent</term> means a chemical in a herbicide used in support of United States and allied military operations in
Thailand, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and
ending on May 7, 1975.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id6BA4E494339B444D95A0933283956176">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Conforming amendment to definition of <quote>child</quote></header>
<text>Section 1831(1) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id55B6F344D0024E29BD5F0CD8DEFF31CC">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (B)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id4A9AE126A4384D21A563C1B87A2C532D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>subchapter III of this chapter</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1821 of this title</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60387AA7F82C49E3B8281813448A3429">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>section 1821 of this title</quote> and inserting <quote>that section</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id87D7B56B04974BD3BFA6D4C70AED4403">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C9ED3E95ACE47D099BD27810C1A2050" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="idDD7E95F6DBA44DB7BEE5298DCF35D1D5" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>For purposes of section 1822 of this title, an individual, regardless of age or marital status,
who—</text>
<clause id="id3154B496CA37410EA9AF6845AF2F5EC4">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>is the natural child of a veteran of covered service in Thailand (as determined for purposes of
that section); and</text>
</clause><clause id="idB145C9BB50284C0AA5C18E10AB127620">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>was conceived after the date on which that veteran first entered service described in subsection
(c) of that section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF13F4A591B054B858DE2221ABDAD16C5">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendments</header>
<paragraph id="idA7E5CDA69FC74973846235A38D49E60E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Subchapter heading</header>
<text>The heading for subchapter III of chapter 18 is amended by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subchapter" style="USC">and Thailand</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="subchapter" style="USC">Korea</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5895328D605B4AF6AED18BAC39639C30">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Table of sections</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="idB9878B3129864D15929B1D34CE3F775B">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking the item relating to subchapter III and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id87AC95139E924CCF85545CAB211E6E6F" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="subchapter">Subchapter III—Children of certain Korea and Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
<continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph" indent="subparagraph">and</continuation-text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEF0BBF65008E415BBDC50FF44787C922">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by inserting after the item relating to section 1821 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBBA4B9DEBEDF4B1F820C6DE6B884267A" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1822. Benefits for children of certain Thailand service veterans born with spina bifida.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id94C9DCE80C5840CB998F659A951EE131">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idfa2068593c9d492db9cac9dc8892d6e6">
<enum>208.</enum>
<header>Program on assisted living for children of Vietnam veterans and certain Korea service veterans born
with spina bifida</header>
<subsection id="idD8B252D187614B529F9306D2B67CED7C">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Commencing not later than 180 days after the date on which this section takes effect, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasibility
and advisability of providing assisted living, group home care, or similar
services in lieu of nursing home care to covered individuals.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id89AEFAC29052476988D487E78C0FFBAB">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Covered individuals</header>
<text>For purposes of this section, a covered individual is any individual who is entitled to health care
under subchapter I or III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/18">chapter 18</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD9F9D9123BBC4417835945CCEBAEA9D8">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<paragraph id="id75D0AEF4241D4BECBDB06DA297CE151C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the program shall be carried out during the
three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the
program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE9B5390F89874E6F8262179C7370C537">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Continuation</header>
<text>Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary may continue the program for an additional two-year period
as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF9506161230A49A68DA91117F24FD222">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Termination</header>
<text>The program may not operate after the date that is five years after the date of the commencement of
the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id82362BBB68CD4A5E94C0DB3BC26F2E7C">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Scope of services and program</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Under the program, the Secretary shall provide covered individuals with integrated, comprehensive
services, including the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id5FBA1C082D844F8890120355A5EFAEC4">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assisted living, group home care, or such other similar services as the Secretary considers
appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idDCEFB3151E6C4E84AD12AACFF3406BA7">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Transportation services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA4D06CAAB84A400F95B5C7BFAD10EC93">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such other services as the Secretary considers appropriate for the care of covered individuals
under the program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id07C9C96BEDC444389F6BA193AB262BEE">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Program requirements</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id4587040EE40B451193196AFA4A41CDA4">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>inform all covered individuals of the services available under the program;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id48D3DBDB8BBF43C48A213DE88D3BFE91">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enter into agreements with appropriate providers of assisted living, group home care, or other
similar services for provision of services under the program; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idAD21645A4D4945A18C9BCFAC9DA5701E">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>determine the appropriate number of covered individuals to be enrolled in the program and criteria
for such enrollment.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id98C0370A06994FD394D83D7F43DE93E7">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="idEBC08B6C5F6E44C2B3AFD6298E5416EE">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Preliminary reports</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF5E9DFAE0F8C4B29AE6FDFDF95EEB841">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the program and, if the program is
continued under subsection (c)(2), not later than three years after the
date of the commencement of the program, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id78626C933FF041AEBAFCAA7AFBCDEDBF">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id4F80B9754AEA41EEBA3C0BFDBF5B018B">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>A description of the implementation and operation of the program.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1F2C74309349419BB395A7A84A31AA6B">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The number of covered individuals receiving benefits under the program.</text>
</clause><clause id="id7C72AF35B295446481611EE6669BFE0F">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An analysis that compares the costs of furnishing assisted living, group home care, or similar
services with the costs of furnishing nursing home care.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1601EA6E3BE24C0D9D8C00853B186C58">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>An analysis of the costs and benefits under the program.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1A6881E2C19F4B57B1820E73A689B123">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90752616792C4818AC9FC7C46A48C7B7">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the program as the Secretary may have.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6DF55BA233684A4CA1E6C000F6F3E15C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<subparagraph id="id0A30C3EB08B84D229AD547838BB0C195">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the completion of the program, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id801B1E3EB4F14C019C17112EB10DA697">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="idA866199CDE274580960BD597F9AD3333">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1C64C82FDF2344A29B10CE1A1C59F3AF">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the program as the Secretary may have.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id29A7924D34864F15A1F7D246DD0B6533">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts to carry out the program shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made
available for the furnishing of nursing home care under chapter 18 of
title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id340FB6B89080445EA03A9B3AC3B103CA">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idF3D5FB7992444D2C879CDC243B3594C4">
<enum>209.</enum>
<header>Program on grief counseling in retreat settings for surviving spouses of members of the Armed
Forces who die while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces</header>
<subsection id="id88970FDB2CBE48429DFED7065B5BBDB2">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required</header>
<paragraph id="id0E76510702DC4BE2A9C8A85B7781234E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Commencing not later than 180 days after the date on which this section takes effect, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall carry out, through the Readjustment Counseling
Service of the Veterans Health Administration, a program to assess the
feasibility and advisability of providing grief counseling services
described in subsection (b) in group retreat settings to surviving spouses
of members of the Armed Forces who die while serving on active duty in the
Armed Forces who would, as determined by the Readjustment Counseling
Service, benefit from the services provided under the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1200FCCDFF264EE18B6FCBF93FF55D33">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Participation at election of surviving spouse</header>
<text>The participation of a surviving spouse in the program under this section shall be at the election
of the surviving spouse.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7E37CA3B059943E0A2C4F2476FA8715B">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Covered services</header>
<text>The services provided to a surviving spouse under the program shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id1B72BF3156E0479788B85B89D37F9AC8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Information and counseling on coping with grief.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA3860F2905C94822BE11E381C763594C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Information about benefits and services available to surviving spouses under laws administered by
the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB2ABD43934A64E23B6ACDF4C0B9D5E84">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist a surviving
spouse under the program with adjusting to the death of a spouse.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1C8F09E593B145078F8990FD2539A88E">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Events</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the program at not fewer than six events as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="id0DE229EFF2434154BE300025D255697D">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Three events at which surviving spouses with dependent children are encouraged to bring their
children.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD70683A8A27D4C498C6692E1CA6FDF61">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Three events at which surviving spouses with dependent children are not encouraged to bring their
children.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1565EE9BF5AC444B856DF061F02339F4">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<text>The program shall be carried out during the two-year period beginning on the date of the
commencement of the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2B34FCB7431E4CDE9AD47546AA8542C6">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id68993CCAE2B149FC96F26052B37D68DF">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the completion of the first year of the program and not later than
180 days after the completion of the program, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report on the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD3DB1351B3794A9E89796C15A57F51B0">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain the findings and conclusions of the
Secretary as a result of the program, and shall include such
recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the program as the
Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6E0CA7FC6D34437E9A0224E382E72B53">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text>In this section, the terms <term>active duty</term>, <term>Armed Forces</term>, and <term>surviving spouse</term> have the meanings given such terms in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0512AB04E94F40AB89BFDA49D468C325">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id52E1261D02A843F0B803A7A065C99AB2">
<enum>210.</enum>
<header>Program evaluation on survivors' and dependents' educational assistance authorities</header>
<subsection id="id9DB127A38D8343F8AEE8CF9EA52E218F">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract with an appropriate private sector
entity to conduct a program evaluation of the authorities for survivors'
and dependents' educational assistance under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id70806FB068924925A3A1787283480EF4">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than six months after the entry into the contract required by subsection (a), the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report setting forth the results of the program evaluation conducted
pursuant to the contract, together with such comments on the results of
the program evaluation as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0C9833160FC543D6BEBF30EB8679931D">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum>
<header>Education Matters</header>
<section id="id2B1208546B2D447D8036BEE59E8B98CC" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>301.</enum>
<header>Approval of courses of education provided by public institutions of higher learning for purposes of
All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11
Educational Assistance conditional on in-State tuition rate for veterans</header>
<subsection id="ida43bed06-7d7e-43ad-a9ac-91e44290a92b">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3679 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8fa039ab-5a58-4b43-b5d8-6a0b0e617c25" style="USC">
<subsection id="id1a96d044-499e-4845-ae6f-3dd0e6644459">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id0e580d9d-8055-4f93-afe4-04268e20f8da"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and subject to paragraphs (3) through (6), the
Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided by a public
institution of higher learning to a covered individual pursuing a course
of education with educational assistance under chapter 30 or 33 of this
title while living in the State in which the public institution of higher
learning is located if the institution charges tuition and fees for that
course for the covered individual at a rate that is higher than the rate
the institution charges for tuition and fees for that course for residents
of the State in which the institution is located, regardless of the
covered individual’s State of residence.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd83b5276-4c79-433e-b4cb-02af945470cc" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this subsection, a covered individual is any individual as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="idfa0ae80c-97f4-43f3-8492-b2647b0b69b1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A veteran who was discharged or released from a period of not fewer than 90 days of service in the
active military, naval, or air service less than three years before the
date of enrollment in the course concerned.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb81fda3a-a20c-4cba-8a85-d0e31f393fb0">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>An individual who is entitled to assistance under section 3311(b)(9) or 3319 of this title by
virtue of such individual's relationship to a veteran described in
subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3F1C2BC077994A0F891B8C480BEE97ED" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>If after enrollment in a course of education that is subject to disapproval under paragraph (1) by
reason of paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B) a covered individual pursues one or
more courses of education at the same public institution of higher
learning while remaining continuously enrolled (other than during
regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters or terms) at that
institution of higher learning, any course so pursued by the covered
individual at that institution of higher learning while so continuously
enrolled shall also be subject to disapproval under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id521e0f17-ec2f-4ea1-b6bb-3e5d972a7d24" indent="up1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall not be grounds to disapprove a course of education under paragraph (1) if a public
institution of higher learning requires a covered individual pursuing a
course of education at the institution to demonstrate an intent, by means
other than satisfying a physical presence requirement, to establish
residency in the State in which the institution is located, or to satisfy
other requirements not relating to the establishment of residency, in
order to be charged tuition and fees for that course at a rate that is
equal to or less than the rate the institution charges for tuition and
fees for that course for residents of the State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="iddb30fa98-7072-4200-909e-ad27eeb0871e" indent="up1">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>The Secretary may waive such requirements of paragraph (1) as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd05c439d-5f2e-4b64-bd81-8d82125afb8f" indent="up1">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Disapproval under paragraph (1) shall apply only with respect to educational assistance under
chapters 30 and 33 of this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id81fa8c4e-447f-4d34-8792-0911afa278dc">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (c) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/3679">section 3679</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this
section), shall apply with respect to educational assistance provided for
pursuit of programs of education during academic terms that begin after
July 1, 2015, through courses of education that commence on or after that
date.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id4991F86622F5408A8DC8D8D1B9B8CE6E">
<enum>302.</enum>
<header>Extension and expansion of authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of
the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id7F2E6689D50B4BD69556CAA94CB8B24C">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Extension of expiring current authority</header>
<text>Section 3485(a)(4) is amended by striking <quote>June 30, 2013</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>June 30, 2015</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id276B545736BA466A900CAEE136653C78">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Expansion to outreach services provided through congressional offices</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF45BD9E7BE934649B54CBD41BDF2B10C" style="USC">
<subparagraph id="HE95E6E114A394FF6A6A9CA7B9EB2FEE3" indent="up1">
<enum>(K)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the period beginning on June 30, 2013, and ending on June 30, 2015, the following activities
carried out at the offices of Members of Congress for such Members:</text>
<clause id="H092DCB823D554090B767EE3F734614E9">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The distribution of information to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents
about the benefits and services under laws administered by the Secretary
and other appropriate governmental and nongovernmental programs.</text>
</clause><clause id="H171D7010D0274BBD9ED62D49D22C12C3">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The preparation and processing of papers and other documents, including documents to assist in the
preparation and presentation of claims for benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id28BA6ABAD5B94D918F24A6C94568E77D">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Annual reports</header>
<paragraph id="idA70AC67C95AD440BA4DEDBD56E89A5C2">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than June 30 of 2014 and 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress
a report on the work-study allowances paid under paragraph (1) of section
3485(a) of title 38, United States Code, during the most recent one-year
period for qualifying work-study activities described in paragraph (4) of
such section, as amended by subsections (a) and (b) of this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id08492779FB4A45C08574A0E18E8C8E62">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, for the year covered by such report, the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id9F45F73CB8A44CCC873A1388347FA7DE">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A description of the recipients of such work-study allowances.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC1ED568B418347ADA87A7F18E127BCF1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A list of the locations where qualifying work-study activities were carried out.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE92A38EAF32A40BE8CD9119FEF55E958">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>A description of the outreach conducted by the Secretary to increase awareness of the eligibility
of such work-study activities for such work-study allowances.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id90A99C26D2474C3EA9E8C375A66F34C7">
<enum>303.</enum>
<header>Prohibitions relating to references to GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill</header>
<subsection id="id737D39F0E59B42A5A9B6FF4F4A9EA301">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subchapter II of chapter 36 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB0AD1238B8FF46C2A434034D86C8E112" style="USC">
<section id="idAC2028822583425A81B835E8499BC0EA">
<enum>3697B.</enum>
<header>Prohibition relating to references to GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill</header>
<subsection id="id1c1daeec80ad4c6481713a8eff067dd2">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Prohibition</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id64C584A5DB204F028FC94DA3060AD1F1"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>No person may, except with the written permission of the Secretary, use the words and phrases
covered by this subsection in connection with any promotion, goods,
services, or commercial activity in a manner that reasonably and falsely
suggests that such use is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the
Department or any component thereof.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id767590447C4B4540859525E7889F3C1C" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this subsection, the words and phrases covered by this subsection are as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="id25763166F68A4B05B0B38F26B0E9A212">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>
<quote>GI Bill</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF2177E72A5E443218F449E2B6C4DBD6B">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>
<quote>Post-9/11 GI Bill</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide3a90f670f134830ab134c51031eabd3" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A determination that a use of one or more words and phrases covered by this subsection in
connection with a promotion, goods, services, or commercial activity is
not a violation of this subsection may not be made solely on the ground
that such promotion, goods, services, or commercial activity includes a
disclaimer of affiliation with the Department or any component thereof.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd485b3ea30e445aaab6492165cc107de">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Enforcement by Attorney General</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idB3731BBDAAF242E6AECC87B47B0E3D11"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>When any person is engaged or is about to engage in an act or practice which constitutes or will
constitute conduct prohibited by subsection (a), the Attorney General may
initiate a civil proceeding in a district court of the United States to
enjoin such act or practice.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF80E964E6C824A18B7D94B2F82D095F0" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Such court may, at any time before final determination, enter such restraining orders or
prohibitions, or take such other action as is warranted, to prevent injury
to the United States or to any person or class of persons for whose
protection the action is brought.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id315355986F3D46148B0A2B6D44568ACB">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 3697A the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD181B89E5DE14A6B965F13481DC37293" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">3697B. Prohibition relating to references to GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H0271F63E59E9405982ADD1F45B2AEFE0">
<enum>304.</enum>
<header>Review of utilization of educational assistance to pursue programs of training on the job and
participating employers</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="idA27FDDA820394C77BA7B7A35C59A9743">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall commence a review of—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idC42E311E7B4D4A86B9363B77D719711B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the utilization of educational assistance under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to pursue programs of training on the job (other than programs of
apprenticeship); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id4DBBDAD7570248A5A5EA31038893ADF3">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>the availability of such programs to individuals seeking to pursue such programs with such
educational assistance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idE9D9AEBF44804031B6A460C01CEE6EDA">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idE28659797362480C9D9FF62778CBEE04">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date on which the Secretary commences the review required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on such
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id021842FB6F174FF0A784DA99A3DFF026">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id5573D81ECB034631BFC08B8D01F08C4B">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The extent of utilization as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4FEFB1B351494D079576A0A2C6680B17">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the availability of programs as described in paragraph (2) of such subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idDF73846FCD1D423C9B5D7E9212DBF951">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>A description of any barriers the Secretary has identified to greater utilization of educational
assistance for pursuit of a program of training on the job or availability
of such programs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id9C009C6522144F618581F2C0EF50D905">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary may have to increase
or decrease such utilization or availability.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3BC655A1BE5445D881A2C9A422CD0DFA">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE8611FBD2D684B8C82026410C9F191F3">
<enum>305.</enum>
<header>Report on debt management and collection</header>
<subsection id="ida3a028e5cf2e4c4089ad240b758fc331">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the effective date specified in subsection (c), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House
of Representatives a report on processes used by the Department of
Veterans Affairs to identify and resolve cases of incorrect payments
associated with educational assistance under chapters 30 and 33 of title
38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ideb33dc63f2b646a8ab781f916e0e5957">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Issues addressed</header>
<text>The report required by subsection (a) shall, to the extent possible, address the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id574154351145492395f7ae7ec76452f8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The effectiveness of the processes referred to in subsection (a) in identifying and resolving
incorrect payments associated with educational assistance under chapters
30 and 33 of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id56dc55a6f26f4d34a5dca7ec254ee069">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The accuracy of overpayment information provided to veterans by the Education Service and Debt
Management Center of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide42fb513b4a8484e8ebeed4dbd0cf5bc">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>How well the Debt Management Center of the Department communicates and works with veterans to
resolve disputed debt amounts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id610d9517b27e4c92ac043d6becd2842f">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>How the payment and debt collection processes of the Department compare to comparable programs in
other Federal agencies.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc894a6d783964884aa06d1b313aa56d3">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Any recommendations to improve the payment and debt collection processes of the Department that the
Comptroller General considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idCF6D37DBC273430D99E3E6EC40585582">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id40A918EBDEDE46639E7821E8E3644DFA">
<enum>306.</enum>
<header>Restoration of prior reporting fee multipliers</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3684(c) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id926D5E1D014140959D543F522711A1E1">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>$12</quote> and inserting <quote>$7</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEF15C86DB4B948F2A00B0B46E07C689F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>$15</quote> and inserting <quote>$11</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section>
<enum>IV</enum>
<header>Employment and Related Matters</header>
<subtitle id="idA0702662E24D4D38850124D33FC023AF">
<enum>A</enum>
<header>Training and other services for veterans seeking employment</header>
<section id="id4d0303b1-40d6-44b8-adb1-bd45f2489b0e">
<enum>401.</enum>
<header>Extension of authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide rehabilitation and vocational
benefits to members of Armed Forces with severe injuries or illnesses</header>
<subsection id="id8d096775-4367-4126-aacc-61e5196d1514">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/110/181">Public Law 110–181</external-xref>; 10 U.S.C. 1071
note) is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31, 2016</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ida9e6053b-0538-4f76-b8ae-494c1acf3654">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="idbeb6e23c-24d6-44df-993a-1c3605b541bb">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on
the benefits provided by the Secretary under section 1631(b) of such Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1ef94a96-7f73-476a-a12e-bedb7f9bd847">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Appropriate committees of congress</header>
<text>In this subsection, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="id66a05fb8-24d2-4f2e-a202-d2d057954eaa">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idea898461-8922-4776-b881-7358c9df0166">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idBC824003DF614A3A951B7D4534B126F3" style="OLC">
<enum>B</enum>
<header>Employment of veterans and recognition of veteran status with respect to employment related matters</header>
<section id="idE137A82458E8412D8249931B6840AE09">
<enum>411.</enum>
<header>Employment of veterans with the Federal Government</header>
<subsection id="id173712C8773F43C19D62ECD3B243FDAE">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 4214 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id5D152D0D074D4E85A3FE8D5101097F82">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0AE5BB53A2F041F385136887D73006FF" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id4E1C7D9D4188414BAC1F5DC1FFB1707A" indent="up1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idA85C2FCD46ED4CD19C363F3E9BF57780"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The requirement under this paragraph is in addition to the appointment of qualified covered
veterans under the authority specified in subparagraph (C) by the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id26E8311105F84DCABC6EC1218BFEE418" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The head of each agency, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management,
shall develop a plan for exercising the authority specified in
subparagraph (C) during the five-year period beginning on the date of the
enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3076856748BE472DBBABBDF2CA8B22AF" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The authority specified in this subparagraph is the authority as follows:</text>
<clause id="idEFAD07DA53734F379AED7718894BCABC">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The authority under paragraph (1).</text>
</clause><clause id="id043B6390E84840B6A4A2FD105679CDFB">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The authority available to the agency concerned under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of
1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/339">Public Law 105–339</external-xref>) and the amendments made by that Act.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id895510960B9B4B00B19C12489C26F481" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure that under the plans developed
under subparagraph (B) agencies shall appoint to existing vacancies not
fewer than 15,000 qualified covered veterans during the five-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>. For purposes of complying with this subparagraph, an appointment pursuant to the authority
referred to in subparagraph (C)(ii) shall not count toward the number
required by this subparagraph unless the appointment is to a vacancy in a
full-time, permanent position.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id221BD5EBE9EB440B8B89A8C3D686E1BD">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subsection (d), in the third sentence, by inserting <quote>(including, during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>, the development and implementation by each agency of the plan required under subsection (b)(4),
which shall include information regarding the grade or pay level of
appointments by the agency under the plan and whether the appointments
are, or are converted to, career or career-conditional appointments)</quote> after <quote>subsection (b) of this section</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBDB2B139FC0E41FD850437C1919CEE45">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>in subsection (e)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id5862110F4A17452D9E36638AF6E53B02">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="id8525358D7F944FBE815041A7F05C155A">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>to the Congress</quote> and inserting <quote>to the appropriate committees of Congress</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idCC243D520E8348369DD2A81E13D398F0">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>(including, during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>, the development and implementation by the agency of the plan required under subsection (b)(4),
which shall include information regarding the grade or pay level of
appointments by the agency under the plan and whether the appointments
are, or are converted to, permanent appointments)</quote> before the period; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAB660EDDC3BB4DAFB478BB9F0279C049">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE3C6A3CAA266413AB2FB7B9027EF0D25" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idE47ABB834BEF478CBA09703A9E339FAE" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>In this subsection, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC2438DE396824434AE95E4BF88441588">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id49CF3C5F4B05416DAEE800B4B5A05B94">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the
House of Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id071FEFEBD7E644E4B04905E62184E3A4">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress (as defined under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/4214">section 4214(e)(3)</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code, as amended by subsection (a)) regarding the development of a plan to
carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id6AEF7453EFDA4CF1810F28425A46A33C">
<enum>412.</enum>
<header>State recognition of military experience of veterans in issuing licenses and credentials to
veterans</header>
<subsection id="id5798E0EB5F21496AA4830D82EFAB1747">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 4102A(c) is amended by striking paragraph (9) and inserting the following new paragraph
(9):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4FB44EE563134AB896D0BF9DFD1B7DF4" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id54F4414C11A240729BF7188DDDE16D74" indent="up1">
<enum>(9)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idA43C7DBC0AF34885849E201636B875C6"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As a condition of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State under
subsection (b)(5) in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this
title, the State shall—</text>
<clause id="idD1B09B0312BD4FEE87564BA0D0146BB9" indent="up1">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establish a program under which the State administers an examination to each veteran seeking a
license or credential issued by the State and issues such license or
credential to such veteran without requiring such veteran to undergo any
training or apprenticeship if the veteran—</text>
<subclause id="id05962CB0A4574B738196C06828CA1B5F">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">receives a satisfactory score on completion of such examination, as determined by the State;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idce13228d768e41659a65d331f523f93a">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>has been awarded a military occupational specialty that is substantially equivalent to or exceeds
the requirements of the State for the issuance of such license or
credential;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ide32698c67d0041c7b88679e3223abfef">
<enum>(III)</enum>
<text>has engaged in the active practice of the occupation for which the veteran is seeking such license
or credential for at least two of the five years preceding the date of
application; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ida9249d5b47c7486bbd84a23d03fe3a28">
<enum>(IV)</enum>
<text>pays any customary or usual fees required by the State for such license or credential; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id4EF4E97458B5499CB6970D07B1C3FBDB" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>submit each year to the Secretary a report on the examinations administered under clause (i) during
the
most recently completed 12-month period that includes, for the period
covered by the report the number of veterans who completed an examination
administered by the State under clause (i) and a description of the
results of such examinations, disaggregated by occupational field.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDE058B3694A041538099D4F697A5C880" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The Secretary may waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) that a State establish a program
described in that subparagraph as a condition of a grant or contract if
the State certifies to the Secretary that the State—</text>
<clause id="id5cb3802db4ea4157b86c0666388a1e02">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>takes into account previous military training for the purposes of issuing licenses or credentials;
and</text></clause><clause id="id96DC9EC625B64B06867DFE6927370FEB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for any credential or license for which a veteran is unable to completely satisfy a training or
testing requirement through examination, the State substantially reduces
training time required to satisfy such requirement based on the military
training received by the veteran or establishes procedures for granting
credit for prior learning related to prior military service or training.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCFE4156AC6404C7089433A3DE01FD59B" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and the Secretary
of Defense a report summarizing the information received by the Secretary
under subparagraph (A)(ii).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idE0C2569C0034427DB9B1E5CEF7BF6C12">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Technical assistance</header><paragraph id="idCC8534ACD00D44AEA35A1AD346F01C85"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and such other heads of
Federal agencies as the Secretary of Labor considers appropriate, may
provide technical assistance to a State to assist the State in meeting the
requirements of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/4102A">section 4102A(c)(9)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as
amended by subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD68C4A18E57F480DABE19C7827CA018A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor to carry out paragraph (1)
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9AA9FD7C1BA945AA9CAD585210104DBF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header>
<paragraph id="idFCD1E2C6B7A245C59C0C99541A7B18C6">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Examinations</header>
<text>Subparagraph (A) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/4102A">section 4102A(c)(9)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to grants and contracts
described in such subparagraph awarded after such date.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id556AAEE3BD1C4D6DB4023CBF473DF595"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Subparagraph (B) of such section 4102A(c)(9), as so added, shall take effect on the date that is
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and the Secretary of
Labor shall submit the first report under such subparagraph not later than
900 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idCBFA4E0A3F824ADDA8ACDC60CB1295C5">
<enum>413.</enum>
<header>Report on discrimination against members of reserve components of Armed Forces and veterans in
civilian labor market</header>
<subsection id="id68607a7fb22041a3bc021ce440d03c3e">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 570 days after the date of the enactment of this act, the Secretary of Labor, in
coordination with the heads of such agencies as the Secretary considers
appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on barriers and potential discrimination facing veterans in the
labor market.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idb3ff52c2779b44e181c716c75c40aa78">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idaaa4b69dc4b149ab85bb1c0c858b6004">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>An evaluation of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idA6B9F3E93C2A40D3AD36A2FF0A289CD1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The extent to which members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and veterans face
barriers to entry into the civilian labor market, including whether such
members and veterans face obstacles in obtaining employment, maintaining
employment, or receiving promotions while employed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A9D98623677470F942C8833649598C9">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The extent to which a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or a veteran faces
discrimination in the civilian labor market based on the member's or
veteran's status as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or
as a veteran, as the case may be.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb85f65b80f794b44b7a25d3ff06a9b71">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The adequacy and effectiveness of Federal laws in effect on the day before the date of the
enactment of this Act in preventing or ameliorating acts of discrimination
against members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and veterans
seeking or retaining employment in the civilian labor market.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2ec818c59286441e95ee248258ccabaf">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The adequacy and effectiveness of programs of the Department of Labor in effect on the day before
the date of the enactment of this Act in educating private sector
employers on matters relevant to hiring and employing veterans and the
military experience of veterans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2d447fde012a4e6d8f69649417e2d7f8">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2CB6526754754C688B95DD37E71ACC2C">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to address barriers or discrimination that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces
and veterans may face in the civilian labor market;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id811CC9E1F7ED4D888331C74B8DFC8080">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to improve education and outreach for employers in the civilian labor market on issues regarding
hiring and employing such members and veterans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id004F57BE8E474BE8B67F222632735EE8">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>to assist employers in the civilian labor market in matching the military experience of such
members and veterans with the needs of such employers.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id890897A534F8409B9B2B6D8E1A58A90B">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4a3111b849434259870f9334b78b4b14">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Appropriate committees of congress</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="id8f53cd36945f4256bdacefaac8b7cf20">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1e79af0e2f7b4481bb88d8263651354d">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3AB668DFC8754D3EB170D951F58BDC94">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idc7922372-36f8-40e2-888e-4a2e2cf6abc3">
<enum>C</enum>
<header>Improving employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services</header>
<section id="idb3a38467-e845-4de7-b489-454c267d0439">
<enum>421.</enum>
<header>Suspension, termination, or debarment of contractors for repeated violations of employment or
reemployment rights of members of uniformed services</header>
<subsection id="idb130b18b-92e4-4b96-b811-a38bbd4f01a0">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter III of chapter 43 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id82a7b108-91d1-4db3-9490-9ed2f138f7d7" style="USC">
<section id="id8a03882a-63bd-42aa-a192-3d1c2f320280">
<enum>4328.</enum>
<header>Suspension, termination, or debarment of contractors</header>
<subsection id="idd009429a-cb54-4a94-b19a-c1640f5d85e0">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Grounds for suspension, termination, or debarment</header>
<text>Payment under a contract awarded by a Federal executive agency may be suspended and the contract
may be terminated, and the contractor who made the contract with the
agency may be suspended or debarred in accordance with the requirements of
this section, if the head of the agency determines that the contractor as
an employer has repeatedly been convicted of failing or refusing to comply
with one or more provisions of this chapter.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id85adebc1-dabe-49c7-96c5-64ba0da496af">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effect of debarment</header>
<text>A contractor debarred by a final decision under this section is ineligible for award of a contract
by a Federal executive agency, and for participation in a future
procurement by a Federal executive agency, for a period specified in the
decision, not to exceed 5 years.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id8ea935b2-9755-4277-9e32-61d09300f76d">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 43 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 4327 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47cedac7-3875-490d-a061-f34b07b8bb5f" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">4328. Suspension, termination, or debarment of contractor.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idbe76d05c-3a2e-42b1-b4ec-ea193a43335b">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Regulations</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisition
Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to carry
out <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/4328">section 4328</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id219588aa-c58d-4c85-912a-0d525757e5bd">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/4328">Section 4328</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect
to failures and refusals to comply with provisions of chapter 43 of title
38, United States Code, occurring on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id217db6c3-92c6-4805-9c80-ea6bc56f1780">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Annual report</header>
<text>Section 4332(a) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0f6b8a79-1cf3-413d-84d9-ada37c1841da">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf67605e0-0c92-4269-a36c-a64dd845a910">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph (10):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc9380084-dfd4-45b4-845e-7a55a10c25cc" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2e3d18c0-c27a-4ea8-8e90-84c69a54cdd2">
<enum>(10)</enum>
<text>The number of suspensions, terminations, and debarments under section 4328 of this title,
disaggregated by the agency or department imposing the suspension or
debarment.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id54AFE2DB4B3947EEB09A629FE7EF06D7">
<enum>D</enum>
<header>Small Business Matters</header>
<section id="id65B4C96237F148FF8B191BF02B4DD9CE" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>431.</enum>
<header>Expansion of contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs to include
conditionally owned small business concerns 100 percent owned by veterans</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8127(l) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idC1C81858D08D4D1387A84AFE3C4CA562">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>unconditionally</quote> before <quote>owned by</quote> each place it appears; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8093D08E4CAF4615A5E3B2BE9810554A">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id760DD9676CB64B1B95FF75D540A13CA8" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idF2D54161514C410DB5F87DA5BB67F002">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>The term <term>unconditionally owned</term> includes, with respect to ownership of a small business concern, conditional ownership of such
small business concern if such business concern is 100 percent owned by
one or more veterans.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="id99B0DB8D6BD842D89BBF7B24092818AE" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>432.</enum>
<header>Modification of treatment under contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans Affairs
for small businesses owned by veterans of small businesses after death of
disabled veteran owners</header>
<subsection id="idBB3A71C8F8B9431FA8A2F1CFDECBB197">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8127(h) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id18886013487B476D81F06AA69C9CEFBE">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>rated as</quote> and all that follows through <quote>disability.</quote> and inserting a period; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBD138849EEF14AA8AF10270815638848">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC8D6BBDA6CC94340BB393C903D9EAA44" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id3A0A630A08A04A2480F731DB15DC8481" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The date that—</text>
<clause id="id4DFC3600034247EEAE67FC13F2DD6356">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as 100
percent disabling or who dies as a result of a service-connected
disability, is 10 years after the date of the veteran's death; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF9600B6194944502991596CDF51F7148">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as less
than 100 percent disabling who does not die as a result of a
service-connected disability, is three years after the date of the
veteran's death.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8a53d0ac29824acd861100c3fdecdc96">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to applications
received pursuant to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/8127">section 8127(f)(2)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code,
that are verified on or after such date.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id183868BF89EA478DB161FBACC5060CCA" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>433.</enum>
<header>Treatment of businesses after deaths of servicemember-owners for purposes of Department of Veterans
Affairs contracting goals and preferences</header>
<subsection id="id6F4F8BFB3F804E4E8221B9DD326F9D5B">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Section 8127 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id18B57830D31542C9804E7B8F3A3E7042">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subsections (i) through (l) as subsections (j) through (m), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id792CC2CE786D4528BFA1FCC5403AE6C0">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection (i):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id61A7BC128F494CD9A5773718DC8AFC4F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id1196F465C8744E3495B948D4A7DE87D0">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<header>Treatment of businesses after death of servicemember-Owner</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3D3449D06B514C18BBD6899F5C025892"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>If a member of the Armed Forces owns at least 51 percent of a small business concern and such
member is killed in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air
service, the surviving spouse or dependent child of such member who
acquires such ownership rights in such small business concern shall, for
the period described in paragraph (2), be treated as if the surviving
spouse or dependent child were a veteran with a service-connected
disability for purposes of determining the status of the small business
concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans for
purposes of contracting goals and preferences under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id94D1EE2AC43B49F69BF0190DFD33DFAE" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the period beginning on the date on which the member of
the Armed Forces dies and ending on the date as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="idA3D35483368C4FD5A129C11E8E593C7D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>In the case of a surviving spouse, the earliest of the following dates:</text>
<clause id="id06DEAD4368FC48FE9F6249F8E2A19C7E">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The date on which the surviving spouse remarries.</text>
</clause><clause id="idDA7B7AFE3AA74B3684B084C26DEC6DB6">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date on which the surviving spouse relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business
concern and no longer owns at least 51 percent of such small business
concern.</text>
</clause><clause id="id477CEE059CA7421DAAA11804F935D402">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>The date that is ten years after the date of the member's death.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79B937FF7D814A148F6DCBBDC06F4280">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>In the case of a dependent child, the earliest of the following dates:</text>
<clause id="id62F38CC447B843D8B4AEBBD37E9D98E5">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The date on which the surviving dependent child relinquishes an ownership interest in the small
business concern and no longer owns at least 51 percent of such small
business concern.</text>
</clause><clause id="id8BBA696C0D8E4622B228271C8A348198">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date that is ten years after the date of the member's death.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFF4B95883D5E48B2906E3932C9AF74E4">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>Subsection (i) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/8127">section 8127</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with
respect to the deaths of members of the Armed Forces occurring on or after
such date.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2343402114664BD8A8514941E4EF4154">
<enum>434.</enum>
<header>Special rule for treatment under contracting goals and preferences of Department of Veterans
Affairs of small business concerns licensed in community property States</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8127, as amended by section 433 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9BF88BC088EB421EBE6EDB0590A5007F" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98B642B05BD244CD8050C45FA0C76AA7">
<enum>(n)</enum>
<header>Special rule for community property States</header>
<text>Whenever the Secretary assesses, for purposes of this section, the degree of ownership by an
individual of a small business concern licensed in a community property
State, the Secretary shall also assess what that degree of ownership would
be if such small business concern had been licensed in a State other than
a community property State. If the Secretary determines that such
individual would have had a greater degree of ownership of the small
business concern had such small business concern been licensed in a State
other than a community property State, the Secretary shall treat, for
purposes of this section, such small business concern as if it had been
licensed in a State other than a community property State.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id2DDB7A0220FF4D90862F77E9CDB37DE3">
<enum>435.</enum>
<header>Report on assistance for veterans in obtaining training on purchasing and operating a franchise</header>
<subsection id="id2DBD27EA3BA04A028B817A498FEFDA40">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Report required</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the effective date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of
Labor shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and other appropriate
entities, submit to Congress a report on the assistance available to
veterans to obtain training necessary to purchase and operate a franchise.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idB1CACF2E64EF40EAA2541319A0808609">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id27D9CDF20D06422D8BB9C5D4D8EF9798">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>A description of the assistance available for veterans through the Department of Labor, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Small Business Administration, or any
other agency of the Federal Government in order to obtain training
necessary to purchase or operate a franchise.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id68A7CDEB2D544211A16878F0B102657C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Information on the number of veterans who have sought and obtained the training described in
paragraph (1) during the five calendar years preceding the report.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB8491FC92B014E69B5A063C69A85BF81">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A description of any barriers encountered by veterans in obtaining the training described in
paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5D9BE1225FBE4DF6AD084B19BE570CB0">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle>
<enum>V</enum>
<header>Accountability and Administrative Improvements</header>
<section id="ide3da654443ea4e34b6f1301b06df6fad">
<enum>501.</enum>
<header>Administration of Veterans Integrated Service Networks</header>
<subsection id="id8A364465FF634D8D93E9684FEF5F8E5F">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Veterans Integrated Service Networks</header>
<paragraph id="id81135F554A3641B387433BCCB34E6C8E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subchapter I of chapter 73 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41CB349E73F04271B94FB22A1D78D69C" style="USC">
<section id="idFDEBC72E8E9648BB8053347C6A4647CB">
<enum>7310.</enum>
<header>Veterans Integrated Service Networks</header>
<subsection id="id2218C194A00643D3AACEE7A6BD8CCCD6">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Organization</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idDC62BD7A9AFA47E9AB77A6B1A3D13812"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall organize the Veterans Health Administration in geographically defined Veterans
Integrated Service Networks.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1323210267BD4EA2A5F8BC7E9E5B6E23" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Each Veterans Integrated Service Network shall be organized in consideration of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idEE1F7CB7B0624C349F838E0AB03E059E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The size of the veteran population of the region of the network.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0BF3FEE67B1A4473B1BF104AAD1EE5CC">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The complexity of the medical needs of the veterans in such region.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id18124029544949F7AA2E15B922FED6B2">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Patient referral patterns.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id247AFF0CC7264F45A10BFB4F3CB4EC73">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The availability of a full continuum of health care services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC36B2F326E9E4DD5ABAE5F97AC89E834">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The ability of the Department to furnish health care efficiently.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF44F7CA9F80D4360A8B259124F264730">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>Partnerships with non-Department health care entities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id56C27A126B8E46549DA9849712833B38">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Staffing model</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id8709721024FE4BB1885A502670124ED6"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall establish a staffing model for each Veterans Integrated Service Network that—</text>
<subparagraph id="idDDC5456DF89F4AC39DD40B3C709AEAF4" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>is appropriate for the mission and responsibilities of the Veterans Integrated Service Network; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEAA0EF15D488422E8A80436795B0323E" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>accounts for the specific health care needs of differing populations in the Veterans Integrated
Service Network.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id132CFABF3700413A93C087F918BC6E65" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network complies with the staffing
model established by the Secretary under paragraph (1) for such Veterans
Integrated Service Network.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id079a03357a974f90a6d4799317f5b197">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Integrated health care system</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network maintains a regional
integrated healthcare system by—</text>
<paragraph id="id9FD29BD73A3744788AB3088B1B36FEEE">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>implementing alliances with such other governmental, public, and private health care organizations
and practitioners as the Secretary considers appropriate to meet the needs
of veterans in the Network;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6586B9A9C3754D97922B59190D31B483">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>providing oversight and management of, and taking responsibility for, a regional budget for the
activities of the Veterans Health Administration in the geographic area of
the Network that is—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7712C59BB84D4F2380F523C99E8E5DE2">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>aligned with the budget guidelines of the Department and the Veterans Health Administration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id91BE1EF74A0A4D4F99D132A32388D26F">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>balanced at the end of each fiscal year; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2C8FE278F15A4D06AC49D26005EF6BEC">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>sufficient to provide high-quality health care to veterans within the region and to meet any unique
needs of the veterans of the region;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id06F6C5B5E6C4455DA12BA2ED0228E19E">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>using national metrics to develop systems to provide effective, efficient, and safe delivery of
health care; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0C90490872F248A19BA22D776D17944B">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>ensuring high-quality clinical programs and services are rendered in and through—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7FE5E73284B048909B34599DCAE1CDA8">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the medical centers and outpatient clinics of the Department that are located in the Network; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC4CEF7542FF24398B1E6671190BBF2FF">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>other non-Department clinical or health care delivery settings located in the Network.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbfe5fea87ab647f08be515d0f74212b5">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Reduction in duplicate functions</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that the Veterans Integrated Service Networks identify and reduce,
whenever practicable, the duplication of functions in clinical,
administrative, and operational processes and practices of the Veterans
Health Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ide7253057957946cf82f33b18501aa6b1">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Collaboration and cooperation</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network—</text>
<paragraph id="id4A4053BD3A1145D48AFE34EB519E13E7">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>works to achieve maximum effectiveness in patient care and safety, graduate medical education, and
research; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF91B89A1A095434986B266DFB2A8187E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>assesses the consolidation or realignment of institutional functions, including capital asset,
safety, and operational support functions, in collaboration and
cooperation with other Veterans Integrated Service Networks and the
following offices or entities within the geographical area of the Network:</text>
<subparagraph id="id89395e04c5d44292b046d378aefc049f">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery Administration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id360aae38f5024cb2a4ebfecac16775b7">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The offices, installations, and facilities of the Department of Defense, including the offices,
installations, and facilities of each branch of the Armed Forces and the
reserve components of the Armed Forces.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2D70094C5536428590651D8969577EAA">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The offices, installations, and facilities of the Coast Guard.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9e4e7cf05f9f44629053caf985b32b44">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Offices of State and local agencies that have a mission to provide assistance to veterans.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd8a63b09d4534b798e8aa9d23f25853a">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Medical schools and other affiliates.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13842165182e47eb93e816f62c6c9af4">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>Offices of Congress, offices of State and local elected officials, and other government offices.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfac2e42c7972486bab5165a3b65752cf">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>Federal, State, and local emergency preparedness organizations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id327c076708c54af0b85d698627b96103">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>Community and nonprofit organizations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1ca57ece005e4705980cfaf59af5bed3">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>Such other entities of the Federal Government as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb401019ccc1f4e97bccf88d9dc2fbd19">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Headquarters</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idEC322B3B81E84E11B19CC99CD6CD19F0"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that each Veterans Integrated Service Network has only one headquarters
office.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id663FE0667E1B486E8BDF4E8943ED7AD0" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The location of a headquarters office for a Veterans Integrated Service Network shall be determined
by the Secretary and co-located with a Department of Veterans Affairs
medical center.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id17306F1BA2894B04969764CC9BD1FBDE" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4713E0DF19B842B092420403B061789C"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The Secretary may employ or contract for the services of such full time equivalent employees and
contractors at the headquarters of each Veterans Integrated Service
Network as the Secretary considers appropriate in accordance with the
staffing models established under subsection (b).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id524AC2757E9F4A17AE103AB749B2F34E" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Not later than December 31 each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House
of Representatives a report on employment at the headquarters of Veterans
Integrated Service Networks during the most recently completed fiscal
year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id93420C076A044C85BD7AA7A928EBB7C6" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (B) shall include the following for the year covered by
the report:</text>
<clause commented="no" id="id12C86909D9C84083ACDBCAAC8C706807">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals employed at each headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service Network.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="idE45ED526EA7F49E1B0CC0F0ACF2063BE">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals employed by the Veterans Health Administration in each Veterans
Integrated Service Network who are not employed at the same location as
the headquarters of the Network.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id3FE901C3D97D432A97952D67E5853A50">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>The title for each position of employment at a headquarters of a Veterans Integrated Service
Network.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="idC8D48BCBAED9477CB76AF1A79E40561A">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>The title for each position of employment with the Veterans Health Administration in each Veterans
Integrated Service Network that is not at the same location as the
headquarters of the Network.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3E92F0AD471541F8BD0259D1A11C34B7">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the impact on the budget of the Department by the employment of individuals at the
headquarters of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2A472E535D68492EA911E02DAB65F1FB">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Triennial structure review, reassessment, and report</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7406D00B7AE644BC84EB05BEF2D8A6D0"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Beginning three years after the date of the enactment of this section and not less frequently than
once every three years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a review
and assessment of the structure and operations of the Veterans Integrated
Service Networks in order to identify recommendations—</text>
<subparagraph id="id354ECB2DC870469A98F639F8DD68D04A" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>for streamlining and reducing costs associated with the operation of each headquarters of a
Veterans Integrated Service Network; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF514F4F5B75A4DE39DF70D82B629CF1E" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>for reducing costs of health care within the Veterans Health Administration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCE47FF60C3814F68B7A5C624B10A0A2E" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Not later than 180 days after conducting a review and assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on
such review and assessment, which shall include such recommendations for
legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers
appropriate to improve the Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0466079D339A4DCB8B650C74E5CCC2EC">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 7309 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA017BE6F35E64105B418204657AD6A3C" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7310. Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA6431815FB144178AB2A225BA8D987FA">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Relocation of headquarters</header>
<paragraph id="id706B9C4A15E9499EBA7593272C810214">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>In the case of a headquarters office of a Veterans Integrated Service Network that on the day
before the date of the enactment of this Act was in a location that was
not co-located with a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center and
the Secretary is engaged in a lease for such location, the Secretary may—</text>
<subparagraph id="id1AF1846960B04C0F9C908755C26E600E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>relocate such headquarters upon the expiration of such lease so that such headquarters is
co-located as required by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7310">section 7310(f)(2)</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code (as added by subsection (a)(1)); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB29F12C5304F4654B5746C8FA948668E">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>notwithstanding such section 7310(f)(2) (as so added), renew such lease or enter into a new lease
to keep such headquarters in such location.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idBD009662673542709A7A208379D48B80">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>If the Secretary renews a lease or engages in a new lease under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, before
renewing such lease or engaging in such lease, a report describing the
reasons for such renewal or engagement. Such report shall include the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id4030c122f7dd4ef5b3969692b6ee1fa5">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A list of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers in the Veterans Integrated Service Network
of the headquarters with underutilized buildings, the number of such
buildings, and the total underutilized square footage for each such
medical center.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd539836bedd04dd082d2fdc1f2a3762a">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The cost of the current lease (the annual amount of rent, the total cost over the life of the
lease, and the total cost per square foot) and the current square footage
being leased.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf4453b87a7c34e7ead11006306dd1137">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The cost of the new lease (the annual amount of rent, the total cost over the life of the lease,
and the total cost per square foot) and the square footage to be leased.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A33E88DDFDC44DE84BCEC1740B1EDB6">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Construction</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any change in the location or type of medical
care or service provided by a Department of Veterans Affairs medical
center, a Department community based outpatient clinic, a center for
readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans
under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1712A">section 1712A</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code (known as a <quote>vet center</quote>), or other facility that provides direct care or services under a law administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB7F7680E67204F9E9D2B6BB00CF4AE8D">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section, and the amendments made by this section, shall take effect on the date that is one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id6a16c286174342629d6cff9e8260b99d">
<enum>502.</enum>
<header>Regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks</header>
<subsection id="id590E26872D0442BFBCA8207DB1CB03E0">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subchapter I of chapter 73, as amended by section 501(a)(1) of this Act, is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF97BBF58D0AE4375BE2ED9327A1AC72F" style="USC">
<section id="id87F9D540D5FC4FBE98A971E889311413">
<enum>7310A.</enum>
<header>Regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks</header>
<subsection id="id84400FF0EAFC46A388209CED0C2B7E72">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment</header>
<text>The Secretary shall establish not more than four regional support centers within the Veterans
Health Administration to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the
Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The head of each regional support
center shall report to the Under Secretary of Health.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id81A1873CE31342B0A09E5EF5047AEB60">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Functions</header>
<text>The functions of the regional support centers established under subsection (a) are as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="idaba4cfdb13be4d3cb64a6c03a7d34922">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>To assess the quality of work performed within finance operations and other compliance related
activities of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2e4e4763e42948f08bfb4a0de73235df">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>To assess how effectively and efficiently each Veterans Integrated Service Network conducts
outreach to veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation
Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or any other contingency operation (as
that term is defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 10).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC7DE23625A4E4D44951DF48BE0C7979C">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>To assess how effectively and efficiently each Veterans Integrated Service Network conducts
programs for the benefit of women veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id62E14F176BB445B9BB5D771C25343252">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>To assess how effectively and efficiently each Veterans Integrated Service Network conducts
programs that address homelessness among veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0560B3981B084C8488A632F277CBCA3D">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>To assess how effectively and efficiently each Veterans Integrated Service Network consumes energy.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id596020739C574ED4AC0A8FA491AB136B">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>To assess such other matters concerning the operations and activities of the Veterans Integrated
Service Networks as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4BF9114BA80A4FCCA59A62A07F0F5076">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Staff</header>
<text>The Secretary may hire such employees and contractors as the Secretary considers appropriate to
carry out the functions of the regional support centers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idb3119ed0d4a14965a207716a26de5995">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Location of regional support centers</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1B6EF84521874653B09F0685B183FB0A"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the location of each regional support center established under
subsection (a) shall be determined by the Secretary and co-located with a
medical center of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id24635422321E4749B20311B775B4FC3D" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The Secretary may choose a location for a regional support center established under subsection (a)
that is not co-located with a medical center of the Department if the
Secretary submits to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, before
entering into a contract for a location that is not co-located with a
medical center, a report describing the reasons for choosing a location
for the regional support center that is not co-located with a medical
center of the Department. Such report shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id88E3CA1393DD4301BEEDF91F79F291A3">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A list of medical centers of the Department in the Veterans Integrated Service Network of the
regional support center with underutilized buildings, the number of all
Veterans Health Administration buildings in such Network, and the total
underutilized square footage for each medical center of the Department in
such Network.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA7D0A60AD4904455A4A6D6F40321DA51">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The estimated cost of such lease (the annual amount of rent, the total cost over the life of the
lease, and the total cost per square foot) and the square footage to be
leased.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id5834FE912221495CB75B71AEB10AC3C3">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Initial staffing</header>
<text>In providing for the initial staff of each regional support center established under section
7310A(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the degree practicable, transfer
employees from headquarters of Veterans Integrated Service Networks to
regional support centers who were employed in positions at such
headquarters that covered functions similar to those described in section
7310A(b) of such title, as so added.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idB2DBE5FC7EFC42858E8BD50825859CD3">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73, as amended by section 501(a)(2) of this Act,
is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7310
the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0D39DA191CA43FB88B6CBDC4B748195" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7310A. Regional support centers for Veterans Integrated Service Networks.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfccd7ade58f9413d976956e5f29d77f0">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Construction</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any change in the location or type of medical
care or service provided by a Department of Veterans Affairs medical
center, a Department community based outpatient clinic, a center for
readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans
under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1712A">section 1712A</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code (known as a <quote>vet center</quote>), or other facility that provides direct care or services under a law administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE4786620FE114F0CB0CE569B9CC03978">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This section, and the amendments made by this section, shall take effect on the date that is one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idCDCA6A018396465886640BE49264F0F5">
<enum>503.</enum>
<header>Commission on Capital Planning for Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities</header>
<subsection id="ID56F26CD6FBE944EA93712D08EBBE89D4">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment of commission</header>
<paragraph id="ID9F36EA019CFD43CA8D682B0BC84633EF">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Establishment</header>
<text>There is established the Commission on Capital Planning for Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Facilities (in this section referred to as the <quote>Commission</quote>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6A592491DD5E438FB033D04272120D24">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Membership</header>
<subparagraph id="ID0B2C8C10439843EDB075747AB2C196CC">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>Voting members</header>
<text>The Commission shall, subject to subparagraph (B), be composed of 10 voting members as follows:</text>
<clause id="ID67CFD5F721E645AE89404D197DFAA134">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the President.</text>
</clause><clause id="id57339825B43242348F7E8422A50CDE9D">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the Administrator of General Services.</text>
</clause><clause id="id62309C878BA04E8A90D58BC448D2EA20">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>3 shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, of whom—</text>
<subclause id="id9D26D1CAAC57486198C81E5094518C25">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>1 shall be an employee of the Veterans Health Administration;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id6521717023F146D29F0D334474546354">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>1 shall be an employee of the Office of Asset Enterprise Management of the Department of Veterans
Affairs; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idADCC63B2CD8745EFA3AE8DDC51A2B00D">
<enum>(III)</enum>
<text>1 shall be an employee of the Office of Construction and Facilities Management of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id1A193DF5BAC34CF2A1F8D7A99C1A91B3">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among employees of the Army Corps of
Engineers.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID14FA5A08770B4AD2B9ABDA12D0C8F5B1">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID21EE31E7509640DA946786B9C0C6B7C3">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID5F50A66A14B24722991E80A52036BA44">
<enum>(vii)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.</text>
</clause><clause id="IDEEE127DCC1C04213A50F54EFA888093D">
<enum>(viii)</enum>
<text>1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9ECB0D41B47E4DBB9EF1C8D43F841EF5">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Requirement relating to certain appointments of voting members</header>
<text>Of the members appointed pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), and (iv) through (viii) of subparagraph
(A),
all shall have expertise in capital leasing, construction, or health
facility management planning.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id36066AED1D3D4F0B860C9339E45FAC21">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<header>Non-voting members</header>
<text>The Commission shall be assisted by 10 non-voting members, appointed by the vote of a majority of
members of the Commission under subparagraph (A), of whom—</text>
<clause id="id1DFDD552E75643FE86FD08F9378BB541">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>6 shall be representatives of veterans service organizations recognized by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idAD3E43E37E744B8C9F22696404F0A18F">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>4 shall be individuals from outside the Department of Veterans Affairs with experience and
expertise in matters relating to management, construction, and leasing of
capital assets.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7122D83211FF4465AAD1E3E201D774C3">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<header>Date of appointment of voting members</header>
<text>The appointments of the members of the Commission under subparagraph (A) shall be made not later
than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDB4CDEF3B42ED4C0CAE1CCAB6B0EF1C42">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Period of appointment; vacancies</header>
<text>Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDDE5A648F8EA47948DFD7AED58D91E2A">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Initial meeting</header>
<text>Not later than 15 days after the date on which 7 members of the Commission have been appointed, the
Commission shall hold its first meeting.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0ECCB1F0E51847F8945FA1902DA20BF5">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<header>Meetings</header>
<text>The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chair.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1693DFD5501647F49A65A1A3368919FC">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<header>Quorum</header>
<text>A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of
members may hold hearings.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4FED0A1CED9D4258886D9DACB0FC8370">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<header>Chair and vice chair</header>
<text>The Commission shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID259A7A661C3949B785B22185785AECC2">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Duties of commission</header>
<paragraph id="idE5A169CC69AE4173B66F944EDA5B914E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Commission shall undertake a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of various options for
capital planning for Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities,
including an evaluation and assessment of the mechanisms by which the
Department currently selects means for the delivery of health care,
whether by major construction, major medical facility leases, sharing
agreements with the Department of Defense, the Indian Health Service, and
Federally Qualified Health Clinics under section 330 of the Public Health
Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/254b">42 U.S.C. 254b</external-xref>), contract care, multisite care, telemedicine,
extended hours for care, or other means.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7942AB0152F64AC7B9D87709F98596CF">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Context of evaluation and assessment</header>
<text>In undertaking the evaluation and assessment, the Commission shall consider—</text>
<subparagraph id="id76768626C79949C99EF2C5B3EC1E615D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the importance of access to health care through the Department, including associated guidelines of
the Department on access to, and drive time for, health care;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9E524051BF4447BCA402163350B3B871">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>limitations and requirements applicable to the construction and leasing of medical facilities for
the Department, including applicable laws, regulations, and costs as
determined by both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of
Management and Budget;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id42BBA2B6A69F4DA4BDBB61D8B57488BA">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>the nature of capital planning for Department medical facilities in an era of fiscal uncertainty;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34129E9D4D1344E7A153FF38C5AE0BF6">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>projected future fluctuations in the population of veterans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc16fd46faad04bff85741352f071c107">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>the extent to which the Department was able to meet the mandates of the Capital Asset Realignment
for Enhanced Services Commission.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id70F6B7DC2F58477D8D11759D83F559AE">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Particular considerations</header>
<text>In undertaking the evaluation and assessment, the Commission shall address, in particular, the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="iddce28251d9fb4f5bbc1b8e2ee2e6920a">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The Major Medical Facility Lease Program of the Department, including an identification of
potential improvements to the lease authorization processes under that
Program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id27315BCCEF274780BB741A4B32B7B174">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The management processes of the Department for its Major Medical Facility Construction Program,
including processes relating to contract award and management, project
management, and processing of change orders.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id85183116f5b248be92c7c1d6e0728179">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The overall capital planning program of the Department for medical facilities, including an
evaluation and assessment of—</text>
<clause id="idD209AC34C30C4327B4550C16FA85BACC">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the manner in which the Department determines whether to use capital or non-capital means to expand
access to health care;</text>
</clause><clause id="id825C67B10A684C508D9E83CF3361B7E3">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the manner in which the Department determines the disposition of under-utilized and un-utilized
buildings on campuses of Department medical centers, and any barriers to
disposition;</text>
</clause><clause id="id162A2CEC1E6C45CD8EDB24017AA2FAC8">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>the effectiveness of the facility master planning initiative of the Department; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idDB3078DEC6904DF3945B96D72E1E9F61">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>the extent to which sustainable attributes are planned for to decrease operating costs for
Department medical facilities.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id68ec8618a4f64418a643fc40b558c51f">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The current backlog of construction projects for Department medical facilities, including an
identification of the most effective means to quickly secure the most
critical repairs required, including repairs relating to facility
condition deficiencies, structural safety, and compliance with the
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC9CF32682756496F9664D30BB93CF190">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<text>Subject to paragraph (5), the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and to
the Committee Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, reports as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="id71f010b5ab104693874a7d3c63b119ac">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Not later than six months after its initial meeting under subsection (a)(4), a report on the Major
Medical Facility Lease Program and the Congressional lease authorization
process.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd40db5d55ddc43feb0d625903edc175a">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Not later than one year after its initial meeting, a report—</text>
<clause id="id2F26A31D37724EA9AD40438AC203B8F8">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>on the management processes of the Department for the construction of Department medical
facilities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id88A49A1FE6B745D78C28C7F2133C767E">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>setting forth an update of any matters covered in the report under subparagraph (A).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id391dd0ce5e484146a2431320003155c2">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Not later than 18 months after its initial meeting, a report—</text>
<clause id="id23FA175740604CB89A95CB999FAB56C8">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>on the overall capital planning program of the Department for medical facilities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idF00C1FBD05274E73A5C53FE10F37CC7D">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>setting forth an update of any matters covered in earlier reports under this paragraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13c50593c55b4ce890532d558178fd25">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Not later than two years after its initial meeting, a report—</text>
<clause id="idF6591B6DA36E40AA9297433E75D14CE5">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>on the current backlog of construction projects for Department medical facilities;</text>
</clause><clause id="id1077AEFF67BA49CF8964806B6CF6CF0A">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>setting forth an update of any matters covered in earlier reports under this paragraph; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id48EC297DA36C48E6BED5EB9918C602A8">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>including such other matters relating to the duties of the Commission that the Commission considers
appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff2eb07c5ffe4495ba546248c638c47b">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Not later than 27 months after its initial meeting, a report on the implementation by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs pursuant to subsection (g) of the recommendations
included pursuant to paragraph (5) in the reports under this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA64F88703DF94D358C09AFD8F94FDC6F">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<header>Recommendations</header>
<text>Each report under paragraph (4) shall include, for the aspect of the capital asset planning process
of the Department covered by such report, such recommendations as the
Commission considers appropriate for the improvement and enhancement of
such aspect of the capital asset planning process.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID74156D0F025F4F2F8385B03BFCB9216A">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Powers of commission</header>
<paragraph id="ID702F0A5C44754537816EAC4CAF3D12A9">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Hearings</header>
<text>The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony,
and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry
out this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID887F1AF5135A43938A70866E5CA5046E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Information from Federal agencies</header>
<text>The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the
Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. Upon request of
the Chair of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall
furnish such information to the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDE1D4C35B84A9419386ECE15783B4CDF7">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Commission personnel matters</header>
<paragraph id="IDDBD53C21509D47C98A217B083F4AD4EC">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Compensation of members</header>
<text>Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of
basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section
5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time)
during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of
the Commission. All members of the Commission who are officers or
employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in
addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of
the United States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1179DD9A0A7D4FCDA271C283AC67C62C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Travel expenses</header>
<text>The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under
subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, while away from
their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services
for the Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID10D69ECE240145F1BFDAC737CC0BBF7D">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Staff</header>
<subparagraph id="IDEEFC75CB2B454D92B36EFA5653A525F0">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Chair of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint
and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as
may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The
employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by
the Commission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE4E58C0C6C7D4E42B46A4DF413EF166C">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Compensation</header>
<text>The Chair of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel
without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/53">chapter 53</external-xref> of title 5,
United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General
Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director
and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID591F8DD90C4F4240BF5617F5D66B9BA0">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Detail of government employees</header>
<text>Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3287C6AFC6FA4DEE95E40AB4E7829734">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<header>Procurement of temporary and intermittent services</header>
<text>The Chair of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b)
of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDF9F07993A3D8499993B5AA3005D801B9">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Termination of commission</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report
under subsection (b)(4)(E).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id29AFB6DF32BC480FBF46FB8EEEB482BE">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Funding</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available to the Commission such amounts as the
Secretary and the Chair of the Commission jointly consider appropriate for
the Commission to perform its duties under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3E891C95CB7D49B8AE205DE3A2E92164">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Action on recommendations</header>
<paragraph id="idFEABDC0F548A4FB1A5A921457CCD29E5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement each recommendation included in a report under
subsection (b)(4) that the Secretary considers feasible and advisable and
can be implemented without further legislative action.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4FAF06CA767943608189214653462E15">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<text>Not later than 120 days after receipt of a report under subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection
(b)(4), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee Veterans' Affairs of
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report setting forth the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id8389B3D0B2E54F3F8237A27B363FBD92">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of each recommendation contained in such report.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A0790C89BDF464D87E5FF22226FB4DE">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>For each recommendation assessed as feasible and advisable—</text>
<clause id="idADA8A8D039B04E2C936FDC7DFB666ECE">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>if such recommendation does not require further legislative action for implementation, a
description of the actions taken, and to be taken, by the Secretary to
implement such recommendation; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id17B87FD558484E968BA3A4443C04E168">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>if such recommendation requires further legislative action for implementation, recommendations for
such legislative action.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida6ed5734-5ad6-4066-b4d5-c94dda535ea5">
<enum>504.</enum>
<header>Advance appropriations for certain accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="ide0d21a58-ca11-457d-be64-7aa80e110b1a">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 117 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id36a578a1-055d-47c3-a7e4-9b328775f8ae">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>medical care accounts of the Department</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>covered accounts of the Department</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb5d505bf-f8cd-4288-bc7a-a8eca1a45cd4">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subsection (c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida57b79ce-3828-4732-ab48-4898b086508c">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by striking <quote>medical care accounts of the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs account</quote> and inserting <quote>accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs account</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72e5fe23-1e78-4d0b-9c13-4cf3157be3eb">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>Veterans Health Administration,</quote> after <quote>(1)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3af4caaa-ddf7-4477-acd9-64f9308a7fdd">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>Veterans Health Administration,</quote> after <quote>(2)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0058c56b-ce83-44e0-8f5a-1cdaf5e2bbb1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (3), by inserting <quote>Veterans Health Administration,</quote> after <quote>(3)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0A18DE3697E94E259283258F3F762316">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as paragraphs (7) through (9), respectively;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB728FAF3B2D440FFB7E435A7307C1561">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>by inserting before paragraph (7), as redesignated by subparagraph (E), the following new
paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA304039E381948CB8CB8A0296574D070" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id0A06161D904A4DB8B5F47C12F6991B93">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Compensation and Pensions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id03079C131C3F472994D14AF6F396737F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Readjustment Benefits.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA782029AC5C549988CD128D1B633FFBD">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Insurance and Indemnities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id494DED310F4E498386495129007046EF">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idFC8B1CCB677140DEB77F1469E1C91569">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id02a6b7f6-69b3-4222-8b05-64de786974fd">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb00be1e0-7033-4bf4-aa55-d9f880f28ddf">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>in the subsection heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="USC">Medical care accounts</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="USC">Covered accounts</header-in-text></quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3a4eb698-8bd2-459f-97d0-6734ffb42a3d">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">certain medical care accounts</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">certain accounts</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id10deddac-f1cd-43c9-a132-de3df3fdb9b7">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 and each
subsequent fiscal year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idDA3D1B17CC32452B81786B0C4A7E4576">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Conforming amendment</header>
<text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/1105">Section 1105</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the first paragraph (37) and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99A47ACCF9084733B40F61D522F59DC2" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id56eae8e2a3de404b95563b962b272526">
<enum>(37)</enum>
<text>information on estimates of appropriations for the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which
the budget is submitted for the following accounts of the Department of
Veterans Affairs:</text>
<subparagraph id="id4008d17e60734580ab85c7660ff522a4">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Compensation and Pensions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf61dc3ea32444a2ca50df8cb2cf42e72">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Readjustment Benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddbcab976d99e46dd986123af69467b0e">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Insurance and Indemnities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id70f2485f555f4b16b1bd6b08051f8c20">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide4f8134f9de64d5ea76292c2f77893fc">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program Account.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id03ab3ce944dc452990309a0a6c5e8e86">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration, Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb690140a93ac4d45bf1b3335ce62af1e">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>Veterans Health Administration, Medical Services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id590a1635b15442d5ac72186b69c9ef59">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>Veterans Health Administration, Medical Support and Compliance.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfc340a40f6914e55bc2e43350f9c9c5b">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>Veterans Health Administration, Medical Facilities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id34FDCA918586474BBDB22A4274DEBBF3">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Technical correction</header>
<text>Such section is further amended by redesignating the second paragraph (37), as added by section
11(a)(2) of the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/352">Public Law 111–352</external-xref>; 124
Stat. 3881), as paragraph (39).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idD2BC75D30D6149B5B28CC3145582783D">
<enum>505.</enum>
<header>Public access to Department of Veterans Affairs research and data sharing between Departments</header>
<subsection id="id9E66AAEC59B44E7D8BBCBBA2A39C0E43">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment of Internet website</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make available on an Internet website of the Department of
Veterans Affairs available to the public the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idDE1CD0292B5048D58B9C1F7E9D19D7FA">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data files that contain information on research of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBD8024336ACB4BAA88E89A9A56636C22">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A data dictionary on each data file.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4F1811AE899A42BF8AD5E01AD792D787">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Instructions for how to obtain access to each data file for use in research.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idba56453bc2794ccd951ded1c323f704d">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Public access to manuscripts on Department funded research</header>
<paragraph id="id54BAF845DA004FEBBCF20E91A9DBC099">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning not later than 540 days after the effective date specified in subsection (e), the
Secretary shall require, as a condition on the use of any data gathered or
formulated from research funded by the Department, that any final,
peer-reviewed manuscript prepared for publication that uses such data be
submitted to the Secretary for deposit in the digital archive under
paragraph (2) and publication under paragraph (3).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8EC5DF12132E448E957FC7DF5F154172">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Digital archive</header>
<text>Not later than 540 days after the effective date specified in subsection (e), the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC36393DFA89B4C65A6A364E032A7A4ED">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>establish a digital archive consisting of manuscripts described in paragraph (1); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1E6A4ECC19B847E9A59003611F4414AC">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>partner with another executive agency to compile such manuscripts in a digital archive.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id791BCAD9F13F42F993C2B9BED218A0AC">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Public availability</header>
<subparagraph id="id319566F0E36841AB81ABAF0162873D9F">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>Availability of archive</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall ensure that the digital archive under paragraph (2) and the contents of such
archive are available to the public via a publicly accessible Internet
website at no cost to the public.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6B808CD4E0614285B4A2208ADC438286">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Availability of manuscripts</header>
<text>The Secretary shall ensure that each manuscript submitted to the Secretary under paragraph (1) is
available to the public under subparagraph (A) not later than one year
after the official date on which the manuscript is otherwise published.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id46ED62A8B3BD418CB56B3D85030DB812">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Consistent with copyright law</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall carry out this subsection in a manner consistent with applicable copyright law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id40806f779eae470d9654109ea94df93a">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<header>Annual report</header>
<subparagraph id="idF54719260B324E719FFC3DD63DDE10F2">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date the Secretary begins making manuscripts available to the
public under this subsection and not less frequently than once each year
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House
of Representatives a report on the implementation of this subsection
during the most recent one-year period.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2B41B9C9D84E4906B83A2A9AFC7E0FBB">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include for the period of the report:</text>
<clause id="idCF7E566D14814EB8A6D52B65E5D7B0DC">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The number of manuscripts submitted under paragraph (1).</text>
</clause><clause id="idA8C3C1FD0FB74721A38B41B9C235CFC9">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The titles of such manuscripts.</text>
</clause><clause id="id9FE53CA0709B4ED7B316C5BB74C1CC5D">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>The authors of such manuscripts.</text>
</clause><clause id="idE5593CE6A26E4402B2182BC457314251">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>For each such manuscript, the name and issue number or volume number, as the case may be, of the
journal or other publication in which such manuscript was published.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE2B32082EA6445C8A71CB3488F7989BF">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Recommendations for data sharing between Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the effective date specified in subsection (e), the Department of
Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee
established by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/320">section 320(a)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, shall
submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense
options and recommendations for the establishment of a program for
long-term cooperation and data sharing between and within the Department
of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to facilitate research
on outcomes of military service, readjustment after combat deployment, and
other topics of importance to the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idFA4E01BBEBF04341B841914A7BCD7556">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id76BB216D2B7F4DC0851730EFFE9718C1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA3E70B176BF64773AF5516E33002E196">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Family members of veterans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idDFC49075FB8A4E539F4875185370E0E6">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Family members of members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id869CAC27D74846CAA403E4CE07C38E8F">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Members of communities that have a significant population of veterans or members of the Armed
Forces.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id99712F5732314038AD88506E534F9534">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Executive agency defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>executive agency</term> has the meaning given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/41/133">section 133</external-xref> of title 41, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id35B2951D1E624D9DB5A11EA2FEDE13D1">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id379F3802564F49ADBFDE7A60ED9E4609">
<enum>506.</enum>
<header>Assessment by Comptroller General of the United States of information made available by Veterans
Benefits Administration</header>
<subsection id="id0F6EC67D49F14A26A1340635289286D4">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Assessment of information currently available</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id412B90920469423B967684422C8C69C9">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>conduct an assessment of the process by which the Veterans Benefits Administration informs
veterans, veterans service organizations, and such other persons as the
Comptroller General considers appropriate regarding the furnishing of
benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
determine the extent to which the process results in disseminated
information that—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3F6912997C1C44F2BAF8971A33AD76EF">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>adequately supports and improves the timeliness and accuracy of decisions made by the
Administration with respect to claims for disability compensation and such
other benefits furnished under laws administered by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs as the Comptroller General considers appropriate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87B66394FDCC4A51A64CB27B020CFCF7">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>encourages the filing of fully developed claims for benefits under laws administered by the
Secretary; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF092F552B2574199A1EC5F9C0206A0A5">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>assess how the Veterans Benefits Administration notifies each claimant during, and as part of, any
electronic filing process established by the Secretary for the filing of
applications for disability compensation and such other benefits under
laws administered by the Secretary as the Comptroller General considers
appropriate that services may be available to the claimant from a veterans
service organization.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id95625FCE67D5424C9575D3EF9AF86E78">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on
the findings of the Comptroller General under subsection (a). Such report
shall include such recommendations as the Comptroller General may have for
legislative or administrative action to improve the availability of
information made available to the public by the Veterans Benefits
Administration regarding the furnishing of benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idE0686C2873DB4F2A9AACFEC4CAC02F11">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Veterans service organization defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>veterans service organization</term> means an organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF1482CA514594E1A836BF293459FE25F">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id25D1CC231BD74E9195D688BEF94AEDA6">
<enum>507.</enum>
<header>Comptroller general report on advisory committees of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id232B7EE8C42A46108BE59159F81AE2EE">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the effective date specified in subsection (c), the Comptroller
General shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the advisory committees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3DD2D45D5F554BDE9A9D35571908E824">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report required by subsection (a)—</text>
<paragraph id="id5991E41F57124F7FBA1CE05780CDE27D">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="idd4f7f9e06e0b492e802d8811ecbcf145">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>recommendations or proposals for continuing, modifying, or terminating certain advisory committees,
including noting areas of overlap and duplication among the advisory
committees; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc0da3942ccc3492981672e69d19a0cae">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>such other information as the Comptroller General considers appropriate; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idFB7A322B3F6149AFAB3DED935D23FA8D">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>may include—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2ed0c602930b418890b4ef461fa0b0e1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>a description of each advisory committee, including with respect to each committee—</text>
<clause id="idC94D097D23C94F55AE130858F1DB045B">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the purpose of the committee;</text>
</clause><clause id="idBB8659D7FA1E4876A5AF692E183DD795">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the commencement date of the committee; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id1C584F625BEB43B2A8AE6CD987878D50">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>the anticipated termination date of the committee;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4f7c2f4020394228a8121ef26ee263b7">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>a summary of the anticipated expenses and the actual expenses incurred for each advisory committee
during the most recent three fiscal years ending before the date of the
enactment of this Act; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id77fb2ce2609845a09db5d218f9e7a845">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>with respect to meetings held by each advisory committee—</text>
<clause id="idB382CFAB0DE84D22B4887F35D6FBAB04">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the frequency with which each committee has met during the shorter of—</text>
<subclause id="id2C643FF71A94428FB1001D7DBB5DDFC8">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>the most recent three fiscal years ending before the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id7B119C5B746144EA88A5F96059C6A304">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the life of the committee;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id26a9e9c07ed549d88224f3685ee7f75a">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the date of the most recent meeting held by the committee before such date of enactment; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id42c37e0de080401482cf4d360c47d533">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>the date of the most recent report or other written product developed by the committee before such
date of enactment.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idC709303B66BB49C3AD5B08F0ED4101DA">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section>
<enum>VI</enum>
<header>Improvement of Processing of Claims for Compensation</header>
<subtitle id="idB15FDB63AE2E4D5594172B9E553A455C">
<enum>A</enum>
<header>Claims Based on Military Sexual Trauma</header>
<section id="idC05AE47AD78142069C40C9BC17B8327A">
<enum>601.</enum>
<header>Medical examination and opinion for disability compensation claims based on military sexual trauma</header>
<subsection id="id149916F326544738B884DA454F6459BF">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5103A(d) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79B24D63267E4945BC91F3F9AA877A22" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idF0E4CE0BB4814A6F9187C3857C3F34AC" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id698F19B9B83A4B0AADFA020F791B9B29"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>In the case of a claim for disability compensation based on a mental health condition related to
military sexual trauma, the Secretary shall treat an examination or
opinion as being necessary to make a decision on a claim for purposes of
paragraph (1) if the evidence of record before the Secretary, taking into
consideration all information and lay or medical evidence (including
statements of the claimant)—</text>
<clause id="idaeea1993bbbe42d5bf708e5f6e877211" indent="up1">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idE4EBAD73B9AF4A22A5B9291BCAF24483"><enum>(I)</enum>
<text>contains competent evidence that the claimant has a current disability, or persistent or recurrent
symptoms of disability; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id723afc88a3044c9482c217f2df812e69" indent="up1">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>indicates that the disability or symptoms may be associated with the claimant’s active military,
naval, or air service; but</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id8fceab42a0704eae91587f5af6c12838" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>does not contain a diagnosis or opinion by a mental health professional that may assist in
corroborating the occurrence of a military sexual trauma stressor related
to a diagnosable mental health condition.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFD2D0C619A5144458D626A052E33B028" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>In this paragraph, the term <term>military sexual trauma</term> shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary for purposes of this paragraph, and shall
include <term>sexual harassment</term> (as so specified).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idB24FCB07C6A34D0B94DB6EFF7EAB2054">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the number of examinations and opinions conducted by the
Secretary pursuant to paragraph (3) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5103A">section 5103A(d)</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), including the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id2B604930CFFB4E9EB8F5F9F2F8F39998">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The number of examinations conducted using a standardized disability assessment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8C357E2C78774F68B82E23372F9A5BCB">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The number of examinations conducted using a non-standardized clinical interview.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idB9AA8EF6B7AD41B1817487D840C93EF8">
<enum>602.</enum>
<header>Case representative officers for military sexual trauma support</header>
<subsection id="id1F81207547444FD1A5198639B87A67BF">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall assign to each individual seeking compensation under the
laws administered by the Secretary based on military sexual trauma a case
representative officer who shall provide advice and general information to
such individual on the claims process for such compensation. Each case
representative officer so assigned shall be assigned from among current
personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id640A683F3189487FA2E89255376C312C">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Liaison</header>
<text>A case representative officer assigned to an individual under subsection (a) shall be responsible
for serving as a liaison between the individual, an authorized agent or
attorney of the individual under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5904">section 5904</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code, or an otherwise accredited representative of the individual, and the
Department of Veterans Affairs on matters relating to the claim of the
individual for compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id251BE9319FE241A2A1551C63E3EC150C">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Case representative officer requirements</header>
<paragraph id="id2545A31E3D9B45EFA5D1BFE54D51DEBE">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Competence and knowledge</header>
<text>Each case representative officer assigned under subsection (a) shall be competent and knowledgeable
about the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id7e0a196c258e4dab9c1485a1a0d5d504">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The claims adjudication process and applicable laws, regulations, and other authority applicable to
the adjudication of disability claims based on military sexual trauma.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8c032fa3d6874ca09e2e0fb8912b9243">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Such other services to victims of sexual trauma as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id910BDB007FCF4CEF9AB14B9C650FDC1F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Limitation on number of individuals to which assigned</header>
<text>A case representative officer may not be assigned to more individuals described in subsection (a)
than, as determined by the Secretary, is appropriate for the provision of
individual case management assistance by such officer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4FC3DF2B2F54435795E5253AFF2679F9">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Information on benefits and programs relating to military sexual trauma</header>
<paragraph id="idCDA5CA791D114F4986F614161F22A071">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall make available to the public information on the availability of case
representative officers under subsection (a) to assist in the application
for benefits based on military sexual trauma. The Secretary shall revise
and update the information so made available in order to ensure that the
information is as current as possible.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4D43B434B551431CA28DBBD7FEF35A39">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Individuals separating from military service</header>
<text>The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, ensure that individuals who are
being separated from the active military, naval, or air service are
provided appropriate information about programs, requirements, and
procedures for applying for benefits based on military sexual trauma and
the availability of case representative officers under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id494046BC48D2489CA2E173C5BBC375D1">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Information on training for agents and representatives of individuals assigned case representative
officer</header>
<text>The Secretary shall make available to the authorized agent or attorney of an individual assigned a
case representative under subsection (a), or to the otherwise accredited
representative of the individual, any relevant materials used to train
such case representative officer for the duties of such position.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idB7CDE2677BBF4FE2BBA193EDF0862C8B">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Advisory Committee on Women Veterans consideration of mechanisms To enhance coordination between
VBA and VHA on benefits for military sexual trauma</header>
<text>The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans established under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/542">section 542</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code, shall undertake actions to identify mechanisms to enhance
coordination between the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans
Health Administration in the provision of benefits based on military
sexual trauma, including the identification of barriers to the appropriate
provision of benefits for military sexual trauma by such Administrations
and of means of eliminating or reducing such barriers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id066237733e39483cbd19d0d115978ea1">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Annual reports</header>
<text>Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
of the House of Representatives a report setting forth the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idE641B3EE929A4FB5BDA67D8328F3A383">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>A certification whether or not the case representative officers assigned under subsection (a)
during the preceding year met the requirements specified in subsection
(c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id779b15b711984d028f06e2e4b98e69d9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>A description of the current training the Secretary provides to employees of the Veterans Benefits
Administration on claims for benefits based on military sexual trauma,
including the frequency, length, and content of such training.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1fc2a18c47e94d0486332566ea1346b9">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A description of current policies and procedures on the training the Secretary provides to case
representative officers, including the current position descriptions for
case representative officers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD5120828776440DA96198B53F0421FAF">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>A description of current efforts to coordinate activities and assistance provided to individuals
who seek care or benefits for military sexual trauma between the Veterans
Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration, including the
efforts of the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans under subsection (f).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3A322D2B024E4FDAB25FDBAA738AACA7">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Sunset</header>
<paragraph id="id14EA284907FD4D4787DFA361897FE3D4">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>No case representative officer may be assigned under subsection (a) after December 31, 2018.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id31E907972DFE4A77890EA175EC16B6BB">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Continuation of duties after sunset date</header>
<text>Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to prohibit any case representative officer assigned to an
individual before the date specified in that paragraph from performing
duties pursuant to this section after that date with respect to a claim
for which that case representative officer was assigned to such individual
before that date.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idBBBD57C50B594621B0EEE6B971159EB0">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id0CC587B2621547C5863BB968FBDB207A">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Active military, naval, or air service</header>
<text>The term <term>active military, naval, or air service</term> has the meaning given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8259DC8A3EB2488C853DE4A55755D5E2">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Military sexual trauma</header>
<text>The term <term>military sexual trauma</term> shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section, and shall include <term>sexual harassment</term> (as so specified).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idFB88656B102049BE85967E482DB9A85F">
<enum>603.</enum>
<header>Report on standard of proof for service-connection of mental health conditions related to military
sexual trauma</header>
<subsection id="id678AFD1B08104CF5A0BE11CB38B1B844">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the current standard of proof for service-connection under
<external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/11">chapter 11</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, for covered mental health
conditions based on military sexual trauma.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idEF83F44E3191477C8A5A5E337F545099">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Recommendations</header>
<text>The Secretary shall include in the report under subsection (a) any recommendations the Secretary
considers appropriate to improve the adjudication of claims for
compensation based on military sexual trauma, including—</text>
<paragraph id="id0F4322C515604F50B4D94F70900C992F">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>recommendations for an appropriate standard of proof for such claims if the Secretary considers
such recommendations advisable; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1088701C79784D4AABF37C094488FBE5">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>recommendations for legislative action, if necessary, to carry out such improvement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H44ED1ACBF7D44E5E9C085DAED4433AE9">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H69D7AF048339469A967D6AAEDDD70168">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Active military, naval, or air service</header>
<text>The term <term>active military, naval, or air service</term> has the meaning given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD4D6F09BAD79432191024C1A1AED6630">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Covered mental health condition</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered mental health condition</term> means post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or other mental health diagnosis that
the Secretary determines to be related to military sexual trauma.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD16C0160FB4D450B82CA12CD51AC31B4">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Military sexual trauma</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>military sexual trauma</term> shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section, and shall include <term>sexual harassment</term> (as so specified).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idE410498E57FB410EA5E0BDE1E5262A00">
<enum>604.</enum>
<header>Reports on claims for disabilities incurred or aggravated by military sexual trauma</header>
<subsection id="H1F2A2DE2C4D34C6980CA83B50E9B0B25">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than December 1, 2014, and each year thereafter through 2018, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the covered claims submitted
to the Secretary during the previous fiscal year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE1C7042BE1A0473FAF4229291D050304">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H1FF64536C0914ECEB654E18E455CB21E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of covered claims submitted to or considered by the Secretary during the fiscal year
covered by the report.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0EFA80F6C87743658E40FF12312ADFC9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Of the covered claims under paragraph (1), the number and percentage of such claims—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC5F9292D9C544E2BA7292A387880F47D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submitted by each gender;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0742F0378A824A098FE21F6B631177C9">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that were approved, including the number and percentage of such approved claims submitted by each
gender; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA5629D34C1C942A291390D6781099215">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that were denied, including the number and percentage of such denied claims submitted by each
gender.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEF4DF87146654704A6DB5C174DBFE49E">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were approved, the number and percentage, listed by
each gender, of claims assigned to each rating percentage of disability.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H735BA4E2F91044C3B2E7219D28AC0E8A">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were denied—</text>
<subparagraph id="HED0B879E9E6A4EB69008720B6676C218">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the three most common reasons given by the Secretary under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5104">section 5104(b)(1)</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, for such denials; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFFCEB99F5E9041D490FED9E6EC0F0801">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the number of denials that were based on the failure of a veteran to report for a medical
examination.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9B0FCB76C0C94C87AEA76C50B3ABAA00">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Of the covered claims under paragraph (1) that were resubmitted to the Secretary after denial in a
previous adjudication—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7a692f837c074d1e883e1efa5d0398f5">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the number of such claims submitted to or considered by the Secretary during the fiscal year
covered by the report;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9ea85833987b4037bd75e0b01b27beb9">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the number and percentage of such claims—</text>
<clause id="id8de40cacb5774ef583a39b00f69a7e04">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>submitted by each gender;</text>
</clause><clause id="id3c7f0c3dd84f4bce8c1fbd2cf6707afe">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>that were approved, including the number and percentage of such approved claims submitted by each
gender; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id43743f4c0fd246d2a167dbea690588c6">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>that were denied, including the number and percentage of such denied claims submitted by each
gender;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4a5f403f2f1f44d4913f655fd74f389c">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>the number and percentage, listed by each gender, of claims assigned to each rating percentage of
disability; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c7606a2a47f47e584c624a4616a1eb8">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>of such claims that were again denied—</text>
<clause id="id2CF92384809D47B29D8F3B837359F0BB">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the three most common reasons given by the Secretary under section 5104(b)(1) of such title for
such denials; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id154106cd721541699770467f0f16f64e">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the number of denials that were based on the failure of a veteran to report for a medical
examination.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idEB1677A161D1491CBBCD8698CB2DFFC6">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>The number of covered claims that, as of the end of the fiscal year covered by the report, are
pending and, separately, the number of such claims on appeal.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1732C086327D4DB2B86F2139CA23846A">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>For the fiscal year covered by the report, the average number of days that covered claims take to
complete beginning on the date on which the claim is submitted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5CB6C016708C45C8806B6C9F0F98FA68">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Definitions</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2F941B2B162841F19D63AD3C221FA0E5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Active military, naval, or air service</header>
<text>The term <term>active military, naval, or air service</term> has the meaning given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90ADFADFBD334B1F88DC495AC0EB0E61">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Covered claims</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered claims</term> means claims for disability compensation submitted to the Secretary based on post traumatic stress
disorder alleged to have been incurred or aggravated by military sexual
trauma.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H34D8F7E958DB4DC5B1427EC4B8A3FD33">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Military sexual trauma</header>
<text>The term <term>military sexual trauma</term> shall have the meaning specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section, and shall include <term>sexual harassment</term> (as so specified).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idA3C11CBD758546678A34F77DB25E55A3">
<enum>B</enum>
<header>Claims for dependency and indemnity compensation</header>
<section id="idb4a995717d204194a6b1d1b398f07b1a">
<enum>611.</enum>
<header>Program on treatment of certain applications for dependency and indemnity compensation as fully
developed claims</header>
<subsection id="id8615a8ccd1ca4863aea95629bcc77201">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of expediting the treatment of a covered dependency and
indemnity compensation claim.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id682ff98e22314b8d8121e75fbd9e1986">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Covered dependency and indemnity compensation claims</header>
<text>For purposes of this section, a covered dependency and indemnity compensation claim is a claim
submitted to the Secretary for compensation under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/13">chapter 13</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code, for which the claimant—</text>
<paragraph id="idf03094c00ebd4c18a42c1077ee1d08dd">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>applies for such compensation within one-year of the death of the veteran upon whose service the
claim is based;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id63fb5d39d5c5425bbb8fbde5cbc36bcc">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>was the dependent on the claim of a veteran who was receiving benefits for one or more
service-connected conditions as of the date of death;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc56df5ddc0df44749e614d6fbdc5d6aa">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>submits a death certificate or other evidence with the claim indicating that the veteran’s death
was due to a service-connected or compensable disability; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9b66931a7ef848d1800a87c36b7c01c5">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>in the case that the claimant is the spouse of the deceased veteran, certifies that he or she has
not remarried since the date of the veteran’s death.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id929d1c92dbf14986a321a30d971add99">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<text>The program shall be carried out during the one-year period beginning on the date that is 90 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id959e65b288e34d2cb41ef868255bd121">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Locations</header>
<text>The program shall be carried out at the Pension Management Center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs or such centers selected by the Secretary for purposes of the
program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id1c587a5439664ff6abfa678f45e30b3f">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="id6263db91c8c24ed3967f2ef783cb730b">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 270 days after the date on which the program is completed, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on
the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4B19CB5623734AF680937DDB94E15086">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id3AC291E305C543E88CF2BDF42F267889">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of covered dependency and indemnity compensation claims that were adjudicated under the
program, disaggregated by the following:</text>
<clause id="idA80D1708A6FC40E9A2E278FF7E9DECC4">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>Claims in which the claimant claimed entitlement to compensation on the basis of the claimant's
status as the spouse of a deceased veteran.</text>
</clause><clause id="id09E160AFEEDC4C0183B22BA1B0F4D180">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Claims in which the claimant claimed entitlement to compensation on the basis of the claimant's
status as the child of a deceased veteran.</text>
</clause><clause id="id8550B4F768C3428FA97E42A8095EA764">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>Claims in which the claimant claimed entitlement to compensation on the basis of the claimant's
status as the parent of a deceased veteran.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00CEC51849FE49E597A18CD5F204D79B">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of covered dependency and indemnity compensation claims that were adjudicated under the
program and for which compensation was not awarded, disaggregated by
clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1A02FDED13864BDCB62A5AA488AB49D6">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>A comparison of the accuracy and timeliness of claims adjudicated under the program with claims
submitted to the Secretary for compensation under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/13">chapter 13</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code, that were not provided expeditious treatment under the
program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id68EA0A7F3E5E4192B827C7B0DA8E2768">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The findings of the Secretary with respect to the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDDCDE51FD40E4545802121973F366712">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to improve
the adjudication of claims submitted to the Secretary for compensation
under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/13">chapter 13</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idD7974B46B79A4278B96765BDC567B627">
<enum>612.</enum>
<header>Report by Secretary of Veterans Affairs on improving timeliness and accuracy of administration of
claims for dependency and indemnity compensation and pension for surviving
spouses and children</header>
<subsection id="id1D7BCCC1C78F47E9B5135308FC2A25C7">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 455 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report with recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to
improve the timeliness and accuracy with which the Secretary processes and
adjudicates claims for compensation under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/13">chapter 13</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code, and pension under sections 1541 and 1542 of such title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2A1427EEA75946CE9790067A196ACB1A">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idFDB30A2982704909B3F95710DBEECE9B">
<enum>C</enum>
<header>Agency of Original Jurisdiction</header>
<section id="idD8366E62D2034F1FAADB57487BBD4DFE">
<enum>621.</enum>
<header>Working group to improve employee work credit and work management systems of Veterans Benefits
Administration in an electronic environment</header>
<subsection id="idAADF144A908A4D6A8205E3A47453614E">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall establish a working group to assess and develop
recommendations for the improvement of the employee work credit and work
management systems of the Veterans Benefits Administration in an
electronic environment.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3A4A04BD9E3F451F97F291A989AD1FBB">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Composition</header>
<text>The working group shall be composed of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id3563E62859F348A9A7DD88D396825A7B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The Secretary or the Secretary's designee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC4101C01EA5A4D0AB36743248DF87387">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Individuals selected by the Secretary from among employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs
who handle claims for compensation and pension benefits and are
recommended to the Secretary by a labor organization for purposes of this
section, including at least one of each of the following individuals:</text>
<subparagraph id="idE9FCBAC482FA49708683CB50283BD977">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A veterans service representative.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD0E34E8D64D34A0EA68C3C3B12C16CE6">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A rating veterans service representative.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6169931D258848D9ABF501F3418313E7">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>A decision review officer.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB778E59F431D4AA893FC23794843C35C">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Not fewer than three individuals selected by the Secretary to represent different organizations
recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idACD17796E7E3494CBFC2D7DF73A1EBD1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Individuals selected by the Secretary—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2EFB83B137FC4E88BCB218B36D05C556">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>that are not employees of the Department; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idF1C00567500F48DE805756A0F330117F">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>that are experts in work credit and work management systems.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8B4E9D3DF614461F83BF7D7A4EC3E25D">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duties</header>
<text>The duties of the working group are to assess and develop recommendations for the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idA6E444FCEA564A4C99B43FB38943DA4C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The improvement of the employee work credit and work management systems of the Veterans Benefits
Administration in an electronic environment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE1C115BDDC0A4D198DAA2BFB0B4CD996">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>A scientific, data based methodology to be used in revising the employee work credit system of the
Department to improve the quality and quantity of work produced by
employees of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC3E1E7E1BDC94755B9278A62B062A1A3">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>The improvement of the resource allocation model of the Veterans Benefits Administration, with a
focus on the processing of claims in an electronic environment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4DAB7436488045D6A388032FB78EA976">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>A schedule by which the revisions referred to in paragraph (2) will be implemented by the
Department.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4561FFC6A0EB4C00B5689F3674AEBA55">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Review and incorporation of findings from prior study</header>
<text>In carrying out its duties under subsection (c), the working group shall review the findings and
conclusions of previous studies of the employee work credit and work
management systems of the Veterans Benefits Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idF13BB429E4D0415E9F3B9A5ED8D24C4A">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Role of the Secretary</header>
<text>The Secretary shall consider the recommendations of the working group and implement such
recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2261C563F3DC4EAA8868F8803D1943E8">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id0AA06303BFF44CCDB013EE17410F98B7">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Interim report</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the establishment of the working group, the working group
shall submit to Congress a report on the progress of the working group.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF55D8CC8115D45AC83DE5F3DC24E3041">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the establishment of the working group, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress the methodology described in subsection (c)(2)
and the schedule described in subsection (c)(4) that the Secretary has
decided to implement pursuant to subsection (e).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDD7AAB5CDD0648D6AC8D62A0D850D9F8">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Implementation of methodology and schedule</header>
<text>After submitting the report under subsection (f), the Secretary shall take such actions as may be
necessary to apply the methodology described in subsection (c)(2) and the
schedule described in subsection (c)(4) that the Secretary has decided to
implement pursuant to subsection (e).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idF0E4800571CB4FCD915799F8534187FA">
<enum>622.</enum>
<header>Task force on retention and training of Department of Veterans Affairs claims processors and
adjudicators</header>
<subsection id="idD82AE53113244E0B9A22DCD57700AAA9">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a task force to assess retention and training of
claims processors and adjudicators that are employed by the Department of
Veterans Affairs and other departments and agencies of the Federal
Government.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idFD8D0B1C70FC410791219F86DBA30026">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Composition</header>
<text>The task force shall be composed of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id294DAF2C3A8B4D78BB8A0C91D1142D06">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs or designee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id480BDAA9114D432AAFDEADDE13BE850B">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The Director of the Office of Personnel Management or designee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id20CCE18685554372A51A12C088C6699D">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>The Commissioner of Social Security or designee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id354015310F6241BFBC986AD3D49C68D1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>An individual selected by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who represents an organization
recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5EA1F65AF9A84A64B14D69A50E086D7E">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>Such other individuals selected by the Secretary who represent such other organizations and
institutions as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id56C3B083462A422087314DD618159D83">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<text>The task force established under subsection (a) shall terminate not later than two years after the
date on which the task force is established under such subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC407E153A8D04805A545F8F3F83681A2">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Duties</header>
<text>The duties of the task force are as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="id3107473df06b4881846a00106a700be3">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>To identify key skills required by claims processors and adjudicators to perform the duties of
claims processors and adjudicators in the various claims processing and
adjudication positions throughout the Federal Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8eef541a8b024f87b4741660a52f9db4">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>To identify reasons for employee attrition from claims processing positions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idef9d48cba5d141358ee8944739698474">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>To coordinate with educational institutions to develop training and programs of education for
members of the Armed Forces to prepare such members for employment in
claims processing and adjudication positions in the Federal Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide6d99d374d354d43b6a3a7c2934c1a27">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>To identify and coordinate offices of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans
Affairs located throughout the United States to provide information about,
and promotion of, available claims processing positions to members of the
Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life and to veterans with
disabilities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5f1fb212673f4f45baf8eb138bbfec8a">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>To establish performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the task force.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3AC33BC284B245F5A52023A328761650">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the establishment of the task force, to develop a
Government-wide strategic and operational plan for promoting employment of
veterans in claims processing positions in the Federal Government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0DB1FF61B6B44BFAB27EEC93C1880529">
<enum>(7)</enum>
<text>To establish performance measures to assess the plan developed under paragraph (6), to assess the
implementation of such plan, and to revise such plan as the task force
considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF2069461CA31474FB6985FE92DA85E90">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id69EBE50446294EAE9DD4FEB981DAF5F5">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Submittal of plan</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the establishment of the task force, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the plan developed
by the task force under subsection (d)(6).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6FA72DB0E489433A8B8474325D7B2C69">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Assessment of implementation</header>
<text>Not later than 120 days after the termination of the task force, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report that assesses the implementation of the plan developed
by the task force under subsection (d)(6).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idCD02213AF68345B78026F23551A28EBC">
<enum>623.</enum>
<header>Reports on requests by the Department of Veterans Affairs for records of other Federal agencies</header>
<subsection id="idC9ECA7F77E3D4A7F9B5073645AED4DA4">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Reports required</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter
through the date that is 910 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of
the House of Representatives a report on the attempts of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to obtain records necessary to adjudicate claims for
benefits from another department or agency of the Federal Government
during the 180-day period ending on the date of such report.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idE7E3FFD64AB1474C8F994CEC9296B0CB">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<paragraph id="id3C73B82E263847C09D2590A91B7F5999">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report shall set forth the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idA3EC2ECF6A504C2D979F1D0436C6D699">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the period covered by such report, the following:</text>
<clause id="id6638F8E957E54ACEA598E6308F1271BC">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The total number of requests made by the Department.</text>
</clause><clause id="id8B80AC9A82E842D88A15EEA51ED16000">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The types of records requested.</text>
</clause><clause id="id455868B8FA0349089BC4EE721A5091BE">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>The number of requests made before the receipt of each record.</text>
</clause><clause id="id548466EB292748B08329E14E96D60F51">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>The amount of time between the initial request for each record and the receipt of each record.</text>
</clause><clause id="id584F0B4D5A7843E3A18538E415EC3CFD">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>The number of occurrences of the receipt of a record after the adjudication of the claim for which
the record was sought.</text>
</clause><clause id="id571474882A5B40F6AE494E0150FC5B78">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>A description of the efforts of the Secretary to expedite the delivery of records to the Department
from other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id542AACF4CF3B46C0BC276007FAACD7EF">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers
appropriate in light of such report.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id27D9358D332E40238A6AD70E986C866B">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Presentation</header>
<text>The information in a report under clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph (1)(A) shall be set forth
separately for each department and agency of the Federal Government
covered by such report.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id271B479A6522423DB8FCE7CAD1234EA0">
<enum>624.</enum>
<header>Recognition of representatives of Indian tribes in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution
of claims under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5902(a)(1) is amended by inserting <quote>, including Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450b">25 U.S.C. 450b</external-xref>))</quote> after <quote>as the Secretary may approve</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id434eb4120c7643fa94c5cdbab5b086ac">
<enum>625.</enum>
<header>Program on participation of local and tribal governments in improving quality of claims for
disability compensation submitted to Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="iddb99be90b89c40aab1c13ff2edc3b4bf">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of entering into memoranda of understanding with local
governments and tribal organizations—</text>
<paragraph id="id2149dd73d0224bff8be3d4934b185e96">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>to improve the quality of claims submitted to the Secretary for compensation under chapter 11 of
title 38, United States Code, and pension under chapter 15 of such title;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id58d13d51f4c442bba2b4991811227d1c">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>to provide assistance to veterans who may be eligible for such compensation or pension in
submitting such claims.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida99d46e7afc042889c10ee51f76c7ad8">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Minimum number of participating tribal organizations</header>
<text>In carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall enter into, or maintain
existing, memoranda of understanding with at least—</text>
<paragraph id="id47EC45E2DB264DB49406424F782EC5E7">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>two tribal organizations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7314C4E2EDAA42248CA689FF98A2D82E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>10 State or local governments.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id91F1FA06C2564081B2204DFFE42DE252">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<text>The program shall be carried out during the two-year period beginning on the date of the
commencement of the program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idDC7BE97BB1F049BA9FBE396B43688E69">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="id53B24AC860114A5380CCABDBFFD269F6">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Initial report</header>
<text>Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the program, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report
that includes the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idd89195fb16ed4fa18aaab90444de8832">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A description of the implementation and operation of the program, including a description of
outreach conducted by the Secretary to tribal organizations and State and
local governments.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id49bb97bb3dd943aaaf228868c71bc8d9">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>An evaluation of the program, including the total number of memoranda of understanding entered into
or maintained by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id80B7102EA58C47E49862D42FCC3260DC">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Final report</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the termination of the program, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that includes
the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idFCFAC473092944938F6079DDCB37DF1D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A description of the implementation and operation of the program, including a description of
outreach conducted by the Secretary to tribal organizations and State and
local governments.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0CFECE4E1BF047349B3EEA9A2B0F2D20">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>An evaluation of the program, including the total number of memoranda of understanding entered into
or maintained by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfcb3b5ffdd15410fabb0808931c1300e">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfb72c63d9e3042e0bf1c2c2ea36ee965">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for continuation or expansion of the program as the Secretary considers
appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfd53ebc42b01472282b24247a762ef2d">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Tribal organization defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>tribal organization</term> has the meaning given that term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/3765">section 3765</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H9FF9D4C8EEF0423197463E113853E625" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>626.</enum>
<header>Department of Veterans Affairs notice of average times for processing compensation claims</header>
<subsection id="H3714D759C8824F9C8B8B4B1C51691FB7">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Public notice</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the extent practicable, post the information described
in subsection (b)—</text>
<paragraph id="H6852B1ED65374E3996D52E97754990D3">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in physical locations, such as Regional Offices or other claims in-take facilities, that the
Secretary considers appropriate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3565EA7B24F54D2394263EB943F5B247">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>on the Internet website of the Department; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id22877BA966624AF9B44F2551C2EB1D10">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>through other mediums or using such other methods, including collaboration with veterans service
organizations, as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H64F96EE733AA4D7CA3C0A6E704C3588D">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Information described</header>
<paragraph id="H305FAEB4DF984C50BA69EB23B470BDE1">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The information described in this subsection is the average processing time of the claims described
in paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8481A429F0214E2EBB3D7596DD1597A2">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Claims described</header>
<text>The claims described in this paragraph are each of the following types of claims for benefits under
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:</text>
<subparagraph id="H446EF05A026D46328A47300BE90DF564">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A fully developed claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDEEAA9E2293341E883FF7727F4FE8783">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>A claim that is not fully developed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1F3FF7A396BB418DA0EB68E33370D788">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Update of information</header>
<text>The information described in this subsection shall be updated not less frequently than once each
fiscal quarter.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7F7FDD40443F4086BC6465B630C58ABE">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Expiration of requirements</header>
<text>The requirements of subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 2015.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6D37B7BBF7445228D56C1EB6A5F6CBF">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Veterans service organization defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>veterans service organization</term> means an organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/5902">section 5902</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idC148C2A91D9048CE894B204E27DEC3F9">
<enum>627.</enum>
<header>Quarterly reports on progress of Department of Veterans Affairs in eliminating backlog of claims
for compensation that have not been adjudicated</header>
<subsection id="id8469FBE8AF5F40C98389F9287BEFF5A6">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than
quarterly thereafter through calendar year 2015, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the backlog of claims filed with the Department of Veterans
Affairs for compensation that have not been adjudicated by the Department.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCB2A4F32C61F431DB22B47029F0AB568">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id877359622B5D48DBB3D43C212E6267FD">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>For each month through calendar year 2015, a projection of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idEBDB3EF04CA24F9BB8B3A41C45E5B341">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of claims completed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58F55A4FB77E4533AC76DF82092D8361">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of claims received.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9A77312DCFFC454AB232C94A444EF84D">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of claims on backlog at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34C936458948432DACE1D90BC4826A15">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The number of claims pending at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98317A2801F44F36B632CD36DA823949">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of appeals pending at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9011559D6D7E43FD8408574F1FA6F034">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>A description of the status of the implementation of initiatives carried out by the Secretary to
address the backlog, including the expected impact of those initiatives on
accuracy and timeliness of adjudication of claims.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF460CA5A8A7F49229C93A3E8FEF93186">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>For each quarter through calendar year 2015, a projection of the average accuracy of disability
determinations for compensation claims that require a disability rating
(or disability decision).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id361D889829C54E7B8D02A560DF5F70B9">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>For each month during the most recently completed quarter, the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id254B51C41D944C9785B400A48B8AC46A">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of claims completed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id46FA07CDD59D45C997545FA552C69E16">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of claims received.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id86A232C66BF84382AF40D2800968D2B5">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of claims on backlog at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idBBFF91BC9D4441E3A938C54C2F3631F8">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The number of claims pending at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id1E3C16FE239746E2A0F396E29DE4E611">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of appeals pending at the end of the month.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4FA265CBFAC44876BED3E10E43607870">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>A description of the status of the implementation of initiatives carried out by the Secretary to
address the backlog, including the impact of those initiatives on accuracy
and timeliness of adjudication of claims.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idC4723A8061D34B5D91A2C9B616355C98">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the accuracy of disability determinations for compensation claims that require a
disability rating (or disability decision).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3073BE734D724C55848413C94D79C80C">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>For the most recently completed quarter—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1135F168C5724311AB9851C32B736E96">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the number of cases physically received at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and docketed;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF9BCC16CF1444FE1A9F1A7E39D615E7F">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the number of cases pending at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals at the end of the quarter;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE70D398782CC4562A125BC304BB439F4">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>the number of cases physically at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals at the end of the quarter;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA22B1587CF3B4FB9B6CC581747ECFC51">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>the number of notices of disagreement and appeals filed to the agency of original jurisdiction
referred to in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/7105">section 7105(b)(1)</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id586F66B791F943C4B9185AF9D513AC0B">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>the number of decisions made by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the percentage of such decisions
that were allowed, remanded, denied, or otherwise disposed of.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id435B5C4E2D9448DA9186B31EFA9BC54E">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Availability to public</header>
<text>The Secretary shall make each report submitted under subsection (a) available to the public.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id5F6C9C2C70464E5C83072296D95E4A4F">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>On backlog and pending defined</header>
<text>In this section, the terms <term>on backlog</term> and <term>pending</term>, with respect to a claim for compensation received by the Secretary, shall have the meaning
specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idDB6736367BAE4C7CB59B767E940F05D5">
<enum>628.</enum>
<header>Reports on use of existing authorities to expedite benefits decisions</header>
<subsection id="idAE1C06D855DC476394A4D1E0AC47C9CC">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Report on current use of temporary, intermediate, and provisional rating decisions</header>
<paragraph id="id8CFFFD929FE84BDBA763064BB129E0F8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Report required</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the use of temporary, intermediate, and provisional rating
decisions to expedite the benefits decisions of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF5A343045D5A467F8EBCCA290EC5E7F5">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Report elements</header>
<text>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idA89222E0F83144D1AA221BFBDC648C22">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>With respect to temporary and intermediate rating decisions, the following:</text>
<clause id="id7EF7277E1505498F87C1A27B2F846862">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The number of temporary and intermediate rating decisions issued by the Department during each of
fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013.</text>
</clause><clause id="idFF3DCF70CD05438BA5E449552DD7CF11">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>A description of any reasons or obstacles that prevent use of existing authorities to issue
temporary or intermediate rating decisions.</text>
</clause><clause id="id977F94CEBB5342B59313926C19EC5990">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>A description of the Quick Pay Disability initiative, including the rationale for not expanding the
initiative beyond pilot program status.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22C43F9047974762995F8C180B7A1DC7">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>With respect to provisional rating decisions, the following:</text>
<clause id="id9CF573592FBB4B86BFD525FA130C51F6">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The number of provisional rating decisions issued by the Department during the oldest claims first
initiative.</text>
</clause><clause id="id216FEB315F1B4365999AAA2FD6F8BFE9">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>Of the provisional rating decisions issued during the oldest claims first initiative—</text>
<subclause id="id213F83F6E20D4CF9AFD5F243733155E5">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>the number of such decisions that involved a claim granted;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id3E0438125B534D48AEBDD2D90805F04C">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the number of such decisions that involved a claim denied; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id43E400DAA94B42689162AE9FE7FDB437">
<enum>(III)</enum>
<text>the number of such decisions that involved a claim granted in part or a claim denied in part.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id8CE6D73027E94A549C1F584ED696D93B">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>A statement of the most common reasons claims were not granted earlier under the oldest claims
first initiative when there was sufficient evidence to render an award of
benefits in the provisional rating decision.</text>
</clause><clause id="id32c0634c712146409b07a9666de79aea">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>The average number of days to issue a provisional rating decision under the oldest claims first
initiative.</text>
</clause><clause id="idFE40BCD331394929846310E86EC10CC0">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>Of the total number of decisions that were completed under the oldest claims first initiative—</text>
<subclause id="idA4F039F2D5644E6C89E43C402DDDF322">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>the number that were Category 1 claims and received a final rating decision; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id6CDD6C2FD27A415A9CA9B6190571E0A8">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the number that were Category 2 claims and received a provisional rating decision.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id27629663f59f4f71ac0c977b61bc765d">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>The number of rating decisions issued during the oldest claims first imitative that involved a
brokered claim, set forth by number of such claims by Regional Office of
the Department, including—</text>
<subclause id="id677254AC1E134619ADC4648DBB9D823A">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>the number of brokered claims received by each Regional Office; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id69962540AE2A417688BDA3912845091B">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the number of brokered claims issued by each Regional Office.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id865952FA53D74A2A987FCB4ECB88BB71">
<enum>(vii)</enum>
<text>The number of provisional rating decisions issued during the oldest claims first initiative with
respect to which the veteran requested that the provisional decision
become final in order to appeal.</text>
</clause><clause id="id5E19892BCE3E4627B928A464CC7257D8">
<enum>(viii)</enum>
<text>The number of provisional rating decisions issued during the oldest claims first initiative with
respect to which the veteran requested an appeal after the expiration of
the 1-year period beginning on the date of notification of the provisional
rating decision.</text>
</clause><clause id="idC6F032AFE26945819EBE161822EF87EA">
<enum>(ix)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the accuracy of provisional rating decisions issued during the oldest claims first
initiative, set forth by Category 1 claims and Category 2 claims.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45938B9C8C6B4A80A907E2AEDF8A9E9E">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of the report.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD45C808087AC46AF8FA7F0AB07CF6F7B">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Supplemental information</header>
<text>If the Secretary continues to obtain information on rating decisions under clauses (vii) and (viii)
of paragraph (2)(B) after the date of the submittal of the report required
by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the committees of Congress
referred to in paragraph (1) a report on such information that supplements
the information on such clauses in the report under paragraph (1) when the
Secretary completes accumulation of such information.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idEDFAFFD9569B4E328F664F075497AB91">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Plan for increase in use of temporary or intermediate rating decisions</header>
<paragraph id="id19a640b4d153442db1b37d0e5e171330">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Report on plan required</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report setting forth a
plan to increase the use of temporary or intermediate rating decisions to
expedite benefit decisions of the Department when the record contains
sufficient evidence to grant any claim at issue, including service
connection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1E4F3B4531DB4CB49E54B55ED4C3936F">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Plan elements</header>
<text>The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idbfd559c0a32b46758ec1dfbcf21643ff">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Mechanisms to overcome obstacles to the use of temporary or intermediate rating decisions,
including mechanisms (such as upgrades) to assure the ability of the
Veterans Benefits Management System to facilitate the issuance of
temporary or intermediate rating decisions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id52042e8fe6db4edf8c4a9ddaf021dbd3">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Mechanisms to ensure that appropriate claimant populations, such as claimants who file complex or
multi-issue disability compensation claims, benefit from the availability
of temporary or intermediate rating decisions.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5552c0aaf9e34855af88379968ae0129">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Mechanisms to provide for the use of temporary or intermediate rating decisions, including
mechanisms to resolve whether a request by a claimant or claimant
representative should trigger use of a temporary or intermediate rating
decision depending on the circumstances of the claimant.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id748EB7BD3DFD4BCFADE9F4162687C2E5">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Mechanisms to prevent the use of temporary or intermediate rating decisions in lieu of a final
rating decision when a final rating decision could be made with little or
no additional claim development.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc7060e6206e2471f886102bed421de41">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers
appropriate to increase the use of temporary or intermediate rating
decisions to expedite benefit decisions of the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id09686674D9AE4134924EFB8431C3CD71">
<enum>629.</enum>
<header>Reports on Department disability medical examinations and prevention of unnecessary medical
examinations</header>
<subsection id="id4BC808329A324B07A8FADF8623E0B64B">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Report on disability medical examinations furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<paragraph id="idA61698CE631441FDA78E2ADED2F5C540">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the furnishing of general medical and specialty medical
examinations by the Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of
adjudicating claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3C7EF72EDF594739BBC99B23A90975F0">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id596322612f814324b2cc56c6af62e557">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of general medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of fiscal
years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating claims for benefits
under laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id457067001D2B4F65BB853A0E75F0BD56">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of general medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of fiscal
years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in which a
comprehensive joint examination was conducted, but for which no disability
relating to a joint, bone, or muscle had been asserted as an issue in the
claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id17fd5b0358d14d4395e8b160b043e18e">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of specialty medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of
fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating a claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3AD962B84F0C49D697CB0995DCB2E20C">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The number of specialty medical examinations furnished by the Department during the period of
fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for purposes of adjudicating a claim in
which one or more joint examinations were conducted.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8dbdaf1c78bb4a84b8f676aa6eb5cd9c">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>A summary with citations to any medical and scientific studies that provide a basis for determining
that three repetitions is adequate to determine the effect of repetitive
use on functional impairments.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87c82808fe184651be4f218dd3ebb062">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>The names of all examination reports, including general medical examinations and Disability
Benefits Questionnaires, used for evaluation of compensation and pension
disability claims which require measurement of repeated ranges of motion
testing and the number of examinations requiring such measurements which
were conducted in fiscal year 2012.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id28EF2950AFAF4F6899C044D66D798B13">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>The average amount of time taken by an individual conducting a medical examination to perform the
three repetitions of movement of each joint.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id256edd37923b408e9511400c116e2d77">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>A discussion of whether there are more efficient and effective scientifically reliable methods of
testing for functional loss on repetitive use of an extremity other than
the three time repetition currently used by the Department.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide2036866d10a4cf0aba7283a4cae3687">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>Recommendations as to the continuation of the practice of measuring functional impairment by using
three repetitions of movement of each joint during the examination as a
criteria for evaluating the effect of repetitive motion on functional
impairment with supporting rationale.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5830A616788C4B84A028DCD80A38A8F5">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report and plan To prevent the ordering of unnecessary medical examinations</header>
<paragraph id="id4AA74377312742C7A33D3B3B093CD13B">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the efforts
of the Secretary in reducing the necessity for in-person disability
examinations and other efforts to comply with the provisions of section
5125 of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7F3038139F8A4EE8B506150412CE4517">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idCB5800C9CC824F14BDC40BEC48E5C92E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Criteria used by the Secretary to determine if a claim is eligible for the Acceptable Clinical
Evidence initiative.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0e48d5c11ac74326938c6de7b364625f">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of claims determined to be eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence initiative
during the period beginning on the date of the initiation of the
initiative and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act,
disaggregated—</text>
<clause id="id28884193C03C423A8378A1DA3B18DFB9">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>by fiscal year; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idD49468FD774F4A1CA0FA0711A973E527">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>by claims determined eligible based in whole or in part on medical evidence provided by a private
health care provider.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9DA59310A3EC46A89076CF5E42227D1B">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The total number of claims determined to be eligible for the Acceptable Clinical Evidence
initiative that required an employee of the Department to supplement the
evidence with information obtained during a telephone interview with a
claimant or health care provider.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1b82d902db1a46129213464a3ab20740">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Information on any other initiatives or efforts, including disability benefits questionnaires, of
the Department to further encourage the use of medical evidence provided
by a private health care provider and reliance upon reports of a medical
examination administered by a private physician if the report is
sufficiently complete to be adequate for the purposes of adjudicating a
claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD2D2AA7E08914B868F5F734862471E63">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>A plan—</text>
<clause id="idFB9208A3D3624C7E83BBA09B48EB490F">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>to measure, track, and prevent the ordering of unnecessary medical examinations when the provision
by a claimant of a medical examination administered by a private physician
in support of a claim for benefits under chapter 11 or 15 of title 38,
United States Code, is adequate for the purpose of making a decision on
that claim; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idBF897D5F43F141F59B83DDC91FE36144">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>that includes the actions the Secretary will take to eliminate any request by the Department for a
medical examination in the case of a claim for benefits under chapter 11
or 15 of such title in support of which a claimant submits medical
evidence or a medical opinion provided by a private health care provider
that is competent, credible, probative, and otherwise adequate for
purposes of making a decision on that claim.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id33113E7AE29E4CDCAC9E5DF4DD39FB68">
<enum>D</enum>
<header>Board of Veterans' Appeals and Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims</header>
<section id="id23C72729B1B84954AB622334A06CD643">
<enum>631.</enum>
<header>Determination of manner of appearance for hearings before Board of Veterans' Appeals</header>
<subsection id="id9531732AF2DF4874BCF450F73957DA07">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Section 7107 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idF16B249F62E64368B18AF0685FE761C1">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subsection (a)(1), by striking <quote>in subsection (f)</quote> and inserting <quote>in subsection (g)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id75CD6DE53ABE436CA1A55B5054628300">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA1D6FCB6FD404FD6AEF97E3A28BD13D3">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by striking subsections (d) and (e) and inserting the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC4A4F3934FD74150A1D95E630D853BCF" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id2EDA1BFE8E5A4754AAE05E6826B01155">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1A0961E760DF4871ADFADC55DFFC7FFC"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), a hearing before the Board shall be conducted through picture
and voice transmission, by electronic or other means, in such a manner
that the appellant is not present in the same location as the members of
the Board during the hearing.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE5719F178C114B36AC6B07363CD9BBE6" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id547241103D09433F8EC20AFAFF114452"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A hearing before the Board shall be conducted in person upon the request of an appellant.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id59669624C34B485F8701BCF7DCB29114" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>In the absence of a request under subparagraph (A), a hearing before the Board may also be
conducted in person as the Board considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc090baf7140b4c5eb11e35108e2e7225">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7F72E926FF3F475FB11872A7AD4A87D7"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>In a case in which a hearing before the Board is to be held as described in subsection (d)(1), the
Secretary shall provide suitable facilities and equipment to the Board or
other components of the Department to enable an appellant located at an
appropriate facility within the area served by a regional office to
participate as so described.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida8d9883eeaca45f18d8b7c60b5946833" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Any hearing conducted as described in subsection (d)(1) shall be conducted in the same manner as,
and shall be considered the equivalent of, a personal hearing.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb3de62b3022c402a84837d782c16e318">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id134D1FC324DA42AFAC7500CF8BA79907"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>In a case in which a hearing before the Board is to be held as described in subsection (d)(2), the
appellant may request that the hearing be held at the principal location
of the Board or at a facility of the Department located within the area
served by a regional office of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9cfb926a16504e189a5729e664b980db" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>A hearing to be held within an area served by a regional office of the Department shall (except as
provided in paragraph (3)) be scheduled to be held in accordance with the
place of the case on the docket under subsection (a) relative to other
cases on the docket for which hearings are scheduled to be held within
that area.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9be9d132568b4b7ba0be1c237754d3af" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>A hearing to be held within an area served by a regional office of the Department may, for cause
shown, be advanced on motion for an earlier hearing. Any such motion shall
set forth succinctly the grounds upon which the motion is based. Such a
motion may be granted only—</text>
<subparagraph id="idc90087d595d6422d91c93bfe03397862">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>if the case involves interpretation of law of general application affecting other claims;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide43f0516b29942ada541f65d48792bc5">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>if the appellant is seriously ill or is under severe financial hardship; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddbc40e3483754d579646a5e6ddf7a34c">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>for other sufficient cause shown.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id609CE328C79D46FBAAB4E97A9928EF6F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to cases received by the Board of
Veterans' Appeals pursuant to notices of disagreement submitted on or
after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle>
<enum>VII</enum>
<header>Outreach Matters</header>
<section id="idB93B011FFED84F3688F97C4DED540CC7" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>701.</enum>
<header>Program to increase coordination of outreach efforts between the Department of Veterans Affairs and
certain eligible entities</header>
<subsection id="id8e5ea235b1f242589fdda41644506f7b">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Program required</header>
<paragraph id="id75B32F33132D4A52AA8FC3B05F5F13F3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program to assess the feasibility and
advisability of using eligible entities specified in paragraph (2)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id717C883D85B549ECB24CA6525DEFDA45">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to increase awareness of veterans regarding benefits and services for veterans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD8096EFE6BC4494DBFA9CCDA25BBD895">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to improve coordination of outreach activities regarding such benefits and services between the
Secretary and Federal, State, and local government and nonprofit providers
of health care and benefit services for veterans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2746A5FC24604852944B4709F6E6A1BD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible entities specified</header><text>The eligible entities specified in this paragraph are the following:</text><subparagraph id="idEE49AFA39BCB4C4E96C216877575063B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>State and local government agencies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE012D80247B74D3B9AA030D683FA2DE9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Nonprofit
organizations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id57816aa20c71487eabea0c44b1caa0f4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The Appalachian Regional Commission, established under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/40/14301">section 14301(a)</external-xref> of title 40, United States
Code.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5644802a9fec4cc6af9f9eec90b99796"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The Delta Regional Authority, established under section 382B(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2009aa-1">7 U.S.C. 2009aa–1(a)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id487bd4465dee431791af9bb7ad022e25"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The Denali Commission, established under section 303 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42
U.S.C. 3121 note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/277">Public Law 105–277</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide58f6717a8c24a89b362ad4033cb0608"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority, established under section 383B(a) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2009bb-1">7 U.S.C. 2009bb–1(a)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6741b93369e44502a6ac8d47aa37f6c9"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the
Northern Border Regional Commission established under section 15301(a) of
title 40, United States Code.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf1bea06f840641a58049d2ccd4caf48b"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Entities described in subparagraph (I) that serve Native Americans, Alaska Natives, or native
Hawaiians (as such terms are defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/3765">section 3765</external-xref> of title 38, United
States Code), regardless of whether such entities are tribal organizations
(as defined in such section).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id002953d285c94659b86ad05aa6e17a56"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Commissions and development boards that are—</text><clause id="id569e8aea168c455aa47869d2af602ca7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not chartered by the Federal Government;</text></clause><clause id="id20bb288739e9498d89c4390afd4a6a1f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>selected by the Secretary for purposes of the program; and</text></clause><clause id="id282ac79cb45644dc81b7001bfdcaf7d8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>located in areas that present extraordinary challenges to veterans, as determined by the Secretary,
including the following:</text><subclause id="id3b90b3727bd1493e8628e2ddf4575457"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Areas in severe economic distress.</text></subclause><subclause id="idd10c21a8fd964cd8bc00831269f29918"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Areas with underdeveloped infrastructure.</text></subclause><subclause id="id78f504a1115c40e1bf7a770236057c4b"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Areas with unusual geographic characteristics, such as separation from the mainland.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9c12b438090c454eb62cc8ec7f78fcee">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Duration</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the program for a two-year period.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4d93366c43f74019a82d2956a15a6c26">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Grants</header>
<paragraph id="id11FB9918814F4F75AFE5B86AC47AC382">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall carry out the program through the competitive award of grants to eligible
entities—</text>
<subparagraph id="id49A226F694784D879DB88DAF804435D8">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to increase the awareness of veterans regarding benefits and services for veterans; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id551F04F91C124196A2BE8335086A7BB0">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to improve coordination of outreach activities regarding such benefits and services between the
Secretary and Federal, State, and local government and nonprofit providers
of health care and benefit services for veterans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id67c4a9463ed84c7080246bf2ba1af80e">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Application</header>
<subparagraph id="idf21538d06fd54e89a04ef9c10fe4eb4b">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>An eligible entity seeking a grant under the program
shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in such form and in
such manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id635dba587ff44b17ac19fb5cdb17a09a">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>Each application submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:</text>
<clause id="id62a97d1d5de3456cad2b5bbaa7f8dfbc">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>A description of the consultations, if any, with the Department of Veterans Affairs in the
development of any proposal under the application.</text>
</clause><clause id="id533C7D179CFA45E48617367F24789B57">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>A description of the project for which the applicant is seeking a grant under the program,
including a plan to coordinate under the program, to the greatest extent
possible, the outreach activities of Federal, State, and local government
agencies that provide health care, benefits, and services for veterans and
nonprofit organizations that provide such care, benefits, and services to
enhance the awareness and availability of such care, benefits, and
services.</text>
</clause><clause id="id82c1325d19424a18ac2bdd8759e26c6d">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>An agreement to report to the Secretary standardized data and other performance measures necessary
for the Secretary to evaluate the program and to facilitate evaluation of
projects for which grants are awarded under the program.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1442B85494394FD28B9C92F83F026891">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>Such other information as the Secretary may require.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE880755C4E08486D9220697E98B669FE">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Considerations</header>
<subparagraph id="id0EF6D6C40BC64FE9A163D1D2791B2D85">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>In awarding grants under the program to carry out projects, the Secretary shall consider—</text>
<clause id="idAD2F27BF7B964F36A315B13C27320DA2">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>where the projects will be carried out and which populations are targeted; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idA3E28DC890F2449C9D81FFD52573C937">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the likelihood that each potential grantee will successfully carry out the grant proposal.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id907634B72581473886A7BA9FAF779D0E">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<header>Considerations regarding location and target population</header>
<text>In taking the matters specified in subparagraph (A)(ii) into consideration, the Secretary shall
consider in particular the advisability of awarding grants for projects—</text>
<clause id="idfceea7a974034513942efee47853328f">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>carried out in areas with populations that have a high proportion of veteran representation;</text>
</clause><clause id="ida2d474c575154da193060a97f8e8b12b">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>carried out in a variety of geographic areas, including urban, rural, and highly rural areas; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idd25f1e42eabd4e80bc75f9123b3d7bcb">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>that target a variety of veteran populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income
populations, and older populations.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id188cbb90d1794dd982dc5b5dc7fb468b">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Use of funds</header>
<text>The Secretary shall establish appropriate uses of grant amounts received under the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE91D6662C51244FE83DE22C7483335FC">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<header>Oversight of use of funds</header>
<text>The Secretary shall establish appropriate mechanisms for oversight of the use of grant amounts
received under the program, including the evidence grantees must submit to
demonstrate use of grant amounts and procedures for the recovery of grant
amounts that were improperly used.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9EBF103A666040C29AA26F99F57CB91C">
<enum>(6)</enum>
<header>Limitation</header>
<text>In a fiscal year, not more than 20 percent of all grant amounts awarded in that fiscal year may be
awarded to a single State entity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6845F7103A1B4FD5B272E34F120BBC7E">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>State matching requirement</header>
<text>The Secretary may not make a grant to a State under subsection (c) unless that State agrees that,
with respect to the costs to be incurred by the State in carrying out the
program or projects for which the grant was awarded, the State will make
available (directly or through donations from public or private entities)
non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 50 percent of Federal
funds provided under the grant.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8CE482C9539F4AFAAD2352CB4D388193">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<text>There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id07F1703FAEA84A1E8A2DFA78BDC06E5F">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2015.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE677A1F597A04FBAB94F0B7D2D494701">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2016.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcba0fc90285c4d3db012c671ba4e83f6">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Annual report</header>
<paragraph id="idb31edcfa1e584662834ccd0c4d11bdfd">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 120 days after the completion of the first calendar year beginning after the date of
the commencement of the program, and not less frequently than once every
year thereafter for the duration of the program, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report evaluating the program and the projects
supported by grants awarded under the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2009c288292247778646c68c3f3e8d0e">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id603939a2c6a347388eaac9b6b42fc9e3">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The findings and conclusions of the Secretary with respect to the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id268e4390670047ffa2560d72e5b288b5">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>An assessment of the benefit to veterans of the program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6F3C7A862B2F4696998A28A8E7DB7DA1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The performance measures used by the Secretary for purposes of the program and data showing the
performance of grantees under the program under such measures.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddc0b03421a204759bbe0d238a27c2ed4">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The recommendations of the Secretary as to the feasibility and advisability of continuing or
expanding or modifying the program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id52FFA6930524466A8FDB403D2030CF52">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id6514BB0648934A669D51AF1692EEBE37">
<enum>702.</enum>
<header>Cooperative agreements between Secretary of Veterans Affairs and States on outreach activities</header>
<subsection id="idAD6B78541B834C5794EDA608B0A10F9C">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Chapter 63 is amended by inserting after section 6306 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2118DFC656B14992957988A2B408EBE4" style="USC">
<section id="id00F40BED587A48A19AA0E693EA24421E">
<enum>6306A.</enum>
<header>Cooperative agreements with States</header>
<subsection id="id3B91D60BC8724ACB8C50FA18594B8A0A">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and arrangements with various State agencies
and State departments to carry out this chapter and to otherwise carry
out, coordinate, improve, or enhance outreach activities of the Department
and the States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idF14A2B5ADE3C48638F3B954F63C6BAEC">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall include in each report submitted under section 6308 of this title a description
of the agreements and arrangements entered into by the Secretary under
subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idF8F58AC7F123429BA0667E5B402B7728">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 63 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 6306 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6B68AECDBBE7467C941D05E44FBE4990" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">6306A. Cooperative agreements with States.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id909e66e68053433b9494d2981f3db380">
<enum>703.</enum>
<header>Advisory committee on outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="idAD7A522213AC45C0A8F22443B85A9C74">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall establish an advisory committee on outreach activities of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id48A0A3EFA0D8407EB6545589E14A1D31">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Membership</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The advisory committee shall be composed of individuals selected by the Secretary from among the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="id4c5d549d3bca43ccbb9bc678cc3665eb">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>To the maximum extent practicable, individuals who are eminent in their respective fields of public
relations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7b12b2bcbbe944df98a90e1ab94e06bc">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Representatives of organizations with offices that focus on communications and distribute messages
through major media news outlets and social media.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ida43037acfe3047d7a6108050a841d6b0">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>To the maximum extent practicable, individuals with experience communicating financial results and
business strategy for purposes of shaping a confident brand image.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7051e2df007c46cbbeb6bcb07c031282">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>To the maximum extent practicable, individuals with experience with consumer and lifestyle imaging
and creating publicity for a particular product or service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9ad1ea1a554d45a5a3345eee00da524d">
<enum>(5)</enum>
<text>To the maximum extent practicable, veterans who have experience in press and public relations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idaf70f5d1ecf94909b574c8468869220e">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duties</header>
<text>The advisory committee shall advise the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental
Affairs—</text>
<paragraph id="idE188120C2E0C4B1790913BFFACA1BAB6">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is strategically and effectively—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC0A53F83DAD04A2CBD57540C1D30BB3B">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>engaging the public and Department stakeholders to increase awareness nationally regarding all
benefits and services furnished by the Department;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1AC3FAF2C9E74ED19C2FDC98873ABBE8">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>explaining new or changing policies of the Department;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65627AD2BE574764ABF8D8D795F21C59">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>improving the image and reputation of the Department; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDB1FAAE2E02D44D389A1BD35A2189EA6">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>coordinating and collaborating with national community-based organizations, nonprofits, and State
and local government agencies;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF26BA208181246A4B90CB88364250DB1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>to assist the Secretary in conducting such other press or public relations activities relating to
outreach activities of the Department as the Secretary and the Assistant
Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs consider appropriate;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB5DF878FA0C241F781C92E37BF15B195">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>to ensure coordination and collaboration on efforts within the Department for the development,
implementation, and review of local outreach with respect to benefits that
include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id1762DA77D1C74A7BAD5C2E8C5C7E7D28">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Compensation and pension benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC6464C23BE0D4D6FA58712B03F624050">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Insurance benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF6E1BEBA983243BC98B023F47077B264">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Burial and memorial benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id004187455B02456E86372841C03AF1F6">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Education benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7C3B47C14C6848799D76C52B011CF214">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4DCC4C1894214660A4D1222BD911ABF7">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>Readjustment counseling benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id725E76E81E25467E92CAAE64A2EFBE50">
<enum>(G)</enum>
<text>Loan guarantee benefits.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id239C6E2DE84A479081CAD57442AEAFA2">
<enum>(H)</enum>
<text>Such other benefits as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide3ad8afb281d43bb971cee398d1bf219">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Location of meetings</header>
<text>Each meeting of the advisory committee shall take place at a location that is property of the
Department and shall, to the maximum extent practicable, use
teleconference technology.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCAB9F69F016947F5B08E659C9F2A9BB0">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Consultation</header>
<text>The Secretary shall consult with and seek the advice of the advisory committee not less frequently
than quarterly on matters relating to the duties of the advisory committee
under subsection (c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ide94be4f42132457d9dbf1ea83d4f5cce">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="id373CB873E68A4FA3B55BB459F7B596A4">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not less frequently than once every 90 days for the first year and semiannually thereafter, the
advisory committee shall submit to Congress and to the Secretary a report
on outreach activities of the Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idAD788911BFE74E8CB808164D7F337716">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Recommendations</header>
<text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include such recommendations for legislative and
administrative action as the advisory committee considers appropriate to
improve the press and public relations of the Department relating to
outreach.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id45dc40b26d6f4eb4ad33f4be6694e086">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Termination</header>
<text>The advisory committee shall terminate on October 1, 2015, and the requirements and authorities
under this section shall terminate on such date.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id766D02A4E93B4ED3B961490A60AFED35">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Outreach defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>outreach</term> has the meaning given the term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/6301">section 6301</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id412da8a020a74d808bc2aac37173a7c4">
<enum>704.</enum>
<header>Advisory boards on outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs relating to health care</header>
<subsection id="id2E9F698A3DB84A53BD46BA95B56070BA">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Establishment</header>
<paragraph id="id8068911C63864C02B0BCD59F599885EF">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For each entity described in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, acting through
the director of that entity, establish not later than 180 days after the
effective date specified in subsection (h) an advisory board at that
entity on matters relating to outreach activities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs at that entity.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE5071F545025427E94E5DD27B6F226FD">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Entity described</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An entity described in this paragraph is—</text>
<subparagraph id="id403018A45817410186A71D0773FFBA87">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a healthcare system of the Department; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB5E07EE1EF594261B9468A7F4287D434">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a Veterans Integrated System Network, if such Veterans Integrated System Network does not contain a
healthcare system.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id522672EE2A324BE7889A44AABF2A0102">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Membership</header>
<paragraph id="idCEFC14CFC6014C4D8D1D0DADCD72EDA8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Each advisory board established under subsection (a)(1) shall be, to the maximum extent
practicable, composed of individuals selected by the Secretary from among
the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id0CA8D9F0F77545ADA612DAFD67DA16C9">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Individuals who are eminent in their respective fields of public relations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87E3EFDD3A8E4783A866B14ABF0C4CEC">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Representatives of organizations with offices that focus on communications and distribute messages
through major media news outlets and social media.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3B7988AFA8634B4CA86106696CC48801">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Individuals with experience communicating financial results and business strategy for purposes of
shaping a confident brand image.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04CAE01A3B7947128B0B58E0C8B1F3C0">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>Individuals with experience with consumer and lifestyle imaging and creating publicity for a
particular product or service.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc66ccb39794b47d2948812cf6e526b47">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Employees of the Department who are involved in press and public relations strategy for an entity
described in subsection (a)(2).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaeb6611bd5e442a7aabd4b8ad8b69b78">
<enum>(F)</enum>
<text>To the maximum extent practicable, veterans who have experience in press and public relations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idEDEA05E84BB74FBDBBA664B96639FB85">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Voluntary participation</header>
<text>The participation of an individual selected under paragraph (1) shall be at the election of the
individual.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9590d54c048844ddaef21ce535998e03">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Duties</header>
<text>Each advisory board established under subsection (a)(1) at an entity described in subsection (a)(2)
shall advise the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental
Affairs—</text>
<paragraph id="idC24954CC177C44AB880D1B214C5600E0">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is strategically and effectively—</text>
<subparagraph id="id1293DCD49E92437B87808BD0A50A8DFF">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>engaging the public and Department stakeholders to increase awareness nationally regarding benefits
and services furnished by the Department;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEF92BD348FF448008937500B1166D3E5">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>explaining new or changing policies of the Department;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id53E271426C874674B672A814D5F47ADF">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>improving the image and reputation of the Department;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id434959CE5B7244FCAD0EA819B0A6C20D">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>coordinating and collaborating with national community-based organizations, nonprofits, and State
and local government agencies; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2C045BD6A00B445BAE62A0D540606FB1">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>coordinating and collaborating on efforts within the Department for the development,
implementation, and review of local outreach with respect to benefits that
include—</text>
<clause id="id7876711FE8C5405C9C4B6724C34BEB9B">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>compensation and pension benefits;</text>
</clause><clause id="id7664AF02658A4D0EA4261DD9E4D3E600">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>insurance benefits;</text>
</clause><clause id="id283F595CC04646F5B115750986493753">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>burial and memorial benefits;</text>
</clause><clause id="idCD1BF79195F64D76BD9D94A6F285AE78">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>education benefits;</text>
</clause><clause id="id1688C6397723496FB8951B571716F421">
<enum>(v)</enum>
<text>vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits;</text>
</clause><clause id="idA8C765A27365453186E51399E122693B">
<enum>(vi)</enum>
<text>readjustment counseling benefits;</text>
</clause><clause id="id36C7A845A05A43F2BF6043A8DD00C598">
<enum>(vii)</enum>
<text>loan guarantee benefits; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id83E125AD0C3B482FACA9EC846BA3E7C5">
<enum>(viii)</enum>
<text>such other benefits as the Secretary considers appropriate; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAEDBBAADA8CD4EDAB2369567CE62091D">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>to assist the director of that entity in conducting such other press or public relations activities
relating to outreach activities of the Department as that advisory board
considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3A79C1AD57744612AA1F8AE3B3C1A27D">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Meeting location</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC47676BAE8D346CB94129FAF5ECEF0AD">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>If teleconference technology is not used, meetings of each advisory board established under
subsection (a)(1) shall be held at a location that is property of the
Department.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7C92455894554CB8A22F0A8E0B77A11C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Teleconference technology</header>
<text>Each advisory board shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, teleconference technology.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id51046D2C203247D6A9B7413B7587F5CF">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Consultation</header>
<text>Each director of an entity described in subsection (a)(2) shall consult with and seek the advice of
the advisory board established at such entity not less frequently than
once every two months on matters relating to the duties of the advisory
board under subsection (c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCF2FF5A486DD46F4A671C05296F65AD8">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Annual reports</header>
<text>Not less frequently than each year, each advisory board established under subsection (a)(1) shall
submit to the Secretary a report with such information as may be
beneficial to the Secretary in preparing the reports required by section
6308 of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idd61536b484d24e7b97dc7a1f7cd796c7">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Termination</header>
<text>Each advisory board established under subsection (a)(1) and the authorities and requirements of
this section shall terminate three years after the effective date
specified in subsection (h).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id55B82B34F7494727824407CC55E98235">
<enum>(h)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idEA009C979C804A539A243A54059C6F4F">
<enum>705.</enum>
<header>Modification of requirement for periodic reports to Congress on outreach activities of Department
of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id8A0B60CEE4E3421B824D882C8A646A08">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 6308 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idD52A77164BF642C1BF5BC644662D20CC">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by striking <quote>even-numbered</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id497847479F624D7DABC98EB447B8BB99">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subsection (b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idBA030654E24546AD8E6C873D04AFFE17">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>biennial</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5F6351F8C62E4CDC8C9685F5F83D78B7">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>for legislative and administrative action</quote> after <quote>Recommendations</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id807804B571274F49A1292CF64C45D3AA">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id94E174C1AA15455FADE3233F5ACCB453" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idEC07222DE6D84322B151CBC5082671B8">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Recommendations that such administrative actions as may be taken—</text>
<subparagraph id="id873C30F6FAE04AEB88A0FDC4DB45698C">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to maximize resources for outreach activities of the Department; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84BB914785A94E469E42624BA237A212">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to focus outreach efforts on activities that are proven to be more effective.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2E66BA53A02F47538C0F5898E2908A4D">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendments</header>
<paragraph id="id736D8E23AA2B422E87D26B00950B8720">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Section heading</header>
<text>The heading for section 6308 is amended by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">Biennial</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">Annual</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id372265F10C2340EC9DF7FE4F78B12F5E">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Table of sections</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 63 is amended by striking the item relating to
section 6308 and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79715E175AAA4DCCB39CBB53F654F3A2" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">6308. Annual report to Congress.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0AC82A3742C74F4BB68625FC1DBBF3BD">
<enum>706.</enum>
<header>Budget transparency for outreach activities of Department of Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id5BBA7E254600459ABA38DF5B5670E954">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Chapter 63 is amended by inserting after section 6308 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98B0F399364C4E97BF2A469A8412434F" style="USC">
<section id="id7C75DE7FAE344CE8B6BFF0691A967E14">
<enum>6309.</enum>
<header>Budget transparency</header>
<subsection id="id13DF1B4C809B4061B2A55A526B0B0AF3">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Budget requirements</header>
<text>In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department budget for
a fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President under section
1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary shall include a separate statement of
the amount requested for such fiscal year for activities of the Office of
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="id690e4163911c42e9bc6be3566273ac0c">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>For outreach activities of the Department in aggregate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc3ef7853793f469ca604daa5c63689e9">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>For outreach activities of each element of the Department specified in subsection (b)(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc298c16e73c14cb388b6347d034aaed5">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Procedures for effective coordination and collaboration</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id877F791B9F5540D9B58ACC6BC093D135"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Veterans Trust Act of 2014</short-title>, the Secretary shall establish and maintain procedures for the Office of Public and
Intergovernmental Affairs to ensure the effective coordination and
collaboration of outreach activities of the Department between and among
the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idd202b5069f3c49c3bddce7c311fe4d73" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>Office of the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id24194fbbdb784f029f604bf80db9bf07" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Veterans Health Administration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5324a075600546e68f31fda09cbb1dcb" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Veterans Benefits Administration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd18f0ac24b9541fe9a80203b775cc943" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>National Cemetery Administration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD7749228DBB14C7EAF9FD19D2F08E599" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3582a6deec9c435587c3ebb268a00b3f">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>beginning after the date on which the Secretary establishes procedures under paragraph (1), not
less frequently than once every two years conduct a review of the
procedures established and maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure that
such procedures meet the requirements of such paragraph;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id90f92cbd0ac14657a87e9bdc3d677741">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>make such modifications to such procedures as the Secretary considers appropriate based upon
reviews conducted under subparagraph (A) in order to better meet such
requirements; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfa5a8b72fc7d4aa8927c93d73d7d49eb">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>not later than 45 days after completing a review under subparagraph (A), submit to Congress a
report on the findings of such review.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idC8E2531F2ABA4C43A62CF50F74325A10">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendment</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 63 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 6308 the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDE9CA4E4FCD941BEB210B38F5924864E" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">6309. Budget transparency.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><enum>VIII</enum><header>Enhancement of rights under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5D2AFFCE06594CE7BFD621CA53F9E909"><enum>801.</enum><header>Modification of
period determining which actions are covered under stay of proceedings and
adjustment of obligation protections concerning mortgages and trust deeds
of
members of uniformed services</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1CEE7A8FE5CB4FE4863F0A47BCB9BB13"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 303(b) of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/533">50 U.S.C. App. 533(b)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>filed</quote>
and inserting <quote>pending</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4EEFCAD20F8D437D82A424F7380B9B1D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 710(d) of the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012
(<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/154">Public Law 112–154</external-xref>; 126 Stat. 1208) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF258E8693D8A49B687AAF05C311759D0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph (1):</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46A6A45D85754C618B61DA57CDCCEE25" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B148431B2B6474EAF05F18892777E4E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Sunset and revival</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD65C617F7CF466DB62B63848A963C89"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subsections (b) and (c) of section 303 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/533">50 U.S.C. App. 533</external-xref>),
as amended by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, are amended by
striking <quote>within one year</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>within 90 days</quote>.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0A6A85A849454A448C8A61EEEADF6E5B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect on January 1, 2015.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id154D6700F8C44E0AA157564CB052DFCB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id785096421C9945E08A2BDADEAEEBCF01"><enum>802.</enum><header>Protections for
members of uniformed services regarding professional licenses</header><subsection id="idD0C22A5EB2444D879F22F0A55A12E781"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title VII of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 701 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0F6DB93F8FE741E79E3A5F19B0D74CD8" style="OLC"><section id="id6D5E83DA26064D4693D1ED8BB3099711"><enum>707.</enum><header>Professional
licenses</header><subsection id="id5FFC27AA96CE4AFBB892C1CAB3A22BCC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Expiration
during period in which servicemembers are eligible for hostile fire
or imminent
danger special pay</header><text>If a license issued by a State or local
licensing authority to a servicemember would otherwise expire
during a period in which
such servicemember is eligible for hostile fire or imminent danger
special pay
under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/37/310">section 310</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code, such State or
local
licensing authority shall delay the expiration of such license
until not earlier than
the date that is 180 days after the date on which such period of
eligibility
ends.</text></subsection><subsection id="id11489ED2BA824B7FB2BFC40F479834C1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Continuing
education requirements during period in which servicemembers are
eligible for
hostile fire or imminent danger special pay</header><text>If a State or local
licensing authority otherwise requires a servicemember to meet any
continuing education
requirements to maintain a license for a trade or profession during
a period in
which such servicemember is eligible for hostile fire or imminent
danger
special pay under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/37/310">section 310</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code, such
State or
local licensing authority shall delay such continuing education
requirement until not
earlier than the date that is 180 days after the date on which such
period of
eligibility
ends.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idE05B2C298842487787F2129ADA09BDA6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act (50
U.S.C. App. 501(b)) is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section
706 the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAFAC5050B0844BCC86D3D42203CC8453" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 707. Professional licenses
and
certifications.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id9239114969A24140BCB37743D7A6DCA6"><enum>803.</enum><header>Prohibition
on denial of credit because of eligibility for protection</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 108 of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/518">50 U.S.C. App. 518</external-xref>) is
amended—</text><paragraph id="idE813E9750F9242D9AB727E3F8E5A17CD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Application by</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEC0794DCC7434BF08BF4BA07033594E0" style="OLC"><subsection id="id9DFD0AE0144C4DB8AEFB853649A6DCEE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Application or receipt</header><text>Application by</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">and</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="id080D0BF00C5642939F327FC7C62310F1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7F725AA45B0449828D968AC2EFA79735" style="OLC"><subsection id="idB28EAF28BC8043269A100EFB79EAFCBF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><paragraph id="id8026CD88C99344149C5EB9E4445EB5C9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to the
protections under subsection (a), an individual who is entitled to any right or
protection provided under this Act may not be denied or refused credit or be
subject to any other action described under paragraphs (1) through (6) of
subsection (a) solely by reason of such entitlement.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9696CA947440415D832B50E7E02BA800"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to prohibit a lender from considering all relevant factors, other
than the entitlement of an individual to a right or protection provided under
this Act, in making a determination as to whether it is appropriate to extend
credit.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id4FB5938457C840ECAD79B1B80F6AB858" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>804.</enum><header>Interest rate limitation on
debt entered into during military service to consolidate or refinance
student
loans incurred before military service</header><subsection id="idE6B40DBAF5D443388CAF6806D35C12FE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subsection (a) of section 207 of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/527">50 U.S.C. App. 527</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id3488A7AAD94841DDAAB278914A95CA77"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">on debt
incurred before service</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Limitation to 6
percent</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB7D04152412D45F3945CF37F01A79862"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7962673B89734DAAAF8DAB73F8110666"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5A7725BE03F747CFA327B93DCAE0363B" style="OLC"><paragraph id="idD2FFB8ACE3514FDD9D3913BB8B6ABD82"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation to 6
percent on debt incurred during service to consolidate or refinance
student
loans incurred before service</header><text>An obligation or liability bearing
interest at a rate in excess of 6 percent per year that is incurred
by a
servicemember, or the servicemember and the servicemember's spouse
jointly,
during military service to consolidate or refinance one or more
student loans
incurred by the servicemember before such military service shall
not bear an
interest at a rate in excess of 6 percent during the period of
military
service.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id300D217F16874B10B48199BA8FB8FF3B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
as redesignated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, by inserting <quote>or
(2)</quote> after <quote>paragraph (1)</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id93BDE702041349898E1DFC0BF86C2786"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in paragraph (4),
as so redesignated, by striking <quote>paragraph (2)</quote> and inserting
<quote>paragraph (3)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id397C33D09D454A268E58E5FAE7975668"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation
of limitation</header><text>Subsection (b) of such section is amended—</text><paragraph id="id693A720A11FD49F48396ED6A25E2088A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking <quote>the interest rate limitation in subsection (a)</quote> and
inserting <quote>an interest rate limitation in paragraph (1) or (2) of
subsection (a)</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF49FA4BBB80F4F859A5CA7B81D2B22AB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph
(2)—</text><subparagraph id="id5365D2B1C20942FB94395C1F9F035D8E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the paragraph
heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">as of
date of order to active duty</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1D19E077ECA24389A12283FFA6F12147"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting
before the period at the end the following: <quote>in the case of an obligation
or liability covered by subsection (a)(1), or as of the date the
servicemember
(or servicemember and spouse jointly) incurs the obligation or liability
concerned under subsection (a)(2)</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idC711FB22EACA45D590ED138395F7A3BA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Student loan
defined</header><text>Subsection (d) of such section is amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id85ED31F1E9784606B8BD0395ED1F1EB6" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id45CE21FBAE024A8D902976BACE7E42B0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Student
loan</header><text>The term <term>student loan</term> means the
following:</text><subparagraph id="id267F5BEDA26841CF95BEDD7363E00B6E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A Federal student
loan made, insured, or guaranteed under title IV of the Higher
Education Act of
1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1070">20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD28D09768A584362ACFA970728A6FAB3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A private student
loan as that term is defined in section 140(a) of the Truth in
Lending Act (15
U.S.C.
1650(a)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="idA597F0A9961A4E4D8D1DB3A077FA04ED" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>805.</enum><header>Termination of residential leases after assignment or relocation to quarters of United States or
housing facility under jurisdiction of uniformed service</header><subsection id="id3638273e-e066-467d-80ba-15ba1f2a10ec"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Termination of
residential leases</header><paragraph id="id823b9a10-2ddf-4e4b-a2df-93287b7f68e0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 305 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/535">50 U.S.C. App. 535</external-xref>) is
amended—</text><subparagraph id="id6d5ab7f5-5030-4222-82ca-db2fe226cd53"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)(1)—</text><clause id="idd96e004c-0a2c-4094-8a29-75b50d1bcc7f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id607fd9f4-b675-4632-a67a-a572d730200f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>;
and</text></clause><clause id="id9ce5a4f2-28b6-41c7-bfdc-0edfcf438617"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at
the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc108829-a239-4947-8973-8c1dee587d98" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id4c2575e3-d21a-4c10-8c43-c946aaedba94"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of a
lease described in subsection (b)(1) and subparagraph (C) of such
subsection,
the date the lessee is assigned to or otherwise relocates to
quarters or a
housing facility as described in such
subparagraph.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4beb1809-2294-437b-b2d9-fd2249738bfa"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)(1)—</text><clause id="id04860845-f65a-4ca7-8e5a-deed81307609"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="idd9d830ab-fe2c-428b-b887-ccacf64169fe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>;
or</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="ida8b00a57-dbb8-4859-a275-aecb164ba489"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at
the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0bfe5ce1-9d30-4e4d-a19a-7dbc38816efb" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id8864c6f9-2f25-475b-8b6a-4b24a737ff17"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the lease is
executed by or on behalf of a person who thereafter and during the
term of the
lease is assigned to or otherwise relocates to quarters of the
United States or
a housing facility under the jurisdiction of a uniformed service
(as defined in
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/37/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code), including housing
provided under
the Military Housing Privatization
Initiative.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf8ddcad-c965-46a3-ad74-be3192c060c5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Manner of
termination</header><text>Subsection (c)(1) of such section is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id61e2ef22-73fa-41ce-8afa-e5a85d75209e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A)—</text><clause id="ide0c1e569-7f78-4727-8e56-fe7d55bd14a1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>in the case of a lease described in subsection (b)(1) and
subparagraph (A) or (B) of such subsection,</quote> before <quote>by
delivery</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id42622dd6-94bb-4dc0-a7dc-6793efed4be6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f2140ed-51d3-4d2e-bd35-efdb44485450"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating
subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb6825fe5-2b79-4444-84f5-0b18ffd4e9fd"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting
after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph (B):</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1d4d86d3-2586-4ed7-831a-a4a150b0c8ef" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id88a7ab34-02a0-4af6-882d-0a0af8ea0cdd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a
lease described in subsection (b)(1) and subparagraph (C) of such
subsection,
by delivery by the lessee of written notice of such termination,
and a letter
from the servicemember's commanding officer indicating that the
servicemember
has been assigned to or is otherwise relocating to quarters of the
United
States or a housing facility under the jurisdiction of a uniformed
service (as
defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/37/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code), to the
lessor (or the
lessor's grantee), or to the lessor's agent (or the agent's
grantee);
and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide5ff58fd-ffbc-441b-96b9-30b7c41a320e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of
military orders and continental United States for purposes of Act</header><paragraph id="id1ad5e522-bb1a-4a15-b884-8a9a92c358cb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Transfer of
definitions</header><text>Such Act is further amended by transferring
paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 305(i) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/535">50 U.S.C. App. 535(i)</external-xref>) to the
end of
section 101 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/511">50 U.S.C. App. 511</external-xref>) and redesignating such paragraphs, as so
transferred, as paragraphs (10) and (11).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida7a137d4-198f-473a-871f-d97e914ece53"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text>Such Act is further amended—</text><subparagraph id="idd2670ea2-0984-4a31-88ad-8323ea26677e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in section 305
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/535">50 U.S.C. App. 535</external-xref>), as amended by paragraph (1), by striking subsection
(i);
and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf3feb84f-119a-4a33-87f5-8fbc1c998467"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in section 705
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/595">50 U.S.C. App. 595</external-xref>), by striking <quote>or naval</quote> both places it
appears.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5DB3B11AC1334EE49219C8F6E23C1EAB"><enum>806.</enum><header>Protection of surviving spouse with respect to mortgage foreclosure</header><subsection id="idE8B8199D20484B9CBB3B01B96C3330B0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title III of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 531 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 303 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/533">50 U.S.C. App. 533</external-xref>) the following new
section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id049E72752CD24DD39063166F133EB1CE" style="OLC"><section id="id2AEE688164D44DBC84046EDA642F4E43"><enum>303A.</enum><header>Protection of surviving spouse with respect to mortgage foreclosure</header><subsection id="id3F495ED33DDB492A82863E8691E3648F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), with respect to a servicemember who dies while in military service and
who has a surviving spouse who is the servicemember's successor in
interest to property covered under section 303(a), section 303 shall apply
to the surviving spouse with respect to that property during the one-year
period beginning on the date of such death in the same manner as if the
servicemember had not died.</text></subsection><subsection id="idDE068597557C4318AB77D998C8E09EA0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice required</header><paragraph id="id212ad1f00d0f46f899e1f187f17447b6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To be covered under this section with respect to property, a surviving spouse shall submit written
notice that such surviving spouse is so covered to the mortgagee, trustee,
or other creditor of the mortgage, trust deed, or other security in the
nature of a mortgage with which the property is secured.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id849c5a85b2f5424caa288f34736c51f2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Time</header><text>Notice provided under paragraph (1) shall be provided with respect to a surviving spouse anytime
during the one-year period beginning on the date of death of the
servicemember with respect to whom the surviving spouse is to receive
coverage under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id70a645dc63b2495897fa310f9b093467"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Address</header><text>Notice provided under paragraph (1) with respect to property shall be provided via e-mail,
facsimile, standard post, or express mail to facsimile numbers and
addresses, as the case may be, designated by the servicer of the mortgage,
trust deed, or other security in the nature of a mortgage with which the
property is secured.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4cd7fac90d6744718f5f657674782d17"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Manner</header><text>Notice provided under paragraph (1) shall be provided in writing by using a form designed under
paragraph (5) or submitting a copy of a Department of Defense or
Department of Veterans Affairs document evidencing the military
service-related death of a spouse while in military service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id083aadd4216740bc8a1974e5813b2d39"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Official forms</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall design and distribute an official Department of Defense form that
can be used by an individual to give notice under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idF8598B72F08F49EAAA49C336CCB65FF5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>Section 303A of such Act, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to deaths that occur
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="idBC1EAF7BA494418FAC1B798B77ECAB91"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/501">50 U.S.C. App. 501</external-xref>) is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 303 the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2148E608321C4E2B96A74B66819F2958" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 303A. Protection of surviving spouse with respect to mortgage foreclosure.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id2BB09F23E8A94181A9005F7FF8BC9EA6" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>807.</enum><header>Improved protection of members of uniformed services against default judgments</header><subsection id="id6D570BAB4EBD40F0815F20AB9E584E66"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Modification of
plaintiff affidavit filing requirement</header><text>Paragraph (1) of section 201(b) of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/521">50 U.S.C. App. 521(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idBCE7257155714819BC6335B8F9266305"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting
such clauses two ems to the right;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3D7B6F9930EA4DF6B89B629EE1A0946D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the matter before clause (i), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking <quote>In any</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5EE87B4C938246368D964352CE76566F" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idFE932CBDF35B4E9BBAB3D36BF93CD3AE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idFAE6592E70A3405C90D1E1DBECABD37A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph (B):</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4FA5F438D065473D8DEBE4AEA86CC75F" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7050FAB6A43E445CB367FA7E29FE0341"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Due
diligence</header><text>Before filing the affidavit, the plaintiff shall
conduct a diligent and reasonable investigation to determine
whether or not the
defendant is in military service, including a search of available
records of
the Department of Defense and any other information reasonably
available to the
plaintiff. The affidavit shall set forth all steps taken to
determine the
defendant’s military status and shall have attached copies of the
records on which the plaintiff relied in drafting the affidavit.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4BECF1D57F5D4310A90D2CF662857F49"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appointment of attorney To represent defendant in military service</header><text>Paragraph (2) of such section (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/521">50 U.S.C. App. 521(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idDAA0F7BE46914344B76503EB3CF3C5B1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>If in an action</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF4F060AF1E6D44CBA3B5B2F3A68EF744" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idABF8F437D85449D9817A93425A7BCD4F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If in an action</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id4CA6913F7AE64FC0AE10F770DD34BB59"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), as designated by paragraph (1), by striking <quote>If an attorney</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBBE73A23785A4D81BF99C606FECFA22A" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id90456D7D0D0649BC8AAA077E107BA61C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitations on appointed attorney</header><text>If an attorney</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id2F83094FE8AE41469100622BCEDF91F1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A), as designated by paragraph (1), the following new
subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3446FABC05C546E1888C02F868185B45" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id6DEED758BA714BE5803BF3770CAA593E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Due diligence</header><text>If the court appoints an attorney to represent the defendant—</text><clause id="id4C7BEBA95B834BCF8E9FCA57067E56B3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the attorney shall conduct a diligent and reasonable investigation to determine whether or not the
defendant is in military service, including a search of available records
of the Department of Defense and any other information reasonably
available to the attorney; and</text></clause><clause id="id2D25C1DA68D744B5886E1DA10016BD73"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the plaintiff shall submit to the attorney such information as the plaintiff may have concerning
the whereabouts or identity of the defendant.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idA38842483D664847B1FE1A71C03D0CE2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB333658C4A104282AA8A0A2709B4EA87" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id2A42FF51EBAA404F9ABC18F3D59CCD02"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Treatment of attorneys fees</header><text>The reasonable fees of an attorney appointed to represent a servicemember shall be treated as costs
of court for court cost purposes, unless the creditor seeks relief from
such charges from the court.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC94A5F6FCB44983963C46DEDC865E14" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>808.</enum><header>Clarification
regarding application of enforcement authority of Attorney General and
private
right of action under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Sections 801 and 802 of the Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 597 and 597a) shall apply as if such
sections
were included in the enactment of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief
Act
of 1940 (54 Stat. 1178, chapter 888) and included in the restatement of
such
Act in <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/189">Public Law 108–189</external-xref>.</text></section><section id="id2FFAEEA82EFB49088DA941F88DABE091"><enum>809.</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><subsection id="idE50A6B1D20224673B7BD1C8602FF91E2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The heading for section 305 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/535">50 U.S.C. App. 535</external-xref>) is amended
by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">residential or motor vehicle leases</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">leases of premises occupied and motor vehicles used</header-in-text></quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="idAE83870CFFB847F68E87ACA29EEE1B95"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/50/501">50 U.S.C. App. 501(b)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
the item relating to section 305 and inserting the following new item:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD8D0225A040D41898FFEBD955472B9C1" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 305. Termination of leases of premises occupied and motor vehicles used.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section>
<enum>IX</enum>
<header>Other Matters</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H241BFC132C494D2C94B3FDF67D9A7600" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>901.</enum>
<header>Repeal of certain reductions made by Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013</header>
<subsection id="idF144FF311D3644FDA088EB50476FE0D1">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Adjustment of retirement pay</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/113/67">Public Law 113–67</external-xref>) is repealed as of the date of
the enactment of
such Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idEB4AAE74202D4022AD29AE9DFEDFC0B8">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Conforming amendments</header>
<paragraph id="id4D7CD947591B48C895DCDC6B84048FBB">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Applicability to disability and survivor benefits</header>
<text>Title X of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014 (division C of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/113/76">Public Law 113–76</external-xref>) is
repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id53B2C5A080CA4A3B9A83604080F38CE0">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Applicability to members of the Armed Forces who joined after January 1, 2014</header>
<text>Section 2 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/113/82">Public Law 113–82</external-xref> is repealed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id746315E2790A412E87CE3377C9470D4C" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>902.</enum>
<header>Consideration by Secretary of Veterans Affairs of resources disposed of for less than fair market
value by individuals applying for pension</header>
<subsection id="idE08C9F2042D14F21BFBD198A1D9D2740">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Veterans</header>
<text>Section 1522 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id5B409142021F40CF9B2E9B2DB816591E">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id96418C02A74B4798BAC67FF162FD2C2C">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>The Secretary</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id130A790F32D84F928336F5D3A30FD022">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB88105345FE544269E3A10AB7420CC44" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB1E84DEA8A8B43F58FEFC3042A862564" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID676026EDBA98499B859583FA18E98F5C"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>If a veteran otherwise eligible for payment of pension under section 1513 or 1521 of this title or
the spouse of such veteran disposes of covered resources for less than
fair market value on or after the look-back date described in subparagraph
(C)(i), the Secretary shall deny or discontinue the payment of pension to
such veteran under section 1513 or 1521 of this title, as the case may be,
for months during the period beginning on the date described in
subparagraph (D) and equal to the number of months calculated as provided
in subparagraph (E).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCB781E30CFD243688386CB560BBC9535" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD5C3B9DF55AF4DDE82D99793524E1C54"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, a covered resource is any resource that was a part of the corpus of
the estate of the veteran or, if the veteran has a spouse, the corpus of
the estates of the veteran and of the veteran's spouse, that the Secretary
considers that under all the circumstances, if the veteran or spouse had
not disposed of such resource, it would be reasonable that the resource
(or some portion of the resource) be consumed for the veteran's
maintenance.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD8D2DA54371A44058A1BF05F6692DE6D" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary may consider, in accordance with regulations the
Secretary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a transfer of
an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial instrument or
investment) a disposal of a covered resource for less than fair market
value if such transfer reduces the amount in the corpus of the estate of
the veteran or, if the veteran has a spouse, the corpus of the estates of
the veteran and of the veteran's spouse, that the Secretary considers,
under all the circumstances, would be reasonable to be consumed for the
veteran's maintenance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD7BA24EA6C784FF2AB4308F7BC4720B6" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="IDD8DBF4DDAF144FC8A664B382C3280E92"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The look-back date described in this clause is a date that is 36 months before the date described
in clause (ii).</text>
</clause><clause id="ID4DF2D10B8EE14AB894BEC7E5CE11DD90" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date described in this clause is the date on which the veteran applies for pension under
section 1513 or 1521 of this title or, if later, the date on which the
veteran (or the spouse of the veteran) disposes of covered resources for
less than fair market value.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE75A1D1EE68747E68EAB623FB55289EB" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The date described in this subparagraph is the first day of the first month in or after which
covered resources were disposed of for less than fair market value and
which does not occur in any other period of ineligibility under this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID87B824C6415C4DF4B3A42450E19B7825" indent="up1">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of months calculated under this subparagraph shall be equal to—</text>
<clause id="ID53C7DA07F1AA4D98A458D45111160D46">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the total, cumulative uncompensated value of the portion of covered resources so disposed of by the
veteran (or the spouse of the veteran) on or after the look-back date
described in subparagraph (C)(i) that the Secretary determines would
reasonably have been consumed for the veteran's maintenance; divided by</text>
</clause><clause id="idA63D916723CD478B974C3B6D125D45B0">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the maximum amount of monthly pension that is payable to a veteran under section 1513 or 1521 of
this title, including the maximum amount of increased pension payable
under such sections on account of family members, but not including any
amount of pension payable under such sections because a veteran is in need
of regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound,</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph" indent="subsection">rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest whole number, but shall not in any case
exceed 36 months.</continuation-text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8B95F35AD3BD4737AE64C9955394FD37">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subsection (b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idE9EFEB0285A64E37BDDA769565A88475">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>The Secretary</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id92103F18FC714A9BA418BD87ADEA9DD9">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67BD4376EDC049EFAA9E26C544AE8760" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3C41E777A6A74E63A16AB304BCDF6AB6" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idE6690A9CC8CF4270905AA80088D6192A"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>If a veteran otherwise eligible for payment of increased pension under subsection (c), (d), (e), or
(f) of section 1521 of this title on account of a child, the spouse of the
veteran, or the child disposes of covered resources for less than fair
market value on or after the look-back date described in subparagraph
(C)(i), the Secretary shall deny or discontinue payment of such increased
pension for months during the period beginning on the date described in
subparagraph (D) and equal to the number of months calculated as provided
in subparagraph (E).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE9917177D17641DEAE66BA7934EBA096" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idFE77DEC3795F4B64AF59C115F4AB0E37"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, a covered resource is any resource that was a part of the corpus of
the estate of the child that the Secretary considers that under all the
circumstances, if the veteran, the spouse of the veteran, or the child had
not disposed of such resource, it would be reasonable that the resource
(or some portion of the resource) be consumed for the child's maintenance.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCEF320764D9648FBB70C8D3B79042951" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary may consider, in accordance with regulations the
Secretary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a transfer of
an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial instrument or
investment) a disposal of a covered resource for less than fair market
value if such transfer reduces the amount in the corpus of the estate of
the child that the Secretary considers, under all the circumstances, would
be reasonable to be consumed for the child's maintenance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE3BCE1E32EF5402BA6642D4E1368AADC" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id17A07D6361B94A7CA836DB4ACE3DB307"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The look-back date described in this clause is a date that is 36 months before the date described
in clause (ii).</text>
</clause><clause id="idE979F08E6A734979965EB2F8E503697C" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date described in this clause is the date on which the veteran applies for payment of increased
pension under subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 of this
title on account of a child or, if later, the date on which the veteran,
the spouse of the veteran, or the child disposes of covered resources for
less than fair market value.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA32465E611AB424EBB7C2AA01B2DD470" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The date described in this subparagraph is the first day of the first month in or after which
covered resources were disposed of for less than fair market value and
which does not occur in any other period of ineligibility under this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE0958993510342FBAEE11924B3F3BF88" indent="up1">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of months calculated under this subparagraph shall be equal to—</text>
<clause id="id591357FD64D147E8987DBA2A206F72F8">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the total, cumulative uncompensated value of the portion of the covered resources so disposed of by
the veteran, the spouse of the veteran, or the child on or after the
look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i) that the Secretary
determines would reasonably have been consumed for the child's
maintenance; divided by</text>
</clause><clause id="id9A19E9620034406182D0C07A6B7639CD">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the maximum amount of increased monthly pension that is payable to a veteran under subsection (c),
(d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 of this title on account of a child,</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph" indent="subsection">rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest whole number, but shall not in any case
exceed 36 months.</continuation-text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8F9EAE60BABE441F8314A95DF631FFEA">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id77C34492B6BA469DA6D6DB9257C09015" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id979AD2A342B645B7B4FFAEF37EB520DB">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id6C8141EC3E8B4D80849E709DFD04B0D0"><enum>(1)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC667EFE711D9454BA0489FC586FF77A2"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall not deny or discontinue payment of pension under section 1513 or 1521 of this
title or payment of increased pension under subsection (c), (d), (e), or
(f) of section 1521 of this title on account of a child by reason of the
application of subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of this section to the disposal
of resources by an individual—</text>
<clause id="id5769EA9A8F4945A38479142C8A0A8C31" indent="up2">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>if—</text>
<subclause id="id7ab802bfbc124173b6c19cdeff64978a">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>a satisfactory showing is made to the Secretary (in accordance with regulations promulgated by the
Secretary) that all resources disposed of for less than fair market value
have been returned to the individual who disposed of the resources; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ida228d5717d32431795409a87f8395172">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the Secretary determines, under procedures established by the Secretary in accordance with
subparagraph (B), that the denial or discontinuance of payment would work
an undue hardship; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id3EBC5E88A68443409A81D9CC61123FED" indent="up2">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>to the extent that any portion of the resources disposed of for less than fair market value have
been returned to the individual who disposed of the resources.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id927FEF56AEBC4A158577687C121B4F67" indent="up2">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Undue hardship would be worked by the denial or discontinuance of payment for purposes of
subparagraph (A)(i)(II) if the denial or discontinuance of payment would
deprive the individual during the period of denial or discontinuance—</text>
<clause id="idE4D47BE7E3194E9F839AC3C34A9F3D91">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>of medical care such that the individual's life or health would be endangered;</text>
</clause><clause id="id248375F4EFA742CD8083F84EE566A610">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>of necessary food or clothing, or other necessities of life; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idFF95FB7DDF734ED789B627C262C5DD64">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>on such other basis as the Secretary shall specify in the procedures required by subparagraph
(A)(i)(II).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id830BEA9E79294555BDA6DD2B85BF90F8" indent="up2">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>If payment of pension or increased pension that would otherwise be denied or discontinued by reason
of the application of subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) is denied or
discontinued only in part by reason of the return of resources as
described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the period of the denial or
discontinuance as determined pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subsection
(a)(2) or (b)(2), as applicable, shall be recalculated to take into
account such return of resources.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID984C55B368EA4FD3A36AF1A2D1ED616E" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>At the time a veteran applies for pension under section 1513 or 1521 of this title or increased
pension under subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 1521 of this
title on account of a child, and at such other times as the Secretary
considers appropriate, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID5B4A9309AFBD428D99D1527BB19C37F6">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>inform such veteran of the provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) providing for a period of
ineligibility for payment of pension under such sections for individuals
who make certain dispositions of resources for less than fair market
value, including the exception for hardship from such period of
ineligibility;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID81543D19BC0746DEBD62216A18BB8283">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>obtain from such veteran information which may be used in determining whether or not a period of
ineligibility for such payments would be required by reason of such
subsections; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9B67E6F47A714EBC98255F1A1CF687BF">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>provide such veteran a timely process for determining whether or not the exception for hardship
shall apply to such veteran.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idEFD2E470B4C643808F4E54DBD5C26B32">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Surviving spouses and children</header>
<text>Section 1543 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id21A944ED06F6450DBEF64DAF2F1D3EF2">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id42B8F5E9546D4138A498C68C295A2D01">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFFBC7E1EEE0849BA9D45DF2DA7961718">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id004F43BA44764967873CE46296D6FE95" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id982434BA58164C26B509AA62E7394B58" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5179477EBA824D00932720F0248A40EE"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>If a surviving spouse otherwise eligible for payment of pension under section 1541 of this title
disposes of covered resources for less than fair market value on or after
the look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary shall
deny or discontinue the payment of pension to such surviving spouse under
section 1541 of this title for months during the period beginning on the
date described in subparagraph (D) and equal to the number of months
calculated as provided in subparagraph (E).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id251752869FFF491A84B203D9163BAF4C" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD779F54341584353BB7FD134094C0DBF"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, a covered resource is any resource that was a part of the corpus of
the estate of the surviving spouse that the Secretary considers that under
all the circumstances, if the surviving spouse had not disposed of such
resource, it would be reasonable that the resource (or some portion of the
resource) be consumed for the surviving spouse's maintenance.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id15678AF53C774CBEB6BEBFBD92C2FFCC" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary may consider, in accordance with regulations the
Secretary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a transfer of
an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial instrument or
investment) a disposal of a covered resource for less than fair market
value if such transfer reduces the amount in the corpus of the estate of
the surviving spouse that the Secretary considers, under all the
circumstances, would be reasonable to be consumed for the surviving
spouse's maintenance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id80EF033B38F040808D920C6B07C64D59" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC3B9992E9C3F462595FB405399A590A2"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The look-back date described in this clause is a date that is 36 months before the date described
in clause (ii).</text>
</clause><clause id="id4872DDCEA0E249AD8B8473458D6663A3" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date described in this clause is the date on which the surviving spouse applies for pension
under section 1541 of this title or, if later, the date on which the
surviving spouse disposes of covered resources for less than fair market
value.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6A9ECC4483064126A99CAE5D28EC0FA1" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The date described in this subparagraph is the first day of the first month in or after which
covered resources were disposed of for less than fair market value and
which does not occur in any other period of ineligibility under this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2E6554D48AB34641BFAB44C20272AD9A" indent="up1">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of months calculated under this subparagraph shall be equal to—</text>
<clause id="id8CFCF7F0FDA04DC9BBA5E96801B86A70">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the total, cumulative uncompensated value of the portion of the covered resources so disposed of by
the surviving spouse on or after the look-back date described in
subparagraph (C)(i) that the Secretary determines would reasonably have
been consumed for the surviving spouse's maintenance; divided by</text>
</clause><clause id="idA76FC05E05C145EE884C74C4C58CE6C9">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the maximum amount of monthly pension that is payable to a surviving spouse under section 1541 of
this title, including the maximum amount of increased pension payable
under such section on account of a child, but not including any amount of
pension payable under such section because a surviving spouse is in need
of regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound,</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph" indent="subsection">rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest whole number, but shall not in any case
exceed 36 months.</continuation-text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id865054652FA5465F9C5F0C41EC28870C">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A7FF47F2C364044B4B2B74CF464023F" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9502DF79520745EEB7F45865E7EF8EFE" indent="up1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idF0CFAB072FE44961B09ACD04FF40DD35"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>If a surviving spouse otherwise eligible for payment of increased pension under subsection (c),
(d), or (e) of section 1541 of this title on account of a child or the
child disposes of covered resources for less than fair market value on or
after the look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i), the Secretary
shall deny or discontinue payment of such increased pension for months
during the period beginning on the date described in subparagraph (D) and
equal to the number of months calculated as provided in subparagraph (E).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF355D4B56E3E41599C6F38978726E240" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1EECEF3A7F484FC98C824DADD4B844D2"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, a covered resource is any resource that was a part of the corpus of
the estate of the child that the Secretary considers that under all the
circumstances, if the surviving spouse or the child had not disposed of
such resource, it would be reasonable that the resource (or some portion
of the resource) be consumed for the child's maintenance.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC6A9B99D1CDE4BBB828968F1DA785875" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary may consider, in accordance with regulations the
Secretary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a transfer of
an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial instrument or
investment) a disposal of a covered resource for less than fair market
value if such transfer reduces the amount in the corpus of the estate of
the child that the Secretary considers, under all the circumstances, would
be reasonable to be consumed for the child's maintenance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD22577214B35487085A4F307F73B67F4" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id45B1A28D54664CC884DB88C2FB265763"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The look-back date described in this clause is a date that is 36 months before the date described
in clause (ii).</text>
</clause><clause id="idEACC81E3A0B946529A8187FBB0912996" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date described in this clause is the date on which the surviving spouse applies for payment of
increased pension under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of section 1541 of
this title on account of a child or, if later, the date on which the
surviving spouse (or the child) disposes of covered resources for less
than fair market value.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3CCAC932609B49BFB2010DF5AEBD26DD" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The date described in this subparagraph is the first day of the first month in or after which
covered resources were disposed of for less than fair market value and
which does not occur in any other period of ineligibility under this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAF424726867349FAB73D9D6E4ADC9D4F" indent="up1">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of months calculated under this clause shall be equal to—</text>
<clause id="id92FA082BCE0340C69946BE905D91DCA4">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the total, cumulative uncompensated value of the portion of the covered resources so disposed of by
the surviving spouse (or the child) on or after the look-back date
described in subparagraph (C)(i) that the Secretary determines would
reasonably have been consumed for the child's maintenance; divided by</text>
</clause><clause id="id42AF8E9537CC452BB501A54C3BEC1035">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the maximum amount of increased monthly pension that is payable to a surviving spouse under
subsection (c), (d), or (e) of section 1541 of this title on account of a
child,</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph" indent="subsection">rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest whole number, but shall not in any case
exceed 36 months.</continuation-text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5B9B8B43170548D6809F3E9F221A8733">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subsection (b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idABA82194C522492DA7609BA4A6F28CA9">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>The Secretary</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6C186A065C694FA891D2749B00F62818">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9AB53B39F94B4D56A1E2E1786AD3E31D" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC14B50C3AE84E8780681B55182DA195" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7CF7789AC2FA4BCD887475584C1DDB06"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>If a child otherwise eligible for payment of pension under section 1542 of this title or any person
with whom such child is residing who is legally responsible for such
child's support disposes of covered resources for less than fair market
value on or after the look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i), the
Secretary shall deny or discontinue the payment of pension to such child
under section 1542 of this title for months during the period beginning on
the date described in subparagraph (D) and equal to the number of months
calculated as provided in subparagraph (E).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1F153E4BB6DF4D279CC9F1368FBED566" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id2E73B40D024E4A74A95987FEBE37BE1A"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, a covered resource is any resource that was a part of the corpus of
the estate of the child or the corpus of the estate of any person with
whom such child is residing who is legally responsible for such child's
support that the Secretary considers that under all the circumstances, if
the child or person had not disposed of such resource, it would be
reasonable that the resource (or some portion of the resource) be consumed
for the child's maintenance.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id231B818878F44A5B9F84BB00D323C7EA" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary may consider, in accordance with regulations the
Secretary shall prescribe, a transfer of an asset (including a transfer of
an asset to an annuity, trust, or other financial instrument or
investment) a disposal of a covered resource for less than fair market
value if such transfer reduces the amount in the corpus of the estate
described in clause (i) that the Secretary considers, under all the
circumstances, would be reasonable to be consumed for the child's
maintenance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA709EC02E9224765847DE103113AC763" indent="up1">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idFEE1B99DBAB046C8A2E771A766467B2B"><enum>(i)</enum>
<text>The look-back date described in this clause is a date that is 36 months before the date described
in clause (ii).</text>
</clause><clause id="id02805C64645C4BFEA3256C38D5B0B507" indent="up1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>The date described in this clause is the date on which the child applies for pension under section
1542 of this title or, if later, the date on which the child (or person
described in subparagraph (B)) disposes of covered resources for less than
fair market value.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8D7D0ED5F35D48E1B8E9999D81EB1DEE" indent="up1">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>The date described in this clause is the first day of the first month in or after which covered
resources were disposed of for less than fair market value and which does
not occur in any other period of ineligibility under this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC0E62B4BB3BA4049897DA10654AF0034" indent="up1">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>The number of months calculated under this clause shall be equal to—</text>
<clause id="idD4AD7E1FD1DD4FAAA117496051148321">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the total, cumulative uncompensated value of the portion of the covered resources so disposed of by
the child (or person described in subparagraph (B)) on or after the
look-back date described in subparagraph (C)(i) that the Secretary
determines would reasonably have been consumed for the child's
maintenance; divided by</text>
</clause><clause id="id88BF321E3C6041DC8EEC6E705DC31BDA">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the maximum amount of monthly pension that is payable to a child under section 1542 of this title,</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph" indent="subsection">rounded down, in the case of any fraction, to the nearest whole number, but shall not in any case
exceed 36 months.</continuation-text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB34F569A127A4AA8B5761C3E1D7DFEAA">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id839E03672D9B48B4861D7BF408FBD5CE" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idA2F34C324AE84160AED56DDE63E2FF6A">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idB7E64C3E9DA44943BEF31359F2A28999"><enum>(1)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5075C91F1E774B77B9EB924054D4C05F"><enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The Secretary shall not deny or discontinue payment of pension under section 1541 or 1542 of this
title or payment of increased pension under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of
section 1541 of this title on account of a child by reason of the
application of subsection (a)(2), (a)(4), or (b)(2) of this section to the
disposal of resources by an individual—</text>
<clause id="id00F12103AD874822A2CCFCC808A350A3" indent="up2">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>if—</text>
<subclause id="id65F751B81B724563BE70E254AA1200FA">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>a satisfactory showing is made to the Secretary (in accordance with regulations promulgated by the
Secretary) that all resources disposed of for less than fair market value
have been returned to the individual who disposed of the resources; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id3FF720C8F6B64D7BBAF32CF9BD57B517">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>the Secretary determines, under procedures established by the Secretary in accordance with
subparagraph (B), that the denial or discontinuance of payment would work
an undue hardship; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id7743E294AF414227AD13ACE5E00E003F" indent="up2">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>to the extent that any portion of the resources disposed of for less than fair market value have
been returned to the individual who disposed of the resources.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD367D6E818D840608F6087B8CFE3B620" indent="up2">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Undue hardship would be worked by the denial or discontinuance of payment for purposes of
subparagraph (A)(i)(II) if the denial or discontinuance of payment would
deprive the individual during the period of denial or discontinuance—</text>
<clause id="id8AC4D85A6A984B3AB7A5C900C297F80A">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>of medical care such that the individual's life or health would be endangered;</text>
</clause><clause id="idE95CF85AF0EA48A98EC7955167DADBF7">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>of necessary food or clothing, or other necessities of life; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idF49A787BDFED4DD4810444F5F622BB7D">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>on such other basis as the Secretary shall specify in the procedures required by subparagraph
(A)(i)(II).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF53CC92162D5493D906EF66E94CF14DF" indent="up2">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>If payment of pension or increased pension that would otherwise be denied or discontinued by reason
of the application of subsection (a)(2), (a)(4), or (b)(2) is denied or
discontinued only in part by reason of the return of resources as
described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the period of the denial or
discontinuance as determined pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subsection
(a)(2), (a)(4), or (b)(2), as applicable, shall be recalculated to take
into account such return of resources.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idADF032F058CB4576BC45EA65903D79D7" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>At the time a surviving spouse or child applies for pension under section 1541 or 1542 of this
title or increased pension under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of section
1541 of this title on account of a child, and at such other times as the
Secretary considers appropriate, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idDBD44F90328A4182B6B03A5B5B305CBB">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>inform such surviving spouse or child of the provisions of subsections (a)(2), (a)(4), and (b)(2),
as applicable, providing for a period of ineligibility for payment of
pension or increased pension under such sections for individuals who make
certain dispositions of resources for less than fair market value,
including the exception for hardship from such period of ineligibility;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4D92D83D98C84E58BEF2FCD02FA520EC">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>obtain from such surviving spouse or child information which may be used in determining whether or
not a period of ineligibility for such payments would be required by
reason of such subsections; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id855FAAF2D97143D09E789B2EDF1DB55D">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>provide such surviving spouse or child a timely process for determining whether or not the
exception for hardship shall apply to such surviving spouse or child.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA63316C820AB4D1CAA31F0FDA414301D">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>Subsections (a)(2), (b)(2), and (c) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1522">section 1522</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a), and subsections (a)(2), (a)(4), (b)(2), and (c) of section
1543 of such title, as added by subsection (b), shall take effect on the
date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and
shall apply with respect to payments of pension and increased pension
applied for after such date and to payments of pension and increased
pension for which eligibility is redetermined after such date, except that
no reduction in pension shall be made under such subsections because of
any disposal of covered resources made before such date.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id1B619DA9F1ED4B39A94B1CBF684078A4">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Annual reports</header>
<paragraph id="idA215E31978524A3EB3398AA2C8FC0C80">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than
once each year thereafter through 2018, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
administration of subsections (a)(2), (b)(2), and (c) of section 1522 of
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and subsections
(a)(2), (a)(4), (b)(2), and (c) of section 1543 of such title, as added by
subsection (b), during the most recent 12-month period.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9B42B10B0BE94D36AFBA9217B51DC880">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following, for the period covered by
the report:</text>
<subparagraph id="id27F1A7ED8B444A03BE8BBA09C163C4CF">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals who applied for pension under chapter 15 of such title.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDDAB80B00D91475C85EABC026DFDC7CA">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals who received pension under such chapter.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id773B351B7E0B417EAD3474088082CB8E">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>The number of individuals with respect to whom the Secretary denied or discontinued payment of
pension under the subsections referred to in paragraph (1).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEFD00B728B2842948620CCADDE36DDCD">
<enum>(D)</enum>
<text>A description of any trends identified by the Secretary regarding pension payments that have
occurred as a result of the amendments made by this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCCBAE1EC37B14BF599BD8F60ABC4C223">
<enum>(E)</enum>
<text>Such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1CA8BA4C234B4432BD1D62A623349ECB">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Appropriate committees of Congress defined</header>
<text>In this subsection, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="idA15DFD7E577C4FF3A4DAAA8EA8CF92A2">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA841BCC6EB5741DB9631DDAE318C13D4">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id67F809C60EEC49C4AB6F108B9CDC4C88">
<enum>903.</enum>
<header>Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by medicaid plans for services furnished
by nursing facilities</header>
<subsection id="id45c7c930c1114004a6921335eda8cc88">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Subsection (d)(7) of section 5503 is amended by striking <quote>November 30, 2016</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8a09fc8e2f5342a8a222daeabefd363f">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Clerical amendments</header>
<paragraph id="idcbf3210f64574601941d4e90cbaca8d8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Section heading</header>
<text>The section heading of such section is amended to read as follows: <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">Reduced pension for certain hospitalized veterans and certain veterans receiving domiciliary,
nursing home, or nursing facility care</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id78d8f8a7e5134660a0e06925867da1aa">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Table of sections</header>
<text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 is amended by striking the item relating to
section 5503 and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99F730221CDF4482BCDC6AD3AD690D8E" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">5503. Reduced pension for certain hospitalized veterans and certain veterans receiving domiciliary,
nursing home, or nursing facility care.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC3B8B493439041DD87B6795922A18193" section-type="subsequent-section">
<enum>904.</enum>
<header>Conditions on award of per diem payments by Secretary of Veterans Affairs for provision of housing
or services to homeless veterans</header>
<subsection id="H12CE29BC958345AAB79F4E28D2DB4FA0">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Condition</header>
<paragraph id="H5515FCFF61724261B8C697A90B6A33BF">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Section 2012(c)(1) is amended by striking <quote>unless the facilities</quote> and all that follows through <quote>may specify.</quote> and inserting the following: “unless the Secretary certifies the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0B430D58629248D2AC859A1D88B6C1D5" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="idF5731768668045BEA45C6EAB7D409D57" indent="up1">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>That the building where the grant recipient or eligible entity provides housing or services for
which the grant recipient or eligible entity would receive such payment is
in compliance with the codes relevant to the operations and level of care
provided, including applicable provisions of the most recently published
version of the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection
Association or such other comparable fire and safety requirements as the
Secretary may specify.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFC849C06B7E34D0FBC06ACE2717C3B3C" indent="up1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>That such building and such housing or services are in compliance with licensing requirements, fire
and safety requirements, and any other requirements in the jurisdiction in
which the building is located regarding the condition of the building and
the provision of such housing or services.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBCB5788D38304B728E598B30541BB62A">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to an application for a per diem
payment under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/2012">section 2012</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, submitted on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6BE7EC7426B442908E0077D3C5127DB4">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Annual inspections required</header>
<text>Section 2012 is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following new subsection (b):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id320F1AC398344664930C29956DD6BD2E" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id12E8ABA8C3AB4AF6837821868C944B0A">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9BA91445722743FBBF73B7B59C277A8B"><enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Not less frequently than once each fiscal year, the Secretary shall inspect each facility of each
grant recipient or entity eligible for payments under subsection (a) at
which the recipients and entities provide services under section 2011 of
this title or this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idFDF068FB647D4E88B0799688089F41D9" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Except as provided in paragraph (1), inspections made under such paragraph shall be made at such
times as the Secretary considers necessary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id90A1C569FD774282A2F919BBDEDE4117" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>An inspection of a facility of a recipient or entity described in paragraph (1) made under such
paragraph may be made with or without prior notice to the recipient or
entity, as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9CC030E5B5B84F48B955C89DB6544B29" indent="up1">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>No per diem payment may be provided to a grant recipient or eligible entity under this section
unless the facilities of the grant recipient or eligible entity meet such
standards as the Secretary shall prescribe.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id295ADC1454FC438A8A2857E70ECDBC32">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Revocation of certification authorized</header>
<text>Subsection (c) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idD274EAD2740741CE844564A3C7631913">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF428B073616F419699A70DDB79B3D898">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in paragraph (1), as amended by subsection (a)(1), by striking <quote>in paragraph (2)</quote> and inserting <quote>in paragraph (4)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9E091CF910564A91BF8E877AC482AB33">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2AD991DA34CE451CB27CC59F242E7618" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id60760D2860694D4A8E22F857DDAD10A4" indent="up1">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>The Secretary may revoke any certification made under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines
that such certification is no longer accurate.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id73E4B4460002490DB72069878D73DCBB">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Congressional notification of termination of per diem required</header>
<text>Such subsection is further amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph
(3):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idECC99C1683BA4D3D97C5E21D56B73E59" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id1BCD7E56F7524C7586CD394E1090A5A3" indent="up1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary terminates provision of per diem
payment under this section to a grant recipient or an eligible entity, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives
notice of such termination if such termination were made because a
facility of the grant recipient or eligible entity did not comply with—</text>
<subparagraph id="id99d831a078cc43c7b52dc8e7633a0843">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>an applicable provision of the most recently published version of the Life Safety Code of the
National Fire Protection Association or such other comparable fire and
safety requirement as the Secretary has specified; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c2cea4258c440e594475383c4eb5882">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>a licensing requirement, fire or safety requirement, or another requirement in the jurisdiction in
which the facility is located regarding the condition of the facility.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H3B9FC2DFD2C949E8A9EE9681486E3793">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Treatment of current recipients of per diem payments</header>
<paragraph id="id3724391B867142B8884C63BF4528D149">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>Assessment</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of the recipient of a per diem payment under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/2012">section 2012</external-xref> of title 38, United States
Code, that receives such a payment during the year in which this Act is
enacted for the provision of housing or services, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall assess whether the building where such housing or
services are provided is and whether the housing and services are in
compliance as required by section 2012(c)(1) of such title, as amended by
subsection (a)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id61E40D0F729647B3A89A9BA86520ABC6">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Failure to comply</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case described in paragraph (1), if the Secretary does not certify the compliance of the
building and the housing or services under such section before the date
that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary may not make any additional per diem payments to the recipient
for the provision of such housing or services under section 2012 of such
title until the Secretary certifies that such building is and such housing
or services are in compliance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3C4EDF4CD9784FD785038D91C68120F2">
<enum>(f)</enum>
<header>Conforming condition on award of grants by Secretary of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive service
programs</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2011(b)(5)(A) is amended by inserting <quote>, including housing and building codes,</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idD93DA537D4174DE183EF22257F7E8BC6">
<enum>905.</enum>
<header>Exception to certain recapture requirements and treatment of contracts and grants with State homes
with respect to care for homeless veterans</header>
<subsection id="id4630764285284A77AAD46A7CBE2623DE">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Exception to certain recapture requirements</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8136(b) is amended by inserting <quote>, or the provision of services or conduct of a program pursuant to a contract or grant issued or
awarded by the Secretary under subchapter II of chapter 20 or section
2031(a)(2) of this title,</quote> after <quote>outpatient clinic</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE787115005B74760B27F8DFAF524A634">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Construction</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by subsection (a) may not be construed to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into a contract with a State home or award a grant to a
State home for the furnishing of residential care for a veteran without—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDCFA0999F32B490E9E0367F0075AD201">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identifying a substantial need for such care; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5449DE711CA647789C07F1E8F7C5BD91">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>determining that the State home is the most appropriate provider of such care.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD3C15F905C5645D3A2066F6C5FB6991C">
<enum>906.</enum>
<header>Extended period for scheduling of medical exams for veterans receiving temporary disability ratings
for severe mental disorders</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1156(a)(3) is amended by striking <quote>six months</quote> and inserting <quote>18 months</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id9C590C4CABF84F68A88C456FEC1BA31B">
<enum>907.</enum>
<header>Authority to issue Veterans ID Cards</header>
<subsection id="idD01717116AA6460CB13842B08F394883">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Authority</header>
<paragraph id="id5EA469329FD5493AACE325E4769AAEA0">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may issue a card to a veteran that identifies the veteran as a
veteran and includes a photo of the veteran and the name of the veteran.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idFB4117D2982F44FD878E8511BE67393C">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>No requirement for enrollment or receipt of benefits</header>
<text>The Secretary may issue a card under paragraph (1) to a veteran, whether or not such veteran is—</text>
<subparagraph id="id92DFA2F8589949E9987778C17C26C684">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1705">section 1705(a)</external-xref> of title 38,
United States Code; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAAD441E4EDDA4F459B6559B3BC091993">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in receipt of educational assistance, compensation, or pension under laws administered by the
Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2DA2AB4CB5674809B59B2BF825E89FF7">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Designation</header>
<text>A card issued under paragraph (1) may be known as a <quote>Veterans ID Card</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB8E4134393A044D7864AD3302E455B5E">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Recognition of Veterans ID Cards for reduced pricing of pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and
services</header>
<text>The Secretary may work with national retail chains that offer reduced prices on pharmaceuticals,
consumer products, and services to veterans to ensure that such retail
chains recognize cards issued under subsection (a)(1) for purposes of
offering reduced prices on pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and
services.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5C70EC61960D4EE69470290F4C725BB9">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Veteran defined</header>
<text>In this section, the term <term>veteran</term> has the meaning given the term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id61E0167941F941C19BB9852CE3E17392">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD13BF9B010C84141A17300EEC6EC9C28">
<enum>908.</enum>
<header>Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in the reserve components of the Armed
Forces</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Any person who is entitled under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/1223">chapter 1223</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, to retired pay for nonregular service or, but for age, would be
entitled under such chapter to retired pay for nonregular service shall be
honored as a veteran but shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of
this honor.</text>
</section><section id="id8D07A4D5C4A84D259265CAE24C6151FA">
<enum>909.</enum>
<header>Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to obtain information from Secretary of
the Treasury and Commissioner of Social Security for income verification
purposes</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5317(g) is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2016</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2018</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HF75951748C5A4F14A3CA3B73D7063C0C">
<enum>910.</enum>
<header>Extension of authority for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue and guarantee certain loans</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3729(b)(2) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HF96B5C39B5294AB0B85ADCD1EEC41C64">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (A)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9E78048CD4434CED867193A53F59E58C">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in clause (iii), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBCD3CF091ED34730B24996643DE792E2">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in clause (iv), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0194517E857747A7936B0FEB3F807D39">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (B)—</text>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5ACF5096B284ACBAE64F4E283C86051">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDCE55387F45346C4BB79C279BBBB1664">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8C2CFEE1212C40BF8E5251B76D09D033">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (C)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H92AA05AF795A41C9871D7B2B22832C33">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4DCC31EC55C9482AAA0E53F85828D320">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H050995EF9C2B47B8B86786EB92732BB8">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>in subparagraph (D)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA459D0679194447FBAE7723AEC73A2F6">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7F516084E5E34352860B15B078E4A0FF">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking <quote>October 1, 2017</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2023</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H2C55BECBF2B0406CB740B5BC782C1336">
<enum>911.</enum>
<header>Eligibility for interment in national cemeteries for certain naturalized individuals</header>
<subsection id="HD6D367C56BB3428CACD2079D7EFC1D73">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2402(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H793A65FF53784A5F8C429C971038DAA4" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H49924CB6EE5848609CCFF045D634F7C5">
<enum>(10)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any individual—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2500C8E74CA04B388A5057CA498AED63">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who—</text>
<clause id="H4E375F12812848C4A4D5D1764E92A0CA">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>was naturalized pursuant to section 2(1) of the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 (Public
Law 106–207; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1423">8 U.S.C. 1423</external-xref> note); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HD98C001FDD1D416BBB9C659E2E040B99">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>at the time of the individual’s death resided in the United States; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFA0F56FDBA18456197504076D64DB828">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who—</text>
<clause id="HE81CFB79F5FD4AB090C3A141AA27F4C3">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the Secretary determines served with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a
base in Laos in support of the Armed Forces of the United States at any
time during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending May 7,
1975; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H8A4DE87949CF402A8219B24D1BCBDD01">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>at the time of the individual’s death—</text>
<subclause id="H660F024A5A8E44B288156A411D2D958E">
<enum>(I)</enum>
<text>was a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the
United States; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEEF05FB22BC9452381CEDCE016F3732A">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>resided in the United States.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA4BC90D332040E292875EF228CEF6B1">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an individual dying on or after
the date
of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="idD14BFFDD62E1468B83D4F37F3A8F9EC8">
<enum>912.</enum>
<header>Canadian Forces Base Gagetown
independent study and registry</header>
<subsection id="idF13813D536284B9ABC10F77CEA3483CE">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>Independent study</header>
<paragraph id="id8790A3C8CEA54F7C8FFACB709E27B250">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide for a study on the potential exposure of
individuals to toxic substances
or environmental hazards related to service at Canadian Forces Base
Gagetown, New Brunswick,
Canada, at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 1956, and
ending on December
31, 2006.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8D2575DD21A0448DA97FC53C4BEF4298">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Elements</header>
<text>The study required by paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idA795197A514248BFBEC7B0179952AF22">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>assess the health risks associated with the exposure of individuals to toxic substances or
environmental hazards described in paragraph (1); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9ACEE651C062478AAF8216CCE1E6C4E1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>determine if a registry of individuals who were exposed to toxic substances or environmental
hazards during service at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown would be advisable
as an effective tool to assess such health risks.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idBE72C152C8294A0FAECEAE459B64348D">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Independent entity</header>
<text>The study required by paragraph (1) shall be carried out by an entity that—</text>
<subparagraph id="idFAD60468C43241CFB108DF102B298EB7">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>has experience conducting studies with respect to the exposure of individuals to toxic substances
or environmental hazards; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5B403148DA23423C9B764FC15FB36051">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>is not affiliated with the Department.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id364566769A5D42FEAFBA7D39CC9E2C05">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<header>Deadline for completion</header>
<text>The study required by paragraph (1) shall be completed not later than 540 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE999F076E49A4EB7A182D06CD549CA08">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Registry</header>
<paragraph id="id1D3BF7460E054112A06307BA3168DF76">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the entity that carries out the independent study provided for under paragraph (1) of subsection
(a) determines pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection that a
registry described in such paragraph (2)(B) would be an effective tool as
described in such paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary may
establish
and maintain a registry to be known as the <quote>Canadian Forces Base
Gagetown Health Registry</quote> (in this subsection referred to as the
<term>Registry</term>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE8AB2EF366E9452CBE6DC08DC32EF316">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Contents</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Registry shall include the following information:</text>
<subparagraph id="H83CA7AB9BF5646218742E61E9F6197E5">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A list containing the name of each
individual who—</text>
<clause id="idBE789FF15FD946B381B609C57E627C37">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">while serving as a member of the Armed Forces, was stationed at
or underwent training at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown at any time during
the period beginning on January 1, 1956, and ending on
December
31, 2006; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H6A7E08BB05084561B9F0D6545A081A4F">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id72974D3E7E3B45539665DBCE1F2410EC"><enum>(I)</enum>
<text>applies for care
or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 17 of
title
38, United States Code;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H233517D2A5DF4BFA8D4033AB624AC108" indent="up1">
<enum>(II)</enum>
<text>files a claim for
compensation under chapter 11 of such title on the basis of any disability
that may be associated with such service; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H676EAEEC73F34F0DA97881C7BB2242DA" indent="up1">
<enum>(III)</enum>
<text>dies and is
survived by a spouse, child, or parent who files a claim for dependency
and
indemnity compensation under chapter 13 of such title on the basis of such
service.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE851942FA02348D5B807D9FE843307F1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>Relevant medical
data relating to the health status of, and other information that the
Secretary
considers relevant and appropriate with respect to, each individual
described
in subparagraph (A) who—</text>
<clause id="H9C391F24DC7047F4880117707AD1CEEC">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>grants to the
Secretary permission to include such information in the Registry; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H37C2FAE7A9D3402BAB71887939DCD905">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>at the time the
name of the individual is added to the Registry, is deceased.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8B966FCB4EC1438C8B133987198008EB">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<header>Consultation with other agencies</header>
<text>The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with the Secretary of Defense
and the heads of other agencies as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
considers necessary to
establish
and maintain the Registry.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idDC122634D05D4C9C874D4226F84745AA">
<enum>913.</enum>
<header>Review of determination of certain service in Philippines during World War II</header>
<subsection id="idFA5276186BE84C02B4AF219A9145D05D">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and such military
historians as the Secretary of Defense recommends, shall review the
process used to determine whether a covered individual served in support
of the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II in accordance
with section 1002(d) of title X of Division A of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/5">Public Law 111–5</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/107">38 U.S.C. 107</external-xref> note) for
purposes of determining whether such covered individual is eligible for
payments described in such section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4806BFFE5D4C4FE8A23876F8DD61EB9F">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Covered individuals</header>
<text>In this section, a covered individual is any individual who timely submitted a claim for benefits
under subsection (c) of section 1002 of title X of Division A of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/5">Public Law 111–5</external-xref>; 38
U.S.C. 107 note) based on service as described in subsection (d) of that
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id22B668B2E4344879A53C87D693B6A10F">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report detailing any findings, actions taken, or recommendations for
legislative action with respect to the review conducted under subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4934AA7AB07D4949A64703F8090FB068">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Prohibition on benefits for disqualifying conduct under new process pursuant to review</header>
<text>If pursuant to the review conducted under subsection (a) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines to establish a new process for the making of payments as
described in that subsection, the process shall include mechanisms to
ensure that individuals are not treated as covered individuals for
purposes of such payments if such individuals engaged in any disqualifying
conduct during service described in that subsection, including
collaboration with the enemy or criminal conduct.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id1d1a9a7c1ff14e929f816204f663c281">
<enum>914.</enum>
<header>Review of determination of certain service of merchant mariners during World War II</header>
<subsection id="id12fa65995ba04ed5903e1f4b3d27caa4">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Homeland Security and such military historians as the Secretary of Defense
recommends, shall review the process used to determine whether an
individual performed service under honorable conditions that satisfies the
requirements of a coastwise merchant seaman who is recognized pursuant to
section 401 of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/95/202">Public Law 95–202</external-xref>; 38
U.S.C. 106 note) as having performed active duty service.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id454982755b794364ae8770b1b529dbb9">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Report</header>
<text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report detailing any findings, actions taken, or recommendations for
legislative action with respect to the review conducted under subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id6CEDDEB0036942F0AA0C5DE90BECA8D2">
<enum>915.</enum>
<header>Report on practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs to adequately provide services to
veterans with hearing loss</header>
<subsection id="id60D80A0C5D7040948F5FFC0C747A9A65">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report on the actions taken by the Secretary to implement the findings and
recommendations included in the 2006 report by the Institute of Medicine
of the National Academies entitled <term>Noise and Military Service: Implications for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus</term> that was prepared pursuant to section 104 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 (Public Law
107–330; 116 Stat. 2822).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id9984AAADEC494E86A21A0553B64888F5">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effect of Duty Military Occupational Specialty Noise Exposure Listing on receipt of benefits by
veterans</header>
<paragraph id="id598B2BDC18CD46BA9A2DFADD891F7BED">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text>The Secretary shall include in the report required by subsection (a) an evaluation of the extent to
which veterans who had a military occupational specialty during service as
a member of the Armed Forces that is not included on the Duty Military
Occupational Specialty Noise Exposure Listing (in this subsection referred
to as the <term>MOS List</term>) are precluded from receiving benefits related to hearing loss from the Department of Veterans
Affairs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idDBEB692367384F34B66BB51302541F32">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Data</header>
<text>The Secretary shall include in the evaluation required by paragraph (1) the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idE8EFEA83601E4F9B9B19EB14E42F5111">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>With respect to veterans who had a military occupational specialty included on the MOS List—</text>
<clause id="id3940915B8A1B430BB1FAA331C62E747C">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the number of claims for benefits related to hearing loss from the Department of Veterans Affairs
that were granted; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id589D8B462EB5448B8F48C98F617FDD92">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the number of claims for benefits related to hearing loss from the Department that were denied.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA1A56E55700148A5BFDE98C8DED7954F">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>With respect to veterans who had a military occupational specialty not included on the MOS List—</text>
<clause id="id4FAFBCF2CE5D47A2A52A3A00C056FB41">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>the number of claims for benefits related to hearing loss from the Department that were granted;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5A711997025B45229F01E493575539E1">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text>the number of claims for benefits related to hearing loss from the Department that were denied;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id576C3AB14D264709AEBD17DC4C2B829A">
<enum>(iii)</enum>
<text>of the number of denied claims under clause (ii), the number of those claims that were appealed;
and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4FDCB647510C4F8C8D8A9306C37EBADC">
<enum>(iv)</enum>
<text>of the number of appealed claims under clause (iii), the number of those appealed claims that were
successfully appealed.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id165DA3B74A18407F85E01F9B95D5C48D">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>Additional matters</header>
<text>The Secretary shall include in the report required by subsection (a) the following:</text>
<paragraph id="idEABA4DF9760F4E3681D03483350E5478">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>In the case of a veteran with unilateral hearing loss, an explanation of the scientific basis for
the practice of the Department of determining a disability rating level
with respect to hearing based on an examination of that veteran's healthy
ear instead of the injured ear.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF5FD5C4DF6B74B61AFAAB91C73662BEE">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>An analysis of the reduction in earning capacity for veterans as a result of unilateral hearing
loss, with a focus on the ability of those veterans—</text>
<subparagraph id="idC6E3CC73CBBB4EAEBC772B9613499C94">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to detect the direction of sound; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id597D7CA8B24C4B3F88C7B0BBEE4737C1">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to understand speech.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id56F6958D9D144307A0DA3C3C9744F6AC">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>An explanation of the rationale for the practice of the Department of not issuing a compensable
rating for hearing loss at certain levels that are severe enough to
require the use of hearing aids.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2616891E407C46E5B3B57631F8A7B760">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>A survey of the audiologists that conduct compensation and pension examinations for the Department
to assess the implementation of the most recent edition of the best
practices manual for hearing loss and tinnitus examinations that includes
the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="idCA4FDBC5956243EDA3B5D1EB01AD195E">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>A description of the training received by those audiologists compared to the methods described in
the most recent edition of the best practices manual for hearing loss and
tinnitus examinations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC41A7C34F8144A428B0A1B37C075E3F2">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>An assessment of how those audiologists have complied with that training.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3D6F7AF474FD40A49BF9F76DF42C00ED">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>Whether those audiologists are using a range of tones up to 8000 hertz to test the hearing of
veterans.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id72E25EA2D787483FBB50113A3D773853">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Construction</header>
<text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or require the Secretary to defer, delay,
or replace the ongoing efforts of the Secretary to update the schedule of
ratings required by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/1155">section 1155</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id893D824873F74DA6AD9E7D04D6FA670A">
<enum>(e)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id93E5DB81C78842C5966FF867D5E9C1FE">
<enum>916.</enum>
<header>Report on joint programs of Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense with respect
to hearing loss of members of the Armed Forces and veterans</header>
<subsection id="id3029BB84291F473DB69E9574B527012B">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, submit to
Congress a report that identifies the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id52B4F4B52CC94D0B8AC6838ED5DC9BC8">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Goals for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense for the prevention,
early detection, and treatment of hearing loss by the National Center for
Rehabilitative Auditory Research of the Department of Veterans Affairs and
the Hearing Center of Excellence of the Department of Defense.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id92AEB0EA1F904B948ADFCE94AEF867EB">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs that could be made available to assist the
Department of Defense in conducting audiometric tests and tinnitus
screenings for members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id663F91A44E714EC896D328B0D4638AE1">
<enum>(3)</enum>
<text>Barriers to information being added to the Hearing Loss and Auditory System Injury Registry
required under section 721(c)(1) of the Duncan Hunter National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/110/417">Public Law 110–417</external-xref>; 122 Stat.
4506).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id70AABB1FA4DD48F9B335C088AD358D4C">
<enum>(4)</enum>
<text>Recommendations for any legislative or administrative actions necessary with respect to the Hearing
Loss and Auditory System Injury Registry—</text>
<subparagraph id="idFC23FDBAFDE54F67861BA357E5C43E2D">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>to assist in achieving the goals specified in paragraph (1);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id926236CAD9C7447284C6D3D0B45C4141">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>to improve the adjudication of claims for benefits with respect to hearing loss; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1B44CBE67906486BB9FB4CF0C6847F92">
<enum>(C)</enum>
<text>to further the research objectives of the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research of
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Hearing Center of Excellence of
the Department of Defense.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7FBA0290F1F343B39BF8020190764C7D">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Effective date</header>
<text>This section shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H4FE18B9740F8450A8B7C0DCC12854FE0">
<enum>917.</enum>
<header>Designation of American World War II Cities</header>
<subsection id="HF1F054C029D648AABB76D2859E190792">
<enum>(a)</enum>
<header>In general</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall designate at least one city in the United States each year
as an <term>American World War II City</term>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9FA41D0F6B91470FABFF68EB15D527D1">
<enum>(b)</enum>
<header>Criteria for designation</header>
<text>After the designation made under subsection (c), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary
of Defense, shall make each designation under subsection (a) based on the
following criteria:</text>
<paragraph id="HC1EEC67519E347BD89F66CDF581E150C">
<enum>(1)</enum>
<text>Contributions by a city to the war effort during World War II, including those related to defense
manufacturing, bond drives, service in the Armed Forces, and the presence
of military facilities within the city.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC6F5E0DD41B74201A382EF2C02ADDC34">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<text>Efforts by a city to preserve the history of the city’s contributions during World War II,
including through the establishment of preservation organizations or
museums, restoration of World War II facilities, and recognition of World
War II veterans.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC385463CEE0C4C279A31F97AF2B526C7">
<enum>(c)</enum>
<header>First American World War II City</header>
<text>The city of Wilmington, North Carolina, is designated as an <term>American World War II City</term>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3BE02D666CA04768984CF3562C3728AA">
<enum>(d)</enum>
<header>Expiration of authority</header>
<text>The requirements of subsections (a) and (b) shall terminate on the date that is five years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section>