109 HR 1982 IH: Welcome Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-04-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Welcome Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents
Title I—Improvements in Education and Housing Benefits
Sec. 101. Montgomery G.I. Bill improvements
Sec. 102. Improved education benefits for reserve component members supporting contingency operations and certain other operations
Sec. 103. Increase in Home Purchase Benefits
Title II—Improvement in Health Benefits
Sec. 201. Extension of transitional health care for certain uninsured veterans
Sec. 202. Clarification of predeployment and postdeployment medical exams
<enum>I</enum><header>Improvements in Education and Housing Benefits</header>
<section id="H52E925F37940476AAB756F7625AE9604"><enum>101.</enum><header>Montgomery G.I. Bill improvements</header>
<subsection id="H05EFC4553FC84CFFA28100B6B7E0E7DF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Increase in benefits and extension of duration of educational assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/3015">Section 3015</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HFA9D6570DF4944499FC5A47E1C08A874"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC185E929525F477383389697C6A45CAB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection (h):</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="H1B5F619BF8334794A1BA18A6153FC6BC" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="HE59EDA387A4A4B65BA8E92957269A1DD"><enum>(h)</enum>
<paragraph id="H9B2BE2D4FC394AC990F9D6E79C7EECF4" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The amount of basic educational allowance payable under this chapter to an individual referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection is equal to 150 percent of the amount determined under subsection (a) or (b), as the case may be.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA1DD7EABEFDB4DCAAFB33D04E79E00C6" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph id="H95217D56AD8F47169037DCAA29E513B9" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies to an individual entitled to an educational assistance allowance under section 3011 or 3012 of this title who, during the period described in paragraph (5), serves on active duty outside the United States or its territories or possessions as part of a contingency operation (including a humanitarian operation, peacekeeping operation, or similar operation) or combat operation for a period of at least 6 consecutive months is entitled to increased basic educational assistance under this section.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE6862C8344DA4438935614E2F2538BB5" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The requirement of 6 consecutive months of service under paragraph (1) is not applicable to an individual who is discharged or released, during such 6 months, from active duty in the Armed Forces—</text>
<clause id="HAFE6C456319849C1A2EA87F322811730"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for a service-connected disability,</text></clause>
<clause id="H1F97C84B2A1D48D98250C1921BD48184"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for a medical condition which preexisted such service on active duty and which the Secretary determines is not service connected,</text></clause>
<clause id="H1F44BB4B82C54DD984E3907B00EA51FE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>for hardship,</text></clause>
<clause id="H809896277AD24611985F817DF91C9FC5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in the case of an individual discharged or released after 5 months of such service, for the convenience of the Government,</text></clause>
<clause id="H4423459DBD2F41089720F47BF15D3F9D"><enum>(v)</enum><text>involuntarily for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, or</text></clause>
<clause id="HD182FB0FB4A74F179EA70059153D80F5"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>for a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability, as described in section 3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of this title.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7A70FB3AE0344FC4923CB6F6A5A54D4D" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary of Defense shall refund to each individual referred to in paragraph (2) all amounts reduced from the basic pay of, or collected by the Secretary from, the individual under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as the case may be.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H66B637AB6243452D8921001901A7F07E" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph id="HB01A8D33F2F7410D004B316FD33E4EAC" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon completion of an approved course of education, an individual referred to paragraph (2) may apply amounts of increased basic educational assistance otherwise available to the individual under this section to repay some or all of any Federal student loan balance owed by the individual.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HAE20B1F0F2544027AA82FA3B2414486C" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In no event shall payment of basic educational assistance under this paragraph exceed the amount of the individual’s available entitlement under this chapter.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB50F6CB3AEED47E8835701D8062B70E5" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The period referred to in paragraph (2)(A) is the period which begins on September 11, 2001, and ends on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of the Welcome Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005.</text></paragraph> </subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC560ADF2C07A4668BB50D0071539973" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsections (a)(1)(D) and (b)(1)(D), by striking <quote>under subsection (h)</quote> and and inserting <quote>under subsection (i)</quote>.</text></paragraph> </subsection>
<subsection id="H437F6CF4656E430EB2B24D2D1DBA7D40"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duration of payments</header><text>Section 3013 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="H752A22797DD8457285811963B605CCF2" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="H8D51F451828D46EFB06CC9B477C32397"><enum>(g)</enum><text>In the case of an individual referred to in section 3015(h)(2) of this title, the preceding provisions of this section shall be applied by substituting <quote>48</quote> for <quote>36</quote> each place it appears.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection id="H362076CF835F4FE0A2C8CB116E3802C0" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming Amendments</header>
<paragraph id="HC9824501DFAE467897C144D21346D426" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (b)(2)(B) of section 3014 of such title is amended by inserting <quote>(or 48 in the case of an individual referred to in section 3015(h)(2) of this title)</quote> after <quote>36</quote>.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H366E0166EC0C43D38F86E46285E59600" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Subsection (b)(2) of section 3017 of such title is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0F2F9AC6F21745C7AC4275BFB8991879"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9C03EE44605049068538B76E74CDCE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HAAA596CD41624A65AEBBF35EC4A2AE52"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: </text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="HA8B2640BE6A84979B4E64B8368B8F2D0" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="HA9B4DDCB8F4648948D3721EAEFBB3CEA" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the amount of any refund under section 3015(h)(3) of this title.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6B4BF8DA788E4FB3BA4401C25BB0092" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Subsection (a) of section 3695 of such title is amended by inserting <quote>(or 60 months in the case of an individual referred to in section 3015(g)(2) of this title).</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H8D3078554CB44A4DB3E9EA65120F063"><enum>102.</enum><header>Improved education benefits for reserve component members supporting contingency operations and certain other operations</header>
<subsection id="H709A61D972A240F39DEB04533743BED"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Increase in rate of educational assistance</header><text>Subsection (c) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/16162">section 16162</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF3701185AC3942EBAF8D66B85B86B8C">
<paragraph id="HA26EC02B9E3B40D6A4001E4FAA28C7BB"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), the educational assistance allowance provided under this chapter for a member of the reserve component called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency declared by the President or the Congress who performed active duty service for 180 consecutive days before the date which is the last day of the five-year period that begins on the date of the enactment of the Welcome Home G.I. Bill Act of 2005 is the greater of (A) the monthly rate of $1562.50 or (B) the monthly rate otherwise applicable under this chapter.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="HDA4A58129A874158BB2FF87274BAF326"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Extension of duration of educational assistance</header><text>Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of such section is amended by inserting <quote>, or 48 in the case of educational assistance allowance paid under subsection (c)(5),</quote> after <quote>under this chapter is 36</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H63AC12FDB1344EB1ACD74F006F121944"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of entitlement for payment of Federal student loans</header><text>Such section is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
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<subsection id="HE71A3860C364465688F4F4CB84EA8F00"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of entitlement for payment of Federal student loans</header>
<paragraph id="H6DBEF48410E64B059C2FA79253C1FFAF" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Upon completion of a program of education authorized under subsection (b), a member of the reserve components entitled to educational assistance under this chapter may apply amounts of educational assistance otherwise available to the member under this chapter to repay some or all of any Federal student loan balance owed by the member.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA47D7160F441406A929029DF7F06E8D2" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection exceed the amount of the member’s available entitlement under this chapter.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H127AAD4A312E4918A0361B4726D8EFDC" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>Federal student loan</quote> means any loan made under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1070">20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="HA55BE7E0F098429AB3F316C8D7FE0517"><enum>103.</enum><header>Increase in Home Purchase Benefits</header>
<subsection id="H4D5A9AB238DB453B880027A6ABCFD59"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Payment to certain veterans for downpayment toward home purchase</header>
<paragraph id="HDE1C67F41F4E470DBFBE3CB8032518DF" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3708 the following new section:</text>
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<section id="H79737BA7D8AD4156BE8700DDBFF46F7E"><enum>3709.</enum><header>Provision of downpayment toward home purchase for veterans performing eligible service</header>
<subsection id="HD004A7FDDC81480EAFF651A723E3221"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Payment for downpayment on home purchase</header><text>Subject to subsections (b) and (c), in the case of a veteran who performs eligible service, the Secretary of Defense shall provide for a payment of $5,000 on behalf of the veteran to be used as a downpayment toward the purchase or construction of a residential dwelling to be owned and occupied by the veteran.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HF8F563592B3741F786496643EB908243"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Time limitation for use</header><text>The period during which the Secretary of Defense may provide for a payment under subsection (a) to a veteran who performs eligible service expires on the date that is five years after the date on which such eligible service is completed.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="HEDEE61A54AEC4DD3BB2C2B98DB323E4C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use in conjunction with first-time home purchase under this chapter</header><text>The Secretary of Defense shall only provide payment under subsection (a) if the veteran demonstrates to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that the veteran has not previously obtained a loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, as the case may be.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H6FF1004D583845CCA259BFEBB5F9D335"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Eligible service</header><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>eligible service</quote> means active duty service performed after September 11, 2001, outside the United States or its territories or possessions as part of a contingency operation (including a humanitarian operation, peacekeeping operation, or similar operation) or combat operation for a period of at least 6 consecutive months (or for a lesser period of time in the case of such an individual who is discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability).</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H90A0F3DBC50240F6A281AEEC061B784" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3708 the following new item:</text>
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<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">3709. Provision of downpayment toward home purchase for veterans performing eligible service</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2A559753C2494AB500021D8505A0B3C0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Benefit excluded from gross income</header>
<paragraph id="H8BFA6D66FAEE4F45AFC187ECFC24B9B0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/134">section 134</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to qualified military benefit) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
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<paragraph id="H4F6CA6EC0B22497B007F29B56580C0FE"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Veterans housing benefits</header>
<subparagraph id="HC87BA2C95F194AC19B70837C516C84A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>qualified military benefit</quote> includes payments made under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/3709">section 3709</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code (relating to provision of downpayment toward home purchase for veterans performing eligible service), as in effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H48B4F67A27634352972B586B113F7130"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Denial of double benefit</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, no increase in the basis or adjusted basis of any property shall result from any amount excluded under this section by reason of subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6D7AFCF4EFCD4DBABA05DFBBF2C7D8F9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by this subsection shall apply to payments made after the date of the enactment of this Act, in taxable years ending after such date.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Improvement in Health Benefits</header>
<section id="HFEE80079C2624F20946CE22100C6B90"><enum>201.</enum><header>Extension of transitional health care for certain uninsured veterans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1145">Section 1145</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HCC476C05391143E9AC108E75DDE3481"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7A3CFFB8B2104E41B3AB62F1C849F02"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: </text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="H7ED4593F90344C848CF399A8AE76CFAA" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="HFFECFB0A8E054C6CAAD30075006975FE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Special rule for certain uninsured veterans</header>
<paragraph id="HA1A17B0382DE449F0049917C83E0617C" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Transitional health care shall be available under subsection (a) for any period during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the veteran is separated from active duty during which the veteran demonstrates to the Secretary of Defense that the veteran is not covered under any group health plan provided by an employer or spouse’s employer.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA30913EB36B2424EAF8FC31479509C88" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>eligible veteran</quote> means a person—</text>
<subparagraph id="H12AA0178C3FF45EEB1E92180E298D502"><enum>(A)</enum><text>who served in the active military, naval, or air service (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/101">section 101</external-xref> of title 38);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H93220305A91F4B4582FB4FF904A9A6EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>who, after September 11, 2001, is deployed outside the United States or its territories or possessions as part of a contingency operation (including a humanitarian operation, peacekeeping operation, or similar operation) or combat operation for a period of at least 6 consecutive months (or for a lesser period of time in the case of such an individual who is discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability); and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3C1D31ECBACD41DA93802618BFD9C249"><enum>(C)</enum><text>who was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> </subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="HEA19B2FF3C994F0596EBABB86B1850FA" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>202.</enum><header>Clarification of predeployment and postdeployment medical exams</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1074f">section 1074f</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: </text>
<quoted-block style="USC" id="HF2D1E782538E4B3793B3196975DCAC8F" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="HE89A498CE90E458CA7CC185FADC0041E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements of system</header>
<paragraph id="H9C515B61B36A4F318ED8B07C4ECB3734" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The system described in subsection (a) shall include the use of predeployment medical examinations and postdeployment medical examinations, in accordance with this subsection, to accurately record the medical condition of members before their deployment and any changes in their medical condition during the course of their deployment.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3136520827BD476390CCF300C4DF8C3" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Predeployment medical examinations</header><text>A predeployment medical examination shall consist of a self-administered survey followed by a clinical examination conducted by medical personnel of the Department of Defense. The survey and clinical examination shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H658B172D5E9E4374A58332EF4D6C57"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the collection of clinical data (such as vital signs and the drawing of blood samples);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8F05271360FC4CDBB5C323A8ECB13746"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the collection of information (including information on immunizations) on current and past physical or mental health conditions that might affect the ability of the member to perform duties;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6E0A5BD25AEB4618BAFB5F538C5B679C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of mental health;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5BEF5C58DD1849A6871BE2B0B77620D0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>screening for diseases that are prevalent in members of the armed forces; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE3478B18BC8F479ABC6C535C430392E3"><enum>(E)</enum><text>referral to appropriate medical care for any conditions needing further treatment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H53D1483EE3E14A19ABF75323208800DB" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Postdeployment medical examinations</header><text>A postdeployment medical examination shall consist of a self-administered survey followed by a clinical examination conducted by medical personnel of the Department of Defense. The survey and clinical examination—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD54AA545C6044AA79400F8342380F700"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall include self-reported information about any relevant exposures during the period of deployment, including witnessing or participating in combat and screening for post-traumatic stress disorder; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H692B439A1C3B42ACB022A6ACABF46E11"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be conducted when the member is redeployed or otherwise leaves an area in which the system is in operation (or as soon as possible thereafter).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>