Expansion of availability of Department of Veterans Affairs temporary lodging to certain individuals

Section 1708 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—(1)by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a)The Secretary may furnish persons described in subsection (b) with temporary lodging in a Fisher house or other appropriate facility in accordance with this section.

;

(2)in subsection (b)—(A)by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:

(2)A member of the family of a veteran described in paragraph (1) and others who accompany such veteran and provide the equivalent of familial support for such veteran.

; and

(B)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(3)On a space-available basis—(A)an eligible individual who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services at a Department facility or non-Department facility; and(B)a member of the family of an eligible individual described in subparagraph (A) and others who accompany such eligible individual and provide the equivalent of familial support for such eligible individual during the receipt of care or services described in such subparagraph.(4)On a space-available basis—(A)a member of the family of a veteran who must travel a significant distance for such family member to receive care or services at a Department facility or non-Department facility; and(B)the veteran and others who accompany such family member and provide the equivalent of familial support for such family member during the receipt of care or services described in such subparagraph.(5)On a space-available basis—(A)a member of the family of an eligible individual who must travel a significant distance for such family member to receive care or services at a Department facility or non-Department facility; and(B)the eligible individual and others who accompany such family member and provide the equivalent of familial support for such family member during the receipt of care or services described in such subparagraph.

;

(3)by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively;(4)in subsection (d), as so redesignated—(A)in paragraph (2), by striking subsection (d) and inserting subsection (c);(B)in paragraph (3), by striking a veteran under subsection (b)(2) and inserting an individual under subsection (b);(C)in paragraph (4), by striking and after the semicolon;(D)by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and(E)by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):

(5)establishing criteria for providing access to temporary lodging facilities on a space-available basis under paragraphs (3) through (5) of subsection (b); and

; and

(5)by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)In this section:(1)The term eligible individual means a member of the Armed Forces, regardless of duty status, or any individual on active duty.(2)The term Fisher house means a housing facility that—(A)is located at, or in proximity to, a Department medical facility;(B)is available for residential use on a temporary basis by patients of that facility and others described in subsection (b); and(C)is constructed by, and donated to the Secretary by, the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Armed Services Foundation or the Fisher House Foundation, Inc.