[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2694 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2694

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to remove certain limitations on 
     attorney representation of claimants for veterans benefits in 
 administrative proceedings before the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
 to make certain improvements in the area of memorial 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' Choice 
of Representation and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2006''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                   TITLE I--VETERANS' REPRESENTATION

Sec. 101. Attorney representation in veterans benefits cases before the 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs.
                       TITLE II--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS

Sec. 201. Eligibility of Indian tribal organizations for grants for the 
                            establishment of veterans cemeteries on 
                            trust lands.
Sec. 202. Removal of remains of Russell Wayne Wagner from Arlington 
                            National Cemetery.
Sec. 203. Provision of government markers for marked graves of veterans 
                            at private cemeteries.
                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 301. Expansion of education programs eligible for accelerated 
                            payment of educational assistance under the 
                            Montgomery GI bill.
Sec. 302. Accelerated payment of survivors' and dependents' educational 
                            assistance for certain programs of 
                            education.
Sec. 303. Reimbursement of expenses for State approving agencies in the 
                            administration of educational benefits.
Sec. 304. Modification of requirement for reporting on educational 
                            assistance program.
                        TITLE IV--HEALTH MATTERS

Sec. 401. Parkinson's disease research, education, clinical centers, 
                            and multiple sclerosis centers of 
                            excellence.
Sec. 402. Repeal of term of office for the Under Secretary for Health 
                            and the Under Secretary for Benefits.
Sec. 403. Modifications to existing State home authorities.
Sec. 404. Office of Rural Health.
Sec. 405. Pilot program on improvement of caregiver assistance 
                            services.
                 TITLE V--HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE

Sec. 501. Reaffirmation of national goal to end homelessness among 
                            veterans.
Sec. 502. Sense of Congress on the response of the Federal Government 
                            to the needs of homeless veterans.
Sec. 503. Authority to make grants for comprehensive service programs 
                            for homeless veterans.
Sec. 504. Extension of treatment and rehabilitation for seriously 
                            mentally ill and homeless veterans.
Sec. 505. Extension of authority for transfer of properties obtained 
                            through foreclosure of home mortgages.
Sec. 506. Extension of funding for grant program for homeless veterans 
                            with special needs.
Sec. 507. Extension of funding for homeless veteran service provider 
                            technical assistance program.
Sec. 508. Additional element in annual report on assistance to homeless 
                            veterans.
Sec. 509. Advisory committee on homeless veterans.
Sec. 510. Rental assistance vouchers for Veterans Affairs supported 
                            housing program.
Sec. 511. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
                            income veteran families in permanent 
                            housing.
                    TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS BENEFITS

Sec. 601. Residential cooperative housing units.
Sec. 602. Increase in supplemental insurance for totally disabled 
                            veterans.
Sec. 603. Reauthorization of use of certain information from other 
                            agencies.
Sec. 604. Clarification of correctional facilities covered by certain 
                            provisions of law.

                   TITLE I--VETERANS' REPRESENTATION

SEC. 101. ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION IN VETERANS BENEFITS CASES BEFORE THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Qualifications and Standards of Conduct for Individuals 
Recognized as Agents or Attorneys.--
            (1) Additional qualifications and standards for agents and 
        attorneys generally.--Subsection (a) of section 5904 of title 
        38, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)'';
                    (B) by striking the second sentence; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
    ``(2) The Secretary may prescribe in regulations qualifications and 
standards of conduct for individuals recognized under this section, 
including a requirement that, before being recognized, an individual--
            ``(A) show that such individual is of good moral character 
        and in good repute, is qualified to render claimants valuable 
        service, and is otherwise competent to assist claimants in 
        presenting claims;
            ``(B) has such level of experience and specialized training 
        as the Secretary shall specify; and
            ``(C) certifies to the Secretary that the individual has 
        satisfied any qualifications and standards prescribed by the 
        Secretary under this section.
    ``(3) The Secretary may prescribe in regulations reasonable 
restrictions on the amount of fees that an agent or attorney may charge 
a claimant for services rendered in the preparation, presentation, and 
prosecution of a claim before the Department.
    ``(4)(A) The Secretary may, on a periodic basis, collect a 
registration fee from individuals recognized as agents or attorneys 
under this section.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall prescribe the amount and frequency of 
collection of such fees. The amount of such fees may include an amount, 
as specified by the Secretary, necessary to defray the costs to the 
Department in recognizing individuals under this section, in 
administering the collection of such fees, in administering the payment 
of fees under subsection (d), and in conducting oversight of agents or 
attorneys.
    ``(C) Amounts so collected shall be deposited in the account from 
which amounts for such costs were derived, merged with amounts in such 
account, and available for the same purpose, and subject to the same 
conditions and limitations, as amounts in such account.''.
            (2) Applicability to representatives of veterans service 
        organizations.--Section 5902(b) of such title is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) An individual recognized under this section shall be subject 
to the provisions of section 5904(b) of this title on the same basis as 
an individual recognized under section 5904(a) of this title.''.
            (3) Applicability to individuals recognized for particular 
        claims.--Section 5903 of such title is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The 
                Secretary''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(b) Suspension.--An individual recognized under this section 
shall be subject to the provisions of section 5904(b) of this title on 
the same basis as an individual recognized under section 5904(a) of 
this title.''.
    (b) Additional Bases for Suspension of Individuals.--Subsection (b) 
of section 5904 of such title is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
        a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(6) has presented frivolous claims, issues, or arguments 
        to the Department; or
            ``(7) has failed to comply with any other condition 
        specified by the Secretary in regulations prescribed by the 
        Secretary for purposes of this subsection.''.
    (c) Repeal of Limitation on Hiring Agents or Attorneys.--Subsection 
(c) of section 5904 of such title is amended by striking paragraph (1).
    (d) Modification of Requirements To File Attorney Fee Agreements.--
Such subsection is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (1); and
            (2) in that paragraph, as so redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``in a case referred to in 
                paragraph (1) of this subsection'';
                    (B) by striking ``after the Board first makes a 
                final decision in the case'';
                    (C) by striking ``with the Board at such time as 
                may be specified by the Board'' and inserting ``with 
                the Secretary pursuant to regulations prescribed by the 
                Secretary''; and
                    (D) by striking the second and third sentences.
    (e) Attorney Fees.--Such subsection is further amended by inserting 
after paragraph (1), as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this 
section, the following new paragraph (2):
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary, upon the Secretary's own motion or at the 
request of the claimant, may review a fee agreement filed pursuant to 
paragraph (1) and may order a reduction in the fee called for in the 
agreement if the Secretary finds that the fee is excessive or 
unreasonable.
    ``(B) A finding or order of the Secretary under subparagraph (A) 
may be reviewed by the Board of Veterans' Appeals under section 7104 of 
this title.''.
    (f) Repeal of Penalty for Certain Acts.--Section 5905 of such title 
is amended by striking ``(1)'' and all that follows through ``(2)''.
    (g) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect six months after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.
            (2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe the 
        regulations, if any, to be prescribed under the amendments made 
        by subsection (a) not later than the date specified in 
        paragraph (1).
            (3) Claims.--The amendments made by subsections (b), (c), 
        (d), and (e) shall apply to claims submitted on or after the 
        date specified in paragraph (1).

                       TITLE II--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS

SEC. 201. ELIGIBILITY OF INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR GRANTS FOR THE 
              ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS CEMETERIES ON TRUST LANDS.

    Section 2408 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f)(1) The Secretary may make grants under this subsection to any 
tribal organization to assist the tribal organization in establishing, 
expanding, or improving veterans' cemeteries on trust land owned by, or 
held in trust for, the tribal organization.
    ``(2) Grants under this subsection shall be made in the same 
manner, and under the same conditions, as grants to States are made 
under the preceding provisions of this section.
    ``(3) In this subsection:
            ``(A) The term `tribal organization' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 3765(4) of this title.
            ``(B) The term `trust land' has the meaning given that term 
        in section 3765(1) of this title.''.

SEC. 202. REMOVAL OF REMAINS OF RUSSELL WAYNE WAGNER FROM ARLINGTON 
              NATIONAL CEMETERY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Arlington National Cemetery is a National Shrine that 
        memorializes the honorable service of men and women who have 
        defended the freedoms that all the people of the United States 
        enjoy.
            (2) The inclusion among the honored dead of the remains of 
        persons who have committed particularly notorious, heinous acts 
        brings dishonor to the deceased and disrespect to their loved 
        ones.
            (3) The removal of the remains of a person who has 
        committed a heinous act would not be an act of punishment 
        against that person, but rather an act that would preserve the 
        sacredness of cemetery grounds.
            (4) In November of 1997, section 2411 of title 38, United 
        States Code, was enacted to, among other things, deny burial 
        eligibility in Arlington National Cemetery to any person 
        convicted of a State capital crime for which the person was 
        sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole. In 
        January of 2006, section 2411 of such title was amended by 
        section 662 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
        Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163) to remove parole 
        eligibility as a loophole through which convicted capital 
        offenders could retain eligibility for interment at Arlington 
        National Cemetery.
            (5) According to Arlington National Cemetery officials, the 
        remains of only one capital offender, Russell Wayne Wagner, 
        have been interred in Arlington National Cemetery since 
        November of 1997.
    (b) Removal of Remains.--
            (1) Removal.--The Secretary of the Army shall remove the 
        remains of Russell Wayne Wagner from Arlington National 
        Cemetery.
            (2) Notification of next-of-kin.--The Secretary of the Army 
        shall--
                    (A) notify the next-of-kin of record for Russell 
                Wayne Wagner of the impending removal of his remains; 
                and
                    (B) upon removal, relinquish the remains to the 
                next-of-kin of record for Russell Wayne Wagner or, if 
                the next-of-kin of record for Russell Wayne Wagner is 
                unavailable, arrange for an appropriate disposition of 
                the remains.

SEC. 203. PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT MARKERS FOR MARKED GRAVES OF VETERANS 
              AT PRIVATE CEMETERIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 502(d) of the Veterans Education and 
Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-103; 38 U.S.C. 2306 
note), as amended by section 203 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 
(Public Law 107-330), is amended by striking ``September 11, 2001'' and 
inserting ``November 1, 1990''.
    (b) Repeal of Expiration of Authority.--Subsection (d) of section 
2306 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph 
(3).
    (c) Provision of Headstone or Marker.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (d) of such section 2306 is 
        further amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``Government marker'' and inserting 
                        ``Government headstone or marker''; and
                            (ii) in the second sentence, by inserting 
                        ``headstone or'' before ``marker'' each place 
                        it appears; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``headstone or'' 
                before ``marker''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (g)(3) of such 
        section 2306 is amended by inserting ``headstone or'' before 
        ``marker''.
    (d) Placement of Headstone or Marker.--The second sentence of 
subsection (d)(1) of such section 2306, as amended by subsection 
(c)(1)(A)(ii) of this section, is further amended by inserting before 
the period the following: ``, or, if placement on the grave is 
impossible or impracticable, as close as possible to the grave within 
the grounds of the cemetery in which the grave is located''.
    (e) Delivery of Headstone or Marker.--Subsection (d)(2) of such 
section 2306, as amended by subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section, is 
further amended by inserting before the period the following: ``or to a 
receiving agent for delivery to the cemetery''.
    (f) Repeal of Obsolete Report Requirement.--Subsection (d) of such 
section 2306 is further amended by striking paragraph (4).
    (g) Scope of Headstones and Markers Furnished.--Subsection (d) of 
such section 2306 is further amended by inserting after paragraph (2) 
the following new paragraph (3):
    ``(3) In furnishing headstones and markers under this subsection, 
the Secretary shall permit the individual making the request for a 
headstone or marker to select among any headstone or marker in the 
complete product line of Government headstones and markers.''.
    (h) Retroactive Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections 
(a) through (g) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of 
section 502 of the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 
2001 (Public Law 107-103; 115 Stat. 976).

                      TITLE III--EDUCATION MATTERS

SEC. 301. EXPANSION OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS ELIGIBLE FOR ACCELERATED 
              PAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE MONTGOMERY GI 
              BILL.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 3014A of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following new paragraph (1):
            ``(1) enrolled in either--
                    ``(A) an approved program of education that leads 
                to employment in a high technology occupation in a high 
                technology industry (as determined pursuant to 
                regulations prescribed by the Secretary); or
                    ``(B) an approved program of education lasting less 
                than two years that (as so determined) leads to 
                employment in--
                            ``(i) the transportation sector of the 
                        economy;
                            ``(ii) the construction sector of the 
                        economy;
                            ``(iii) the hospitality sector of the 
                        economy; or
                            ``(iv) the energy sector of the economy.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Heading amendment.--The heading of such section is 
        amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3014A. Accelerated payment of basic educational assistance''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The item relating to such section 
        in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 30 of such 
        title is amended to read as follows:

``3014A. Accelerated payment of basic educational assistance.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2007. Such amendments shall only apply to 
enrollments that begin on or after such date.
    (d) Sunset.--The amendments made by this section shall expire on 
September 30, 2011.

SEC. 302. ACCELERATED PAYMENT OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 35 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3532 the following 
new section:
``Sec. 3532A. Accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance
    ``(a) The educational assistance allowance payable under section 
3531 of this title with respect to an eligible person described in 
subsection (b) may, upon the election of such eligible person, be paid 
on an accelerated basis in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) An eligible person described in this subsection is an 
individual who is--
            ``(1) enrolled in either--
                    ``(A) an approved program of education that leads 
                to employment in a high technology occupation in a high 
                technology industry (as determined pursuant to 
                regulations prescribed by the Secretary); or
                    ``(B) an approved program of education lasting less 
                than two years that (as so determined) leads to 
                employment in the--
                            ``(i) transportation sector of the economy;
                            ``(ii) construction sector of the economy;
                            ``(iii) hospitality sector of the economy; 
                        or
                            ``(iv) energy sector of the economy; and
            ``(2) charged tuition and fees for the program of education 
        that, when divided by the number of months (and fractions 
        thereof) in the enrollment period, exceeds the amount equal to 
        200 percent of the monthly rate of educational assistance 
        allowance otherwise payable with respect to the individual 
        under section 3531 of this title.
    ``(c)(1) The amount of the accelerated payment of educational 
assistance payable with respect to an eligible person making an 
election under subsection (a) for a program of education shall be the 
lesser of--
            ``(A) the amount equal to 60 percent of the established 
        charges for the program of education; or
            ``(B) the aggregate amount of educational assistance 
        allowance to which the individual remains entitled under this 
        chapter at the time of the payment.
    ``(2) In this subsection, the term `established charges', in the 
case of a program of education, means the actual charges (as determined 
pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary) for tuition and 
fees which similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the program 
of education would be required to pay. Established charges shall be 
determined on the following basis:
            ``(A) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of 
        education offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the 
        tuition and fees charged the individual for the term, quarter, 
        or semester.
            ``(B) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of 
        education not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, 
        the tuition and fees charged the individual for the entire 
        program of education.
    ``(3) The educational institution providing the program of 
education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance 
allowance is elected by an eligible person under subsection (a) shall 
certify to the Secretary the amount of the established charges for the 
program of education.
    ``(d) An accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance 
made with respect to an eligible person under this section for a 
program of education shall be made not later than the last day of the 
month immediately following the month in which the Secretary receives a 
certification from the educational institution regarding--
            ``(1) the person's enrollment in and pursuit of the program 
        of education; and
            ``(2) the amount of the established charges for the program 
        of education.
    ``(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for each accelerated 
payment of educational assistance allowance made with respect to an 
eligible person under this section, the person's entitlement to 
educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged the number 
of months (and any fraction thereof) determined by dividing the amount 
of the accelerated payment by the full-time monthly rate of educational 
assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the person under 
section 3531 of this title as of the beginning date of the enrollment 
period for the program of education for which the accelerated payment 
is made.
    ``(2) If the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance 
otherwise payable with respect to an eligible person under section 3531 
of this title increases during the enrollment period of a program of 
education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance 
allowance is made under this section, the charge to the person's 
entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be 
determined by prorating the entitlement chargeable, in the manner 
provided for under paragraph (1), for the periods covered by the 
initial rate and increased rate, respectively, in accordance with 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(f) The Secretary may not make an accelerated payment of 
educational assistance allowance under this section for a program of 
education with respect to an eligible person who has received an 
advance payment under section 3680(d) of this title for the same 
enrollment period.
    ``(g) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this 
section. The regulations shall include requirements, conditions, and 
methods for the request, issuance, delivery, certification of receipt 
and use, and recovery of overpayment of an accelerated payment of 
educational assistance allowance under this section. The regulations 
may include such elements of the regulations prescribed under section 
3014A of this title as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes 
of this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 35 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 3532 the following new item:

``3532A. Accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2007. Such amendments shall only apply to 
enrollments that begin on or after such date.
    (d) Sunset.--The amendments made by this section shall expire on 
September 30, 2011.

SEC. 303. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR STATE APPROVING AGENCIES IN THE 
              ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS.

    Section 3674(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``and is authorized 
        to make additional payments subject to the availability of 
        appropriations,'' after ``readjustment benefits,''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the first sentence and 
        inserting ``The total amount authorized and available under 
        this section for any fiscal year may not exceed $19,000,000, 
        except that the total amount made available for purposes of 
        this section from amounts available for the payment of 
        readjustment benefits may not exceed $19,000,000 for fiscal 
        years 2006 and 2007, $13,000,000 for fiscal years 2008 and 
        2009, $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013, 
        and $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent fiscal 
        year.''.

SEC. 304. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORTING ON EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension.--Subsection (d) of section 3036 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``January 1, 2005'' and inserting 
``January 1, 2011''.
    (b) Date of Submittal.--Subsection (a) of such section is amended 
by inserting ``, on January 1,'' after ``two years''.
    (c) Interim Report.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall each submit to Congress a report containing the 
information required by section 3036 of title 38, United States Code, 
not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

                        TITLE IV--HEALTH MATTERS

SEC. 401. PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, CLINICAL CENTERS, 
              AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Requirement for Establishment of Centers.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 7329. Parkinson's disease research, education, and clinical 
              centers and multiple sclerosis centers of excellence
    ``(a) Designation.--The Secretary, upon the recommendation of the 
Under Secretary for Health and pursuant to the provisions of this 
section, shall--
            ``(1) designate--
                    ``(A) at least 6 Department health care facilities 
                as the locations for centers of Parkinson's disease 
                research, education, and clinical activities and 
                (subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds for 
                such purpose); and
                    ``(B) at least 2 Department health care facilities 
                as the locations for Multiple Sclerosis Centers of 
                Excellence (subject to the appropriation of sufficient 
                funds for such purpose); and
            ``(2) establish and operate such centers at such locations 
        in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Existing Facilities; Geographic Distribution.--In designating 
locations for centers under subsection (a), the Secretary, upon the 
recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, shall--
            ``(1) designate each Department health care facility that, 
        as of January 1, 2005, was operating a Parkinson's Disease 
        Research, Education, and Clinical Center or a Multiple 
        Sclerosis Center of Excellence unless the Secretary, on the 
        recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health, determines 
        that such facility--
                    ``(A) does not meet the requirements of subsection 
                (c);
                    ``(B) has not demonstrated effectiveness in 
                carrying out the established purposes of such center; 
                or
                    ``(C) has not demonstrated the potential to carry 
                out such purposes effectively in the reasonably 
                foreseeable future; and
            ``(2) assure appropriate geographic distribution of such 
        facilities.
    ``(c) Minimum Requirements.--The Secretary may not designate a 
health care facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) 
unless--
            ``(1) the peer review panel established under subsection 
        (d) determines that the proposal submitted by such facility is 
        among those proposals which meet the highest competitive 
        standards of scientific and clinical merit; and
            ``(2) the Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Under 
        Secretary for Health, determines that the facility has (or may 
        reasonably be anticipated to develop)--
                    ``(A) an arrangement with an accredited medical 
                school which provides education and training in 
                neurology and with which such facility is affiliated 
                under which residents receive education and training in 
                innovative diagnosis and treatment of chronic 
                neurodegenerative diseases and movement disorders, 
                including Parkinson's disease, or in the case of 
                Multiple Sclerosis Centers, multiple sclerosis disease;
                    ``(B) the ability to attract the participation of 
                scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity 
                in health-care research efforts;
                    ``(C) a policymaking advisory committee composed of 
                consumers and appropriate health care and research 
                representatives of the facility and of the affiliated 
                school or schools to advise the directors of such 
                facility and such center on policy matters pertaining 
                to the activities of such center during the period of 
                the operation of such center;
                    ``(D) the capability to conduct effectively 
                evaluations of the activities of such center;
                    ``(E) the capability to coordinate, as part of an 
                integrated national system, education, clinical, and 
                research activities within all facilities with such 
                centers;
                    ``(F) the capability to jointly develop a 
                consortium of providers with interest in treating 
                neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's 
                disease, and other movement disorders, or multiple 
                sclerosis in the case of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, at 
                facilities without such centers in order to ensure 
                better access to state of the art diagnosis, care, and 
                education for neurodegenerative disorders, or in the 
                case of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, autoimmune disease 
                affecting the central nervous system throughout the 
                health care system; and
                    ``(G) the capability to develop a national 
                repository in the health care system for the collection 
                of data on health services delivered to veterans 
                seeking care for neurodegenerative diseases, including 
                Parkinson's disease, and other movement disorders, or 
                in the case of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, autoimmune 
                disease affecting the central nervous system.
    ``(d) Panel.--(1) The Under Secretary for Health shall establish a 
panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals that are 
submitted to the Secretary for the establishment of new centers under 
this section.
    ``(2)(A) The membership of the panel shall consist of experts in 
neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and other 
movement disorders, and, in the case of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, 
experts in autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
    ``(B) Members of the panel shall serve as consultants to the 
Department for a period of no longer than 2 years except in the case of 
panelists asked to serve on the initial panel as specified in 
subparagraph (C).
    ``(C) In order to ensure panel continuity, half of the members of 
the first panel shall be appointed for a period of 3 years and half for 
a period of 2 years.
    ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the panel 
by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on the relative 
scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal to the Under 
Secretary.
    ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.
    ``(e) Adequate Funding.--Before providing funds for the operation 
of any such center at a health care facility other than a health care 
facility designated under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall ensure 
that--
            ``(1) the Parkinson's disease center at each facility 
        designated under subsection (b)(1) is receiving adequate 
        funding to enable such center to function effectively in the 
        areas of Parkinson's disease research, education, and clinical 
        activities; and
            ``(2) in the case of a new Multiple Sclerosis Center, that 
        existing centers are receiving adequate funding to enable such 
        centers to function effectively in the areas of multiple 
        sclerosis research, education, and clinical activities.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--(1) There are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the support of the 
research and education activities of the centers established under 
subsection (a).
    ``(2) The Under Secretary for Health shall allocate to such centers 
from other funds appropriated generally for the Department medical 
services account and medical and prosthetics research account, as 
appropriate, such amounts as the Under Secretary for Health determines 
appropriate.
    ``(g) Funding Eligibility and Priority for Parkinson's Disease 
Research.--Activities of clinical and scientific investigation at each 
center established under subsection (a) for Parkinson's disease shall--
            ``(1) be eligible to compete for the award of funding from 
        funds appropriated for the Department medical and prosthetics 
        research account; and
            ``(2) receive priority in the award of funding from such 
        account to the extent funds are awarded to projects for 
        research in Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
    ``(h) Funding Eligibility and Priority for Multiple Sclerosis 
Research.--Activities of clinical and scientific investigation at each 
center established under subsection (a) for multiple sclerosis shall--
            ``(1) be eligible to compete for the award of funding from 
        funds appropriated for the Department medical and prosthetics 
        research account; and
            ``(2) receive priority in the award of funding from such 
        account to the extent funds are awarded to projects for 
        research in multiple sclerosis and other movement disorders.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7328 
        the following new item:

``7329. Parkinson's disease research, education, and clinical centers 
                            and multiple sclerosis centers of 
                            excellence.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2006.

SEC. 402. REPEAL OF TERM OF OFFICE FOR THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH 
              AND THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR BENEFITS.

    (a) Under Secretary for Health.--
            (1) In general.--Section 305 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by striking subsection (c).
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (d) of such section 
        is redesignated as subsection (c).
    (b) Under Secretary for Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--Section 306 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by striking subsection (c).
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (d) of such section 
        is redesignated as subsection (c).

SEC. 403. MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING STATE HOME AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Nursing Home Care and Prescription Medications in State Homes 
for Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities.--
            (1) Nursing home care.--Subchapter V of chapter 17 of title 
        38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 1745. Nursing home care and medications for veterans with 
              service-connected disabilities
    ``(a)(1) The Secretary shall pay each State home for nursing home 
care at the rate determined under paragraph (2), where such care is 
provided to any veteran as follows:
            ``(A) Any veteran in need of such care for a service-
        connected disability.
            ``(B) Any veteran who--
                    ``(i) has a service-connected disability rated at 
                70 percent or more; and
                    ``(ii) is in need of such care.
    ``(2) The rate determined under this paragraph with respect to a 
State home is the lesser of--
            ``(A) the applicable or prevailing rate payable in the 
        geographic area in which the State home is located, as 
        determined by the Secretary, for nursing home care furnished in 
        a non-Department nursing home (as that term is defined in 
        section 1720(e)(2)); or
            ``(B) a rate not to exceed the daily cost of care, as 
        determined by the Secretary, following a report to the 
        Secretary by the director of the State home.
    ``(3) Payment by the Secretary under paragraph (1) to a State home 
for nursing home care provided to a veteran described in that paragraph 
constitutes payment in full to the State home for such care furnished 
to that veteran.''.
            (2) Provision of prescription medicines.--Such section, as 
        so added, is further amended by adding at the end the following 
        new subsection:
    ``(b) The Secretary shall furnish such drugs and medicines as may 
be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician as specific 
therapy in the treatment of illness or injury to any veteran as 
follows:
            ``(1) Any veteran who--
                    ``(A) is not being provided nursing home care for 
                which payment is payable under subsection (a); and
                    ``(B) is in need of such drugs and medicines for a 
                service-connected disability.
            ``(2) Any veteran who--
                    ``(A) has a service-connected disability rated at 
                50 percent or more;
                    ``(B) is not being provided nursing home care for 
                which payment is payable under subsection (a); and
                    ``(C) is in need of such drugs and medicines.''.
            (3) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Criteria for payment.--Section 1741(a)(1) of 
                such title is amended by striking ``The'' and inserting 
                ``Except as provided in section 1745 of this title, 
                the''.
                    (B) Eligibility for nursing home care.--Section 
                1710(a)(4) of such title is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' before ``the 
                        requirement in section 1710B of this title''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and the requirement 
                        in section 1745 of this title to provide 
                        nursing home care and prescription medicines to 
                        veterans with service-connected disabilities in 
                        State homes'' after ``a program of extended 
                        care services''.
            (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 1744 the following new item:

``1745. Nursing home care and medications for veterans with service-
                            connected disabilities.''.
            (5) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
    (b) Identification of Veterans in State Homes.--Such chapter is 
further amended--
            (1) in section 1745, as added by subsection (a)(1) of this 
        section, by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Any State home that requests payment or reimbursement for 
services provided to a veteran under this section shall provide to the 
Secretary such information as the Secretary considers necessary to 
identify each individual veteran eligible for payment under such 
section.''; and
            (2) in section 1741, by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(f) Any State home that requests payment or reimbursement for 
services provided to a veteran under this section shall provide to the 
Secretary such information as the Secretary considers necessary to 
identify each individual veteran eligible for payment under such 
section.''.
    (c) Authority To Treat Certain Health Facilities as State Homes.--
            (1) Authority.--Subchapter III of chapter 81 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 8138. Treatment of certain health facilities as State homes
    ``(a) The Secretary may treat a health facility, or certain beds in 
a health facility, as a State home for purposes of subchapter V of 
chapter 17 of this title if the following requirements are met:
            ``(1) The facility, or certain beds in such facility, meets 
        the standards for the provision of nursing home care that is 
        applicable to State homes, as prescribed by the Secretary under 
        section 8134(b) of this title, and such other standards 
        relating to the facility, or certain beds in such facility, as 
        the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) The facility, or certain beds in such facility, is 
        licensed or certified by the appropriate State and local 
        agencies charged with the responsibility of licensing or 
        otherwise regulating or inspecting State home facilities.
            ``(3) The State demonstrates in an application to the 
        Secretary that, but for the treatment of a facility (or certain 
        beds in such facility), as a State home under this subsection, 
        a substantial number of veterans residing in the geographic 
        area in which the facility is located who require nursing home 
        care will not have access to such care.
            ``(4) The Secretary determines that the treatment of the 
        facility, or certain beds in such facility, as a State home 
        best meets the needs of veterans for nursing home care in the 
        geographic area in which the facility is located.
            ``(5) The Secretary approves the application submitted by 
        the State with respect to the facility, or certain beds in such 
        facility.
    ``(b) The Secretary may not treat a health facility, or certain 
beds in a health facility, as a State home under subsection (a) if the 
Secretary determines that such treatment would increase the number of 
beds allocated to the State in excess of the limit on the number of 
beds provided for by regulations prescribed under section 8134(a) of 
this title.
    ``(c) The number of beds occupied by veterans in a health facility 
for which payment may be made under subchapter V of chapter 17 of this 
title by reason of subsection (a) shall not exceed--
            ``(1) 100 beds in the aggregate for all States; and
            ``(2) in the case of any State, the difference between--
                    ``(A) the number of veterans authorized to be in 
                beds in State homes in such State under regulations 
                prescribed under section 8134(a) of this title; and
                    ``(B) the number of veterans actually in beds in 
                State homes (other than facilities or certain beds 
                treated as State homes under subsection (a)) in such 
                State under regulations prescribed under such section.
    ``(d) The number of beds in a health facility in a State that has 
been treated as a State home under subsection (a) shall be taken into 
account in determining the unmet need for beds for State homes for the 
State under section 8134(d)(1) of this title.
    ``(e) The Secretary may not treat any new health facilities, or any 
new certain beds in a health facility, as a State home under subsection 
(a) after September 30, 2009.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 81 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 8137 the following new item:

``8138. Treatment of certain health facilities as State homes.''.

SEC. 404. OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs within the Office of the Undersecretary for Health an 
office to be known as the ``Office of Rural Health'' (in this section 
referred to as the ``Office'').
    (b) Head.--The Director of the Office of Rural Health shall be the 
head of the Office. The Director of the Office of Rural Health shall be 
appointed by the Under Secretary of Health from among individuals 
qualified to perform the duties of the position.
    (c) Functions.--The functions of the Office are as follows:
            (1) In cooperation with the medical, rehabilitation, health 
        services, and cooperative studies research programs in the 
        Office of Policy and the Office of Research and Development of 
        the Veterans Health Administration, to assist the Under 
        Secretary for Health in conducting, coordinating, promoting, 
        and disseminating research into issues affecting veterans 
        living in rural areas.
            (2) To work with all personnel and offices of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs to develop, refine, and 
        promulgate policies, best practices, lessons learned, and 
        innovative and successful programs to improve care and services 
        for veterans who reside in rural areas of the United States.
            (3) To designate in each Veterans Integrated Service 
        Network (VISN) an individual who shall consult on and 
        coordinate the discharge in such Network of programs and 
        activities of the Office for veterans who reside in rural areas 
        of the United States.
            (4) To assess, in accordance with subsection (d), the 
        effects of the implementation of the fee-basis health care 
        program of the Veterans Health Administration on the delivery 
        of health care services to veterans who reside in rural areas 
        of the United States.
            (5) To perform such other functions and duties as the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Under Secretary for Health 
        consider appropriate.
    (d) Assessment of Fee-Basis Health Care Program.--The Director of 
the Office shall, in consultation with the individuals designated under 
subsection (c)(3), conduct an assessment of the effects of the 
implementation of the fee-basis health care program of the Veterans 
Health Administration on the delivery of health care services to 
veterans who reside in rural areas of the United States. In conducting 
the assessment, the Director shall--
            (1) evaluate the effects of the fee-basis health care 
        program on the delivery of health care services to veterans who 
        reside in rural areas of the United States;
            (2) identify various mechanisms for expanding the program 
        in order to enhance and improve health care services for such 
        veterans and determine the feasibility and advisability of 
        implementing such mechanisms; and
            (3) for each mechanism determined under paragraph (2) to be 
        feasible and advisable to implement, make recommendations to 
        the Under Secretary for Health on the implementation of such 
        mechanism.

SEC. 405. PILOT PROGRAM ON IMPROVEMENT OF CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE 
              SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
various mechanisms to expand and improve caregiver assistance services.
    (b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required by 
subsection (a) shall be carried out during the two-year period 
beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
    (c) Caregiver Assistance Services.--For purposes of this section, 
the term ``caregiver assistance services'' are services of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs that assist caregivers of veterans, 
including veterans of the Global War on Terrorism. Such services 
including the following:
            (1) Adult-day health care services.
            (2) Coordination of services needed by veterans, including 
        services for readjustment and rehabilitation.
            (3) Transportation services.
            (4) Caregiver support services, including education, 
        training, and certification of family members in caregiver 
        activities.
            (5) Home care services.
            (6) Respite care.
            (7) Hospice services.
            (8) Any modalities of non-institutional long-term care.
    (d) Funding.--
            (1) Source of funds.--In carrying out the program required 
        by subsection (a), the Secretary shall identify, from funds 
        available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical 
        care, an amount not less than $5,000,000 to be available for 
        the fiscal year that includes the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, to carry out the pilot program and to be allocated to 
        facilities of the Department pursuant to subsection (e). Such 
        amount shall be available without fiscal year limitation.
            (2) Minimum allocation of funds.--In identifying available 
        amounts pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure 
        that, after the allocation of funds under subsection (e), the 
        total expenditure for programs in support of caregiver 
        assistance services is not less than $5,000,000 in excess of 
        the baseline amount.
            (3) Baseline amount.--For purposes of paragraph (2), the 
        baseline amount is the amount of the total expenditures on 
        programs in support of caregiver assistance services for 
        veterans for the most recent fiscal year for which final 
        expenditure amounts are known, adjusted to reflect any 
        subsequent increase in applicable costs to support such 
        services through the Veterans Health Administration.
    (e) Allocation of Funds to Facilities.--The Secretary shall 
allocate funds identified pursuant to subsection (d)(1) to individual 
medical facilities of the Department in such amounts as the Secretary 
determines appropriate, based upon proposals submitted by such 
facilities for the use of such funds for improvements to the support of 
the provision of caregiver assistance services. Special consideration 
should be given to rural facilities, including those without a long-
term care facility of the Department.
    (f) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this 
section, including--
            (1) a description and assessment of the activities carried 
        out under the pilot program;
            (2) information on the allocation of funds to facilities of 
        the Department under subsection (d); and
            (3) a description of the improvements made with funds so 
        allocated to the support of the provision of caregiver 
        assistance services.

                 TITLE V--HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE

SEC. 501. REAFFIRMATION OF NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms the national goal to end 
chronic homelessness among veterans within a decade of the enactment of 
the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 (Public Law 
107-95; 115 Stat. 903).
    (b) Reaffirmation of Encouragement of Cooperative Efforts.--
Congress reaffirms its encouragement, as specified in the Homeless 
Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-95; 115 
Stat. 903), that all departments and agencies of the Federal, State, 
and local governments, quasi-governmental organizations, private and 
public sector entities, including community-based organizations, faith-
based organizations, and individuals, work cooperatively to end chronic 
homelessness among veterans.

SEC. 502. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE RESPONSE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
              TO THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) homelessness is a significant problem in the veterans 
        community, and veterans are disproportionately represented 
        among the homeless population;
            (2) while many effective programs assist homeless veterans 
        to become, once again, productive and self-sufficient members 
        of their communities and society, all the essential services, 
        assistance, and support that homeless veterans require are not 
        currently provided;
            (3) federally funded programs for homeless veterans should 
        be held accountable for achieving clearly defined results;
            (4) Federal efforts to assist homeless veterans should 
        include prevention of homelessness;
            (5) Federal efforts regarding homeless veterans should be 
        particularly vigorous where women veterans have minor children 
        in their care;
            (6) Federal agencies, particularly the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and the Department 
        of Housing and Urban Development, should cooperate more fully 
        to address the problem of homelessness among veterans; and
            (7) the programs reauthorized by this title provide 
        important housing and services to homeless veterans.

SEC. 503. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS 
              FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Permanent Authority.--Section 2011(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``(1)''; and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
                as paragraphs (1) through (4), respectively.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--The text of section 2013 of 
such title is amended to read as follows: ``There is authorized to be 
appropriated, to carry out this subchapter, $130,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2007 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.

SEC. 504. EXTENSION OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR SERIOUSLY 
              MENTALLY ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Extension of Authority for General Treatment.--Section 2031(b) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2006'' and 
inserting ``2011''.
    (b) Extension of Authority for Additional Services.--Section 
2033(d) of such title is amended by striking ``2006'' and inserting 
``2011''.

SEC. 505. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF PROPERTIES OBTAINED 
              THROUGH FORECLOSURE OF HOME MORTGAGES.

    Section 2041(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2011''.

SEC. 506. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS 
              WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

    Section 2061(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2003, 2004, and 2005, $5,000,000'' and inserting ``2007 
through 2011, $7,000,000''.

SEC. 507. EXTENSION OF FUNDING FOR HOMELESS VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDER 
              TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    Subsection (b) of section 2064 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 to 
carry out the program under this section.''.

SEC. 508. ADDITIONAL ELEMENT IN ANNUAL REPORT ON ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS 
              VETERANS.

    Section 2065(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph (5):
            ``(5) Information on the efforts of the Secretary to 
        coordinate the delivery of housing and services to homeless 
        veterans with other Federal departments and agencies, 
        including--
                    ``(A) the Department of Defense;
                    ``(B) the Department of Health and Human Services;
                    ``(C) the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development;
                    ``(D) the Department of Justice;
                    ``(E) the Department of Labor;
                    ``(F) the Interagency Council on Homelessness;
                    ``(G) the Social Security Administration; and
                    ``(H) any other Federal department or agency with 
                which the Secretary coordinates the delivery of housing 
                and services to homeless veterans.''.

SEC. 509. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Additional Ex Officio Members.--Subsection (a)(3) of section 
2066 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraphs:
            ``(E) The Executive Director of the Interagency Council on 
        Homelessness (or a representative of the Executive Director).
            ``(F) The Under Secretary for Health (or a representative 
        of the Under Secretary after consultation with the Director of 
        the Office of Homeless Veterans Programs).
            ``(G) The Under Secretary for Benefits (or a representative 
        of the Under Secretary after consultation with the Director of 
        the Office of Homeless Veterans Programs).''.
    (b) Extension.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting ``September 30, 2011''.

SEC. 510. RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHERS FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTED 
              HOUSING PROGRAM.

    (a) Funding for Vouchers.--Section (8)(o)(19)(B) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)(B)) is amended to 
read as follows:
                    ``(B) Amount.--The amount specified in this 
                subparagraph is--
                            ``(i) for fiscal year 2007, the amount 
                        necessary to provide 500 vouchers for rental 
                        assistance under this subsection;
                            ``(ii) for fiscal year 2008, the amount 
                        necessary to provide 1,000 vouchers for rental 
                        assistance under this subsection;
                            ``(iii) for fiscal year 2009, the amount 
                        necessary to provide 1,500 vouchers for rental 
                        assistance under this subsection;
                            ``(iv) for fiscal year 2010, the amount 
                        necessary to provide 2,000 vouchers for rental 
                        assistance under this subsection; and
                            ``(v) for fiscal year 2011, the amount 
                        necessary to provide 2,500 vouchers for rental 
                        assistance under this subsection.''.
    (b) Elimination of Funding Through Incremental Assistance.--
Subparagraph (C) of section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)(C)) is repealed.
    (c) Study of Effectiveness of Vouchers.--
            (1) In general.--For fiscal years 2007 and 2008, the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study of the 
        effectiveness of the voucher program under section 
        (8)(o)(19)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
        U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)(B)), as amended by subsection (a), in 
        meeting the housing and case management needs of homeless 
        veterans who--
                    (A) have a chronic mental illnesses or chronic 
                substance use disorder; and
                    (B) are participating in continuing treatment for 
                such mental illness or substance use disorder as a 
                condition of receipt of such rental assistance.
            (2) Comparison.--As part of the study required by paragraph 
        (1) the Secretary shall compare the results of the program 
        described in that paragraph with other programs as follows:
                    (A) Programs in which the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs coordinates the delivery of housing and 
                services to homeless veterans.
                    (B) Programs for the provision of grants or per 
                diem payments to providers of services that are 
                designed to meet the needs of homeless veterans.
            (3) Criteria.--In conducting the comparison required by 
        paragraph (2), the Secretary shall examine the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans targeted by the 
                programs described in paragraph (2).
                    (B) The health status of such veterans.
                    (C) For programs that address substance use 
                disorders, the reduction in severity of such disorders 
                in such veterans.
                    (D) The housing provided such veterans under such 
                programs.
                    (E) The degree to which such veterans are 
                encouraged to productive activity by such programs.
            (4) Report.--Not later than March 31, 2009, the Secretary 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the results of the study required 
        by paragraph (1).

SEC. 511. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-
              INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to facilitate the 
provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families 
in permanent housing.
    (b) Financial Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38, 
        United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
              income veteran families in permanent housing
    ``(a) Distribution of Financial Assistance.--(1) The Secretary 
shall provide financial assistance to eligible entities approved under 
this section to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive 
services described in subsection (b) for very low-income veteran 
families occupying permanent housing.
    ``(2) Financial assistance under this section shall consist of per 
diem payments for each such family for which an approved eligible 
entity is providing or coordinating the provision of supportive 
services.
    ``(3)(A) Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for 
such purpose, the Secretary shall provide to each family for which an 
approved eligible entity is providing or coordinating the provision of 
supportive services per diem payments in the amount of the daily cost 
of care estimated by such eligible entity (as adjusted by the Secretary 
under subparagraph (C)).
    ``(B) In no case may the amount of per diem paid under this 
paragraph exceed the rate of per diem authorized for State homes for 
domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this 
title, as adjusted by the Secretary under subsection (c) of such 
section.
    ``(C) The Secretary may adjust the daily cost of care estimated by 
an eligible entity for purposes of this paragraph to exclude other 
sources of income described in subparagraph (E) that the eligible 
entity certifies to be correct.
    ``(D) Each eligible entity shall provide to the Secretary such 
information with respect to other sources of income as the Secretary 
may require to make the adjustment under subparagraph (C).
    ``(E) The other sources of income referred to in subparagraphs (C) 
and (D) are payments to the eligible entity for furnishing services to 
homeless veterans under programs other than under this subchapter, 
including payments and grants from other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government, from departments or agencies of State or local 
government, and from private entities or organizations.
    ``(4) In providing financial assistance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall give preference to entities providing or coordinating 
the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran 
families who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.
    ``(5) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, 
financial assistance under this subsection is equitably distributed 
across geographic regions, including rural communities and tribal 
lands.
    ``(6) Each entity receiving financial assistance under this section 
to provide supportive services to a very low-income veteran family 
shall notify that family that such services are being paid for, in 
whole or in part, by the Department.
    ``(7) The Secretary may require entities receiving financial 
assistance under this section to submit a report to the Secretary that 
describes the projects carried out with such financial assistance.
    ``(b) Supportive Services.--The supportive services referred to in 
subsection (a) are the following:
            ``(1) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
        subcontractors that address the needs of very low-income 
        veteran families occupying permanent housing, including--
                    ``(A) outreach services;
                    ``(B) health care services, including diagnosis, 
                treatment, and counseling for mental health and 
                substance abuse disorders and for post-traumatic stress 
                disorder, if such services are not readily available 
                through the Department medical center serving the 
                geographic area in which the veteran family is housed;
                    ``(C) habilitation and rehabilitation services;
                    ``(D) case management services;
                    ``(E) daily living services;
                    ``(F) personal financial planning;
                    ``(G) transportation services;
                    ``(H) vocational counseling;
                    ``(I) employment and training;
                    ``(J) educational services;
                    ``(K) assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and 
                other public benefits, including health care provided 
                by the Department;
                    ``(L) assistance in obtaining income support;
                    ``(M) assistance in obtaining health insurance;
                    ``(N) fiduciary and representative payee services;
                    ``(O) legal services to assist the veteran family 
                with reconsiderations or appeals of veterans and public 
                benefit claim denials and to resolve outstanding 
                warrants that interfere with the family's ability to 
                obtain or retain housing or supportive services;
                    ``(P) child care;
                    ``(Q) housing counseling;
                    ``(R) other services necessary for maintaining 
                independent living; and
                    ``(S) coordination of services under this 
                paragraph.
            ``(2) Services described in paragraph (1) that are 
        delivered to very low-income veteran families who are homeless 
        and who are scheduled to become residents of permanent housing 
        within 90 days pending the location or development of housing 
        suitable for permanent housing.
            ``(3) Services described in paragraph (1) for very low-
        income veteran families who have voluntarily chosen to seek 
        other housing after a period of tenancy in permanent housing, 
        that are provided, for a period of 90 days after such families 
        exit permanent housing or until such families commence receipt 
        of other housing services adequate to meet their current needs, 
        but only to the extent that services under this paragraph are 
        designed to support such families in their choice to transition 
        into housing that is responsive to their individual needs and 
        preferences.
    ``(c) Application for Financial Assistance.--(1) An eligible entity 
seeking financial assistance under subsection (a) shall submit an 
application to the Secretary in such form, in such manner, and 
containing such commitments and information as the Secretary determines 
to be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(2) Each application submitted by an eligible entity under 
paragraph (1) shall contain--
            ``(A) a description of the supportive services proposed to 
        be provided by the eligible entity;
            ``(B) a description of the types of very low-income veteran 
        families proposed to be provided such services;
            ``(C) an estimate of the number of very low-income veteran 
        families proposed to be provided such services;
            ``(D) evidence of the experience of the eligible entity in 
        providing supportive services to very low-income veteran 
        families; and
            ``(E) a description of the managerial capacity of the 
        eligible entity to--
                    ``(i) coordinate the provision of supportive 
                services with the provision of permanent housing, by 
                the eligible entity or by other organizations;
                    ``(ii) continuously assess the needs of very low-
                income veteran families for supportive services;
                    ``(iii) coordinate the provision of supportive 
                services with the services of the Department;
                    ``(iv) tailor supportive services to the needs of 
                very low-income veteran families; and
                    ``(v) continuously seek new sources of assistance 
                to ensure the long-term provision of supportive 
                services to very low-income veteran families.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall establish criteria for the selection of 
eligible entities to be provided financial assistance under this 
section.
    ``(d) Technical Assistance.--(1) The Secretary shall provide 
training and technical assistance to participating eligible entities 
regarding the planning, development, and provision of supportive 
services to very low-income veteran families occupying permanent 
housing.
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide the training described in paragraph 
(1) directly or through grants or contracts with appropriate public or 
nonprofit private entities.
    ``(e) Funding.--(1) From amounts appropriated to the Department for 
Medical Care, there shall be available to carry out this section 
amounts as follows:
            ``(A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
            ``(B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            ``(C) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
    ``(2) Not more than $750,000 may be available under paragraph (1) 
in any fiscal year to provide technical assistance under subsection 
(d).
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `consumer cooperative' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
        1701q).
            ``(2) The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a private nonprofit organization; or
                    ``(B) a consumer cooperative.
            ``(3) The term `homeless' has the meaning given that term 
        in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11302).
            ``(4) The term `permanent housing' means community-based 
        housing without a designated length of stay.
            ``(5) The term `private nonprofit organization' means any 
        of the following:
                    ``(A) Any incorporated private institution or 
                foundation--
                            ``(i) no part of the net earnings of which 
                        inures to the benefit of any member, founder, 
                        contributor, or individual;
                            ``(ii) which has a governing board that is 
                        responsible for the operation of the supportive 
                        services provided under this section; and
                            ``(iii) which is approved by the Secretary 
                        as to financial responsibility;
                    ``(B) A for-profit limited partnership, the sole 
                general partner of which is an organization meeting the 
                requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of 
                subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by 
                an organization meeting the requirements of clauses 
                (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) A tribally designated housing entity (as 
                defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing 
                Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
                U.S.C. 4103)).
            ``(6)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the term 
        `very low-income veteran family' means a veteran family whose 
        income does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the 
        area, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with this 
        paragraph.
            ``(B) The Secretary shall make appropriate adjustments to 
        the income requirement under subparagraph (A) based on family 
        size.
            ``(C) The Secretary may establish an income ceiling higher 
        or lower than 50 percent of the median income for an area if 
        the Secretary determines that such variations are necessary 
        because the area has unusually high or low construction costs, 
        fair market rents (as determined under section 8 of the United 
        States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or family 
        incomes.
            ``(7) The term `veteran family' includes a veteran who is a 
        single person and a family in which the head of household or 
        the spouse of the head of household is a veteran.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 2043 the following new item:

``2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
                            income veteran families in permanent 
                            housing.''.
    (c) Study of Effectiveness of Permanent Housing Program.--
            (1) In general.--For fiscal years 2007 and 2008, the 
        Secretary shall conduct a study of the effectiveness of the 
        permanent housing program under section 2044 of title 38, 
        United States Code, as amended by subsection (b), in meeting 
        the needs of very low-income veteran families, as that term is 
        defined in that section.
            (2) Comparison.--In the study required by paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall compare the results of the program referred 
        to in that subsection with other programs of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs dedicated to the delivery of housing and 
        services to veterans.
            (3) Criteria.--In making the comparison required in 
        paragraph (2), the Secretary shall examine the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans targeted by the 
                programs described in paragraph (2).
                    (B) The health status of such veterans.
                    (C) The housing provided such veterans under such 
                programs.
                    (D) The degree to which such veterans are 
                encouraged to productive activity by such programs.
            (4) Report.--Not later than March 31, 2009, the Secretary 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the results of the study required 
        by paragraph (1).

                    TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS BENEFITS

SEC. 601. RESIDENTIAL COOPERATIVE HOUSING UNITS.

    (a) Housing Benefits for Cooperative Apartment Units.--Subsection 
(a) of section 3710 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after paragraph (11) the following new paragraph:
            ``(12) To purchase stock or membership in a cooperative 
        housing corporation for the purpose of entitling the veteran to 
        occupy for dwelling purposes a single family residential unit 
        in a development, project, or structure owned or leased by such 
        corporation, in accordance with subsection (h).''.
    (b) Conditions of Housing Benefits for Cooperative Apartment 
Units.--Such section is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(h)(1) A loan may not be guaranteed under subsection (a)(12) 
unless--
            ``(A) the development, project, or structure of the 
        cooperative housing corporation complies with such criteria as 
        the Secretary prescribes in regulations; and
            ``(B) the dwelling unit that the purchase of stock or 
        membership in the development, project, or structure of the 
        cooperative housing corporation entitles the purchaser to 
        occupy is a single family residential unit.
    ``(2) In this subsection, the term `cooperative housing 
corporation' has the same meaning given such term in section 216(b)(1) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    ``(3) When applying the term `value of the property' to a loan 
guaranteed under subsection (a)(12), such term means the appraised 
value of the stock or membership entitling the purchaser to the 
permanent occupancy of the dwelling unit in the development, project, 
or structure of the cooperative housing corporation.''.

SEC. 602. INCREASE IN SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE FOR TOTALLY DISABLED 
              VETERANS.

    Section 1922A(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$30,000, during the period 
beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending on September 31, 2011, or 
$20,000 at any other time''.

SEC. 603. REAUTHORIZATION OF USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM OTHER 
              AGENCIES.

    (a) Information From Secretary of the Treasury or Commissioner of 
Social Security.--Section 5317(g) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2008'' and inserting ``September 
30, 2011''.
    (b) Tax Returns and Tax Return Information.--The last sentence of 
section 6103(l)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2008'' and inserting ``September 30, 2011''.

SEC. 604. CLARIFICATION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES COVERED BY CERTAIN 
              PROVISIONS OF LAW.

    (a) Payment of Pension During Confinement in Penal Institutions.--
Section 1505(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``or local penal institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal 
institution or correctional facility''.
    (b) Allowances for Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans With 
Service-Connected Disabilities.--Section 3108(g)(1) of such title is 
amended by striking ``or local penal institution'' and inserting 
``local, or other penal institution or correctional facility''.
    (c) Educational Assistance Benefits for Post-Vietnam Era 
Veterans.--Section 3231(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking ``or 
local penal institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal 
institution or correctional facility''.
    (d) Computation of Educational Assistance Allowances for Veterans 
Generally.--Section 3482(g)(1) of such title is amended by striking 
``or local penal institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal 
institution or correctional facility''.
    (e) Computation of Educational Assistance Allowance for Survivors 
and Dependents.--Section 3532(e) of such title is amended by striking 
``or local penal institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal 
institution or correctional facility''.
    (f) Limitation on Payment of Compensation and Dependency and 
Indemnity Compensation.--Section 5313 of such title is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``or local penal 
        institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal institution 
        or correctional facility'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``or local penal 
        institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal institution 
        or correctional facility''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``or local penal 
        institution'' and inserting ``local, or other penal institution 
        or correctional facility''.
    (g) Limitation on Payment of Clothing Allowance.--Section 5313A of 
such title is amended by striking ``or local penal institution'' and 
inserting ``local, or other penal institution or correctional 
facility''.

            Passed the Senate August 3, 2006.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
109th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2694

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to remove certain limitations on 
     attorney representation of claimants for veterans benefits in 
 administrative proceedings before the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
 to make certain improvements in the area of memorial affairs, and for 
                            other purposes.