[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2874 Engrossed in House (EH)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2874

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
   the provision of health care to veterans, 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' Health 
Care Improvement Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Grants for support of therapeutic readjustment programs for 
                            veterans.
Sec. 3. Transportation grants for rural veterans service organizations.
Sec. 4. Permanent treatment authority for participants in Department of 
                            Defense chemical and biological testing 
                            conducted by Deseret Test Center (including 
                            Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense).
Sec. 5. Extension of expiring collections authorities.
Sec. 6. Readjustment and mental health services for Operation Enduring 
                            Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom 
                            Veterans.
Sec. 7. Expansion and extension of authority for program of referral 
                            and counseling services for at-risk 
                            veterans transitioning from certain 
                            institutions.
Sec. 8. Permanent authority for domiciliary services for homeless 
                            veterans and enhancement of capacity of 
                            domiciliary care programs for female 
                            veterans.
Sec. 9. Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-
                            income veteran families in permanent 
                            housing.
Sec. 10. Expansion of eligibility for dental care.
Sec. 11. Technical amendments.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR SUPPORT OF THERAPEUTIC READJUSTMENT PROGRAMS FOR 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Grant Program.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 521 the following 
new section:
``Sec. 521A. Assistance to therapeutic readjustment programs
    ``(a) Grant Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may make 
grants to qualified entities described in subsection (b) to conduct 
workshop programs that have been shown to assist in the therapeutic 
readjustment and rehabilitation of participants to assist in the 
therapeutic readjustment of covered veterans.
    ``(b) Qualified Entities.--In order to qualify for grant assistance 
under subsection (a), a private nonprofit entity must have, as 
determined by the Secretary, experience and expertise in offering 
programs to assist in the therapeutic readjustment of participants and 
that such programs will likely assist covered veterans.
    ``(c) Amount of Grant; Use of Funds.--A grant under this section 
shall not exceed $100,000 for any calendar year and shall be used by 
the recipient exclusively for the benefit of covered veterans.
    ``(d) Application.--An application for a grant under this section 
shall include details regarding the extent and nature of the proposed 
program, the therapeutic readjustment and rehabilitation benefits 
expected to be achieved by participants, and any other information the 
Secretary determines may be necessary to assist the Secretary in 
ensuring that covered veterans receive therapeutic readjustment and 
rehabilitation benefits.
    ``(e) Covered Veterans.--For the purposes of this subsection, a 
`covered veteran' is a veteran who served on active duty in a theater 
of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary in consultation 
with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war after the Persian 
Gulf War, or in combat against a hostile force during a period of 
hostilities (as defined in section 1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title) after 
November 11, 1998, and who is discharged or released from active 
military, naval, or air service on or after September 11, 2001.
    ``(f) Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the last day of a 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report detailing 
the number and amount of grants made under this section during the 
previous fiscal year, the total number of covered veterans 
participating in workshop programs funded by such grants, a description 
of the programs, and the therapeutic benefits to covered veterans of 
participation in the various programs funded.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011 $2,000,000 to 
carry out this section.
    ``(h) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to make a grant 
under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2011.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
521 the following new item:

``521A. Assistance to therapeutic readjustment programs.''.

SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION GRANTS FOR RURAL VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Grant Program.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1709. Grants for provision of transportation to Department 
              medical facilities for veterans in remote rural areas
    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--(1) The Secretary shall establish a grant 
program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in 
remote rural areas.
    ``(2) Grants awarded under this section may be used by State 
veterans' service agencies, veterans service organizations, and private 
nonprofit entities to assist veterans in remote rural areas to travel 
to Department medical facilities.
    ``(3) The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed 
$50,000.
    ``(4) The recipient of a grant under this section shall not be 
required to provide matching funds as a condition for receiving such 
grant.
    ``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for--
            ``(1) evaluating grant applications under this section; and
            ``(2) otherwise administering the program established by 
        this section.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to 
carry out this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1708 the following new item:

``1709. Grants for provision of transportation to Department medical 
                            facilities for veterans in remote rural 
                            areas.''.

SEC. 4. PERMANENT TREATMENT AUTHORITY FOR PARTICIPANTS IN DEPARTMENT OF 
              DEFENSE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TESTING CONDUCTED BY 
              DESERET TEST CENTER (INCLUDING PROJECT SHIPBOARD HAZARD 
              AND DEFENSE).

    Section 1710(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a period; and
            (3) by striking subparagraph (D).

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING COLLECTIONS AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Health Care Copayments.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by 
striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''.
    (b) Medical Care Cost Recovery.--Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended 
by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''.

SEC. 6. READJUSTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR COVERED VETERANS.

    (a) Provision of Readjustment Counseling and Mental Health 
Services.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 1712B the following new section:
``Sec. 1712C. Provision of readjustment counseling and mental health 
              services for covered veterans
    ``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
provide peer outreach services, peer support services, and readjustment 
and mental health services to covered veterans.
    ``(b) Contracts With Community Mental Health Centers.--In carrying 
out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
contract with community mental health centers and other qualified 
entities to provide the services referred to in that paragraph in areas 
the Secretary determines are not adequately served by health care 
facilities of the Department. Such contracts shall require each 
community health center or other entity--
    ``(1) to the extent practicable, to employ covered veterans trained 
under subsection (c);
    ``(2) to the extent practicable, to use telehealth services for the 
provision of such services;
    ``(3) to participate in the training program under subsection (d);
    ``(4) to comply with applicable protocols of the Department before 
incurring any liability on behalf of the Department for the provision 
of such the services;
    ``(5) to submit annual reports to the Secretary containing, with 
respect to the program required by subsection (a) and for the last full 
calendar year ending before the submission of such report--
            ``(A) the number of veterans served, veterans diagnosed, 
        and courses of treatment provided to veterans as part of the 
        program required by subsection (a); and
            ``(B) demographic information for such services, diagnoses, 
        and courses of treatment;
    ``(6) to provide to the Secretary such clinical summary information 
as the Secretary may require for each veteran for whom the center or 
entity provides mental health services under the contract; and
    ``(7) to meet such other requirements as the Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Training Program for Veterans.--In carrying out the program 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall contract with a 
nonprofit mental health organization to carry out a program to train 
covered veterans to provide peer outreach and peer support services.
    ``(d) Training Program for Clinicians.--The Secretary shall conduct 
a training program for clinicians of community mental health centers or 
other entities that have entered into contracts with the Secretary 
under subsection (b) to ensure that such clinicians are able to provide 
the services required by subsection (a) in a manner that--
    ``(1) recognizes factors that are unique to the experience of 
veterans who served on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
Operation Enduring Freedom (including the combat and military training 
experiences of such veterans); and
    ``(2) utilizes best practices and technologies.
    ``(e) Covered Veterans.--For the purposes of this subsection, a 
`covered veteran' is a veteran who served on active duty in a theater 
of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary in consultation 
with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war after the Persian 
Gulf War, or in combat against a hostile force during a period of 
hostilities (as defined in section1712A(a)(2)(B) of this title) after 
November 11, 1998, and who is discharged or released from active 
military, naval, or air service on or after September 11, 2001.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1712B the following new item:

``1712C. Provision of readjustment counseling and mental health 
                            services for covered veterans.''.

SEC. 7. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM OF REFERRAL 
              AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR AT-RISK VETERANS 
              TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Program Authority.--Subsection (a) of section 2023 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``a demonstration program 
for the purpose of determining the costs and benefits of providing'' 
and inserting ``a program to provide''.
    (b) Scope of Program.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Demonstration'' in the subsection 
        heading;
            (2) by striking ``demonstration''; and
            (3) by striking ``in at least six locations'' and inserting 
        ``in at least 12 locations''.
    (c) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (d) of such section is 
amended by striking ``shall cease'' and all that follows and inserting 
``shall cease on September 30, 2011.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Scope of program.--Subsection (c)(1) of such section is 
        amended by striking ``demonstration''.
            (2) Section heading.--The heading of such section is 
        amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
              homelessness who are transitioning from certain 
              institutions''.
            (3) Other conforming amendment.--Section 2022(f)(2)(C) of 
        such title is amended by striking ``demonstration''.
    (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 2023 and inserting the following new item:

``2023. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of 
                            homelessness who are transitioning from 
                            certain institutions.''.

SEC. 8. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR DOMICILIARY SERVICES FOR HOMELESS 
              VETERANS AND ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY OF DOMICILIARY CARE 
              PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE VETERANS.

    Subsection (b) of section 2043 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Enhancement of Capacity of Domiciliary Care Programs for 
Female Veterans.--The Secretary shall take appropriate actions to 
ensure that the domiciliary care programs of the Department are 
adequate, with respect to capacity and safety, to meet the needs of 
veterans who are women.''.

SEC. 9. 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) Authorization of 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 residing 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 the supportive services for very 
        low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing.
            ``(2)(A) Financial assistance under this section shall 
        consist of payments for each such family for which an approved 
        eligible entity provides or coordinates the provision of 
        supportive services.
            ``(B) The Secretary shall establish a formula for 
        determining the rate of payments provided to a very low-income 
        veteran family receiving supportive services under this 
        section. The rate shall be adjusted not less than once annually 
        to reflect changes in the cost of living. In calculating the 
        payment formula under this subparagraph, the Secretary may 
        consider geographic cost of living variances, family size, and 
        the cost of services provided.
            ``(3) In providing financial assistance under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall give preference to an entity that 
        provides or coordinates the provision of supportive services 
        for very low-income veteran families who are transitioning from 
        homelessness to permanent housing.
            ``(4) 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.
            ``(5) Each entity receiving financial assistance under this 
        section to provide supportive services to a very low-income 
        veteran family shall notify the family that such services are 
        being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department.
            ``(6) The Secretary may require an entity receiving 
        financial assistance under this section to submit a report to 
        the Secretary describing the supportive services provided with 
        such financial assistance.
    ``(b) Application for Financial Assistance.--
            ``(1) An eligible entity seeking financial assistance under 
        subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in 
        such form, in such manner, and containing such commitments and 
        information as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
            ``(2) An application submitted 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 receive financial assistance 
        under this section.
    ``(c) Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) The Secretary shall provide training and technical 
        assistance to eligible entities that receive financial 
        assistance under this section with respect to 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.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated, for each fiscal year, $25,000,000, to carry out this 
section, of which not more than $750,000 for each fiscal year may be 
used to provide technical assistance under subsection (c).
    ``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            ``(1) 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, except that--
                    ``(A) the Secretary shall make appropriate 
                adjustments to the income requirement under 
                subparagraph (A) based on family size; and
                    ``(B) 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.
                    ``(C) the Secretary shall establish criteria for 
                determining the need for specific supportive services 
                (as defined by paragraph (8)) of individual very low 
                income veteran families occupying permanent housing.
            ``(2) 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.
            ``(3) The term `consumer cooperative' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
        1701q).
            ``(4) The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a private nonprofit organization; or
                    ``(B) a consumer cooperative.
            ``(5) The term `homeless' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 11302).
            ``(6) The term `permanent housing' means community-based 
        housing without a designated length of stay.
            ``(7) The term `private nonprofit organization' means--
                    ``(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); and
                    ``(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)).
            ``(8) The term `supportive services' means the following:
                    ``(A) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
                subcontractors that address the needs of very low-
                income veteran families occupying permanent housing, 
                including--
                            ``(i) outreach services;
                            ``(ii) 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 of Veterans Affairs medical center 
                        serving the geographic area in which the 
                        veteran family is housed;
                            ``(iii) habilitation and rehabilitation 
                        services;
                            ``(iv) case management services;
                            ``(v) daily living services;
                            ``(vi) personal financial planning;
                            ``(vii) transportation services;
                            ``(viii) vocational counseling;
                            ``(ix) employment and training;
                            ``(x) educational services;
                            ``(xi) assistance in obtaining veterans 
                        benefits and other public benefits, including 
                        health care provided by the Department;
                            ``(xii) assistance in obtaining income 
                        support;
                            ``(xiii) assistance in obtaining health 
                        insurance;
                            ``(xiv) fiduciary and representative payee 
                        services;
                            ``(xv) 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;
                            ``(xvi) child care;
                            ``(xvii) housing counseling;
                            ``(xviii) other services necessary for 
                        maintaining independent living; and
                            ``(xix) coordination of services described 
                        in this paragraph.
                    ``(B) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
                subcontractors, including services described in clauses 
                (i) through (xix) of subparagraph (A), 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 of the date on which 
                the service is provided pending the location or 
                development of housing suitable for permanent housing.
                    ``(C) Services provided by an eligible entity or 
                subcontractors, including services described in clauses 
                (i) through (xix) of subparagraph (A), 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 beginning on the date on which such a family 
                exits permanent housing or until such a family 
                commences receipt of other housing services adequate to 
                meet the needs of the family, but only to the extent 
                that services under this paragraph are designed to 
                support such a family in the choice to transition into 
                housing that is responsive to the individual needs and 
                preferences of the family.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter 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 residing in 
                            permanent housing.''.

SEC. 10. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR DENTAL CARE.

    Section 2062(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``60 consecutive days'' both places it appears and inserting 
``30 consecutive days''.

SEC. 11. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in each of sections 1708(d), 7314(f), 7320(j)(2), 
        7325(i)(2), and 7328(i)(2), by striking ``medical care 
        account'' and inserting ``medical services account'';
            (2) in section 1712A--
                    (A) by striking subsection (g);
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and 
                (i) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and
                    (C) in subsection (f)(1), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``(including a Resource Center designated 
                under subsection (h)(3)(A) of this section)'';
            (3) in section 2065(b)(3)(C), by striking ``)'';
            (4) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
        36, by striking the item relating to section 3684A and 
        inserting the following new item:

``3684A. Procedures relating to computer matching program.'';
            (5) in section 3684(a)(1), by striking ``34,,'' and 
        inserting ``34,'';
            (6) in section 4110(c)(1), by striking ``15'' and inserting 
        ``16'';
            (7) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
        51, by striking the item relating to section 5121 and inserting 
        the following new item:

``5121. Payment of certain accrued benefits upon death of a 
                            beneficiary.'';
            (8) in section 7458(b)(2), by striking ``pro rated'' and 
        inserting ``pro-rated''; and
            (9) in section 8117(a)(1), by striking ``such such'' and 
        inserting ``such''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2007.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2874

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
   the provision of health care to veterans, and for other purposes.