An Act To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Sept. 30, 2019

[H.R. 4285]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act

of 2019.

SECTION 1.

38 USC 101 note.

SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO VENDEE LOANS. Section 3733(a)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “September 30, 2019” and inserting “September 30, 2020”; and (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking “September 30, 2019,” and inserting “September 30, 2020,”.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “September 30, 2019” and inserting “September 30, 2020”.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING. Section 2044(e)(1)(G) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “fiscal year 2019” and inserting “each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021”.

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND ALLOWANCES FOR BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH VETERANS RECEIVING CARE FROM VET CENTERS. Section 104(a) of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–154; 126 Stat. 1169), as most recently amended by section 109 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–251; 132 Stat. 3169), is amended by striking “September 30, 2019” and inserting “September 30, 2020”.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:(1) In section 714(e)(2)(B), by striking “to the refer” and inserting “to refer”.131 STAT. 1118 (2) In section 1725A(c), by inserting a comma after “a contract”. (3) In section 3313(g)(3)(B)(ii), by inserting a comma after “for books”. (4) In section 3321(a)(1), by striking “January,” and inserting “January”. (5) In section 3683—(A) by striking “(b) (b)” and inserting “(b)”; (B) by striking “(c) (c)” and inserting “(c)”; and (C) by striking “(d) (d)” and inserting “(d)”. (6) In section 3699(b), by striking “this paragraph” and inserting “this subsection”. (7) In section 7462(b)(4)(A), by inserting “notice” after “written”. (8) In section 7696(c)(1), by striking “).” and inserting a period. (9) In section 8104(a), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraph (3):“(3)

Definitions.

For purposes of this subsection:“(A) The term ‘major medical facility project’ means a project for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $20,000,000, but such term does not include an acquisition by exchange, nonrecurring maintenance projects of the Department, or the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a shared Federal medical facility for which the Department’s estimated share of the project costs does not exceed $20,000,000. “(B) The term ‘major medical facility lease’ means a lease for space for use as a new medical facility at an average annual rent of more than $1,000,000.” .

Approved September 30, 2019.