1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury
Rehabilitation Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short
title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress on Department
of Veterans Affairs efforts in the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans
with traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 3. Individual rehabilitation and
community reintegration plans for veterans and others with traumatic brain
injury.
Sec. 4. Use of non-Department of
Veterans Affairs facilities for implementation of rehabilitation and community
reintegration plans for traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 5. Research, education, and
clinical care program on severe traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 6. Pilot program on assisted living
services for veterans with traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 7. Age-appropriate nursing home
care.
Sec. 8. Research on traumatic brain
injury.
2.Sense of Congress on Department of Veterans
Affairs efforts in the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans with
traumatic brain injuryIt is
the sense of Congress that—
(1)the Department of Veterans Affairs should
have the capacity and expertise to provide veterans who have a traumatic brain
injury with patient-centered health care, rehabilitation, and community
integration services that are comparable to or exceed similar care and services
available to persons with such injuries in the academic and private
sector;
(2)rehabilitation for veterans who have a
traumatic brain injury should be individualized, comprehensive, and
multidisciplinary with the goals of optimizing the independence of such
veterans and reintegrating them into their communities;
(3)family support is integral to the
rehabilitation and community reintegration of veterans who have sustained a
traumatic brain injury, and the Department should provide the families of such
veterans with education and support;
(4)the Department of Defense and Department of
Veterans Affairs have made efforts to provide a smooth transition of medical
care and rehabilitative services to individuals as they transition from the
health care system of the Department of Defense to that of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, but more can be done to assist veterans and their families in
the continuum of the rehabilitation, recovery, and reintegration of wounded or
injured veterans into their communities; and
(5)in planning for rehabilitation and
community reintegration of veterans who have a traumatic brain injury, it is
necessary for the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a system for
life-long case management for such veterans.
3.Individual rehabilitation and community
reintegration plans for veterans and others with traumatic brain
injury
(a)Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1710B the following
new section:
1710C.Traumatic brain injury: plans for
rehabilitation and reintegration into the community
(a)The Secretary shall, for each veteran or
member of the Armed Forces who receives inpatient rehabilitation care from the
Department for a traumatic brain injury—
(1)develop an individualized plan for the
rehabilitation and reintegration of such individual into the community;
and
(2)provide such plan to such individual before
such individual is discharged from inpatient care.
(b)Each plan developed under subsection (a)
shall include, for the individual covered by such plan, the following:
(1)Rehabilitation objectives for improving the
physical, cognitive, vocational, and psychosocial functioning of such
individual with the goal of maximizing the independence and reintegration of
such individual into the community.
(2)A description of specific interventions,
rehabilitative treatments, and other services to achieve the objectives
described in paragraph (2), which description shall set forth the type,
frequency, duration, and location of such interventions, treatments, and
services.
(3)The name of the case manager designated in
accordance with subsection (d) to be responsible for the implementation of such
plan.
(4)Dates on which the effectiveness of the
plan will be reviewed in accordance with subsection (f).
(c)
(1)Each plan developed under subsection (a)
shall be based upon a comprehensive assessment, developed in accordance with
paragraph (2), of—
(A)the physical, cognitive, vocational, and
psychosocial impairments of such individual; and
(B)the family education and family support
needs of such individual after discharge from inpatient care.
(2)The comprehensive assessment required under
paragraph (1) with respect to an individual is a comprehensive assessment of
the matters set forth in that paragraph by a team, composed by the Secretary
for purposes of the assessment, from among individuals with expertise in
traumatic brain injury as follows:
(A)A neurologist.
(B)A rehabilitation physician.
(C)A social worker.
(D)A neuropsychologist or
neuropsychiatrist.
(E)A physical therapist.
(F)A vocational rehabilitation
specialist.
(G)An occupational therapist.
(H)A rehabilitation nurse.
(I)Such other health care professionals as the
Secretary considers appropriate, including—
(i)an audiologist;
(ii)a blind rehabilitation specialist;
(iii)a recreational therapist;
(iv)a speech language pathologist; and
(v)a low vision optometrist.
(d)The Secretary shall designate a case
manager for each individual described in subsection (a) to be responsible for
the implementation of the plan required by such subsection for such
individual.
(e)Participation and collaboration in
development of plans(1)The Secretary shall involve each individual
described in subsection (a), and the family of such individual, in the
development of the plan for such individual under that subsection to the
maximum extent practicable.
(2)The Secretary shall collaborate in the
development of a plan for an individual under subsection (a) with an individual
with expertise in the protection of, and advocacy for, individuals with
traumatic brain injury if—
(A)the individual covered by such plan
requests such collaboration; or
(B)if such individual is incapacitated, the
family or guardian of such individual requests such collaboration.
(3)In the case of a plan required by
subsection (a) for a member of the Armed Forces who is on active duty, the
Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary of Defense in the development of
such plan.
(4)In developing vocational rehabilitation
objectives required under subsection (b)(2) and in conducting the assessment
required under subsection (c), the Secretary shall act through the Under
Secretary for Health in coordination with the Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(f)
(1)Periodic review by SecretaryThe Secretary shall periodically review the
effectiveness of each plan developed under subsection (a). The Secretary shall
refine each such plan as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of such
review.
(2)Request for review by
veteransIn addition to the
periodic review required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct a review
of the plan of a veteran under paragraph (1) at the request of such veteran, or
in the case that such veteran is incapacitated, at the request of the guardian
or the designee of such
veteran.
.
(b)The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 1710B the following new item:
1710C. Traumatic brain
injury: plans for rehabilitation and reintegration into the
community.
.
4.Use of non-Department of Veterans Affairs
facilities for implementation of rehabilitation and community reintegration
plans for traumatic brain injury
(a)Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1710C, as added by
section 3 of this Act, the following new section:
1710D.Traumatic brain injury: use of
non-Department facilities for rehabilitation
(a)Subject to section 1710(a)(4) of this title
and subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall provide intervention,
rehabilitative treatment, or services to implement a plan developed under
section 1710C of this title at a non-Department facility with which the
Secretary has entered into an agreement for such purpose, to an
individual—
(1)who is described in subsection (a) of such
section; and
(2)(A)to whom the Secretary is unable to provide
such intervention, treatment, or services at the frequency or for the duration
prescribed in such plan; or
(B)who resides at such distance, as determined
by the Secretary, from a Department medical facility as to make the
implementation of such plan through a Department facility infeasible or
impracticable.
(b)The Secretary may not provide intervention,
treatment, or services as described in subsection (a) at a non-Department
facility under such subsection unless such facility maintains standards for the
provision of such intervention, treatment, or services established by an
independent, peer-reviewed organization that accredits specialized
rehabilitation programs for adults with traumatic brain
injury.
.
(b)The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 1710C, as added by section 3 of this Act, the following new
item:
1710D. Traumatic brain
injury: use of non-Department facilities for
rehabilitation.
.
5.Research, education, and clinical care
program on severe traumatic brain injury
(a)Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 7330 the following
new section:
7330A.Severe traumatic brain injury research,
education, and clinical care program
(a)The Secretary shall establish a program on
research, education, and clinical care to provide intensive
neuro-rehabilitation to veterans with a severe traumatic brain injury,
including veterans in a minimally conscious state who would otherwise receive
nursing home care.
(b)The Secretary shall establish the program
required by subsection (a) in collaboration with the Defense and Veterans Brain
Injury Center of the Department of Defense and academic institutions selected
by the Secretary from among institutions having an expertise in research in
neuro-rehabilitation.
(c)As part of the program required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct educational programs on recognizing
and diagnosing mild and moderate cases of traumatic brain injury.
(d)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012, $3,000,000 to carry out the program required by subsection
(a).
.
(b)The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 7330 the following new item:
7330A. Severe traumatic
brain injury research, education, and clinical care
program.
.
(c)Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
Congress a report on the research to be conducted under the program required by
section 7330A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a).
6.Pilot program on assisted living services
for veterans with traumatic brain injury
(a)Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a
pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services
to eligible veterans to enhance the rehabilitation, quality of life, and
community integration of such veterans.
(b)The pilot program shall be carried out
during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the
pilot program.
(c)
(1)The pilot program shall be carried out at
locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. Of the
locations so selected—
(A)at least one shall be in each health care
region of the Veterans Health Administration that contains a polytrauma center
of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(B)any other locations shall be in areas that
contain high concentrations of veterans with traumatic brain injury, as
determined by the Secretary.
(2)Special consideration for veterans in rural
areasSpecial consideration
shall be given to provide veterans in rural areas with an opportunity to
participate in the pilot program.
(d)Provision of assisted living
services
(1)In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary may enter into agreements for the provision of assisted living
services on behalf of eligible veterans with either of the following:
(A)A provider of services that has entered
into a provider agreement under section 1866(a) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395cc(a)).
(B)A provider participating under a State plan
under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
(2)The Secretary may not place, transfer, or
admit a veteran to any facility for assisted living services under this program
unless the Secretary determines that the facility meets such standards as the
Secretary may prescribe for purposes of the pilot program. Such standards
shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with the standards of Federal,
State, and local agencies charged with the responsibility of licensing or
otherwise regulating or inspecting such facilities.
(e)Continuation of case management and
rehabilitation servicesIn
carrying the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall continue
to provide each veteran who is receiving assisted living services under the
pilot program with rehabilitative services and shall designate Department
health-care employees to furnish case management services for veterans
participating in the pilot program.
(f)
(1)Not later than 60 days after the completion
of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional veterans
affairs committees a report on the pilot program.
(2)The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A)A description of the pilot program.
(B)An assessment of the utility of the
activities under the pilot program in enhancing the rehabilitation, quality of
life, and community reintegration of veterans with traumatic brain
injury.
(C)Such recommendations as the Secretary
considers appropriate regarding the extension or expansion of the pilot
program.
(g)In this section:
(1)The term assisted living
services means services of a facility in providing room, board, and
personal care for and supervision of residents for their health, safety, and
welfare.
(2)The term case management
services includes the coordination and facilitation of all services
furnished to a veteran by the Department of Veterans Affairs, either directly
or through contract, including assessment of needs, planning, referral
(including referral for services to be furnished by the Department, either
directly or through a contract, or by an entity other than the Department),
monitoring, reassessment, and followup.
(3)The term congressional veterans
affairs committees means—
(A)the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate; and
(B)the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives.
(4)The term eligible veteran
means a veteran who—
(A)is enrolled in the Department of Veterans
Affairs health care system;
(B)has received treatment for traumatic brain
injury from the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(C)is unable to manage routine activities of
daily living without supervision and assistance; and
(D)could reasonably be expected to receive
ongoing services after the end of the pilot program under this section under
another government program or through other means.
(h)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
this section, $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.
7.Age-appropriate nursing home care
(a)Congress finds that young veterans who are
injured or disabled through military service and require long-term care should
have access to age-appropriate nursing home care.
(b)Requirement To provide age-appropriate
nursing home careSection
1710A of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)by redesignating subsection (c) as
subsection (d); and
(2)by inserting after subsection (b) the
following new subsection (c):
(c)The Secretary shall ensure that nursing
home care provided under subsection (a) is provided in an age-appropriate
manner.
.
8.Research on traumatic brain injury
(a)Inclusion of research on traumatic brain
injury under ongoing research programsThe Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in
carrying out research programs and activities under the provisions of law
referred to in subsection (b), ensure that such programs and activities include
research on the sequelae of traumatic brain injury, including—
(1)research on visually-related neurological
conditions;
(2)research on seizure disorders; and
(3)research on means of improving the
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of such sequelae.
(b)The provisions of law referred to in this
subsection are the following:
(1)Section 3119 of title 38, United States
Code, relating to rehabilitation research and special projects.
(2)Section 7303 of title 38, United States
Code, relating to research programs of the Veterans Health
Administration.
(3)Section 7327 of title 38, United States
Code, relating to research, education, and clinical activities on complex
multi-trauma associated with combat injuries.
(c)In carrying out the research required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate with facilities that—
(1)conduct research on rehabilitation for
individuals with traumatic brain injury; and
(2)receive grants for such research from the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the Department
of Education.
(d)Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report
describing in comprehensive detail the research to be carried out in order to
fulfill the requirement in subsection (a).
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury
and Health Programs Improvement Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States
Code.
TITLE
I—Traumatic brain
injury
Sec. 101. Sense of Congress on Department of
Veterans Affairs efforts in the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans
with traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 102. Individual rehabilitation and
community reintegration plans for veterans and others with traumatic brain
injury.
Sec. 103. Use of non-Department of Veterans
Affairs facilities for implementation of rehabilitation and community
reintegration plans for traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 104. Research, education, and clinical
care program on severe traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 105. Pilot program on assisted living
services for veterans with traumatic brain injury.
Sec. 106. Age-appropriate nursing home
care.
Sec. 107. Research on traumatic brain
injury.
TITLE
II—Lane Evans Benefits
Improvements
Sec. 201. Extension of period of eligibility
for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf war or future
hostilities.
Sec. 202. Report on veterans and the provision
to veterans of benefits and services by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Sec. 203. Department of Veterans Affairs
hospital quality report card initiative.
Sec. 204. Mental health: service-connection
status and evaluations for certain veterans.
TITLE
III—Health care
matters
Sec. 301. Enrollment of priority 8 veterans in
patient enrollment system.
Sec. 302. Submittal of annual enrollment
decisions to Congress.
Sec. 303. Prohibition on collection of
copayments and other fees for hospital or nursing home care.
Sec. 304. Transportation grants for rural
veterans service organizations.
Sec. 305. Demonstration projects on
alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural areas.
Sec. 306. Report to Congress on matters related
to care for veterans who live in rural areas.
Sec. 307. Veterans beneficiary travel
program.
Sec. 308. Modification of requirements for
furnishing outpatient dental services to veterans with a service-connected
dental condition or disability.
Sec. 309. Exemption for hospice care from
long-term care copayment requirements.
TITLE IV—Homeless Veterans
matters
Sec. 401. Repeal of authority for adjustments
to per diem payments to homeless veterans service centers for receipt of other
sources of income.
Sec. 402. Demonstration program on preventing
veterans at-risk of homelessness from becoming homeless.
Sec. 403. Expansion and extension of authority
for program of referral and counseling services for at-risk veterans
transitioning from certain institutions.
Sec. 404. Availability of grant funds to
service centers for personnel.
Sec. 405. Permanent authority for domiciliary
services for homeless veterans and enhancement of capacity of domiciliary care
programs for female veterans.
Sec. 406. Financial assistance for supportive
services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
TITLE
V—Construction
matters
Sec. 501. Authorization of major medical
facility project, Denver, Colorado.
Sec. 502. Increase in authorization for major
medical facility project to consolidate the medical centers of the Department
of Veterans Affairs at the University Drive and H. John Heinz III divisions,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Sec. 503. Authorization of major medical
facility project, Atlanta, Georgia.
Sec. 504. Authorization of
appropriations.
Sec.
505. Designation of Charlie
Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
TITLE VI—Other
matters
Sec. 601. Reinstatement of health professionals
scholarship program.
Sec. 602. Repeal of certain report
requirements.
Sec.
603. Post 9/11 Global Operations
defined.
2.References to title 38,
United States CodeExcept as
otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is
expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other
provision of title 38, United States Code.
<enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">I</added-phrase></enum><header>Traumatic brain
injury</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id184bacff-016d-4095-898b-0bae67243cfd" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sense of Congress on Department of Veterans
Affairs efforts in the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans with
traumatic brain injury</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is
the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id35350072-5be2-4ed1-9810-c483e50cbf7f"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Veterans Affairs is a
leader in the field of traumatic brain injury care and coordination of such
care;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC8AEE971D8764F24B43FD187CF7EF141"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Veterans Affairs should
have the capacity and expertise to provide veterans who have a traumatic brain
injury with patient-centered health care, rehabilitation, and community
integration services that are comparable to or exceed similar care and services
available to persons with such injuries in the academic and private
sector;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa42a2a7-fdf2-458c-991c-b08fcb179684"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">rehabilitation for veterans who have a
traumatic brain injury should be individualized, comprehensive, and
interdisciplinary with the goals of optimizing the independence of such
veterans and reintegrating them into their communities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd722ff9-fc07-4d32-bdd2-73c233290bb7"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">family support is integral to the
rehabilitation and community reintegration of veterans who have sustained a
traumatic brain injury, and the Department should provide the families of such
veterans with education and support;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idec12b21d-b92c-4baf-93ed-707987d505c3"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Defense and Department of
Veterans Affairs have made efforts to provide a smooth transition of medical
care and rehabilitative services to individuals as they transition from the
health care system of the Department of Defense to that of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, but more can be done to assist veterans and their families in
the continuum of the rehabilitation, recovery, and reintegration of wounded or
injured veterans into their communities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a583bc4-56ca-4f1f-b897-a435c0461193"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in planning for rehabilitation and
community reintegration of veterans who have a traumatic brain injury, it is
necessary for the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a system for
life-long case management for such veterans; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6A970912157049C0B7FDDC0B6C858145"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in such system for
life-long case management, it is necessary to conduct outreach and to tailor
specialized traumatic brain injury case management and outreach for the unique
needs of veterans with traumatic brain injury who reside in urban and non-urban
settings.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8e61c8a6-bc70-4990-8b81-e14def07e94b" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Individual rehabilitation and community
reintegration plans for veterans and others with traumatic brain
injury</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5192cd35-bcd1-425a-ad5c-08dc01437d52"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by
inserting after section 1710B the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72bf926a-7c97-4c6a-9dd6-93bff663db27" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id065cea76-5b06-4060-938b-3f7646ee30d9" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1710C.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Traumatic brain injury: plans for
rehabilitation and reintegration into the community </header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2aa454bc-c108-4a18-995b-f1eb0512ae9b"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Plan required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, for each veteran or
member of the Armed Forces who receives inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation
care from the Department for a traumatic brain injury—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaebf5684-b22a-4e6a-9379-4b332b49d35c"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop an individualized plan for the
rehabilitation and reintegration of such individual into the community;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0c315a3-b263-4055-bc82-75092ddfb3d8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide such plan in writing to such
individual before such individual is discharged from inpatient care, following
transition from active duty to the Department for outpatient care, or as soon
as practicable following diagnosis.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idabce7913-bcfe-47e0-bb10-35979de34eb0"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents of plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each plan developed under subsection (a)
shall include, for the individual covered by such plan, the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id656fd74a-5893-4d6b-93df-5bbd636d73c5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rehabilitation objectives for improving the
physical, cognitive, and vocational functioning of such individual with the
goal of maximizing the independence and reintegration of such individual into
the community.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80B19AECE53C4F25B4B3950575F4838E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Access, as warranted, to
all appropriate rehabilitative components of the traumatic brain injury
continuum of care.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcf309237-7c75-4828-ac39-f8ee64868e0f"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of specific interventions,
rehabilitative treatments, and other services to achieve the objectives
described in paragraph (1), which description shall set forth the type,
frequency, duration, and location of such interventions, treatments, and
services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id632aa963-a353-4a3c-825c-2a287e8fe985"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The name of the case manager designated in
accordance with subsection (d) to be responsible for the implementation of such
plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id68c00ea7-04cd-4682-a021-d6f40521e7ab"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Dates on which the effectiveness of the
plan will be reviewed in accordance with subsection (f).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3812fa71-89fa-42c7-a525-697ed5892cf1"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Comprehensive assessment</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6b1749a0-c811-490a-9b9e-98a44c96e954"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each plan developed under subsection (a)
shall be based upon a comprehensive assessment, developed in accordance with
paragraph (2), of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc4c37918-61c2-48e4-bee4-a7f3db28d059"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the physical, cognitive, vocational, and
neuropsychological and social impairments of such individual; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9f6dc608-bfcc-431a-9078-a3104d15ef42"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the family education and family support
needs of such individual after discharge from inpatient care.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida3a51316-572e-46f1-99a7-f2b00a1148d4"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Formation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The comprehensive assessment required under
paragraph (1) with respect to an individual is a comprehensive assessment of
the matters set forth in that paragraph by a team, composed by the Secretary
for purposes of the assessment from among, but not limited to, individuals with
expertise in traumatic brain injury, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4ba7296e-e569-483c-9ca2-787a8e631503"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A neurologist or neuropsychiatrist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id36b01ea3-8be2-4ec0-9d1a-35fc4986a31a"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A rehabilitation physician.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id77121953-e3f7-4cb8-a06f-7f09e10fff00"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A social worker.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf1e19d34-b6c5-42af-9dee-773d30761b57"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A neuropsychologist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd5e1257a-9bfa-413e-a557-91c842dd2933"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A physical therapist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02ce5194-6e33-4447-bc98-52abb3b7ed24"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A vocational rehabilitation
specialist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6b5ccfa7-504e-4297-b8c0-f7e0e7ffac57"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An occupational therapist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5892C582DFAD4AC79496B584DBE8B96D"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A speech language pathologist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id664dea6a-46ba-4818-8846-b782b0ac73b6"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A rehabilitation nurse.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BDD0028083E4B0FB02D6753F2B9C41D"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An educational therapist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28294b31-b041-4bc1-b144-75aca2e6ad4b"><enum>(K)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An audiologist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfc0570d7-f600-4250-928b-8e9150fae931"><enum>(L)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A blind rehabilitation specialist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb29fc69b-139c-419c-bb86-94649f9b68e1"><enum>(M)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A recreational therapist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idee01efd7-ac15-4a9a-81a0-1fbb980048d7"><enum>(N)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A low vision optometrist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id531B4EA42035469AABA29F49C8959D69"><enum>(O)</enum><text>An orthotist or
prostetist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0C1FBB9475EA43248F9832CD3BEE8F08"><enum>(P)</enum><text>An assistive technologist
or rehabilitation engineer.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7D680276340C407CACDCA3AF0822173A"><enum>(Q)</enum><text>An
ophthalmologist.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99F65B7123DF40CC8FA0E3A2B494D988"><enum>(R)</enum><text>An otolaryngology
physician.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7A8514A25AD9413C91B065969E0234B5"><enum>(S)</enum><text>A dietician.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0218C93928FF4391A5EF6479585594DD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Case
manager</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id8193C9F182C140AD863277289FEC0374"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
designate a case manager for each individual described in subsection (a) to be
responsible for the implementation of the plan, and coordination of such care,
required by such subsection for such individual.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAB6F1E92EABF4FD6918E58DCADDC5667" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The
Secretary shall ensure that such case manager has specific expertise in the
care required by the individual to whom such case manager is designated,
regardless of whether such case manager obtains such expertise through
experience, education, or training.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id294a3c95-9361-4560-8b80-3f5718a2aa22"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Participation and collaboration in
development of plans</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3d2af008-00e9-4f1a-9e1a-d739c9327949"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall involve each individual
described in subsection (a), and the family or legal guardian of such
individual, in the development of the plan for such individual under that
subsection to the maximum extent practicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7c5cf4f8-49df-47c3-8334-608697de8b2b" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall collaborate in the
development of a plan for an individual under subsection (a) with a State
protection and advocacy system if—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaffff4e4-c0c3-479c-ba67-d1b6ac5258b9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the individual covered by such plan
requests such collaboration; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id01df8f08-fd6b-4f22-9a4a-d3e4a4a99406"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case such individual is
incapacitated, the family or guardian of such individual requests such
collaboration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8022b744-fa70-4e7f-8356-59faaa2da60a" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a plan required by
subsection (a) for a member of the Armed Forces who is on active duty, the
Secretary shall collaborate with the Secretary of Defense in the development of
such plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe3625d1-fe64-4b8b-a988-d3621fd5767c" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing vocational rehabilitation
objectives required under subsection (b)(1) and in conducting the assessment
required under subsection (c), the Secretary shall act through the Under
Secretary for Health in coordination with the Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida7867140-c0bb-486d-b046-acc639f963e3"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluation</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id907e0181-8d69-45e5-a8f8-d0f8acc77d7e"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Periodic review by Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall periodically review the
effectiveness of each plan developed under subsection (a). The Secretary shall
refine each such plan as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of such
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5cf782e6-e316-41e2-8a4d-dd95106eecba"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Request for review by
veterans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to the
periodic review required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct a review
of the plan of a veteran under paragraph (1) at the request of such veteran, or
in the case that such veteran is incapacitated, at the request of the guardian
or the designee of such veteran.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB1C02495E27E496EA5470D3CDB68A81E"><enum>(g)</enum><header>State designated
protection and advocacy system defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>State
protection and advocacy system</term> means a system established in a State
under subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15041 et seq.) to protect and advocate for the
rights of persons with development
disabilities.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ided3469f3-29e0-4cae-9546-cb2af88ccd68"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1710B the
following new item:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaac688c0-bde1-45fc-8100-fae3ad11a490" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1710C. Traumatic brain injury:
plans for rehabilitation and reintegration into the
community.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbf1a6588-11a1-44ea-a482-6b8d1cd262e3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Use of non-Department of Veterans Affairs
facilities for implementation of rehabilitation and community reintegration
plans for traumatic brain injury</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id724a1f55-c81d-4f9f-ba8b-df943a5000c4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by
inserting after section 1710C, as added by section 102 of this Act, the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf92037f1-c9e3-4e58-ab0b-59f943ceea97" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcf85c0a5-d531-4a45-aa98-21c305de6ed3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1710D.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Traumatic brain injury: use of
non-Department facilities for rehabilitation</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93ef5427-523c-4bf2-9059-db1fd8f8ebdb"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to section 1710(a)(4) of this title
and subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall provide rehabilitative
treatment or services to implement a plan developed under section 1710C of this
title at a non-Department facility with which the Secretary has entered into an
agreement for such purpose, to an individual—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6ebaf690-5f61-43e0-a82d-8c10c90f148c"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who is described in section 1710C(a) of
this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idecbf8af4-41d6-4e4c-9a35-da549e1e5813"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3dff3e3f-7408-4bb6-a54f-4334562794cf"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to whom the Secretary is unable to provide
such treatment or services at the frequency or for the duration prescribed in
such plan; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcabe26f1-ceeb-4a22-b483-d771fd92c2ff" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for whom the Secretary determines that it
is optimal with respect to the recovery and rehabilitation of such individual
.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9e496f0b-1b0c-4109-9eea-d7c5a4b696a2"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Standards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may not provide treatment or
services as described in subsection (a) at a non-Department facility under such
subsection unless such facility maintains standards for the provision of such
treatment or services established by an independent, peer-reviewed organization
that accredits specialized rehabilitation programs for adults with traumatic
brain injury.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDB9C0089322D4A2E99392F9256E2C3EC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorities of State
protection and advocacy systems</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to the provision of
rehabilitative treatment or services described in subsection (a) in a
non-Department facility, a State designated protection and advocacy system
established under subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and
Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15041 et seq.) shall have the authorities
described under such
subtitle.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04811e51-2208-40d8-9009-2817f4ac3649"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1710C, as
added by section 102 of this Act, the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide47050c4-c871-4bdc-9300-2ea81edd87f5" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1710D. Traumatic brain injury:
use of non-Department facilities for
rehabilitation.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9585991197904D738B24112ABA179038"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 1710(a)(4) is amended by inserting <quote>the
requirement in section 1710D of this title that the Secretary provide certain
intervention, rehabilitative treatment, or services,</quote> after
<quote>extended care services,</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id89788cbf-ae8d-4122-8c98-6c0225c9db3c" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Research, education, and clinical care
program on severe traumatic brain injury</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb5f0dbb-45ab-40c3-8571-7829f0e2f01c"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter II of chapter 73 is amended by
inserting after section 7330 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1eb3c01-70da-4088-8462-c3c68c6d0de1" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9d03e264-fdf1-46ab-84c4-5f8f0c2bffc0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>7330A.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Severe traumatic brain injury research,
education, and clinical care program</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0861ce7c-c0d2-4c9e-a831-0f0c17f45eff"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish a program on
research, education, and clinical care to provide intensive
neuro-rehabilitation to veterans with a severe traumatic brain injury,
including veterans in a minimally conscious state who would otherwise receive
only long-term residential care.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id640cd2ea-16ad-46c0-840b-eccab3b447f9"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collaboration required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish the program
required by subsection (a) in collaboration with the Defense and Veterans Brain
Injury Center and academic institutions selected by the Secretary from among
institutions having an expertise in research in neuro-rehabilitation.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id35c688f0-a1ea-483a-a664-12e51177251f"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Education required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As part of the program required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall, in collaboration with the Defense and
Veterans Brain Injury Center, conduct educational programs on recognizing and
diagnosing mild and moderate cases of traumatic brain injury.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6926619d-484d-4faa-b966-887f3f42d443"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012, $10,000,000 to carry out the program required by subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id308c1f45-d9d6-4259-86b9-ff2127946dbf"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 73 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7330 the
following new item:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9dc39e68-ede0-4257-b487-799a9b9fa305" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">7330A. Severe traumatic brain
injury research, education, and clinical care
program.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id89572f38-9da3-47b4-80d9-7798210fa5ed"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
Congress a report on the research to be conducted under the program required by
section 7330A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2ff9a5dd-b9ba-47e3-b58c-152a29d67c51" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pilot program on assisted living services
for veterans with traumatic brain injury</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddcb629e1-a021-4b69-89d3-a2052a2c3c07"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pilot program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in
collaboration with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, carry out a
pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services
to eligible veterans to enhance the rehabilitation, quality of life, and
community integration of such veterans.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5f53519f-6850-4371-93b4-4b2902c7d414"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duration of program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The pilot program shall be carried out
during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the
pilot program.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc76ea28e-a293-4fee-94f9-fc59a6bdc57e"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program locations</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id866a86f1-258c-45be-a74d-da6b54ba4394"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The pilot program shall be carried out at
locations selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. Of the
locations so selected—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2eb407c1-446a-4e7d-a186-7fde25279c9b"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at least one shall be in each health care
region of the Veterans Health Administration that contains a polytrauma center
of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8b5e04a0-125b-448e-a728-c132af6fe5f7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other locations shall be in areas that
contain high concentrations of veterans with traumatic brain injury, as
determined by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88bdc540-a8b6-44c8-ba3b-d963134c715e"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special consideration for veterans in rural
areas</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special consideration
shall be given to provide veterans in rural areas with an opportunity to
participate in the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida5847feb-c9e1-47d6-bb10-4893429c913e"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provision of assisted living
services</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3b9e32f1-6b84-426f-881b-73ef65d8387a"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary may enter into agreements for the provision of assisted living
services on behalf of eligible veterans with a provider participating under a
State plan or waiver under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
seq.).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19fa2000-c830-415b-9e7f-19dc35b99439"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Standards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may not place, transfer, or
admit a veteran to any facility for assisted living services under this program
unless the Secretary determines that the facility meets such standards as the
Secretary may prescribe for purposes of the pilot program. Such standards
shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with the standards of Federal,
State, and local agencies charged with the responsibility of licensing or
otherwise regulating or inspecting such facilities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id29d6002b-beaa-4134-881c-c4181bea8533"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Continuation of case management and
rehabilitation services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
carrying the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall continue
to provide each veteran who is receiving assisted living services under the
pilot program with rehabilitative services and shall designate Department
health-care employees to furnish case management services for veterans
participating in the pilot program.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8907daba-0519-47a9-a958-6e86aefdbc69"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id283a29fa-20e6-4035-9cc8-0dd2a931902a"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the completion
of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional veterans
affairs committees a report on the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5ece407f-4470-452b-a18c-ad03f6e7f8a2"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7da2514-575f-4127-97df-a3527957f3d7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of the pilot program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida2a5e60f-7e77-4094-be0e-f149db2b6ffc"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An assessment of the utility of the
activities under the pilot program in enhancing the rehabilitation, quality of
life, and community reintegration of veterans with traumatic brain
injury.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf55f040c-4cb5-43a3-959f-aebdaeb26f72"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such recommendations as the Secretary
considers appropriate regarding the extension or expansion of the pilot
program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id66d7065e-9ec0-4256-9997-14ad8f73468b"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98cbabf4-768b-402e-b5b8-18acc1bc7721"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>assisted living
services</term> means services of a facility in providing room, board, and
personal care for and supervision of residents for their health, safety, and
welfare.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idddf5d8db-515e-42df-9cf5-4b72523023e9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>case management
services</term> includes the coordination and facilitation of all services
furnished to a veteran by the Department of Veterans Affairs, either directly
or through contract, including assessment of needs, planning, referral
(including referral for services to be furnished by the Department, either
directly or through a contract, or by an entity other than the Department),
monitoring, reassessment, and followup.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08f161e8-6295-49ee-a658-3cfe7cfc02f0"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>congressional veterans
affairs committees</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idff8cef4e-b6fd-4922-a6a7-d401b04f75b8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id052fca50-31ea-4649-b432-a65a983da79a"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0bf91f63-24a5-48c4-8fac-1a953c339145"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>eligible veteran</term>
means a veteran who—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7d28a41a-a61b-49b2-ba99-2df8f372b260"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is enrolled in the Department of Veterans
Affairs health care system;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9e07ca02-1c55-4b5b-abc1-0b426b278cf2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has received treatment for traumatic brain
injury from the Department of Veterans Affairs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1f93ba47-f0c7-489f-ad5f-c6260a77e6e7"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is unable to manage routine activities of
daily living without supervision and assistance; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9fb38e72-dbf3-4aac-aef9-064cc952eda2"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">could reasonably be expected to receive
ongoing services after the end of the pilot program under this section under
another government program or through other means.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8433cbb9-9330-4280-accd-a986554bdef5"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
this section, $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea4ecbeb-b6c4-4e7c-8d5e-4daff3f9f113" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>106.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Age-appropriate nursing home care</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id817377ab-7c5c-4db7-93aa-9b7c0fb56851"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Finding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress finds that young veterans who are
injured or disabled through military service and require long-term care should
have access to age-appropriate nursing home care.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9e822165-e3de-40ae-893a-84270235fb24"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirement To provide age-appropriate
nursing home care</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1710A is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc7a59ed3-23ee-4330-910c-2901fcd8b991"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (c) as
subsection (d); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc467e7bd-8361-4dd7-8f4d-320d848da14a"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (b) the
following new subsection (c):</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaddb11f2-3c4d-48d3-bb21-c05616034c31" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id73777630-4adb-4d92-9f8c-7046e917b1f5"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall ensure that nursing
home care provided under subsection (a) is provided in an age-appropriate
manner.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79c81ca3-f1d5-45d4-a8d3-9daabdd181ce" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>107.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Research on traumatic brain injury</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id12cc5118-e91e-4450-a84b-3b3d3164a181"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusion of research on traumatic brain
injury under ongoing research programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in
carrying out research programs and activities under the provisions of law
referred to in subsection (b), ensure that such programs and activities include
research on the sequelae of mild to severe forms of traumatic brain injury,
including—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id34849429-ef25-40e5-a25d-a9d689968fb3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research on visually-related neurological
conditions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id48df196a-7ced-4fbe-8dd6-4bbb4e4904dc"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research on seizure disorders;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc8d97e54-ad57-486e-a499-b14b3c32f0f0"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research on means of improving the
diagnosis, rehabilitative treatment, and prevention of such sequelae;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4C75D6D37C8649E1A8E327A3969C74A5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>research to determine the
most effective cognitive and physical therapies for the sequelae of traumatic
brain injury; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7E52EE01C25448818D483063FFED6765"><enum>(5)</enum><text>research on dual
diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1e5227ed-3a8c-44f1-a9a9-81744ddb0e7b"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Research authorities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The provisions of law referred to in this
subsection are the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe1b5cd0-ef94-4b33-9687-fe4e984a74bb"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3119 of title 38, United States
Code, relating to rehabilitation research and special projects.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5cef4091-7e3f-4686-be31-5904d31b96b5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7303 of such title, relating to
research programs of the Veterans Health Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf6d3305c-5ebc-40a7-8921-0b52fe37d1d4"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7327 of such title, relating to
research, education, and clinical activities on complex multi-trauma associated
with combat injuries.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04933d39-1762-4100-8e34-6d9c421096c6"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the research required by
subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate with facilities that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02540785-771e-4e8b-bc42-fea808ef7e9f"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct research on rehabilitation for
individuals with traumatic brain injury; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf3bb7372-052a-43e4-8a85-226345f97ed5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">receive grants for such research from the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the Department
of Education.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb5576cdf-b1b6-4a06-b723-774f066b1ac7"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days 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 describing in comprehensive detail the
research to be carried out pursuant to subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">II</added-phrase></enum><header>Lane Evans
Benefits Improvements</header>
<section id="idC972C96B29984BD9A981569D164C2660" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Extension of period
of eligibility for health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf war or
future hostilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
1710(e)(3)(C) is amended by striking <quote>2 years</quote> and inserting
<quote>5 years</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idB15E9CDCD984496B927F2CFBF0B98DDB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header>Report on veterans
and the provision to veterans of benefits and services by the Department of
Veterans Affairs</header>
<subsection id="id262F93D4D9D9450D9E49E362193ACB48"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Chapter 5 is amended by inserting after section 530 the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6EF712CCA5B04B369DC5A7B44B768202" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section id="idAADEA916E94D4BDA898D85DD4651F1DB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>530A.<?LEXA-Enum 530A.?></enum><header>Report on veterans and the provision to
veterans of benefits and services by the Department</header>
<subsection id="id97A4DDED1AAC4EAFAF35F479D1C68B88"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual report
required</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9F5B9C9F6586477B9A3F36DB7C6B6BB3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than 90 days
after the end of the fiscal year in which this section is enacted and every
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on veterans and the provision to veterans of
benefits and services under the laws administered by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="idCD83DD95B4394095A26E78DAA842A83F" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Each report required by
paragraph (1) shall provide the information specified in subsection (c),
current as of the last day of the fiscal year for which the report is
submitted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF74637C46FB04E109B125BBE7D4C83C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Quarterly report
required</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id2EE5C4622AA84D3FBC2418E8C643A0DD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not later than 60 days
after the end of the first quarter following the date on which this section is
enacted and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the claims of veterans for service-connected
compensation under section 1114 of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="idE9C7C9F58B6A4E2CA66A84785189F1E5" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Each report required by
paragraph (1) shall provide the information specified in subparagraphs (A) and
(F) of subsection (c)(2), current as of the last day of the quarter for which
the report is submitted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE97B389F28C14F87A88CFA3F8DBD25BA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Covered
information</header><text>The information specified in this subsection for a
report under subsection (a) is information on veterans and the provision to
veterans of benefits and services under the laws administered by the Secretary
as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="idAB54A0DA1A3B4FD0988C3F5A5AAC4BD6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each covered tour of
duty category, aggregated personal information on veterans provided benefits
and services under the laws administered by the Secretary, including
demographic information as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="id78D9816AE2364C4783AC1990BB53400B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Sex.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0B4243E88972476EAAEC17519440081A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Age.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC92137CD5BBD4B05803C804BF542FC10"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Marital status (whether
married, single, separated, or divorced).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8DD2A09172D0485B8C1C8014B3E7B9A4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Residence (by State,
territory, or country).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id47BADDA811684D159E97175C436B0A4B"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Armed Force, as of the
date of discharge or separation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id592C683CDECB448DB36B75E90180A69F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Service as a member of a
regular component of the Armed Forces or as a Reserve (including whether
National Guard or Reserve).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7B00B76D005B4D7DB947604FA38DF9BB"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Separation status.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2AA4C208B1C44FEFBE73A0C5E57A83CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For each covered tour of
duty category, aggregated information on the compensation, pension, and other
benefits and services provided by the Department to veterans, or provided with
respect to such veterans as the case may be, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id832A3F6C469F48339F265D5288CDEF0C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The claims of such
veterans for service-connected compensation under section 1114 of this title,
including the following set forth by:</text>
<clause id="id74EAA8495D3B4038AF1292F693CD90FA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The number of such claims
received.</text>
</clause><clause id="idB0D111CDEBB945BB912687C113BA2FBA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The number of such
claims processed.</text>
</clause><clause id="idB1C160AFF28D414A81A36CC85412EE5E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The number of such
claims pending.</text>
</clause><clause id="idB13354623E7042308439D50CAA57E561"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The number of such
claims granted.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id447CB3160DC34FEDA5959CCF7F062243"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The number of such claims
denied.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id63AB68D36BA64D0F9BF0804A4F1510EF"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>The number of such
claims with a combined disability rating of 10 percent or more.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAA44D263C0834DCBB5BCCCD5F7DDC678"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The amount of such
compensation paid to such veterans, stated as an average monthly amount of such
veterans receiving such compensation set forth by the following:</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id62C2C48C47904BC99AE70EC183551D15"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of zero percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5DFA6CEE8D2D43CA853A5815BC50F0AC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 10 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id71A1BCC2B55D424EA758C59AABA3D402"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 20 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10E0097F10D34F38A32E0E3B8D82E10E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 30 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id58D77B5FC9474808972F9197F1F5574C"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 40 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3AF1650EBCFF4D16B752FE051E30C5BD"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 50 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id024426A069B94138A6E3FB5F3B7211B6"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 60 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB21F4071076E467BBE96B7E197D28E74"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 70 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF16FA14ED44D4E2A8071C2E2C0409D9B"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 80 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEACC9876D0C04FCFB82F5CF96343A0DD"><enum>(x)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 90 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id219E365C692E4C78BE80A395F70BA8B2"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>Such veterans with a
disability rating of 100 percent.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD1EC468797034ADCBACF63050607BE11"><enum>(xii)</enum><text>Such veterans paid
special monthly compensation under any of subsections (k) through (s) of
section 1114 of this title.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0AA6ED27F337468484D43539F06C8882"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The claims for dependency
and indemnity compensation under chapter 13 of this title, with respect to such
veterans, including the following:</text>
<clause id="id37F33D7E1E86433290A8C629A608BAA6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The number of such claims
received.</text>
</clause><clause id="id16411119647545259E474B5091C74D56"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The number of such
claims processed.</text>
</clause><clause id="idD21C2364D2184BFC9606B478E774D452"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The number of such
claims pending.</text>
</clause><clause id="id9DDD5686B3B24CCCB8AAA48D261167E2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The number of such
claims granted.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id06B4625CD1184D16899A1BF4A76298E1"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The number of such claims
denied.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id28E84AE0299243EEAEA30027CA9D365F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The amount of such
dependency and indemnity compensation paid with respect to survivors of such
veterans, stated as an average monthly amount.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE16B5C12DAF5426DAA3D8C021E52CD55"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The number of such
survivors who have one or more dependent children under the age of 18 and who
receive additional benefits under section 1311(f) of this title by reason
thereof.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id977137A1C9A247D9ACE210BB779005FB"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The claims for pension
under chapter 15 of this title, for or with respect to such veterans, including
the following:</text>
<clause id="id42A8BFBFB21A43A99FB6C7AA9C99E444"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The number of such claims
received.</text>
</clause><clause id="idBBE2C0F0DF4347F28BCD95B5BDBF5663"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The number of such
claims processed.</text>
</clause><clause id="id85016945FFFF4A9EA8385FA9FBF2F6B7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The number of such
claims pending.</text>
</clause><clause id="idFC01EC6ED3124C9D8F744FD6C0AC96FC"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The number of such
claims granted.</text>
</clause><clause id="id690679D264F74867B0FE8C6ABD0CDBF4"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The number of such claims
denied.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id87DF9D64CB464032824E20669333B206"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The amount of such
pension paid for or with respect to such veterans, stated as an average monthly
amount set forth by whether such veterans have—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id564352481EC04A95A0DA15B1FB287F48"><enum>(i)</enum><text>no eligible
dependents;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1D4F3543623E42C698E69006FC7FC0B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>one or more
dependents;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC92AAB3F62B243D88F0FA55C956D719B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>benefits paid at the
house bound rate; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8E899EFAFB5646D5A83ADEDA224A6D5F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>benefits paid at the
rate for aid and attendance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2B048E514D80420B8A108EB60AE5C48A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For each covered tour of
duty category, aggregated information on the use of vet centers by veterans,
including the number of veterans using services of vet centers set forth by
whether such veterans are members of the National Guard or the Reserves.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE9599FC550724CA39814037C951E8275"><enum>(4)</enum><text>For each covered tour of
duty category, aggregated information on the provision to veterans of health
care services by the Veterans Health Administration, set forth by the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id2F82575FB65549ADAB5945AF8351879C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Whether the services
provided were inpatient or outpatient services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4E66DD6FA3F74749B6FA63221AD3E75F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Aggregate information
about such veterans served, including the number of such veterans set forth by
the following:</text>
<clause id="idFA79EAAB7AC54060B7CF2CB461755013"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Sex.</text>
</clause><clause id="idB8E3380EA10C44138C4F1FF98A99EC34"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Age.</text>
</clause><clause id="id1D53FC1982AC4E1A99683AA8A6EE5966"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Armed Force, as of the
date of discharge or separation.</text>
</clause><clause id="idE2AD03E64CB24E8B9F883CE63A9926C5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Service as a member of a
regular component of the Armed Forces or as a Reserve (including whether
National Guard or Reserve).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1AA7333BCE0C4229A3FB0512E5C56B23"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Where such services were
provided, including whether such services were provided in a hospital, vet
center, or a specialty care facility such as a polytrauma center.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD1D2BA419D314A988AC6E49F5C3A44DD"><enum>(5)</enum><text>For each covered tour of
duty category, aggregated information on mental health disorders of veterans,
including the number of veterans who after December 31, 2002, have been
diagnosed or treated for one or more of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id9388699110C1464DB86FCF5EE0693C1C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Post-traumatic stress
disorder.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB2361AAB288740948C2FC8C587267291"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Depressive
disorders.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id719897CD2EF94496946D3C61ECF01480"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Neurotic
disorders.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65B5B0DA0BA649FC8CE311C379399D7C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Substance use
disorders.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDD62A4B20E974DFF8854C830D009542B"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Acute reaction to
stress.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id31B67F4ECA574DED8CB61CBFDB5C5FC1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Such other mental
disorders as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id022A7106079F4E11ADF330B8E883ACC4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Protection of
identities</header><text>The Secretary shall take appropriate actions in
preparing and submitting reports under this section to ensure that no
personally identifying information on any particular veteran is included or
otherwise improperly released in such reports.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16A801D0166440BAAFD1D7B14C635DBD"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBBCD72AFB01F44C4998B90948B9D13C1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term
<term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9E5EF6AA98D9409092A4FD587B5171CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committees on Armed
Services, Appropriations, and Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB2758B6946F64632B95B83A683DBDB04"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committees on Armed
Services, Appropriations, and Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE74CDCA1F094483C9C7D477CE42C7C46"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term <term>duty in
the Post 9/11 Global Operations theater</term> means service in the active
military, naval, or air service during the Post 9/11 Global Operations in a
location (including the airspace above) as follows:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id646753662A60401EA15FC6BDA13B26E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Afghanistan.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10234AEB894247ACB9C1B02FB701FF8E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Iraq.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54B4FD694D734EE7A4A03F64516C3183"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Any geographic location
specified for an award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal to
members of the Armed Forces.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCD8144BBCB684F809DA6D6A7D0FA596B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term <term>covered
tour of duty category</term> means the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id963C6FB3475D436184F180D3028AA0ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Deployment in only in
Afghanistan.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB79F84FA59D2409B8117F6F3F641DDAF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Deployment in only in
Iraq.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBCCC9DCA48EC4CE4903102EECBD8BBA9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Deployment in both
Afghanistan and Iraq.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4F45BFE156714E918219B375DDE8449C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Duty in the Post 9/11
Global Operations theater other than in Afghanistan or Iraq.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF9B4AAEBFE3940F7869466D07E018D55"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Any other duty not
covered by subparagraphs (A) through (D).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD07AC0CF86C0412F92304CD35B9BD849"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The term <term>vet
center</term> means a center for the provision of readjustment counseling and
related mental health services under section 1712A of this
title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idD4952126E80B42AB8CE568BD3189379C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 is
amended by inserting after the item related to section 530 the following new
item:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id310888E8B28A4BA5BE413FDC7628FE55" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">530A. Annual report on veterans
and the provision to veterans of benefits and services by the
Department.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id83EF8370E14046C7961EC12A62B39DD2"><enum>203.</enum><header>Department of Veterans
Affairs hospital quality report card initiative</header>
<subsection id="id0BDE088FD9FF4469B1DD9CC65AC19625"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The purpose of this section is to establish
the Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative under title 38, United States Code,
to ensure that information on the quality and performance of hospitals
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is readily available and
accessible in order to—</text>
<paragraph id="idD22CA459CFE448F38369D5B315FFC11C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>inform patients and
consumers about health care quality in such hospitals;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id362D1D53E1E2431DA38C0B2420EFC6B6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assist health care
providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in identifying opportunities
for quality improvement and cost containment; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE499F9A23EA946C48A899829156910C2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>increase the
understanding and general awareness of the public of hospital quality
issues.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9BF1C93EF6124F04AB9DFEA2C115EE00"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter III of chapter 17 is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id29957ECAD8554844AE17114C3A8A0EF5" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section id="id6B0C69C66C014A6A950F7D3417DBBFCC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1730A.</enum><header>Hospital Quality
Report Card Initiative</header>
<subsection id="ID0b5d035ef9124758bc1a9dc07a1be797"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment
of this section, the Secretary shall establish and implement a Hospital Quality
Report Card Initiative (in this section referred to as the
<quote>Initiative</quote>) to report on health care quality in VA
hospitals.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDbecd04ac5f1d423bb29d966168ae2784"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of
information on quality and performance of VA hospitals</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id46A616A7B530479F84D2DA67D5F7135D"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1A6D6D3930E548449D0D706F1C38A94F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Under the initiative,
the Secretary shall make available to the public the most current information
on the quality and performance of each VA hospital on the Internet web site or
in the promotional literature of each such VA hospital. Such information shall
include quality measures that allow for an assessment of the following, with
respect to health care provided by VA hospitals:</text>
<clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDb1e19e408334448eac64d9910951896f" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Effectiveness.</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID3906a9fe6dcf40ff899fa21ccc3f3432" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Safety.</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID7052128df1f34d2d985a67b99ff1cd7d" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Timeliness.</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID8192fa84eb1f4239a67b43d86e242ad6" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Efficiency.</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID29a045727c3441ddb95429ea31974344" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Patient
satisfaction.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id35C58CF7396440A992AB475824352342" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In reporting information
pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary may display or provide links to
reports or analyses on VA hospital quality and performance from all available
objective sources, which may include the following:</text>
<clause id="idF1DB6C1EDBD846AFBCE57DEEBA680848"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.</text>
</clause><clause id="id3011ABE5BC76431F8B968ECBBA0F4FA8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The Office of the
Inspector General.</text>
</clause><clause id="id3B5026E0FECC4C1D9819C332EB6BA045"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The Office of the
Medical Inspector.</text>
</clause><clause id="id2C0F03567EAA49CB9D9565A766E5C377"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Offices of the
Department involved in the collection and dissemination of data on the
performance of individual hospitals.</text>
</clause><clause id="idEA625373D76A4B8EAEBCC3E5624215C6"><enum>(v)</enum><text>National and local media
entities.</text>
</clause><clause id="id743619426CDB441EBA67A5B3FF17FF5F"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Professional
journals.</text>
</clause><clause id="idE12016314B4C441291B99380D1B54C66"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Such other sources as
the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDba7029ab871c4a30aca63923f2d2dec4" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(C)</enum><text>In reporting information
as provided for under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may risk adjust quality
measures to account for differences relating to—</text>
<clause id="ID451547e643c34d7989fa5fb2ca9a2521"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the characteristics of
the reporting VA hospital, such as licensed bed size, geography, and teaching
hospital status; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID72a72e10170b4f1b89756fcd2933ff75"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>patient characteristics,
such as health status, severity of illness, and socioeconomic status.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDf0499abc042a4dffa3dc722accf192fe" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Under the Initiative, the
Secretary may verify information reported under this paragraph to ensure
accuracy and validity.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID6844919e6aae4ba9a15167615e754038" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
disclose the nature and scope of information reported under this paragraph to
all VA hospitals that are the subject of any such information.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID467f1c330dc248fe956a4433c11f073e" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(F)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC6B62323831F458AB7293925B9E2B352"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
inform the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives of the nature and scope of
information to be reported under this paragraph.</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id207443EEB61A461B866FB4C4A94CB23F" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
ensure that information on health care quality is provided in a manner that is
conducive for comparisons with other local hospitals or regional hospitals, as
appropriate.</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="idED4B0D67A7B54B7CBD82639A15A1C2AA" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
establish procedures for making information under this paragraph available to
the public in accordance with the requirements of subparagraph (A).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDc9f0be94787544c1851ca6d7a276d45f" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The analytic
methodologies and limitations on information sources utilized by the Secretary
to develop and disseminate information under this paragraph may be identified
and acknowledged in a notice or disclaimer, and may include the appropriate and
inappropriate uses of such information.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID828b85904e004348ad1a20f9b5698d92" indent="up2" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Not less frequently than
annually, the Secretary may compare quality measures data submitted by each VA
hospital to the Secretary with quality measures data submitted to the Secretary
in the prior year or years by each such VA hospital in order to identify
actions that could lead to false or artificial improvements in the quality
measurements of such VA hospitals.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID5f19e50b8e9a42d7902f225eaefb9ae8" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idF3DF016702604D07A51E3D32E7E285BA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
develop and implement effective safeguards to protect against the unauthorized
use or disclosure of VA hospital data that is reported under this
section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDa7b5433e900c461194af6e762d30087a" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
develop and implement effective safeguards to protect against the dissemination
of inconsistent, incomplete, invalid, inaccurate, or subjective VA hospital
data.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDa87e11be268c4ac69588e3dd3e991bcf" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
ensure that identifiable patient data shall not be released to the
public.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfaef5591d9f54aecb5312805f798d95c"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of VA hospital</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>VA
hospital</term> means a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
administered by the
Secretary.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id06554306F9F74C49B44BB12D1701F524"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1730 the following new
item:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3EE7230354494DC7A2056920C238B9E9" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">1730A. Hospital Quality Report
Card
Initiative.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="idAB135F2AE81E4DA394338F533A107550"><enum>204.</enum><header>Mental health:
service-connection status and evaluations for certain veterans</header>
<subsection id="id16113D52B60649F3A14EF6CF5B527465"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Presumption of
service-connection of mental illness for certain veterans</header><text>Section
1702 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idB3F02494D6374A7980C8A2B959E31D47"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>psychosis</quote> and inserting <quote>mental illness</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id71DCE062B2A548BE8E8D04A84A3E82B7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the heading, by
striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">psychosis</header-in-text></quote> and inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">mental
illness</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA2D32B162063405FBA73D00D1521ED26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Provision of mental
health evaluations for certain veterans</header><text>Upon the request of a
veteran described in section 1710(e)(3)(C) of title 38, United States Code, the
Secretary shall provide to such veteran a preliminary mental health evaluation
as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after such request.</text>
</subsection></section><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">III</added-phrase></enum><header>Health care
matters</header>
<section id="idFA2B970BFE40487B84CD92D2EA7F82D1"><enum>301.</enum><header>Enrollment of priority
8 veterans in patient enrollment system</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 17.36(c) of title 38, Code of
Federal Regulations, shall have no further force or effect.</text>
</section><section id="id0EA56612F49B426496559B114483259C"><enum>302.</enum><header>Submittal of annual
enrollment decisions to Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1705 is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id677546E61FD94F39A81983031AABE33A" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idE306F0DF8AFD4C67AC451A2925485167"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(d)</added-phrase></enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7151C3B73F3A4EAE910BD25701BE459B"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(1)</added-phrase></enum><text>In operating the
system of annual patient enrollment in accordance with subsection (a), the
Secretary shall, not later than August 1 of each year, publish in the Federal
Register notice of which categories of veterans the Secretary has determined
will be eligible to be enrolled in the next fiscal year beginning after such
publication.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id58AA0C1FB09F47229FAEA46B61DC26AC" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(2)</added-phrase></enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5CB9536C42DC45BD82F9CE8DD5B5471E"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(A)</added-phrase></enum><text>If, in a notice
published in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary proposes to restrict
the categories of veterans to be eligible to be enrolled in the system of
annual patient enrollment in a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, on the same
date that such notice is published, submit to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report setting forth an estimate of the difference
between—</text>
<clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="idC92FE69C9C3842489A71B28ED91136E8" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(i)</added-phrase></enum><text>the cost to the
Department in such fiscal year of enrolling in such system any veterans who
would otherwise be enrolled if not for the operation of such restriction,
and</text>
</clause><clause changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id21CA5C88DA7442698A0EAFF479E38315" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the cost to the
Department in such fiscal year of enrolling veterans as proposed by the
Secretary in such notice.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id3D52CCD948E34721BEA39C7B5EF64AFA" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(B)</added-phrase></enum><text>The Secretary
may not implement any restriction on the categories of veterans eligible to be
enrolled in a fiscal year until 45 days after the date on which the report on
such restriction under subparagraph (A) is submitted under that
subparagraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id297C4DE881FB43D7A7E5E477E5F84F5D"><enum>303.</enum><header>Prohibition on
collection of copayments and other fees for hospital or nursing home
care</header>
<subsection id="idF70F4360352C4C60BF959559AC03A1A9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 1710 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id9E8618A45F2940FFB54B5EB63054E89A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (h) as subsection (i); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7F5FDF418BEB4451A30BBFB9EBF80CA2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (g) the following new subsection (h):</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7E1BA63A14E04CF38F57D200487E366D" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id3845D8DCAA7A40858F624A460DCFC98F"><enum>(h)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other
provision of this section, a veteran who is catastrophically disabled shall not
be required to make any payment otherwise required under subsection (f) or (g)
for the receipt of hospital care or nursing home care under this
section.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46F31A7A82854327B73D1A17564BB054"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on
October 1, 2007.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72234639C9FA48978E5023839ED28C07" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>304.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Transportation grants for rural veterans
service organizations</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1738aab4396849dca2625203a7e468dc"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants authorized</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id505FEA97E3B0450682FA60C95C539923"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to
veterans in remote rural areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE1391877C48A4DE1BF8B1B171CBEDC55"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Use of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants awarded under this section may be
used by State veterans’ service agencies, veterans service organizations, and
qualified community transportation organizations to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBCFB399A6EAD4BFC988FB182EDD8021B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assist veterans in remote rural areas to
travel to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCDA723C81B4B4F228F2275618426FA25"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">otherwise assist in providing medical care
to veterans in remote rural areas.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDac65bb76d5e94fe7995c717760ab4802"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maximum
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amount of a grant
under this section may not exceed $50,000.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8C58D05C1C264EB8B629B6880C72DD15"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">No matching requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The recipient of a grant under this section
shall not be required to provide matching funds as a condition for receiving
such grant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe720a7a4474b45be8324511e388dcd99"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall prescribe regulations
for—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id601A7F00DA514D9DB1D6EFD08673C777"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluating grant applications under this
section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9D15CE4805EC4714957C00B1223261AB"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">otherwise administering the program
established by this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID37b559ead49a45dd8baee22c0ec93132"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this
section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE07A9FD589F74BD1A380DB9EC3A9EE77"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(1)</added-phrase></enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>qualified community
transportation organizations</term> means a public or private nonprofit
organization that is eligible for a grant under sections 5307 and 5311 of title
49, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67BCF35B506249A48ABA2F74DFF8E734"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>veterans service
organization</term> means any organization recognized by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title
38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDc61e3d5d93794585945cf96268c89b5b"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008
through 2012 to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbb08255b3028444780edceb370ca994e" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>305.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Demonstration projects on alternatives for
expanding care for veterans in rural areas</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf68ef0753d7446028290ed5e820287a2"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, through
the Director of the Office of Rural Health, shall carry out demonstration
projects to examine alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural
areas, including the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8607C4540598483BBF2E19D4E7FC87C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishing a partnership between the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services
to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at community health
centers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE31CE01CBFA84183B41635F91B7B9D4A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expanding coordination between the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service to expand care for
Native American veterans.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID769c84c1a3864fae982dbaa7e896f8c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Geographic distribution</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
ensure that the demonstration projects authorized under subsection (a) are
located at not less than three facilities that are geographically distributed
throughout the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf5eacdb1028c41d98285bdc129a60015"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than two years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a
report on the results of the demonstration projects conducted under subsection
(a) to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id666C56EF43DA4A318FDE2E651153E0B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id07865837217D42F2A4EE59F077A150CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID38093e97804e49a2898b624f833432b8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>306.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress on matters related to
care for veterans who live in rural areas</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE2AF59D9C22344DE8F0226FF0B805DDB"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to Congress each year, together with documents submitted to Congress in
support of the budget of the President for the fiscal year beginning in such
year (as submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code),
an assessment, current as of the fiscal year ending in the year before such
report is submitted, of the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEEBD105FD8044337A3ACE038ECB8319B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The implementation of the provisions of
this Act, including the amendments made by sections 309 and 310.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id402BBF1C22054E7A96B68A272CF9753D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The establishment and function of the
Office of Rural Health under section 7308 of title 38, United States
Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9E0934B2A4E544B3B70E7E4E445C98FD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The feasibility and
advisability of establishing a partnership between the Department of Veterans
Affairs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the Department of
Health and Human Services to coordinate care for veterans in rural areas at
critical access hospitals (as designated or certified under section 1820 of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE54D3BA422914F4C9DDD4226B44EFBC4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Plans for the Department
to employ the use of telemedicine to serve rural veterans.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id593218D5D1A945BC906A65B4C8EDFAA2"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional requirements for initial
report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress, together with the first report
submitted under subsection (a), an assessment of the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB9EE0962F58B4D86BEDD1EF94015018C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The fee-basis health-care program required
by subsection (b) of section 212 of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and
Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–461; 120 Stat. 3422).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6263C23835B741E983B3D544CC7FB216"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The outreach program required by section
213 of such Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB5576ECEC35A40729692341099200379"><enum>307.</enum><header>Veterans beneficiary
travel program</header>
<subsection id="HE82456F42A414AF8A133E6E37B23B303"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Repeal of requirement
To adjust amounts deducted from payments or allowances for beneficiary
travel</header><text>Section 111(c) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idD3AEDF5CA04346609F7920830BE23262"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(1)</added-phrase></enum><text>by striking
paragraph (5); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC338015A42A247B8AA9C3A129AA88B5B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by
striking <quote>, except as provided in paragraph (5) of this
subsection,</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idCACE48B9F8904E30B581A7896FBAEFE9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Determination of
mileage reimbursement rate</header><text>Section 111(g) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4E5833B536F24078AC268D66706484F9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (1)
to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H88006321FC924187BCCE894DFD2057D4" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<paragraph id="HB357480ABA534E1182C4658C00A11B69" indent="up1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to paragraph (3), in determining
the amount of allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section, the
Secretary shall use the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately
owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when a Government
vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services
under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5707">section
5707(b)</external-xref> of title
5.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7309C423BEA54078AA44C094DA51C077"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraphs
(3) and (4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0A1D3EAF5D9C4FA08BE950976A8E49E4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD46A91DCA6154D8EBFC8D9977FE9240A" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9139D5C21345453AA57C7538E60440D9" indent="up1"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(3)</added-phrase></enum><text>Subject to the
availability of appropriations, the Secretary may modify the amount of
allowances or reimbursement to be paid under this section using a mileage
reimbursement rate in excess of that prescribed under paragraph
(1).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC52DDFE97A7B4A0C93D3B067A99E6B1D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 14 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report containing an estimate of the additional costs incurred by the
Department of Veterans Affairs because of this section, including—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id03B3057ED12F45F8BAB60B30E0B087C9"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(1)</added-phrase></enum><text>any costs
resulting from increased utilization of healthcare services by veterans
eligible for travel allowances or reimbursements under section 111 of title 38,
United States Code; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02134B7D9FBE44EFBAF619EB33142C4C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the additional costs that
would be incurred by the Department should the Secretary exercise the authority
described in subsection (g)(3) of such section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5222C388C42841DF9F5EA6814B42C01F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect
to travel expenses incurred after the expiration of the 90-day period that
begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7AA2F18FFC4C48C9B133146141C69D31"><enum>308.</enum><header>Modification of
requirements for furnishing outpatient dental services to veterans with a
service-connected dental condition or disability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1712(a)(1)(B)(iv) is amended by
striking <quote>90-day</quote> and inserting <quote>180-day</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id252C171DA8DF49FC95E1538712481B48"><enum>309.</enum><header>Exemption for hospice
care from long-term care copayment requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1710 is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD55C3CD833124A06B7609C9E66B7A600"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (f), by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0927B3C3842D4890B86ACEF46A8C47E0" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD397FFA8DB414E3BB7C78B9CE91449F0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>This subsection does not
apply to hospital care or nursing home care that constitute hospice
care.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6ED0527477DA47E0896D8994B6F5D243"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (g), by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1CA29DBD44A44CFF8C518B4B6AD40715" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE9732B97DF4C49E9923F3EBA04EB37C5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>This subsection does not
apply to medical services that constitute hospice
care.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Homeless Veterans
matters</header>
<section id="idF9B0DB3828E14B538107738F9CCE4C02" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header>Repeal of authority
for adjustments to per diem payments to homeless veterans service centers for
receipt of other sources of income</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2012(a)(2) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id9A33D802C3A2458DBAFBCDB5A1011D97"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subparagraphs (B) and
(D);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2A1800E4FB2B4AE290990B8B418522A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id1E40B0A9F84340AEA90444D0952EB605"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The
rate</quote> and inserting <quote>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the
rate</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9DD7833986D94B178DF0892AC1DECFDC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>adjusted by the Secretary under subparagraph (B)</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2BBFAA2374EE4FB5B587CE2B9B8D1B23"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by designating the second
sentence as subparagraph (B) and indenting the margin of such subparagraph, as
so designated, two ems from the left margin; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7DD1A59F322F497EB126B9BA11FCF9EA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by
striking <quote>to make the adjustment under subparagraph (B)</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H07E1F0D5BC1E4FA4948503A31F69B6FF"><enum>402.</enum><header>Demonstration program
on preventing veterans at-risk of homelessness from becoming homeless</header>
<subsection id="H31AC1CD5DA444AC1A99475C73D4B389F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Demonstration
program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a demonstration program for the purpose
of—</text>
<paragraph id="H256E3D35D30E4568B8DE38C2AE8D6855"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifying members of
the Armed Forces on active duty who are at risk of becoming homeless after they
are discharged or released from active duty; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H28EDD33262794DB690B095BB5BBA28B1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>providing referral,
counseling, and supportive services, as appropriate, to help prevent such
members, upon becoming veterans, from becoming homeless.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H97191710EB5B48CB00AEDF34A7E8391B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program
locations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
carry out the demonstration program in at least three locations.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4F6FBCD0C03C4040991FE71FC4D089AF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Identification
criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing and
implementing the criteria to identify members of the Armed Forces, who upon
becoming veterans, are at-risk of becoming homeless, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall consult with the Secretary of Defense and such other officials
and experts as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H40D730C254E4435BAC7DC708E7EA1B1C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter
into contracts to provide the referral, counseling, and supportive services
required under the demonstration program with entities or organizations that
meet such requirements as the Secretary may establish.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H21E0F143971848DEBAED45B1943E8435"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority of the Secretary under
subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2011.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28D5FC8329E849B8A51C8B30844B572A"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H71D5E42ED69E41F0A0F1B44C3B7B00E5"><enum>403.</enum><header>Expansion and
extension of authority for program of referral and counseling services for
at-risk veterans transitioning from certain institutions</header>
<subsection id="H994B2780555943D7815F1F005EDD91B7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program
authority</header><text>Subsection (a) of section 2023 is amended by striking
<quote>a demonstration program for the purpose of determining the costs and
benefits of providing</quote> and inserting <quote>a program of</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6C139B0E64704C3EB200B7F1A2D1DECA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Scope of
program</header><text>Subsection (b) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H83A070639B7C4977934B1991CA71114F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Demonstration</header-in-text></quote> in the subsection
heading;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDDAC8B083F6545DEB89454F2805141CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>demonstration</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H67AC548E8118476884811DE0F5B6F866"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking <quote>in at
least six locations</quote> and inserting <quote>in at least 12
locations</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6E3F3BC1DDAF42A49FEC00BB616CB603"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Extension of
authority</header><text>Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking
<quote>shall cease</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>shall
cease on September 30, 2011.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H52A2FE1431B0454D8B00F2F8C8CABBB7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<paragraph id="HBFCBAAEFEAD8404393B2E64E20A4D1E4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Subsection (c)(1) of such
section is amended by striking <quote>demonstration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE2DDF9CAF64044E0B78EB8D78B444E32"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The heading of such
section is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FB8153D11CF4F15897F733EABE772EA" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section id="H67781732FC5B4E288C3DB470EF5E1D7B"><enum>2023.</enum><header>Referral and
counseling services: veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning
from certain
institutions</header>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2D1A607AEAC4426EA97B9DD481340C57"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 2022(f)(2)(C) of
such title is amended by striking <quote>demonstration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id13AEE587B7114A91B4DBEFCC4286C4DC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 is
amended by striking the item relating to section 2023 and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D573898D417410BA16DA5FAB1659649" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" regeneration="no-regeneration" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry level="section">2023. Referral and counseling services:
veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain
institutions.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="id0AA67365F00D48D8B40B9507C04857E8"><enum>404.</enum><header>Availability of grant
funds to service centers for personnel</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2011 is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA9B30151C29A49A2B952E54847FDD720" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<subsection id="HA35FA6C46B4147639F69D107ABBCEAD2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Availability of grant
funds for service center personnel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A grant under this section for a service
center for homeless veterans may be used to provide funding for staff as
necessary in order for the center to meet the service availability requirements
of subsection
(g)(1).</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H93A8BBFC497F4714ADCB030181A0B864"><enum>405.</enum><header>Permanent authority
for domiciliary services for homeless veterans and enhancement of capacity of
domiciliary care programs for female veterans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (b) of section 2043 is amended to
read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA627B3A3222D4848A3D5F4F948620635" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HCB34C40F7F8649BEAE2E967900984990"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enhancement of capacity
of domiciliary care programs for female veterans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall take appropriate
actions to ensure that the domiciliary care programs of the Department are
adequate, with respect to capacity and with respect to safety, to meet the
needs of veterans who are
women.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="IDD5EE72DA37C44314848C085E1D8C36F9"><enum>406.</enum><header>Financial assistance
for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent
housing</header>
<subsection id="ID39311B0428A64299B298A0F0E441C452"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
purpose of this section is to facilitate the provision of supportive services
for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID2D7509492D384F9699191BA88FE3612C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Financial
Assistance</header>
<paragraph id="ID4D3F1C3F4AFA4CA880BC758377D309BF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDC1712D15EE574BE8A85FC1FAB8D637D5" reported-display-style="italic" style="USC">
<section id="IDA7B4674891AE400CAAED036F170017D4"><enum>2044.</enum><header>Financial assistance
for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent
housing</header>
<subsection id="ID3546AF0908FF4BDD922844F51A387294"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Distribution of
Financial Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID6C86FF3D3E614390B7800108A1A7164B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDA90801C10119442EAF525F4B4347FFDD" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Financial assistance
under this section shall consist of grants for each such family for which an
approved eligible entity is providing or coordinating the provision of
supportive services.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDFAEBD49EAE61447490D8682709A13112" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID8BC38F16683F4B4E9E4F842824A6F6CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
provide such grants to each eligible entity that is providing or coordinating
the provision of supportive services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDDA35C86AEAB24F82A5C485F1BCA0B574" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary is
authorized to establish intervals of payment for the administration of such
grants and establish a maximum amount to be awarded, in accordance with the
services being provided and their duration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDCBEEC53303EB4B0EB669026235F8824B" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID0616EE2678D64FB58E29AE2C92FA6976" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(5)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID848DD72F2A8541848EA7178C3B3843E6" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(6)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID40B12980547C4A8BBB383FD8F854B0D4" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(7)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDBC8A82DEE0F3487A87A087ECA949554C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Supportive
Services</header><text>The supportive services referred to in subsection (a)
are the following:</text>
<paragraph id="IDB3D947C1CD764AA3B47F0C2675297832"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Services provided by an
eligible entity or a subcontractor of an eligible entity that address the needs
of very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing,
including—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDF5AC921A0C104D5E8909A4CDD8307A56"><enum>(A)</enum><text>outreach services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA1F1D5DF517B450ABDC688A4C41C407A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>case management
services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9637F4AFF0124D75AD154348CBC4A3D7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assistance in obtaining
any benefits from the Department which the veteran may be eligible to receive,
including, but not limited to, vocational and rehabilitation counseling,
employment and training service, educational assistance, and health care
services; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46E2FF36F9904C8DB9F2212551881595"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assistance in obtaining
and coordinating the provision of other public benefits provided in federal,
State, or local agencies, or any organization defined in subsection (f),
including—</text>
<clause id="idFE8EFE2E88DB4DCA9414D59D78686630"><enum>(i)</enum><text>health care services
(including obtaining health insurance);</text>
</clause><clause id="idE3D03DC1CB2A41A9B3B18A8B6B991240"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>daily living
services;</text>
</clause><clause id="id390F36B62B7941EAB597360255EBFA40"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>personal financial
planning;</text>
</clause><clause id="id1C5BCFB12A4941FBAE2ABBF5883F6DE2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>transportation
services;</text>
</clause><clause id="id4D122688DAA94F04B665316760C0DEFE"><enum>(v)</enum><text>income support
services;</text>
</clause><clause id="id1F72C2DD807A4184A56BCBBD1AF262B1"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>fiduciary and
representative payee services;</text>
</clause><clause id="id177A8B589911465AB05A61A0F0CEA5DC"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>legal services to
assist the veteran family with issues that interfere with the family's ability
to obtain or retain housing or supportive services;</text>
</clause><clause id="idA5577DBA33114A5C9ADC87E94F09F5AF"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>child care;</text>
</clause><clause id="id4408928A299C47178E5EBE2828BF9D1D"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>housing counseling;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="id2028B2B5A82844C6833D28FB654A56AC"><enum>(x)</enum><text>other services necessary
for maintaining independent living.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID6F5AF5650D344E819FDD013F3B23D950"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE61CE9ED01FB458A8CBD2D35D28CE4BD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID1A7D91DD59254D63A87CC7F36F9BFBF7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application for
Financial Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID7D183EE2136547E7B0708FD0B58286D4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An eligible entity
seeking financial assistance under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary
an application therefor in such form, in such manner, and containing such
commitments and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to
carry out this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDE30D77954F7E475B86A1352C4EA63807" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Each application
submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID50F3B5029B394E448CC4CB9564A9DE2E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a description of the
supportive services proposed to be provided by the eligible entity and the
identified needs for those services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3010F320063A42B28833EE7FF4DE06CC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a description of the
types of very low-income veteran families proposed to be provided such
services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5072500CD287455AAE5BAF5CA1805D2C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an estimate of the number
of very low-income veteran families proposed to be provided such
services;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDDB350D3B59EE47E5ADCBC7FE5F8878EA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>evidence of the
experience of the eligible entity in providing supportive services to very
low-income veteran families; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDC3DE40FD59404FFFA3B5C3C44590956C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a description of the
managerial capacity of the eligible entity—</text>
<clause id="ID2E321126CF5A4463B863B9C7C2CB2C7C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to coordinate the
provision of supportive services with the provision of permanent housing by the
eligible entity or by other organizations;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDF06738F7F1E549AAAE038D996999A735"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to assess continuously
the needs of very low-income veteran families for supportive services;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID424A56212FAF47FD9F58B4C3FBFA07F2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to coordinate the
provision of supportive services with the services of the Department;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDF881CC6952CC4A198C76C04B57076FD0"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>to tailor supportive
services to the needs of very low-income veteran families; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDE513EB4CF5A84D699E40FE0762E803AD"><enum>(v)</enum><text>to seek continuously new
sources of assistance to ensure the long-term provision of supportive services
to very low-income veteran families.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDDBEB956E45B34BD4BCE052983C7F0145" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
establish criteria for the selection of eligible entities to be provided
financial assistance under this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDE92B99DADFBA4889ABA5EB9C99F50FA1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical
Assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID254AB537114F4C75AC94D9074CE4FA8D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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, through the
Technical Assistance grants program in section 2064 of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID7B20DD1930B94C51B5A4C1635BEA795C" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary may provide
the training described in paragraph (1) directly or through grants or contracts
with appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID9D6B76D861E548A4A8369B7E883A586D"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID5B53B2DCE3114AB9B04B1B2FA818DF00"><enum>(1)</enum><text>From amounts
appropriated to the Department for Medical Services, there shall be available
to carry out subsection (a), (b), and (c) amounts as follows:</text>
<subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDD5880167CDC049459294D8FAE9AE6C7D" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$15,000,000 for fiscal
year 2008.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID3A37EBDE8BA141B4BB3E7F7794386C82" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$20,000,000 for fiscal
year 2009.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID0D1AE44A00FF44B6BD2CAB86B5C8F6B5" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$25,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID9B918250F3964676A3F5778DAFFC994F" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not more than $750,000
may be available under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year to provide technical
assistance under subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph changed="added" commented="no" committee-id="SSVA00" id="idDF69757866E243B682CC4A84CBB64F8A" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(3)</enum><text>There is authorized to be
appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal year 2008 through 2010 to carry
out the provisions of subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDF38DB13ACA9C4736A6015FB14C9D6797"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="IDD01216E465824AD19056CED5494167CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term <term>consumer
cooperative</term> has the meaning given such term in section 202 of the
Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID45E8605F70C44BDA8B914E373D9168F1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term <term>eligible
entity</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDB78DC30256654A5FB1033B890E99C26F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a private nonprofit
organization; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7A43ACC63A4247298B315E2953265929"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a consumer
cooperative.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID0DEF1AE9838E472F8827A3ADB9D4AB2B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term
<term>homeless</term> has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF2AF53595666468BB98473687887A95D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The term <term>permanent
housing</term> means community-based housing without a designated length of
stay.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2642C983F1354BC29B652B736A3D0204"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The term <term>private
nonprofit organization</term> means any of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID7459801F83514FBC99EC35B183AA6C71"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Any incorporated private
institution or foundation—</text>
<clause id="ID8D29B48996714489BFA86BE515074D01"><enum>(i)</enum><text>no part of the net
earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or
individual;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID39939B0CE01F43C3AB8DB32B7EDCA047"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>which has a governing
board that is responsible for the operation of the supportive services provided
under this section; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1E5C9EDF95814D0D92616869C93DC8DC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>which is approved by
the Secretary as to financial responsibility.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD2DE7FFC803C4289945DC0CAC26DBC14"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE56416E69F064637A5EEA76CCCD300E6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A corporation wholly
owned and controlled by an organization meeting the requirements of clauses
(i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1854DBDFC6834AD4B955207FD2009861"><enum>(D)</enum><text>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)).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID5589534138454154A749C09339BF1E81"><enum>(6)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="IDA14997BCBF39435A806505ECCE0DF5B1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Subject to
subparagraphs (B) and (C), the term <term>very low-income veteran family</term>
means a veteran family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the median
income for an area specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section, as
determined by the Secretary in accordance with this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="IDA7B8A963040F4D3AA16DC3C2F7577B29" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary shall make
appropriate adjustments to the income requirement under subparagraph (A) based
on family size.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID109265A2996543A495D263586C7848A7" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum>(C)</enum><text>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
<act-name parsable-cite="USHA">United States Housing Act of 1937</act-name> (42
U.S.C. 1437f)), or family incomes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID939EC2B707C94E16AA001091AA218751"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The term <term>veteran
family</term> 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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID930D08072F194B2A97560FFB8DD8B48A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>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:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="ID945FE0046D454C49AE470302245707E4" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<toc changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" regeneration="no-regeneration" reported-display-style="italic">
<toc-entry level="section">2044. Financial assistance for supportive
services for very low-income veteran families in permanent
housing.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDA91AE2CA4CB849699DB8B6686EF3B870"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Study of Effectiveness
of Permanent Housing Program</header>
<paragraph id="IDA2D4D71E22FF4C908E862FCE66384542"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For fiscal years 2008 and 2009, the Secretary shall
conduct a study of the effectiveness of the permanent housing program under
section 2044 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b), in
meeting the needs of very low-income veteran families, as that term is defined
in that section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5C851FDCAA9C4EB1B221E6249F24BCB5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Comparison</header><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID52083D49B01349F1A9933F11E1A98487"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>In
making the comparison required in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall examine
the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID48B7550372174F968319EA835222BC9F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The satisfaction of
veterans targeted by the programs described in paragraph (2).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7ED2152BC4324712ABEF41D1F88DFD71"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The health status of such
veterans.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9598922AEE0E4554BCEDB738BB95E106"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The housing provided such
veterans under such programs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID37AE39AE388145329C8712C4A668A31C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The degree to which such
veterans are encouraged to productive activity by such programs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7A4190711AEA4AE5B94C9BA3CD97DC21"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than March 31, 2010, 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).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">V</added-phrase></enum><header>Construction
matters</header>
<section id="id27D59885FEC24B2C834B282CC5B62BB0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>501.</enum><header>Authorization of
major medical facility project, Denver, Colorado</header>
<subsection id="idEA5C43EC0B074EB98A10C0D07217D901"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may carry out a major medical facility project for a
replacement facility for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
Denver, Colorado, in an amount not to exceed $548,000,000.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6A715B0371A24FD283045287CCA2ECF9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority for use of
existing funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
of Veterans Affairs may obligate and expend any unobligated amount in the
<quote>Construction, Major Projects</quote> account of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to purchase a site for, and for the construction of, the
Department of Veterans Affairs replacement facility authorized in subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id1AA2C4B7B950478AA47782CD3CD102F6" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>502.</enum><header>Increase in
authorization for major medical facility project to consolidate the medical
centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs at the University Drive and H.
John Heinz III divisions, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
802(12) of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act
of 2006 (Public Law 109–461; 120 Stat. 3443) is amended by striking
<quote>$189,205,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$248,000,000</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id4D05D340E10C4C8C923A4332CAC33E8F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>503.</enum><header>Authorization of
major medical facility project, Atlanta, Georgia</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry
out a major medical facility project for modernization of inpatient wards at
the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia, in an
amount not to exceed $20,534,000.</text>
</section><section id="id54F902F911FF43E896680F708F9085B3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>504.</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is
authorized to be appropriated for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal
year 2008 for the Construction, Major Projects, account $627,329,000 for the
projects authorized in sections 501 and 503 and for the project covered by
section 502.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BB56E7BE42C47B1874684CC9F79A9C1"><enum>505.</enum><header>Designation of Charlie
Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H548DAF1AAF74424FAF719BD8D8D03870"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Findings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8353BB57B62F4E01A77BB8662D93F416"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Charlie Norwood volunteered for service in
the United States Army Dental Corps in a time of war, providing dental and
medical services in the Republic of Vietnam in 1968, earning the Combat Medical
Badge and two awards of the Bronze Star.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD7906F5D6BD4CA1A82EC73FB0849C32"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Captain Norwood, under combat conditions,
helped develop the Dental Corps operating procedures, that are now standard, of
delivering dentists to forward-fire bases, and providing dental treatment for
military service dogs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA288C709BB6C410189086B88DBEFF625"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Captain Norwood provided dental, emergency
medical, and surgical care for United States personnel, Vietnamese civilians,
and prisoners-of-war.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5C9A6C78F00649549F9ED700280053D"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Dr. Norwood provided military dental care
at Fort Gordon, Georgia, following his service in Vietnam, then provided
private-practice dental care for the next 25 years for patients in the greater
Augusta, Georgia, area, including care for military personnel, retirees, and
dependents under Department of Defense programs and for low-income patients
under Georgia Medicaid.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9244DAD41914687A6EAFFE1E49B93FF"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congressman Norwood, upon being sworn into
the United States House of Representatives in 1995, pursued the advancement of
health and dental care for active duty and retired military personnel and
dependents, and for veterans, through his public advocacy for strengthened
Federal support for military and veterans’ health care programs and
facilities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H756285C3592D443482DF60B4B3733800"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congressman Norwood co-authored and helped
pass into law the Keep our Promises to America’s Military Retirees Act, which
restored lifetime healthcare benefits to veterans who are military retirees
through the creation of the Department of Defense TRICARE for Life
Program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCC8A0BF41F704AEB94DB74A0FD0821AB"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congressman Norwood supported and helped
pass into law the Retired Pay Restoration Act providing relief from the
concurrent receipt rule penalizing disabled veterans who were also military
retirees.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H30000118489741248088094FA2E350D9"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Throughout his congressional service from
1995 to 2007, Congressman Norwood repeatedly defeated attempts to reduce
Federal support for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
Augusta, Georgia, and succeeded in maintaining and increasing Federal funding
for the center.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H55FEBFA81BFD49F4B8F4AAF8A481E011"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congressman Norwood maintained a life
membership in The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the
Military Order of the World Wars.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA6BD2EF8EB0F4A0FAA44D857A9DDB51"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congressman Norwood’s role in protecting
and improving military and veteran’s health care was recognized by the
Association of the United States Army through the presentation of the Cocklin
Award in 1998, and through his induction into the Association’s Audie Murphy
Society in 1999.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4039847EF5F14BEA921E8392AD71DE13"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Designation</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD5D8E896CBE24D9081FA56BEBF022D38"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center located at 1 Freedom Way in Augusta, Georgia, shall after the date of
the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the <quote>Charlie Norwood
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFDF633D80CAD4FBBA259F4BBEB004C00"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">References</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, record, or other paper of the United States to the medical center
referred to in paragraph (1) shall be considered to be a reference to the
Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Other matters</header>
<section id="idA0D5B0F9750C4313849F9C556E4CFEAB"><enum>601.</enum><header>Reinstatement of
health professionals scholarship program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7618 is amended by striking
<quote>December 31, 1998</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31,
2012</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="idEBBB7C3B97A24750A160591A47E126F4"><enum>602.</enum><header>Repeal of certain
report requirements</header>
<subsection id="id62B77E1513BF482A92803BE71F767F15"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(a)</added-phrase></enum><header>Reports
repealed</header>
<paragraph id="id29159D2651FB42CCB286161D7F86F9ED"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(1)</added-phrase></enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7D1540FD0A8E45C79B1FC723C86A1245"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(A)</added-phrase></enum><text>Section 7324 is
repealed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id303B6048E7354695B60EE0D4AAE0908A" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(B)</added-phrase></enum><text>The table of
sections at the beginning of chapter 73 is amended by striking the item related
to section 7324.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0F49817BA3AE40A7851A5C4BCEE88CA3"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(2)</added-phrase></enum><text>Paragraph (5) of
section 7451(e) is repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9689D69C7A4444BEBAE877B64936669A"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(3)</added-phrase></enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idC988CD2412B941F5804997309A1F6A3E"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(A)</added-phrase></enum><text>Subsection (f)
of section 7451 is repealed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="idE24D65AD0E104DFDA60BE4F4850369F7" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(B)</added-phrase></enum><text>Subsection (g)
of such section is redesignated as subsection (f).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2EFFEA98E8644B79A3B1BE8714372B26"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(4)</added-phrase></enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idBB1C718BF54A4A7B95B0750A70BB6815"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(A)</added-phrase></enum><text>Section 8107 is
repealed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" id="id95C7F2F44B734C57A40E02AD7F6C2F44" indent="up1" reported-display-style="italic"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(B)</added-phrase></enum><text>The table of
sections at the beginning of chapter 81 is amended by striking the item related
to section 8107.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id89D7734906E0443790AA7A7F4E65014A"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(5)</added-phrase></enum><text>Subsection (g)
of section 8153 is repealed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id4C74E58305D44B67A94452CE146ADE11"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical
amendments</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id66E38FE951BD4A62B9A183C1AFF38E02"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(1)</added-phrase></enum><text>Section
7451(c)(1) is amended by striking <quote>, in the next annual report required
by subsection (g),</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idA482B5803886401985AC01C1BB16A355"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 7452 is
amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id3E8012D298CF483FA42A3D6244F78BF8"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(A)</added-phrase></enum><text>in subsection
(b)—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="idE7D52F0985364F8081C979EC8406524D"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(i)</added-phrase></enum><text>by striking
paragraph (2); and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id1589E7B2FCF84726A0F97F59EFCFEAC0"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(ii)</added-phrase></enum><text>by striking
<quote>(1) Under regulations</quote> and inserting <quote>Under
regulations</quote>; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idB6758C32DF3E4773817B065E1501BA15"><enum><added-phrase committee-id="SSVA00" reported-display-style="italic">(B)</added-phrase></enum><text>in subsection
(e), by striking the last sentence.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="idE6652329CB024D928BB6D03E73A7521A"><enum>603.</enum><header>Post 9/11 Global
Operations defined</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block changed="added" committee-id="SSVA00" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD4B1A94598BD49AD91E803939E505D4C" reported-display-style="italic" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="idA96FE0EC4AFB4CAF8E9968C5C8551B9D" indent="up1"><enum>(34)</enum><text>The term <term>Post 9/11
Global Operations</term> means the period of the Persian Gulf War beginning on
September 11, 2001, and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by
Presidential proclamation or by
law.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section>Amend the title so as to read:
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve health care programs
for veterans, and for other purposes.
.
August 29, 2007
Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of
August 3, 2007, with an amendment and an amendment to the title