[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4268 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                 Union Calendar No. 343
106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4268

                          [Report No. 106-628]

     To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase amounts of 
educational assistance for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill and to 
 enhance programs providing educational benefits under that title, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2000

Mr. Stump (for himself, Mr. Evans, Mr. Quinn, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, 
    Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Spence, Mr. Doyle, Mr. 
Everett, Ms. Carson, Mr. Buyer, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Snyder, Mr. 
Moran of Kansas, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Hayworth, Mrs. Chenoweth-Hage, Mr. 
   LaHood, Mr. Hansen, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. 
    Baker) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                              May 19, 2000

Additional sponsors: Mr. Ney, Mr. Camp, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. 
 Thompson of California, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Hill of Indiana, 
           Mr. Shows, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Cooksey, and Mr. Ortiz

                              May 19, 2000

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase amounts of 
educational assistance for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill and to 
 enhance programs providing educational benefits under that title, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, 
              UNITED STATES CODE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans and 
Dependents Millennium Education Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references to title 38, United 
                            States Code.
Sec. 2. Increase in rates of basic educational assistance under 
                            Montgomery GI Bill.
Sec. 3. Additional opportunity for certain VEAP participants to enroll 
                            in basic educational assistance under 
                            Montgomery GI Bill.
Sec. 4. Increase in rates of survivors and dependents educational 
                            assistance.
Sec. 5. Adjusted effective date for award of survivors' and dependents' 
                            educational assistance.
Sec. 6. Revision of educational assistance interval payment 
                            requirements.
Sec. 7. Availability of Montgomery GI Bill benefits for payment for 
                            licensing or certification tests.
Sec. 8. Extension of certain temporary authorities.
Sec. 9. Codification of recurring provisions in annual Department of 
                            Veterans Affairs appropriations Acts.
Sec. 10. Termination of certain reporting requirements.
    (c) 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.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER 
              MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

    (a) Active Duty Educational Assistance.--(1) Section 3015 is 
amended--
            (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$528'' and 
        inserting ``$720''; and
            (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$429'' and 
        inserting ``$585''.
    (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1, 2002, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance 
allowances paid for months after September 2002.
    (3) In the case of an educational assistance allowance paid for a 
month after September 2000, and before October 2002 under section 3015 
of such title--
            (A) subsection (a)(1) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$600'' for ``$528''; and
            (B) subsection (b)(1) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$487'' for ``$429''.
    (b) CPI Adjustment.--No adjustment in rates of educational 
assistance shall be made under section 3015(g) of title 38, United 
States Code, for fiscal years 2001 and 2003.

SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CERTAIN VEAP PARTICIPANTS TO ENROLL 
              IN BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

    (a) In General.--Section 3018C(a)(2) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) has continuously served on active duty since October 
        9, 1996 (excluding the periods referred to in section 
        3202(1)(C) of this title);''.
    (b) Enrollment Period.--Section 3018C(a)(5) is amended by striking 
``during the one-year period beginning on October 9, 1996,'' and 
inserting ``during the one-year period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act,''.
    (c) Payment Amount and Period.--Section 3018C(b) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), with respect to an individual 
who makes an election under subsection (a) to become entitled to basic 
education assistance under this chapter--
            ``(A) the basic pay of the individual shall be reduced (in 
        a manner determined by the Secretary concerned) until the total 
        amount by which such basic pay is reduced is $2,700; or
            ``(B) to the extent that basic pay is not so reduced before 
        the individual's discharge or release from active duty as 
        specified in subsection (a)(4), the Secretary concerned shall 
        collect from the individual, or reduce the retired or retainer 
        pay of the individual by, an amount equal to the difference 
        between $2,700 and the total amount of reductions under 
subparagraph (A), which shall be paid into the Treasury of the United 
States as miscellaneous receipts.
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary concerned shall provide for an 18-month 
period, beginning on the date the individual makes an election under 
subsection (a), for the individual to pay that Secretary the amount due 
under paragraph (1).
    ``(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed as modifying 
the period of eligibility for and entitlement to basic education 
assistance under this chapter applicable under section 3031 of this 
title.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to elections made under section 3018C of title 38, 
United States Code, during the one-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. INCREASE IN RATES OF SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance.--(1) Section 
3532 is amended--
            (A) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (i) by striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$720'';
                    (ii) by striking ``$365'' and inserting ``$540''; 
                and
                    (iii) by striking ``$242'' and inserting ``$360'';
            (B) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``$485'' and 
        inserting ``$720'';
            (C) in subsection (b), by striking ``$485'' and inserting 
        ``$720''; and
            (D) in subsection (c)(2)--
                    (i) by striking ``$392'' and inserting ``$582'';
                    (ii) by striking ``$294'' and inserting ``$436''; 
                and
                    (iii) by striking ``$196'' and inserting ``$291''.
    (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1, 2002, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance 
allowances paid for months after September 2002.
    (3) In the case of an educational assistance allowance paid for a 
month after September 2000 and before October 2002 under section 3532 
of such title--
            (A) subsection (a)(1) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting--
                    (i) ``$600'' for ``$485'';
                    (ii) ``$450'' for ``$365''; and
                    (iii) ``$300'' for ``$242'';
            (B) subsection (a)(2) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$600'' for ``$485'';
            (C) subsection (b) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting ``$600'' for ``$485''; and
            (D) subsection (c)(2) of such section shall be applied by 
        substituting--
                    (i) ``$485'' for ``$392'';
                    (ii) ``$364'' for ``$294''; and
                    (iii) ``$242'' for ``$196''.
    (b) Correspondence Course.--(1) Section 3534(b) is amended by 
striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$720''.
    (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1, 2002, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance 
allowances paid under section 3534(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
for months after September 2002.
    (3) In the case of an educational assistance allowance paid for a 
month after September 2000 and before October 2002 under section 3534 
of such title, subsection (b) of such section shall be applied by 
substituting ``$600'' for ``$485''.
    (c) Special Restorative Training.--(1) Section 3542(a) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``$485'' and inserting ``$720'';
            (B) by striking ``$152'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``$225''; and
            (C) by striking ``$16.16'' and inserting ``$24''.
    (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1, 2002, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance 
allowances paid under section 3542(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
for months after September 2002.
    (3) In the case of an educational assistance allowance paid for a 
month after September 2000 and before October 2002 under section 3542 
of such title, subsection (a) of such section shall be applied by 
substituting--
            (A) ``$600'' for ``$485'';
            (B) ``$188'' for ``$152''; and
            (C) ``$20'' for ``$16.16''.
    (d) Apprenticeship Training.--(1) Section 3687(b)(2) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``$353'' and inserting ``$524'';
            (B) by striking ``$264'' and inserting ``$392'';
            (C) by striking ``$175'' and inserting ``$260''; and
            (D) by striking ``$88'' and inserting ``$131''.
    (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1, 2002, and shall apply with respect to educational assistance 
allowances paid under section 3687(b)(2) of title 38, United States 
Code, for months after September 2002.
    (3) In the case of an educational assistance allowance paid for a 
month after September 2000 and before October 2002 under section 3687 
of such title, subsection (b)(2) of such section shall be applied by 
substituting--
            (A) ``$437'' for ``$353'';
            (B) ``$327'' for ``$264'';
            (C) ``$216'' for ``$175''; and
            (D) ``$109'' for ``$88''.
    (e) Provision for Annual Adjustments to Amounts of Assistance.--
            (1) Chapter 35.--(A) Subchapter VI of chapter 35 is amended 
        by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3564. Annual adjustment of amounts of educational assistance
    ``With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a 
percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates 
payable under sections 3532, 3534(b), and 3542(a) of this title equal 
to the percentage by which--
            ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
        city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
        preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
        increase is made, exceeds
            ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
        preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
            (B) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 35 is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3563 
        the following new item:

``3564. Annual adjustment of amounts of educational assistance.''.
            (2) Chapter 36.--(A) Section 3687 is amended by adding at 
        the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide 
a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates 
payable under subsection (b)(2) equal to the percentage by which--
            ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
        city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
        preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
        increase is made, exceeds
            ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
        preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 5. ADJUSTED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AWARD OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
              EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 5113 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``subsection (b) of this 
        section'' and inserting ``subsections (b) and (c)''; and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(b)(1) When determining the effective date of an award of 
survivors' and dependents' educational assistance under chapter 35 of 
this title for an individual described in paragraph (2) based on an 
original claim, the Secretary shall consider the individual's 
application (under section 3513 of this title) as having been filed on 
the effective date from which the Secretary, by rating decision, 
determines that the individual is entitled to such educational 
assistance (such entitlement being based on the total service-connected 
disability evaluated as permanent in nature, or the service-connected 
death, of the spouse or parent from whom the individual's eligibility 
is derived) if that date is more than one year before the date such 
rating decision is made.
    ``(2) An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is a person who is 
eligible for educational assistance under chapter 35 of this title by 
reason of subparagraph (A)(i), (A)(ii), (B), or (D) of section 
3501(a)(1) of this title who--
            ``(A) submits to the Secretary an original application 
        under such section 3513 for such educational assistance within 
        one year of the effective date of the rating decision referred 
        to in paragraph (1);
            ``(B) claims such educational assistance for an approved 
        program of education for months preceding the one-year period 
        ending on the date on which the individual's application under 
        such section was received by the Secretary; and
            ``(C) would have been entitled to such educational 
        assistance for such course pursuit for such months, without 
        regard to this subsection, if the individual had submitted such 
        an application on the effective date from which the Secretary 
        determined the individual was eligible for such educational 
        assistance.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to applications first made under section 3513 of title 38, United 
States Code, that--
            (1) are received on or after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act, or
            (2) on the date of the enactment of this Act, are pending 
        (A) with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or (B) exhaustion of 
        available administrative and judicial remedies.

SEC. 6. REVISION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE INTERVAL PAYMENT 
              REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Subclause (C) of the third sentence of section 
3680(a) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(C) during periods between school terms where the 
        educational institution certifies the enrollment of the 
        eligible veteran or eligible person on an individual term basis 
        if (i) the period between such terms does not exceed eight 
        weeks, and (ii) both the terms preceding and following the 
        period are not shorter in length than the period.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to payments of educational assistance under title 
38, United States Code, for months beginning on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 7. AVAILABILITY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS FOR PAYMENT FOR 
              LICENSING OR CERTIFICATION TESTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3452(b) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ``Such term also includes licensing or 
certification tests required for vocations or professions, such tests 
offered by a licensing and credentialing organization or entity 
approved by the Secretary pursuant to procedures established by the 
Secretary.''.
    (b) Amount of Payment.--Section 3032 of such title is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) The amount of educational assistance payable under this 
chapter for a licensing or certification test described in section 
3452(b) of this title is the fee charged for the test.''.
    (c) Regulations.--In promulgating regulations to establish 
procedures to approve licensing and credentialing organizations under 
section 3452(b) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consult with such organizations with 
demonstrated expertise in licensing and credentialing that the 
Secretary determines appropriate. The Secretary shall make a detailed 
summary of any consultation under the previous sentence part of the 
record of the regulation promulgated under this section.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2000, and apply with respect to licensing and 
certification tests approved by the Secretary offered on or after such 
date.

SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN TEMPORARY AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Enhanced Loan Asset Sale Authority.--Section 3720(h)(2) is 
amended by striking ``December 31, 2002'' and inserting ``December 31, 
2008''.
    (b) Home Loan Fees.--Section 3729(a) is amended--
            <DELETED>(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``October 1, 
        2002'' and inserting ``October 1, 2008''; and
        </DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (4)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``2002'' and inserting ``2008''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``2003'' and inserting ``2009''; 
                and
            (2) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking ``October 1, 2002'' 
        and inserting ``October 1, 2008''.
    (c) Procedures Applicable to Liquidation Sales on Defaulted Home 
Loans Guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.--Section 
3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2002'' and inserting 
``October 1, 2008''.
    (d) Income Verification Authority.--Section 5317(g) is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2002'' and inserting ``September 30, 2008''.
    (e) Limitation on Pension for Certain Recipients of Medicaid-
Covered Nursing Home Care.--Section 5503(f)(7) is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2002'' and inserting ``September 30, 2008''.

SEC. 9. CODIFICATION OF RECURRING PROVISIONS IN ANNUAL DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.

    (a) Codification of Recurring Provisions.--(1) Section 313 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Compensation and Pension.--Funds appropriated for 
Compensation and Pensions are available for the following purposes:
            ``(1) The payment of compensation benefits to or on behalf 
        of veterans as authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 13, 
        51, 53, 55, and 61 of this title.
            ``(2) Pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as 
        authorized by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of this title and 
        section 306 of the Veterans' and Survivors' Pension Improvement 
        Act of 1978.
            ``(3) The payment of benefits as authorized under chapter 
        18 of this title.
            ``(4) Burial benefits, emergency and other officers' 
        retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and certificates, 
        payments of premiums due on commercial life insurance policies 
        guaranteed under the provisions of article IV of the Soldiers' 
        and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (50 U.S.C. App. 540 et 
        seq.), and other benefits as authorized by sections 107, 1312, 
        1977, and 2106 and chapters 23, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of this 
        title and the World War Adjusted Compensation Act (43 Stat. 
        122, 123), the Act of May 24, 1928 (Public Law No. 506 of the 
        70th Congress; 45 Stat. 735), and Public Law 87-875 (76 Stat. 
        1198).
    ``(d) Medical Care.--Funds appropriated for Medical Care are 
available for the following purposes:
            ``(1) The maintenance and operation of hospitals, nursing 
        homes, and domiciliary facilities.
            ``(2) Furnishing, as authorized by law, inpatient and 
        outpatient care and treatment to beneficiaries of the 
        Department, including care and treatment in facilities not 
        under the jurisdiction of the Department.
            ``(3) Furnishing recreational facilities, supplies, and 
        equipment.
            ``(4) Funeral and burial expenses and other expenses 
        incidental to funeral and burial expenses for beneficiaries 
        receiving care from the Department.
            ``(5) Administrative expenses in support of planning, 
        design, project management, real property acquisition and 
        disposition, construction, and renovation of any facility under 
        the jurisdiction or for the use of the Department.
            ``(6) Oversight, engineering, and architectural activities 
        not charged to project cost.
            ``(7) Repairing, altering, improving, or providing 
        facilities in the medical facilities and homes under the 
        jurisdiction of the Department, not otherwise provided for, 
        either by contact or by the hire of temporary employees and 
        purchase of materials.
            ``(8) Uniforms or uniform allowances, as authorized by 
        sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5.
            ``(9) Aid to State homes, as authorized by section 1741 of 
        this title.
            ``(10) Administrative and legal expenses of the Department 
        for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as 
        authorized under chapter 17 of this title and Public Law 87-
        693, popularly known as the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.).
    ``(e) Medical Administration and Miscellaneous Operating 
Expenses.--Funds appropriated for Medical Administration and 
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses are available for the following 
purposes:
            ``(1) The administration of medical, hospital, nursing 
        home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research 
        activities authorized by law.
            ``(2) Administrative expenses in support of planning, 
        design, project management, architectural work, engineering, 
        real property acquisition and disposition, construction, and 
        renovation of any facility under the jurisdiction or for the 
        use of the Department, including site acquisition.
            ``(3) Engineering and architectural activities not charged 
        to project costs.
            ``(4) Research and development in building construction 
        technology.
    ``(f) General Operating Expenses.--Funds appropriated for General 
Operating Expenses are available for the following purposes:
            ``(1) Uniforms or allowances therefor.
            ``(2) Hire of passenger motor vehicles.
            ``(3) Reimbursement of the General Services Administration 
        for security guard services.
            ``(4) Reimbursement of the Department of Defense for the 
        cost of overseas employee mail.
            ``(5) Administration of the Service Members Occupational 
        Conversion and Training Act of 1992 (10 U.S.C. 1143 note).
    ``(g) Construction.--Funds appropriated for Construction, Major 
Projects, and for Construction, Minor Projects, are available, with 
respect to a project, for the following purposes:
            ``(1) Planning.
            ``(2) Architectural and engineering services.
            ``(3) Maintenance or guarantee period services costs 
        associated with equipment guarantees provided under the 
        project.
            ``(4) Services of claims analysts.
            ``(5) Offsite utility and storm drainage system 
        construction costs.
            ``(6) Site acquisition.
    ``(h) Construction, Minor Projects.--In addition to the purposes 
specified in subsection (g), funds appropriated for Construction, Minor 
Projects, are available for--
            ``(1) repairs to any of the nonmedical facilities under the 
        jurisdiction or for the use of the Department which are 
        necessary because of loss or damage caused by a natural 
        disaster or catastrophe; and
            ``(2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to 
        minimize further loss by such causes.''.
    (2)(A) Chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
``Sec. 116. Definition of cost of direct and guaranteed loans
    ``For the purpose of any provision of law appropriating funds to 
the Department for the cost of direct or guaranteed loans, the cost of 
any such loan, including the cost of modifying any such loan, shall be 
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 
U.S.C. 661a).''.
    (B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``116. Definition of cost of direct and guaranteed loans.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsections (c) through (h) of section 313 of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), and 
section 116 of such title, as added by subsection (a)(2), shall take 
effect with respect to funds appropriated for fiscal year 2002.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Inapplicability of Prior Reports Termination Provision to 
Certain Reports of the Department of Veterans Affairs.--Section 
3003(a)(1) of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 
(31 U.S.C. 1113 note) does not apply to any report required to be 
submitted under any of the following sections of title 38, United 
States Code: sections 503(c), 529, 541(c), 542(c), 3036, and 7312(d).
    (b) Repeal of Reporting Requirements Terminated by Prior Law.--
Sections 8111A(f) and 8201(h) are repealed.
    (c) Sunset of Certain Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Annual report on equitable relief cases.--Section 
        503(c) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        sentence: ``No report shall be required under this subsection 
        after December 31, 2004.''.
            (2) Biennial report of advisory committee on former 
        prisoners of war.--Section 541(c)(1) is amended by inserting 
        ``through 2003'' after ``each odd-numbered year''.
            (3) Biennial report of advisory committee on women 
        veterans.--Section 542(c)(1) is amended by inserting ``through 
        2003'' after ``each odd-numbered year''.
            (4) Biennial reports on montgomery gi bill.--Subsection (d) 
        of section 3036 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) No report shall be required under this section after January 
1, 2005.''.
            (5) Annual report of special medical advisory group.--
        Section 7312(d) is amended by adding at the end the following 
        new sentence: ``No report shall be required under this 
        subsection after December 31, 2004.''.
    (d) Cost Information To Be Provided With Each Report Required by 
Congress.--
            (1) In general.--(A) Chapter 1 is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new section:
``Sec. 117. Reports to Congress: cost information
    ``Whenever the Secretary submits to Congress, or any committee of 
Congress, a report that is required by law or by a joint explanatory 
statement of a committee of conference of the Congress, the Secretary 
shall include with the report--
            ``(1) a statement of the cost of preparing the report; and
            ``(2) a brief explanation of the methodology used in 
        preparing that cost statement.''.
            (B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
        is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``117. Reports to Congress: cost information.''.
            (2) Effective Date.--Section 117 of title 38, United States 
        Code, as added by paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall apply 
        with respect to any report submitted by the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs after the end of the 90-day period beginning 
        on the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 343

106th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4268

                          [Report No. 106-628]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

     To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase amounts of 
educational assistance for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill and to 
 enhance programs providing educational benefits under that title, and 
                          for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              May 19, 2000

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed