[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 714 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 714
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To extend and improve the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Pilot
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to extend certain
authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to services
for homeless veterans, to extend certain other authorities of the
Secretary, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING
LOAN PROGRAM.
(a) Extension.--Section 3761(c) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking out ``September 30, 1997'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ``December 31, 2003''.
(b) Outreach.--Section 3762(i) of such title is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(i)'';
(2) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
(A) by inserting ``, in consultation with tribal
organizations (including the National Congress of
American Indians and the National American Indian
Housing Council),'' after ``The Secretary shall''; and
(B) by striking out ``tribal organizations and'';
and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Activities under the outreach program shall include the
following:
``(A) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by
the National Congress of American Indians in order to work with
the National Congress in providing information and training to
tribal organizations and Native American veterans regarding the
availability of housing benefits under the pilot program and in
assisting such organizations and veterans in participating in
the pilot program.
``(B) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by
the National American Indian Housing Council in order to work
with the Housing Council in providing information and training
to tribal organizations and tribal housing entities regarding
the availability of such benefits.
``(C) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by
the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in order to work with the
Department of Hawaiian Homelands in providing information and
training to tribal housing entities in Hawaii regarding the
availability of such benefits.
``(D) Producing and disseminating information to tribal
governments, tribal veterans service organizations, and tribal
organizations regarding the availability of such benefits.
``(E) Assisting tribal organizations and Native American
veterans in participating in the pilot program.''.
(c) Annual Reports.--Section 3762 of such title is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Not later than February 1 of each of 1998 through 2003, the
Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report relating to--
``(1) the implementation of the pilot program under this
subchapter during the fiscal year preceding the date of the
report;
``(2) the Secretary's exercise during such fiscal year of
the authority provided under subsection (c)(1)(B) to make loans
exceeding the maximum loan amount;
``(3) the appraisals performed for the Secretary during
such fiscal year under the authority of subsection (d)(2),
including a description of--
``(A) the manner in which such appraisals were
performed;
``(B) the qualifications of the appraisers who
performed such appraisals; and
``(C) the actions taken by the Secretary with
respect to such appraisals to protect the interests of
veterans and the United States;
``(4) the outreach activities undertaken under subsection
(i) during such fiscal year, including--
``(A) a description of such activities on a region-
by-region basis; and
``(B) an assessment of the effectiveness of such
activities in encouraging the participation of Native
American veterans in the pilot program;
``(5) the pool of Native American veterans who are eligible
for participation in the pilot program, including--
``(A) a description and analysis of the pool; and
``(B) a description and assessment of the
impediments, if any, to full participation in the pilot
program of the Native American veterans in the pool;
and
``(6) the Secretary's recommendations, if any, for
additional legislation regarding the pilot program.''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Dependence.--Section 1720A(e) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking out ``December 31,
1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
(b) Agreements for Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans.--
Section 3735(c) of such title is amended by striking out ``December 31,
1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
(c) Authority for Community-Based Residential Care for Homeless
Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans and Other Veterans.--Section 115(d)
of the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 (38 U.S.C. 1712
note) is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1998'' and inserting in
lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
(d) Demonstration Program of Compensated Work Therapy.--Section
7(a) of Public Law 102-54 (38 U.S.C. 1718 note) is amended by striking
out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31,
1999''.
(e) Services and Assistance to Homeless Veterans.--The Homeless
Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721
note) is amended--
(1) in section 2(a), by striking out ``September 30, 1997''
and inserting in lieu thereof ``September 30, 1999'';
(2) in section 3(a)(2), by striking out ``September 30,
1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``September 30, 1999'';
and
(3) in section 12, by striking out ``through 1997'' and
inserting in lieu thereof ``through 1999''.
(f) Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Projects.--(1) Section
738(e)(1) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11448(e)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.''.
(2) Section 741 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11450) is amended by
striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof
``December 31, 1999''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF ENHANCED-USE LEASE AUTHORITY.
(a) Expansion.--Section 8168(a) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking out ``20'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``40''.
(b) Extension.--Section 8169 of such title is amended by striking
out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31,
1999''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN OTHER AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Pilot Program for Noninstitutional Alternatives to Nursing Home
Care.--Section 1720C(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in lieu thereof
``December 31, 1999''.
(b) Health Professional Scholarship Program.--Section 7618 of such
title is amended by striking out ``December 31, 1997'' and inserting in
lieu thereof ``December 31, 1999''.
Passed the Senate November 5, 1997.
Attest:
Secretary.
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 714
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To extend and improve the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Pilot
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to extend certain
authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to services
for homeless veterans, to extend certain other authorities of the
Secretary, and for other purposes.