[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2297 Engrossed in House (EH)]
1st Session
H. R. 2297
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2297
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Benefits
Act of 2003''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Expansion of Montgomery GI Bill education benefits for certain
self-employment training.
Sec. 3. Extension in period of eligibility for survivors' and
dependents' education benefits for
individuals who are involuntarily ordered
to full-time National Guard duty.
Sec. 4. Extension of Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education.
Sec. 5. Repeal of provisions relating to obsolete education loan
program.
Sec. 6. Retention of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for
surviving spouses remarrying after age 55.
Sec. 7. Eligibility of surviving spouses who remarry for burial in
national cemeteries.
Sec. 8. Permanent authority for State cemetery grants.
Sec. 9. Reinstatement of veterans vocational training program for
certain pension recipients.
Sec. 10. Increase in amounts for certain adaptive benefits for disabled
veterans.
Sec. 11. Presumptions of service-connection relating to diseases and
disabilities of former prisoners of war.
Sec. 12. Extension of spina bifida benefits for children of Vietnam-era
veterans.
Sec. 13. Permanent authority for housing loans for members of the
Selected Reserve.
Sec. 14. Adjustment to home loan fees and uniformity of fees for
qualifying Reserve members with fees for
active duty veterans.
Sec. 15. Reinstatement of minimum requirements for sale of vendee
loans.
Sec. 16. Rate of payment of benefits for certain Filipino veterans and
their survivors residing in the United
States.
Sec. 17. Burial benefits for new Philippine scouts residing in the
United States.
Sec. 18. Extension of authority to maintain regional office in the
Republic of the Philippines.
Sec. 19. Outstationing of transition assistance program personnel.
Sec. 20. Forfeiture of benefits for subversive activities.
Sec. 21. Technical amendments related to Jobs for Veterans Act.
Sec. 22. Technical and conforming relating to establishment of Social
Security Administration as an independent
agency.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN
SELF-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.
(a) Definition of Training Establishment.--Section 3452(e) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``means any'' and
all that follows and inserting ``means any of the following:
``(1) An establishment providing apprentice or other
training on the job, including those under the supervision of a
college or university or any State department of education.
``(2) An establishment providing self-employment on-job
training consisting of full-time training for a period of less
than six months that is needed or accepted for purposes of
obtaining licensure to engage in a self-employment occupation
or required for ownership and operation of a franchise that is
the objective of the training.
``(3) A State board of vocational education.
``(4) A Federal or State apprenticeship registration
agency.
``(5) A joint apprenticeship committee established pursuant
to the Act of August 16, 1937, popularly known as the `National
Apprenticeship Act' (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
``(6) An agency of the Federal Government authorized to
supervise such training.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date that is six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act and shall apply to self-employment on-job
training approved and pursued on or after that date.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION IN PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVORS' AND
DEPENDENTS' EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
INVOLUNTARILY ORDERED TO FULL-TIME NATIONAL GUARD DUTY.
(a) In General.--Section 3512(h) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ``or is involuntarily ordered to full-time
National Guard duty under section 502(f) of title 32,'' after ``title
10,''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect as of September 11, 2001.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF VETERANS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
(a) Extension.--Subsection (c) of section 3692 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 2003'' and inserting
``December 31, 2009''.
(b) Modification of Membership Requirements.--The second sentence
of subsection (a) of such section is amended by striking ``World War
II, the Korean conflict era, the post-Korean conflict era,''.
(c) Technical Amendment.--Such section is further amended by
striking ``chapter 106'' each place it appears and inserting ``chapter
1606''.
SEC. 5. REPEAL OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO OBSOLETE EDUCATION LOAN
PROGRAM.
(a) Termination of Program.--Subchapter III of chapter 36 of title
38, United States Code, is repealed.
(b) Transfer of Loan Fund Balance.--Any balance as of the date of
the enactment of this Act in the Department of Veterans Affairs
Education Loan Fund shall be transferred to the Department of Veterans
Affairs Readjustment Benefits Account.
(c) Discharge of Liability.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall discharge any outstanding liability of a veteran under such
subchapter. Any overpayment declared under section 3698(e)(1) of that
subchapter shall be waived without further process on the date on which
funds are transferred under subsection (b).
(d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 36 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to
subchapter III and sections 3698 and 3699.
(e) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3462(a) of such title is
amended by striking paragraph (2).
(2) Section 3485(e)(1) of such title by striking ``(other than an
education loan under subchapter III)''.
(3) Section 3512 of such title is amended by striking subsection
(f).
SEC. 6. RETENTION OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR
SURVIVING SPOUSES REMARRYING AFTER AGE 55.
(a) Exception to Termination of Benefits Upon Remarriage.--Section
103(d)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting
``1311 or'' after ``under section''.
(b) Coordination of Benefits.--Section 1311 of such title is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) In the case of an individual who is eligible for dependency
and indemnity compensation under this section by reason of section
103(d)(2)(B) of this title who is also eligible for benefits under
another provision of law by reason of such individual's status as the
surviving spouse of a veteran, then, notwithstanding any other
provision of law (other than section 5304(b)3 of this title), no
reduction in benefits under such other provision of law shall be made
by reason of such individual's eligibility for benefits under this
section.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall take effect on--
(1) the first day of the first month that begins after the
date of the enactment of this Act; or
(2) the first day of the fiscal year that begins in the
calendar year in which this Act is enacted, if later than the
date specified in paragraph (1).
(d) Retroactive Benefits Prohibited.--No benefit may be paid to any
person by reason of the amendment made by subsections (a) and (b) for
any period before the effective date specified in subsection (c).
(e) Application for Benefits.--In the case of an individual who but
for having remarried would be eligible for dependency and indemnity
compensation under section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, and
whose remarriage was before the date of the enactment of this Act and
after the individual had attained age 55, the individual shall be
eligible for such compensation by reason of the amendment made by
subsection (a) only if the individual submits an application for such
compensation to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs not later than the
end of the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(f) Technical Correction.--Section 101(b) of the Veterans Benefits
Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-330; 116 Stat. 2821; 38 U.S.C. 103 note) is
amended by striking ``during the 1-year period'' and all that follows
through ``(c)'' and inserting ``before the end of the one-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of
2003''.
SEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY OF SURVIVING SPOUSES WHO REMARRY FOR BURIAL IN
NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
(a) Eligibility.--Section 2402(5) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by striking ``(which for purposes of this chapter includes
an unremarried surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage which
was terminated by death or divorce)'' and inserting ``(which for
purposes of this chapter includes a surviving spouse who had a
subsequent remarriage)''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2000.
SEC. 8. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR STATE CEMETERY GRANTS.
Paragraph (2) of section 2408(a) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by striking ``for fiscal year 1999 and for each
succeeding fiscal year through fiscal year 2004''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sentence:
``Funds appropriated under the preceding sentence shall remain
available until expended.''.
SEC. 9. REINSTATEMENT OF VETERANS VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR
CERTAIN PENSION RECIPIENTS.
(a) Establishment of New Program Period.--Subsection (a)(3) of
section 1524 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking
``the period beginning on February 1, 1985, and ending on December 31,
1995'' and inserting ``the five-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b)(4) of such section is
amended by striking ``December 31, 1995'' and inserting ``the end of
the program period''.
(c) Outreach.--Such section is further amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(f) The Secretary shall ensure that the availability of
vocational training under this section is made known through a variety
of means, including the Internet and announcements in Department
publications and other veterans' publications.''.
(d) Reports.--Such section, as amended by subsection (c), is
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of
the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, and each year thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report on the operation of this
section. The report shall set forth an evaluation of the vocational
training provided under this section for the period involved, and shall
include an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the vocational
training provided under this section as well as data on the entered-
employment rate of veterans pursuing such vocational training.''.
(e) Stylistic Amendments.--Such section is further amended--
(1) by striking ``of Veterans Affairs'' in subsection
(a)(1); and
(2) by striking ``of this section'' in subsections (a)(2),
(b)(1), (b)(4) (both places it appears), (c), (d), and (e).
SEC. 10. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS FOR CERTAIN ADAPTIVE BENEFITS FOR DISABLED
VETERANS.
(a) Increase in Assistance Amount for Specially Adapted Housing.--
Section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection
(a), by striking ``$48,000'' and inserting ``$50,000''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``$9,250'' and
inserting ``$10,000''.
(b) Increase in Amount of Assistance for Automobile and Adaptive
Equipment for Certain Disabled Veterans.--Section 3902(a) of such title
is amended by striking ``$9,000'' and inserting ``$11,000''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall apply with respect to assistance furnished on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 11. PRESUMPTIONS OF SERVICE-CONNECTION RELATING TO DISEASES AND
DISABILITIES OF FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR.
Subsection (b) of section 1112 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``(b)(1) For the purposes of section 1110 of this title and subject
to the provisions of section 1113 of this title, in the case of a
veteran who is a former prisoner of war--
``(A) a disease specified in paragraph (2) shall be
considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by such
service, notwithstanding that there is no record of such
disease during the period of service; and
``(B) if the veteran was detained or interned as a prisoner
of war for not less than thirty days, a disease specified in
paragraph (3) which became manifest to a degree of 10 percent
or more after active military, naval, or air service shall be
considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by such
service, notwithstanding that there is no record of such
disease during the period of service.
``(2) The diseases specified in this paragraph are the following:
``(A) Psychosis.
``(B) Any of the anxiety states.
``(C) Dysthymic disorder (or depressive neurosis).
``(D) Organic residuals of frostbite, if the Secretary
determines that the veteran was interned in climatic conditions
consistent with the occurrence of frostbite.
``(E) Post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
``(3) The diseases specified in this paragraph are the following:
``(A) Avitaminosis.
``(B) Beriberi (including beriberi heart disease).
``(C) Chronic dysentery.
``(D) Helminthiasis.
``(E) Malnutrition (including optic atrophy associated with
malnutrition).
``(F) Pellagra.
``(G) Any other nutritional deficiency.
``(H) Cirrhosis of the liver.
``(I) Peripheral neuropathy except where directly related
to infectious causes.
``(J) Irritable bowel syndrome.
``(K) Peptic ulcer disease.''.
SEC. 12. EXTENSION OF SPINA BIFIDA BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM-ERA
VETERANS.
(a) Eligible Children.--Subchapter I of chapter 18 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting before section 1802 the
following new section:
``Sec. 1801. Persons eligible for benefits
``An individual is an eligible child for purposes of this
subchapter if the individual is suffering from spina bifida and is--
``(1) a child as defined in section 1821(1) of this title;
or
``(2) the natural child, regardless of age or marital
status, of a parent who during the period beginning on October
1 1967, and ending on May 7 1975, performed active military,
naval, or air service in the Republic of Korea in the area
between the south line of the Demilitarized Zone and a line
five miles south of the Civilian Control Line established with
respect to the Demilitarized Zone, but only if the individual
was conceived after the parent performed such service.''.
(b) Health Care.--Section 1803(a) of such title is amended by
striking ``a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina
bifida'' and inserting ``an eligible child''.
(c) Vocational Training and Rehabilitation.--Section 1804(a) of
such title is amended by striking ``a child of a Vietnam veteran who is
suffering from spina bifida'' and inserting ``an eligible child''.
(d) Monetary Allowance.--Section 1805(a) of such title is amended
by striking ``any child of a Vietnam veteran'' and inserting ``any
eligible child''.
(e) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 18 of such title is amended as
follows:
(1) The heading of the chapter is amended to read as
follows:
``CHAPTER 18--DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS AND
OTHER VETERANS EXPOSED TO HERBICIDE AGENTS''.
(2) The heading of subchapter I is amended to read as
follows:
``SUBCHAPTER I--CHILDREN BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA''.
(3) The table of sections at the beginning of the chapter
is amended--
(A) by striking the item relating to subchapter I
and inserting the following:
``subchapter i--children born with spina bifida'';
and
(B) by inserting before the item relating to
section 1802 the following new item:
``1801. Persons eligible for benefits.''.
(f) Tables of Chapters.--The items relating to chapter 18 in the
tables of chapters at the beginning of title 38, United States Code,
and at the beginning of part II of such title, are amended to read as
follows:
``18. Disability Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans 1801''.
and Other Veterans Exposed to
Herbicide Agents.
SEC. 13. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR HOUSING LOANS FOR MEMBERS OF THE
SELECTED RESERVE.
Section 3702(a)(2)(E) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``For the period'' and all that follows through ``each''
and inserting ``Each''.
SEC. 14. ADJUSTMENT TO HOME LOAN FEES AND UNIFORMITY OF FEES FOR
QUALIFYING RESERVE MEMBERS WITH FEES FOR ACTIVE DUTY
VETERANS.
(a) Revised Load Fee Table.--Paragraph (2) of section 3729(b) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(2) The loan fee table referred to in paragraph (1) is as
follows:
``LOAN FEE TABLE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of loan Veteran Other obligor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(i) Initial loan described in 2.00 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 0-down,
or any other initial loan described
in section 3710(a) other than with
5-down or 10-down (closed before
October 1, 2003)...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(ii) Initial loan described in 2.15 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 0-down,
or any other initial loan described
in section 3710(a) other than with
5-down or 10-down (closed on or
after October 1, 2003, and before
October 1, 2011)...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(iii) Initial loan described in 1.40 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 0-down,
or any other initial loan described
in section 3710(a) other than with
5-down or 10-down (closed on or
after October 1, 2011).............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in 3.30 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 0-down,
or any other subsequent loan
described in section 3710(a)
(closed before October 1, 2011)....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in 2.15 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 0-down,
or any other subsequent loan
described in section 3710(a)
(closed on or after October 1, 2011
and before October 1, 2013)........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described 1.25 NA
in section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 0-down,
or any other subsequent loan
described in section 3710(a)
(closed on or after October 1,
2013)..............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(i) Loan described in section 1.50 NA
3710(a) to purchase or construct a
dwelling with 5-down (closed before
October 1, 2011)...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C)(ii) Loan described in section 0.75 NA
3710(a) to purchase or construct a
dwelling with 5-down (closed on or
after October 1, 2011).............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(i) Initial loan described in 1.25 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 10-down
(closed before October 1, 2011)....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D)(ii) Initial loan described in 0.50 NA
section 3710(a) to purchase or
construct a dwelling with 10-down
(closed on or after October 1,
2011)..............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E) Interest rate reduction 0.50 NA
refinancing loan...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(F) Direct loan under section 3711.. 1.00 NA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(G) Manufactured home loan under 1.00 NA
section 3712 (other than an
interest rate reduction refinancing
loan)..............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(H) Loan to Native American veteran 1.25 NA
under section 3762 (other than an
interest rate reduction refinancing
loan)..............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I) Loan assumption under section 0.50 0.50
3714...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(J) Loan under section 3733(a)...... 2.25 2.25
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(K) Hybrid loan under section 3707A. 1.25 NA''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4)
of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(A) The term `veteran' means any veteran eligible for the
benefits of this chapter.''.
(2) Such paragraph is further amended by striking subparagraph (B)
and redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I)
as subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively.
SEC. 15. REINSTATEMENT OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SALE OF VENDEE
LOANS.
(a) Reinstatement.--Subsection (a) of section 3733 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2).
(b) Increase in Maximum Percentage.--Paragraph (1) of such
subsection is amended--
(1) by striking ``65 percent'' in the first sentence and
inserting ``85 percent'';
(2) by striking ``may be financed'' and inserting ``shall
be financed''; and
(3) by striking the second sentence.
(c) Stylistic Amendments.--Such section is further amended--
(1) by striking ``of this subsection'' after--
(A) ``paragraph (1)'' in subsections (a)(4)(A),
(a)(5), (a)(6), and (c)(2); and
(B) ``paragraph (5)'' in subsection (a)(4)(B)(i);
and
(2) by striking ``of this paragraph'' each place it appears
in subsection (a)(4).
SEC. 16. RATE OF PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS AND
THEIR SURVIVORS RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Rate of Payment.--Section 107 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in the second sentence of subsection (b), by striking
``Payments'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subsection
(c), payments''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by inserting ``and subchapter II of chapter 13
(except section 1312(a)) of this title'' after
``chapter 11 of this title'';
(B) by striking ``in subsection (a)'' and inserting
``in subsection (a) or (b)''; and
(C) by striking ``of subsection (a)'' and inserting
``of the applicable subsection''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply to benefits paid for months beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 17. BURIAL BENEFITS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE SCOUTS RESIDING IN THE
UNITED STATES.
(a) Benefit Eligibility.--Section 107 of title 38, United States
Code, as amended by section 16, is further amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) by striking ``and'' and inserting a comma; and
(B) by inserting ``, 23, and 24 (to the extent
provided for in section 2402(8))'' after ``(except
section 1312(a))'';
(2) in the second sentence of subsection (b), as amended by
section 16(a)(1), by inserting ``or (d)'' after ``subsection
(c)'';
(3) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``or (b), as
otherwise applicable,'' after ``subsection (a)''; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``or whose service
is described in subsection (b) and who dies after the date of
the enactment of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003,'' after
``November 1, 2000,''.
(b) National Cemetery Interment.--Section 2402(8) of such title is
amended by striking ``section 107(a)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)
or (b) of section 107''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall apply with respect to deaths occurring after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 18. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``December 31, 2003'' and inserting ``December 31, 2009''.
SEC. 19. OUTSTATIONING OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--(1) Chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 4113. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel
``(a) Stationing of TAP Personnel at Overseas Military
Installations.--(1) The Secretary--
``(A) shall station employees of the Veterans' Employment
and Training Service, or contractors under subsection (c), at
each veterans assistance office described in paragraph (2); and
``(B) may station such employees or contractors at such
other military installations outside the United States as the
Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense,
determines to be appropriate or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.
``(2) Veterans assistance offices referred to in paragraph (1)(A)
are those offices that are established by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs on military installations pursuant to the second sentence of
section 7723(a) of this title.
``(b) Functions.--Employees (or contractors) stationed at military
installations pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide, in person,
counseling, assistance in identifying employment and training
opportunities, help in obtaining such employment and training, and
other related information and services to members of the Armed Forces
who are being separated from active duty, and the spouses of such
members, under the Transition Assistance Program and Disabled
Transition Assistance Program established in section 1144 of title 10.
``(c) Authority to Contract With Private Entities.--The Secretary,
consistent with such section 1144, may enter into contracts with public
or private entities to provide, in person, some or all of the
counseling, assistance, information and services under the Transition
Assistance Program required under subsection (a).''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``4113. Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel.''.
(b) Deadline for Implementation.--Not later than the date that is
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Labor shall implement section 4113 of title 38, United States Code, as
added by subsection (a), and shall have employees of the Veterans'
Employment and Training Service, or contractors, to carry out that
section at the military installations involved by such date.
SEC. 20. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS FOR SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES.
(a) Addition of Certain Offenses.--Paragraph (2) of section 6105(b)
of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``175, 229,'' after ``sections''; and
(2) by inserting ``831, 1091, 2332a, 2332b,'' after
``798,''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply to claims filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 21. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS RELATED TO JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT.
(a) Job Training and Placement Functions of the Department of
Labor.--(1) Subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii) of section 4102A of such title is
amended by striking ``October 1, 2002'' and inserting ``October 1,
2003''.
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if
included in the enactment of section 4(a) of the Jobs for Veterans Act
(Public Law 107-288; 116 Stat. 2038).
(b) Other Technical Amendments.--(1) Such subsection is further
amended by striking ``, as amended by the Jobs for Veterans Act''.
(2) Subsection (f)(1) of such section is amended by striking ``6
months after the date of the enactment of this section,'' and inserting
``May 7, 2003,''.
SEC. 22. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING RELATING TO ESTABLISHMENT OF SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY.
Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
(1) Section 1322 is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``Secretary of
Health and Human Services'' and all that follows
through the period and inserting ``Commissioner of
Social Security, and shall be certified by the
Commissioner to the Secretary upon request of the
Secretary.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking ``Secretary of Health and
Human Services'' in the first sentence and
inserting ``Commissioner of Social Security'';
(ii) by striking ``the two Secretaries''
and inserting ``the Secretary and the
Commissioner''; and
(iii) by striking ``Secretary of Health and
Human Services'' in the second sentence and
inserting ``Commissioner''.
(2) Section 5101(a) is amended by striking ``Secretary of
Health and Human Services'' and inserting ``Commissioner of
Social Security''.
(3) Section 5317 is amended by striking ``Secretary of
Health and Human Services'' in subsections (a), (b), and (g)
and inserting ``Commissioner of Social Security''.
(4)(A) Section 5318 is amended--
(i) in subsection (a), by striking ``Department of
Health and Human Services'' and inserting ``Social
Security Administration''; and
(ii) in subsection (b)--
(I) by striking ``Department of Health and
Human Services'' and inserting ``Social
Security Administration'';
(II) by striking ``Secretary of Health and
Human Services'' the first place it appears and
inserting ``Commissioner of Social Security'';
(III) by striking ``Secretary of Health and
Human Services'' the second place it appears
and inserting ``Commissioner''; and
(IV) by striking ``such Secretaries'' and
inserting ``the Secretary and the
Commissioner''.
(B)(i) The heading of such section is amended to read as
follows:
``Sec. 5318. Review of Social Security Administration death
information''.
(ii) The item relating to that section in the table of
sections at the beginning at chapter 53 is amended to read as
follows:
``5318. Review of Social Security Administration death information.''.
Passed the House of Representatives October 8, 2003.
Attest:
Clerk.