Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Veterans Housing Improvement Act of 2005

Adaptive housing assistance for disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by family member

(a)

Assistance authorized

Chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2102 the following new section:

2102A.

Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by family member

(a)In the case of a disabled veteran who is described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of section 2101 of this title and who is residing, but does not intend to permanently reside, in a residence owned by a member of such veteran’s family, the Secretary may assist the veteran in acquiring such adaptations to such residence as are determined by the Secretary to be reasonably necessary because of the veteran’s disability. (b)The assistance authorized under subsection (a) may not exceed— (1)$10,000, in the case of a veteran described in section 2101(a)(2) of this title; or (2)$2,000, in the case of a veteran described in section 2101(b)(2) of this title. (c)The assistance authorized by subsection (a) shall be limited in the case of any veteran to one residence. (d)Assistance under this section shall be provided in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.

(b)

Limitations on adaptive housing assistance

Section 2102 of such title is amended— (1)in the matter in subsection (a) preceding paragraph (1)— (A)by striking shall be limited in the case of any veteran to one housing unit, and the necessary land therefor, and; and (B)by striking veteran but shall not exceed $50,000 in any one case— and inserting veteran—; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d) (1)The aggregate amount of assistance available to a veteran under sections 2101(a) and 2102A of this title shall be limited to $51,000. (2)The aggregate amount of assistance available to a veteran under sections 2101(b) and 2102A of this title shall be limited to $10,500. (3)No veteran may receive more than three grants of assistance under this chapter.

(c)

Coordination of administration of benefits

Chapter 21 of such title is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

2107.

Coordination of administration of benefits

The Secretary shall provide for the coordination of the administration of programs to provide specially adapted housing that are administered by the Under Secretary for Health and such programs that are administered by the Under Secretary for Benefits under this chapter, chapter 17, and chapter 31 of this title.

(d)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter of such title is amended— (1)by inserting after the item relating to section 2102 the following new item:

2102A. Assistance for veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by family member

; and

(2)by adding at the end the following new item:

2107. Coordination of administration of benefits

Permanent authority to make direct housing loans to Native American veterans

(a)

Permanent authority

Section 3761 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)by striking establish and implement a pilot program under which the Secretary may in the first sentence; and (B)by striking shall establish and implement the pilot program in the third sentence and inserting shall make such loans; (2)in subsection (b), by striking In carrying out the pilot program under this subchapter, the and inserting The; (3)by striking subsection (c); and (4)by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)In making loans under this section, the Secretary shall consider the views and recommendations, if any, of the Advisory Committee on Native-American Veterans established under section 19032 of the Veterans’ Health-Care Amendments of 1986 (title XIX of Public Law 99–272).

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)Section 3762 of such title is amended— (A)in subsection (a), by inserting under this subchapter after to a Native American veteran; (B)in subsection (b)(1)(E), by striking the pilot program established under this subchapter is implemented and inserting loans under this subchapter are made; (C)in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking carry out the pilot program under this subchapter in a manner that demonstrates the advisability of making direct housing loans in the second sentence and inserting make direct housing loans under this subchapter; (D)in subsection (i)— (i)by striking the pilot program provided for under this subchapter and in paragraph (1); (ii)by striking under the pilot program and in assisting such organizations and veterans in participating in the pilot program in paragraph (2)(A) and inserting under this subchapter and in assisting such organizations and veterans with respect to such housing benefits; and (iii)by striking in participating in the pilot program in paragraph (2)(E) and inserting with respect to such benefits; (E)in subsection (j)— (i)in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (I)by striking through 2006; and (II)by striking relating to the implementation of the pilot program and inserting activities conducted; and (ii)by striking pilot program each place it appears in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) and inserting housing benefits under this subchapter. (2)Section 8(b) of the Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102–547) is repealed. (c)

Establishment of maximum amount of loans

(1)

Maximum loan amount

Subsection (c)(1)(B) of section 3762 of such title is amended— (A)by striking (B) The and inserting (B)(i) Subject to clause (ii), the; and (B)by adding at the end the following new clause:

(ii)The amount of a loan made by the Secretary under this subchapter may not exceed the maximum loan amount authorized for loans guaranteed under section 3703(a)(1)(C) of this title.

(2)

Conforming amendment

Subsection (j)(1) of such section is amended by inserting referred to in subsection (c)(1)(A) before the period at the end. (d)

Technical amendment

Subsection (c)(1)(A) of section 3762 of such title is amended by inserting veteran after Native American. (e)

Clerical amendments

(1)

Subchapter heading

The heading for subchapter V of chapter 37 of such title is amended to read as follows:

Direct Housing Loans for Native American Veterans

(2)

Section heading

The heading for section 3761 of such title is amended to read as follows:

3761.

Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program authority

(3)

Section heading

The heading for section 3762 of such title is amended to read as follows:

3762.

Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program administration

(4)

Table of sections

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking the items relating to subchapter V and sections 3761 and 3762 and inserting the following new items:

Subchapter V—Direct Housing Loans for Native American Veterans

3761. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program authority

3762. Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program administration

Extension of eligibility for direct loans for Native American veterans to a veteran who is the spouse of a Native American

(a)

Extension

Subchapter V of chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating section 3764 as section 3765; and (2)by inserting after section 3763 the following new section:

3764.

Qualified non-Native American veterans

(a)Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of this subchapter— (1)a qualified non-Native American veteran is deemed to be a Native American veteran; and (2)for purposes of applicability to a non-Native American veteran, any reference in this subchapter to the jurisdiction of a tribal organization over a Native American veteran is deemed to be a reference to jurisdiction of a tribal organization over the Native American spouse of the qualified non-Native American veteran. (b)In making direct loans under this subchapter to a qualified non-Native American veteran by reason of eligibility under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the tribal organization permits, and the qualified non-Native American veteran actually holds, possesses, or purchases, using the proceeds of the loan, jointly with the Native American spouse of the qualified non-Native American veteran, a meaningful interest in the lot, dwelling, or both, that is located on trust land. (c)Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed as precluding a tribal organization from imposing reasonable restrictions on the right of the qualified non-Native American veteran to convey, assign, or otherwise dispose of such interest in the lot or dwelling, or both, if such restrictions are designed to ensure the continuation in trust status of the lot or dwelling, or both. Such requirements may include the termination of the interest of the qualified non-Native American veteran in the lot or dwelling, or both, upon the dissolution of the marriage of the qualified non-Native American veteran to the Native American spouse.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 3765 of such title, as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)The term qualified non-Native American veteran means a veteran who— (A)is the spouse of a Native American, but (B)is not a Native American.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 3764 and inserting the following new items:

3764. Qualified non-Native American veterans

3765. Definitions

Terminology amendments to revise references to certain veterans in provisions relating to eligibility for compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation

Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows: (1)Section 1114(l) is amended by striking so helpless and inserting with such significant disabilities. (2)Section 1114(m) is amended by striking so helpless and inserting so significantly disabled. (3)Sections 1115(1)(E)(ii), 1115(b)(2), 1122(b)(2), 1311(c)(2), 1315(g)(2), and 1502(b)(2) are amended by striking helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to and inserting blind, or so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to.